A review of environmental and occupational exposure to xylene and its health concerns

Xylene is a cyclic hydrocarbon, and an environmental pollutant. It is also used in dyes, paints, polishes, medical technology and different industries as a solvent. Xylene easily vaporizes and divides by sunlight into other harmless chemicals. The aim of the present review is to collect the evidence of the xylene toxicity, related to non-cancerous health hazards, as well as to provide possible effective measurement to minimize its risk ratio. For current study a bibliographic search of more than 250 peer-reviewed papers in scientific data including PubMed, and Google Scholar about xylene was done. But approximately 130 peer-reviewed papers relevant to xylene were included (Figure 1). All scientific data was reviewed with key words of “xylene toxicity”, “xylene toxic health effects”, “environmental volatile organic compounds”, “human exposure to xylene”, “xylene poisoning in laboratory workers”, “effects of xylene along with other hydrocarbons”, “neurotoxicity of selected hydrocarbons”, and “toxic effects of particular xylene isomers in animals”. According to these studies, xylene is released into the atmosphere as fugitive emissions from petrochemical industries, fire, cigarette, from different vehicles. Short term exposure to mixed xylene or their individual isomers result in irritation of the nose, eyes and throat subsequently leading toward neurological, gastrointestinal and reproductive harmful effects. In addition long term exposure to xylene may cause hazardous effects on respiratory system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and renal system. The health concerns of xylene are well documented in animals and human. It is important to improve health policies, launch xylene related health and toxicity awareness campaigns, to get rid of its dangerous outcomes. Chronic diseases have become a threat to human globally, with special prominence in regions, where xylene is used with other chemicals (benzene, toluene etc.) especially in petroleum and rubber industry. The mechanism of toxicity and interactions with endocrine system should be followed up which is the main threat to human health

Acetone sensor based on solvothermally prepared ZnO doped with Co3O4 nanorods

This paper describes a reliable and sensitive method for sensing dissolved acetone using doped nanomaterials. Large-scale synthesis of ZnO nanorods (NRs) doped with Co(3)O(4) was accomplished by a solvothermal method at low temperature. The doped NRs were characterized in terms of their morphological, structural, and optical properties by using field-emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive system, UV-Vis., Fourier transform IR, X-ray diffraction, and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy. The calcinated (at 400 °C) doped NRs are shown to be an attractive semiconductor nanomaterial for detecting acetone in aqueous solution using silver electrodes. The sensor exhibits excellent sensitivity, stability and reproducibility. The calibration plot is linear over a large concentration range (66.8 μM to 0.133 mM), displays high sensitivity (~3.58 μA cm(−2) mM(−1)) and a low detection limit (~14.7 ± 0.2 μM; at SNR of 3). [Figure: see text

Climate Change and Disasters: Institutional Complexities and Actors’ Priorities for Mitigation, Adaptation and Response

Over the last decade, Pakistan has faced several major disasters, involving both natural hazards and conflict. These crises prompted tremendous national and international response, and triggered the Government of Pakistan to establish new institutions, policies, strategies and action plans. Donors, humanitarian and development organisations, however, tend to follow their own policies, plans and interests, which may be quite different from the government entities dealing with humanitarian efforts, climate change and disaster. To what extent do these different perspectives affect the ability of the government to respond effectively and coordinate with humanitarian and development organisations during different phases of a crisis? This article examines the existing institutions, policies and perspectives that guide how government, humanitarian and development organisations, and community members understand risk and vulnerability, and respond to climate changes. It suggests how knowledge sharing and coordination might be improved to better face the challenges of risk and vulnerability reduction in the future

Social Vulnerability and Local Adaptation in Humanitarian Response: The Case of Pakistan

This article looks at the experiences of two areas hit hard by the 2010 mega-floods in Pakistan, one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one in Sindh. It examines how different humanitarian actors understand climatic changes, risk and vulnerability, how this influences their choices of disaster risk reduction activities, and whether these activities promote changes which are merely cosmetic, or transformational. The findings point to the need to expand institutional understandings of risk and vulnerability to include social vulnerability in disaster risk reduction measures, and the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration between humanitarian and development organisations, government and local communities, particularly at the district levels, to be able to address long-term risk reduction and adaptation

