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Anthropogenic activities in and around the urban highways followed by aerodynamic processing generate street dusts, which can cause adverse health effects through different exposure pathways. Hence, considering the high degree of industrialization, concomitant unplanned urbanization, and rapid demographic augmentation, street dust samples from an urban city (Gazipur, Bangladesh) were investigated in terms of potentially toxic elements (using ICP-MS) to evaluate their ecological and health risks. Mean concentrations (± SD) of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and arsenic (As) in the analyzed air-dried samples were 40.9 ± 13.6, 44.9 ± 15.4, 83.3 ± 19.0, 9.1 ± 5.4, 239.1 ± 34.7, 33.5 ± 10.4, and 2.1 ± 0.8 mg/kg, respectively with heterogeneous distribution which were 0.2 (As) to 82.7 (Cd) times higher than the available internationally recommended limits. Element-specific environmental indices revealed that contamination levels followed the descending order as Cd > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > As, whereas individual ecological risks followed the descending order as Cd > Cu > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cr > As. Sampling site-specific composite indices indicated that sampling sites with high loadings of traffic, population, industrialization, and urbanization were mostly polluted. Multivariate statistical approaches also deduced the similar origins of the studied elements. In terms of the investigated elements, the study site possessed high potential ecological risks, although non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks through different pathway’s exposures seem insignificant, where children are more vulnerable than adults.

Road dust, which reflects ambient air quality, receives various pollutants including toxic metal(oid)s from several natural and/or anthropogenic sources. This manuscript reports a comprehensive evaluation of the levels of seventeen metal(oid)s in road dust of a megacity (Dhaka, Bangladesh). Different evaluation approaches were implemented including statistical analysis and GIS mapping, besides environmental, ecological, and human health risk indices. From 30 sampling sites, representative samples were collected, which were analyzed by neutron activation analysis. The average concentrations (± SD) of Na, Mg, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Rb, Sb, Cs, Ba, and W were 11,738 ± 560 µg g −1 , 12,410 ± 1249 µg g −1 , 62,127 ± 5937 µg g −1 , 8.89 ± 0.47 µg g −1 , 5224 ± 1244 µg g −1 , 66 ± 8 µg g −1 , 66.7 ± 6.9 µg g −1 , 547 ± 110 µg g −1 , 25,150 ± 1723 µg g −1 , 8.39 ± 0.65 µg g −1 , 125 ± 17 µg g −1 , 3.63 ± 0.56 µg g −1 , 87 ± 9 µg g −1 , 0.75 ± 0.28 µg g −1 , 4.40 ± 0.48 µg g −1 , 397 ± 87 µg g −1 , and 3.82 ± 1.77 µg g −1 , respectively. The distance-based redundancy analysis showed that the northern region was enriched with Na, Mn, Al, Fe, Zn, and Rb, while the southern region was enriched with Fe, Al, Ti, Cr, and Mg. The GIS mapping shows hot spots of Sc, Cr, Zn, and Cs were observed mostly in heavy traffic areas. Significant positive correlations of Fe-Sc, Al–Mg, V-Mg, V-Al, Cs-Rb, Cs-Sc, Rb-Sc, As-Na, and Cs-Rb invoked their inter-dependency and persistence in road dust. Depending on a set of environmental and ecological index–based calculation, the degree of metal(oid) pollution followed the descending order as W > Sb > Zn > Cr > As > Ti > Sc > V, while no pollution was recorded by Mn, Fe, Al, Rb, Cs, Co, and Ba. Importantly, the total hazard index values for adults and children were higher than unity, indicating potential non-carcinogenic health risks from exposure of road dust. Furthermore, the total carcinogenic risks from Cr and As through ingestion and dermal contact exceeded the standard guideline values. The implementation of different evaluation approaches strengthens the findings of metal(oid) source apportionment.

