Unveiling the Microfiber Release Footprint: Guiding Control Strategies in the Textile Production Industry

Microplastic fibers from textiles have been known to significantly contribute to marine microplastic pollution. However, little is known about the microfiber formation and discharge during textile production. In this study, we have quantified microfiber emissions from one large and representative textile factory during different stages, spanning seven different materials, including cotton, polyester, and blended fabrics, to further guide control strategies. Wet-processing steps released up to 25 times more microfibers than home laundering, with dyeing contributing to 95.0% of the total emissions. Microfiber release could be reduced by using white coloring, a lower dyeing temperature, and a shorter dyeing duration. Thinner, denser yarns increased microfiber pollution, whereas using tightly twisted fibers mitigated release. Globally, wet textile processing potentially produced 6.4 kt of microfibers in 2020, with China, India, and the US as significant contributors. The study underlined the environmental impact of textile production and the need for mitigation strategies, particularly in dyeing processes and fiber choice. In addition, no significant difference was observed between the virgin polyesters and the used ones. Replacing virgin fibers with recycled fibers in polyester fabrics, due to their increasing consumption, might offer another potential solution. The findings highlighted the substantial impact of textile production on microfiber released into the environment, and optimization of material selection, knitting technologies, production processing, and recycled materials could be effective mitigation strategies.

The occurrence and distributions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater after a PFAS leakage incident in 2018

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations of groundwater in three cities of the Nakdong River Basin in South Korea were quantified to investigate PFAS contamination and the effect of PFAS leakage incident that occurred in the study area in 2018. Groundwater PFASs concentration ranged from non-detectable (N.D.) to 36.9 ng/L (mean 14.1 ng/L), in which, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) were commonly observed. Compared to long-chain (C ≥ 8) PFAS, short-chain (<C8) PFAS are more commonly detected in groundwater. Statistical differences were found between the groundwater obtained from different land use. PFAS detected in groundwater from industrial land use were significant different (p<0.01) than other land usages. Spatial difference of PFAS concentrations and distributions in groundwater were also found. PFAS concentrations in groundwater at the furthest downstream area (mean 26.4 ng/L) were the highest followed by the middle reaches (mean 16.2 ng/L), and the upstream area (mean 4.3 ng/L). PFHxS, which was detected dominantly in the middle reach areas, contributed 51% of the total PFAS concentration, but was not detected in the upstream area. There was no health risk by drinking groundwater but found the effect of PFHxS leakage incident on groundwater.

Coronary microcirculatory dysfunction is associated with left ventricular dysfunction during follow-up after STEMI

BACKGROUND

Coronary microvascular resistance is increased after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which may be related in part to changed left ventricular (LV) dynamics. Therefore we studied the coronary microcirculation in relation to systolic and diastolic LV function after STEMI.

METHODS

The study cohort consisted of 12 consecutive patients, all treated with primary PCI for a first anterior wall STEMI. At 4 months, we assessed pressure-volume loops. Subsequently, we measured intracoronary pressure and flow velocity and calculated coronary microvascular resistance. Infarct size and LV mass were assessed using magnetic resonance imaging.

RESULTS

Patients with an impaired systolic LV function due to a larger myocardial infarction showed a higher baseline average peak flow velocity (APV) than the other patients (26 ± 7 versus 17 ± 5 cm/s, p = 0.003, respectively), and showed an impaired variable microvascular resistance index (2.1 ± 1.0 versus 4.1 ± 1.3 mmHg cm(-1)∙s(-1), p = 0.003, respectively). Impaired diastolic relaxation time was inversely correlated with hyperaemic APV (r = -0.56, p = 0.003) and positively correlated with hyperaemic microvascular resistance (r = 0.48, p = 0.01). LV dilatation was associated with a reduced variable microvascular resistance index (r = 0.78, p = 0.006).

CONCLUSION

A larger anterior myocardial infarction results in impaired LV performance associated with reduced coronary microvascular resistance variability, in particular due to higher coronary blood flow at baseline in these compromised left ventricles.

[Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) under CT guide positioning for treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with clinical reports of 63 cases]

OBJECTIVE:To Survey the therapeutic effect and complication of CT positioning with RFT in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia,further expound advantage of CT guide positioning in RFT.METHODS:63 cases of trigeminal neuralgia were unedrwent CT positioning with RFT in our department after a follow up observation of 3-24 months. RESULTS:All the patients got successful procedure with pain relief and without recurrence and failure,three cases had complications as hematoma,tinnitus and corneal palsy but cured without sequela.CONCLUSION:CT positioning improved greatly the successful rate of puncture foramen ovale and decreased complication.It overcomes the disadvantage of traditional positioning method.It has the better value of clinical application.