COVID-19 and CSR disclosure: Evidence from New Zealand

Purpose – Stakeholders’ uncertainty about firms’ value drives their urge to get information, as well as managerial disclosure choices. In this study, the authors examine whether and how an important source of uncertainty – the recent COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure – is beyond managerial and stakeholders’ control. Design/methodology/approach – The authors develop a novel construct for daily CSR disclosure by employing computer-aided text analysis (CATA) on the press releases issued by 125 New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) listed from 28 February 2020 to 31 December 2020. To capture COVID-19 intensity, the authors use the growth rate of the population-adjusted cumulative sum of confirmed cases in New Zealand on a specific day. To examine the association between the COVID-19 outbreak and companies’ CSR disclosure, the authors employed ordinary least squares (OLS) regression by clustering standard error at the firm level. Findings – The authors find a one standard deviation increase in the COVID-19 outbreak leads to a 28% increase in such disclosures. These results remained robust to a series of sensitivity tests and continue to hold after accounting for potential endogeneity concerns. In the channel analysis, the study demonstrates that the positive relationship between COVID-19 and CSR disclosure is more pronounced in the presence of a well- structured board (i.e. a large, more independent board and with a higher proportion of women on it). In further analysis, the authors find the documented relationship varies over the pandemic’s life cycle and is moderated by government stringency response, peer CSR pressure and media coverage. Originality/value – This paper is the first study that contributes to the scant literature examining the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on CSR disclosure. Prior research either investigates the relationship of the CSR- stock return during the COVID-19 market crisis or examines the relationship between corporate characteristics including the quality of financial information and the reactions of stock returns during COVID-19. The authors extend such studies by providing empirical evidence that managers respond to COVID-19 by increasing CSR disclosure

Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Metallic Nanoparticle Combinations

© The Author(s) 2019.Metallic nanoparticles have unique antimicrobial properties that make them suitable for use within medical and pharmaceutical devices to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare. The use of nanoparticles in healthcare is on the increase with silver being used in many devices. However, not all metallic nanoparticles can target and kill all disease-causing bacteria. To overcome this, a combination of several different metallic nanoparticles were used in this study to compare effects of multiple metallic nanoparticles when in combination than when used singly, as single elemental nanoparticles (SENPs), against two common hospital acquired pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. aeruginosa). Flow cytometry LIVE/DEAD assay was used to determine rates of cell death within a bacterial population when exposed to the nanoparticles. Results were analysed using linear models to compare effectiveness of three different metallic nanoparticles, tungsten carbide (WC), silver (Ag) and copper (Cu), in combination and separately. Results show that when the nanoparticles are placed in combination (NPCs), antimicrobial effects significantly increase than when compared with SENPs (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that certain metallic nanoparticles can be used in combination to improve the antimicrobial efficiency in destroying morphologically distinct pathogens within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.Peer reviewe

On building trust with technology

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) are quickly becoming an important aspect of post-conflict police reform programs. There is consequently an urgent need to be clear on the purposes of ICTs in police reform and on what expectations the police as well as communities have to the role of ICTs in building secure societies. Despite this, there is little work done on purposes, roles and expectations, and on how ICTs in fact contribute in reform processes. Based on fieldwork in Afghanistan and Pakistan, this Policy Brief Concept Note offers insights into these complex challenges from South Asia. As armed conflict ends, and peacebuildings begin, police reform becomes one of the pillars of international support. For years, this has meant a militarization of police forces. However, building positive relations between the government and its citizenry is important for a more sustainable peace. This includes developing alternative models of policing and it includes finding inclusive means for communications between authorities and communities.publishedVersio

Civil security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: The evolution of new institutions in the wake of crisis

In the aftermath of conflict, the military often plays a central role in providing security until civil security actors such as the police are able to take over and ensure the rule of law. How well this transition is managed, however, cannot depend solely on government security actors - communication and collaboration with civil society and local institutions are critical. In this brief we share our findings from the Swat Valley in Pakistan, where new forms of hybrid institutions are emerging in the wake of conflict as examples of how police and communities can work together to build trust and ensure lasting peace.publishedVersio