Articles tagged with Chemical Mixtures
A team of researchers from China and the UK has developed new ways to optimise the production of solar fuels by creating novel photocatalysts. These photocatalysts, such as titanium dioxide with boron nitride, can absorb more wavelengths of light and produce more hydrogen compared to traditional methods.
A team of Japanese researchers has successfully developed a recycling photoreactor that enables the synthesis of optically pure compounds with high yields, achieving an optical purity of 98-99%. The system uses a two-step rapid photoracemization process and can produce enantiomerically pure chiral sulfoxides in yields higher than 80%.
Researchers at POSTECH developed seawater batteries with improved performance by incorporating chelating agents, overcoming limitations of traditional lithium-ion batteries. The new design achieved high energy efficiency and capacity, making it a promising candidate for next-generation energy storage systems.
Researchers at UChicago develop a more efficient and less toxic method to create MXene material, enabling new applications in electronics and energy storage. The breakthrough allows for the production of large amounts of materials with minimal waste, paving the way for innovative technologies.
The new homogeneous catalyst enables the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide with improved efficiency and safety. The process requires only one step and no separation of gases from the reaction flask.
A Keck School of Medicine study found exposure to PFAS, known as 'forever chemicals,' disrupts key biological processes in children and young adults, increasing risk of diseases such as developmental disorders, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The study highlights the importance of regulating PFAS as a class of chemicals.
A North Carolina State University study shows that yam seeds wrapped in a biodegradable paper made from banana fibers and cardboard grow larger and more abundantly than those without the paper. The 'wrap-and-plant' method also reduces post-harvest loss by minimizing nematode pest effects.
Researchers have developed a novel catalytic approach to synthesize monocyclic 3-(pyrrol-1-yl)-azetidin-2-ones, which show potential as therapeutic agents. The method yields all four diastereomers with high selectivity and has been published in Current Organocatalysis.
The researchers investigated the ignition of methane-air mixtures using a detailed reaction kinetics model. They identified five domains with different sets of chemical reactions leading to methane ignition. This knowledge can help increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact in heating and power generation.
Researchers have launched five projects to investigate the impact of pollution on UK rivers, which fail to meet good ecological status due to pollutants like chemicals, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals. The projects aim to improve water quality, biodiversity, and resilience to climate change.
Researchers will use household dust samples to develop a receptor bioactivity component model to predict adipogenic health outcomes. The goal is to improve chemical risk assessment models to account for everyday exposures to hundreds of different chemicals.
Researchers found that fertilizers change the electric field surrounding a flower, affecting bees' ability to navigate and feed. This alteration lasts for up to 25 minutes and can persist beyond a single use of chemicals.
A new metric estimates cumulative exposure to PFAS chemicals, enabling comparisons across studies and applications. The calculator takes into account patterns of exposure to multiple chemicals, providing a robust tool for biomonitoring and disease assessment.
Researchers at KAUST developed an inverse mixture-design approach using machine learning to create high-performance transport fuels. The model accurately predicted fuel properties and identified suitable blends, offering a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A Japanese research team has synthesized isotopic atropisomers, a rare class of compounds, using ortho-CH3/CD3 discrimination. The resulting isotopic atropisomers exhibit high rotational stability and stereochemical purity.
A new study found that gestational exposure to the flame retardant FM 550 resulted in altered brain development in newborn rats, with effects more pronounced in male offspring. The study also showed evidence of mitochondrial disruption and dysregulated choline and triglyceride levels in brain tissue.
Researchers developed an electrochemical technique to recycle highly valuable homogeneous catalysts, extending their life cycle. The method uses an electrical field to separate catalysts from mixtures and bind them to a surface, allowing for reuse and reducing energy consumption.
A joint research team from Korea and Japan developed site-specific organelle fluorescent thermometers that visualize temperature changes in almost all typical organelles. The new thermometers, called Thermo Greens (TGs), provide quantitative images of heat generation at different organelles, offering insights into cellular processes.
Researchers found that oil spill cleanup workers were 60% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma or experience asthma symptoms one to three years after the spill. The study linked specific chemicals, including BTEX-H, to increased asthma risk.