Louhajang River, Bangladesh, which crosses Tangail as a densely industrialized and urbanized city, supplies water for different purposes. This study reports the levels of pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and some toxic heavy metals in 40 water samples collected during the summer and winter seasons from Louhajang River. The winter season reported higher levels of the examined parameters than the summer season with significant variation ( p < 0.05) for all parameters, with the exception of Cd. The metal contents were assessed against local and international standards for drinking, irrigation, and aquatic life purposes where different trends were observed. The heavy metal evaluation index and the ecological risk index reported low to moderate risks. The spatial distribution of metal contents assigned hot spots in some sites along the riverbed. The health risk assessment for three population categories, i.e., adult male, adult female, and children, was examined. Cr and Cd recorded hazard index > 1 in all cases, indicating possible non-cancer risk. The total carcinogenic risk values during both seasons were > 1.0 × 10 −6 , indicating possible cancer risk. The adopted collection of different approaches (comparison against standard levels of toxicants, statistical analysis, spatial distribution, and health risk assessment) successfully demonstrates a whole picture of the environmental status of Louhajang River, Bangladesh.

Trace elements contamination in the aquatic ecosystem is a current and major environmental concern due to their non-degradable nature and toxic effects on human health. Concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in fish were estimated to evaluate contamination levels and health risks for Bangladeshi adults. A total of six demersal fish species namely Mystus vittatus , Polynemus paradiseus , Sillaginopsis panijus , Lates calcarifer , Cynoglossus arel and Pseudapocryptes elongates were collected in summer and winter season from the coastal Karnaphuli River, Bangladesh. The analyzed trace elements varied between different species of fish. The concentration of studied trace elements exceed Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization maximum tolerable intake indicating risk to human body. The mean concentration of As, Cr, Cd and Pb were found 2.18, 9.1, 7.2 and 4.38 times higher than the recommended value. Health risks associated with these trace element intakes were evaluated in terms of dietary intake and target hazard quotients (THQs). The THQs value for individual fish species was more than one which was responsible for non-carcinogenic health hazard due to fish consumption. Target Carcinogenic Risk (TR) value for arsenic and lead was also higher than USEPA standard (10 −4 ) indicated chronic cancer risk to human. From the health point of view, this study showed that the inhabitants who consume these fishes are exposed chronically to trace elements pollution with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic consequences.

Minute quantities of trace metals have delirious effects in the human body causing acute and chronic toxicities. These trace metals have the ability to bind with enzymes and proteins causing an alteration in their activity, and, consequently, their damage. In this study, water samples were collected from five sites in Rupsa River (Bangladesh) during dry and wet seasons aiming to assess the trace metal concentration and the correlated health risk for people living in the area. Six trace metals, namely arsenic (Ar), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni), were measured for further analyzing their spatial and seasonal variations. The measured trace metal concentrations followed this decreasing order: Cr > Pb > As > Cu > Ni > Cd for the dry season, and Cr > Pb > As > Cu > Ni > Cd for the wet season. Among the trace metals, As, Ni, Cr, and Pb exhibited a statistically significative variation throughout the study period. The PCA analysis accounted for 64.5% and 64.4% total variations of the trace metals in dry and wet seasons, respectively. The Euclidean distance of trace metals in water samples across five sites showed significantly different distribution patterns, which were further confirmed by PERMANOVA. Furthermore, CAP model disclosed that trace metals are source-specific: brickfields and sewage effluents were potential sources for Cd, whereas different industries were potential sources for As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb. Correlation analysis showed that Ni and Cr significantly correlated with pH and electrical conductivity. Correlation among the trace metals unveiled that they depended on each other as for their origin, magnitude, and existence in the riverine waterways. As for the health risk assessment, a non-carcinogenic health hazard due to ingestion during regular activities and dermal contact during fishing activity to all kind of people (adult males, adult females, and children) in the studied area was retrieved based on the hazard index (HI) of trace metals, which was higher than the recommended value (HI > 1). Moreover, also the carcinogenic risks of Ni and As due to regular activities via ingestion and dermal contact pathways were higher than the standard value (CR > 1.0E−04), suggesting the occurrence of cancer risk to humans in the study area.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infectious disease, causes a high morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In Nepal, the first case of dengue was reported in 2004 followed by frequent outbreaks in subsequent years, with the largest being in 2019 taking the death toll of six. It is reported that the number of dengue fever cases are soaring in Nepal spreading from the plains to more hilly regions. This might have serious public health implications in the future when combined with other factors, such as: global warming, lack of early detection and treatment of dengue, lack of diagnostic facilities, poor healthcare systems and mosquito control strategies. Nepal, thus, needs a cost-effective mosquito control strategy for the prevention and control of dengue. The Wolbachia -mediated biological method of the dengue control strategy is novel, economic, and environment-friendly. It has been successfully trialed in several areas of dengue-prone countries of the world, including Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam etc. resulting in significant reductions in dengue incidence. Given the lack of effective vector control strategy and weak economic condition of the country along with the persistence of climate and environment conditions that favors the host ( Aedes mosquito) for Wolbachia , this approach can be a promising option to control dengue in Nepal.