Scientists found that systems exhibiting anomalous diffusion with resetting can only reach equilibrium when fluctuations remain constant over long time intervals. This discovery has potential applications in optimizing industrial and biological processes, such as autonomous cleaning robots.
A comprehensive study found that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children. The researchers measured 45 chemicals in pregnant women and found elevated levels of biomarkers indicating risk for liver disease in children who were more highly exposed.
King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST) researchers have created a new membrane material that separates nitrogen from methane based on their shape difference. This approach reduces purification costs for natural gas by up to 73% compared to existing methods, offering an energy-efficient solution.
A new study from McGill University finds that people living near regions prone to wildfires may have a higher incidence of lung cancer and brain tumors. Exposure to carcinogenic wildfire pollutants on a chronic basis increases the risk of certain cancers, according to researchers.
A new study published by The Endocrine Society suggests that exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates may impair bone health in male teenagers. Researchers analyzed urine and blood samples from over 800 adolescents, finding an association between certain PFAS and phthalates and reduced bone mineral density.
A new study systematically reviews data on PFAS exposure and liver damage, linking three commonly detected PFAS to elevated levels of a liver enzyme, ALT. The research suggests a potential link between PFAS and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a growing public health crisis affecting 25% of adults worldwide.
A team of scientists successfully investigated the electronic structure of tautomeric mixtures using inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) at BESSY II. They can now experimentally separate the signal of each individual molecule, providing detailed insight into their functionality and chemical properties.
A recent study found that exposure to complex mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals during pregnancy can impact children's brain development and language acquisition. The research, conducted in collaboration with multiple institutions, used a novel approach linking human population studies with experimental cell and animal models.
Scientists develop a sensitive electrochemical detector using cerium oxide nanozyme to identify organophosphate pesticides in plants. The method provides an unprecedented wider linear range and a detection limit of 0.06 mmol/L, making it suitable for detecting trace amounts of pesticide residues.
A new approach has been developed to identify proteins affected by pollutants and chemicals, allowing for early detection of harmful biological effects. The method, called PISA, can be used to study the interactions between chemicals and proteins, revealing potential toxicity pathways.
The Panoramix project assesses exposure to toxic chemicals in children, linking in vitro test results with the Odense Child Cohort. The study aims to identify key 'mixtures of concern' and their levels in water, food, and human bodies.
Researchers found that combining zinc oxide with small-molecule UV filter ingredients reduced UVA protection by 84.3-91.8% compared to non-mineral sunscreens. The study also showed toxic effects on zebra fish embryos when exposed to sunscreen mixtures containing zinc oxide.
A research team has successfully fabricated single-layer tetracene molecular crystals using two-dimensional inorganic crystals as substrates. The resulting material exhibits extraordinary photostability and Davydov splitting, making it a promising candidate for OLEDs and organic photoelectric energy conversion.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has proposed a research-based concept to identify chemical combinations with potential health effects. The concept aims to provide a feasible approach to identify potentially health-relevant mixtures and background exposures across regulatory silos.
Researchers at KAUST found that a sweet spot for membrane thickness exists to optimize separation performance, with thicker films showing higher microporosity but thinner films posing unexpected transport resistance
The exposome concept captures diverse environmental factors affecting human health, including chemicals in air, water, and food. Recent technological advances and analytical tools are crucial for identifying unknown chemicals and their impact on health.
High-resolution mass spectrometry coupled with bioanalytical tools can characterize complex chemical mixtures and capture mixture effects in environmental samples. The CITEPro technology platform is a key tool in this approach, enabling the profiling of the exposome and elucidating drivers of chemical stress.
A study by Oregon State University researchers found that 14 common chemicals were detected in over 50% of wristbands from three continents. The wristbands, which absorb chemicals from the air and skin, are an excellent screening tool for population exposures to organic chemicals.
Research suggests that exposure to chemical mixtures present in household dust may contribute to increased growth in children relative to their age and promote the development of fat cells. The study found that very low concentrations of dust extracts were able to promote precursor fat cell proliferation and fat cell development.
A new study by George Mason University researchers found links between chemicals used in personal care products and changes in reproductive hormones. The study, which analyzed 509 urine samples from 143 women aged 18-44, suggests that even low-level exposure to mixtures of chemicals may affect reproductive hormone levels.