Tobacco products are widely recognized as a major contributor to death. Cigarette smoke contains several toxic chemicals including heavy metals particulate causing high health risks. However, limited information has been available on the health risks associated with the heavy metals in cigarettes commonly sold in the Bangladeshi market. This study evaluated the concentrations and potential health risks posed by ten concerned heavy metals in ten widely consumed cigarette brands in Bangladesh using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentration (mg/kg) ranges of heavy metals Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Co, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn vary between 0.46–1.05, 0.55–1.03, 0.80–1.2, 0.22–0.40, 0.46–0.78, 2.59–3.03, 436.8–762.7, 115.8–184.4, 146.6–217.7, and 34.0–42.7, respectively. We assume that the heavy metals content among cigarette brands is varied due to the differences in the source of tobacco they use for cigarette preparation. The carcinogenic risks posed by heavy metals follow the order of Cr > Co > Cd > As > Ni > Pb, while the non-carcinogenic risks for Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn were greater than unity (HQ > 1), except for Fe. The existence of toxic heavy metals in cigarette tobacco may thus introduce noticeable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health impacts accompanying inhalation exposure. This study provides the first comprehensive report so far on heavy metal concentration and associated health risks in branded cigarettes commonly sold in Bangladesh. Hence, this data and the information provided can serve as a baseline as well as a reference for future research and have potential implications for policy and legislation in Bangladesh. Graphical Abstract

Autophagy is a major catabolic process in eukaryotic cells for delivering unwanted proteins or damaged organelles to the vacuole for degradation and recycling. In plants, it functions as a housekeeping process to maintain cellular homeostasis under normal conditions and is induced by stress and senescence; it thus plays important roles in development, stress tolerance, nutrient recycling, cell survival and metabolism. It is also known that autophagy is crucial for growth under dark-induced carbon starvation and nitrogen (N) deficiency conditions in Arabidopsis. In the present study, the authors review recent research on autophagy in plants, and discuss new insights into its core mechanism, regulation, selectivity and physiological roles for nutrient recycling. Potential future directions are also highlighted.

This study explored the effects of eucalyptus boundary plantation on the physicochemical properties of agricultural soils. Two strategies were applied : (Strategy 1) comparing soil properties of rice fields surrounded or not by eucalyptus trees, and (Strategy 2) comparing soil properties as a function of distance (0, 10, and 20 m) from eucalyptus boundary. Both surface and sub-surface soil samples were collected and analyzedfor pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), moisture, and the contents of macro-nutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca, and Mg) and micro-nutrients (Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe). The results from strategy 1 revealed that eucalyptus boundary significantly (p < 0.05) decreased soil pH, moisture, and Fe, while increases EC, OM, macro-nutrients compared to non-eucalyptus fields. Strategy 2 (ANOVA) exhibited significant (p < 0.05) effects on Ca and major micro-nutrients. Total Ca decreased with distance from eucalyptus boundaries, while Cu, Zn, and Fe increased. No significant distance-related differences were found for pH, EC, OM, moisture, or other macro-nutrients. Correlation analysis highlighted significant interrelationships among soil parameters and their associations with boundary proximity. The findings unveil that eucalyptus boundary plantations enhance OM and macro-nutrients in surface soils but can reduce moisture and alter micro-nutrient contents.