Research reveals that prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds can lead to a smaller medial prefrontal cortex and decreased cognitive flexibility in adult rats. The study's findings have implications for understanding the neurobiology underlying developmental disorders such as autism.
Deborah Blum received the Endocrine Society's Award for Excellence in Science and Medical Journalism for her article examining how natural compounds in soy can interfere with estrogen hormones in the body. The study highlights the potential health risks associated with EDC exposure, including reproductive disorders and cancer.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and University of Missouri found that prenatal exposure to a mixture of fracking chemicals affects mouse mammary gland development, leading to potential pre-cancerous lesions. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effects on long-term health and lactational capacity.
Researchers found that female mice exposed to fracking chemicals during prenatal development developed abnormal mammary glands and pre-cancerous lesions in adulthood. The study suggests that the mammary gland is sensitive to mixtures of fracking chemicals, increasing concerns about potential health effects in humans.
Lindsey Konkel received the Endocrine Society's Award for Excellence in Science and Medical Journalism for her coverage of endocrine-disrupting chemicals' impact on placenta development. The article highlights how exposure to EDCs can increase an individual's risk of developing diseases later in life.
Dr Lisa Connolly is leading a €4m international initiative to investigate the effects of natural toxins and manmade chemicals on human hormones, causing illnesses like cancer, obesity and infertility. The PROTECTED project aims to develop innovative analysis tools to protect public health from these endocrine disruptors.
Researchers found that combinations of non-toxic chemicals, many derived from plants and foods, may stop untreatable cancers and prevent disease relapses. The task force identified 74 molecular targets with potential anti-cancer effects, paving the way for low-cost therapies.
Research reveals that pesticide mixtures negatively affect snail and crustacean populations, even at sublethal levels, and populations exposed to low concentrations may be more sensitive to other environmental stressors
A new study published in Endocrinology found that prenatal exposure to fracking chemicals can lower sperm counts in male mice. The researchers tested 24 chemicals used in fracking and found that 23 of them were endocrine-disrupting chemicals, mimicking or interfering with hormones.
A new study by the University of Miami uses the Weibull distribution to describe and predict illness severity across a population exposed to different chemicals. The correlated multiplicative model explains many types of results in various areas, leading to better predictions of human health risk.
A global taskforce of 174 scientists has found 50 chemicals that may trigger cancer when combined, citing the need for increased research into everyday chemical exposures. The study suggests that long-term exposure to low-dose mixtures of environmental chemicals could be responsible for a significant proportion of cancers.
A Harvard scientist has developed a new microfluidic design that can detect and extract biomolecules from fluid mixtures more efficiently than current techniques. The approach uses microscopic fins embedded in a hydrogel that responds to different stimuli, allowing for the selective separation of target biomolecules.
The team is determining the long-term fate of chemicals in drinking water distribution systems and the environment. They are also evaluating interactions between MCHM and plastic pipes and epoxy liners, which will help determine long-term remediation measures.
A new bed bug trap captures twice as many insects as current traps by incorporating a pitfall trap design, a chemical lure, and a sugar-and-yeast mixture producing carbon dioxide. The trap's taller design makes it harder for bed bugs to escape.
Chemists at the University of Liverpool created organic molecular crystals that can separate aromatic molecules by shape. This new technique uses less energy and could revolutionize petrochemical and chemical industries.
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed a receptor-free nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy method to detect trace amounts of explosives in complex mixtures. This technique increases selectivity and sensitivity, allowing for the detection of specific molecules even with high concentrations of interfering molecules.
The Endocrine Society proposes a streamlined definition for EDCs and offers recommendations to strengthen current screening programs. The new statement outlines key issues related to identifying EDCs and protecting against adverse effects.
A study by Tobias Porsbring found that clotrimazole and cocktail effects can harm microalgae growth and reproduction, affecting the ocean ecosystem. The use of multiple chemicals in wastewater contributes to a 'cocktail effect' more harmful than individual chemicals.
Researchers found that caustic soils at Hanford can trap radioactive cesium and strontium, forming stable minerals like zeolites and feldspathoids. This discovery may aid in remediation efforts by slowing down the migration of toxic waste into groundwater.