A citizen science approach to identifying trace metal contamination risks in urban gardens

We launched the VegeSafe program in 2013 to assist Australians concerned about exposure to contaminants in their soils and gardens. VegeSafe analyses garden soils provided by citizens for trace metals at our laboratory at little to no cost, with easy-to-follow guidance on any intervention required. The response was overwhelming—Australians submitted 17,256 soils from 3,609 homes, and in turn VegeSafe researchers now have unparalleled household-scale data, providing new insights into urban trace metal contamination. The results are sobering, with 35% of homes, particularly those that are older, painted and located in inner cities having soils above the Australian residential guideline (300 mg/kg) for the neurotoxic trace metal lead (Pb). Exposure pathway, blood Pb concentration and vegetable uptake modelling showed the communities in these locations were most at risk. VegeSafe is transformative: 94% of participants better understood contaminants, 83% felt safer in their home environment and 40% undertook remedial action based on their results. The two-way nature of this program enables education of citizens about environmental contaminants, advances public health, and delivers impactful science

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation as strategy to mitigate copper toxicity in young field-grown vines

Frequent applications of foliar fungicides on grapevines increase copper (Cu) levels in soils, which may cause toxicity to young grapevines transplanted to eradicated old vineyards, especially because they are more sensitive. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt strategies to mitigate Cu toxic effects, such as grapevine seedlings inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which establish symbiosis association with plants roots, preferably in field experiments. The present study we objective to evaluate AMF pre-inoculation effects on growth and mineral absorption of grapevine seedlings in a field experiment using sandy soil contaminated with Cu. The experiment was conducted in Santana do Livramento (RS), in a Typical Hapludalf soil. Initially, grapevine seedlings from ‘Paulsen 1103’ (Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris) rootstock were AMP pre-inoculated and then transplanted into the field in area containing high Cu levels. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design, with a 4 × 2 factorial scheme: four seedlings pre-inoculation treatments (control = uninoculated seedlings; Rhizophagus clarus UFSC-14; Rhizophagus intraradices UFSC-32; Dentisculata heterogama UFSC-08); two soil Cu concentrations (62 mg/kg and 118 mg/kg (Mehlich-I), with five replications. Pre-inoculation did not favor growth of young vines in field after 316 and 500 days of transplantation (DAT). However, seedlings from pre-inoculated vines with R. intraradices UFSC-32 and R. clarus UFSC-14 presented lower Cu levels in leaves in the soils with high Cu levels. Thus, pre-inoculation of young vines seedling with selected AMF may represent a strategy to reduce Cu toxicity, contributing to plants establishment in contaminated soils

Effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy in combination with tamoxifen for node-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Adjuvant tamoxifen has been shown to reduce relapse and mortality among node-positive post-menopausal breast cancer patients. The value of adding chemotherapy to tamoxifen is controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1986 and April 1993, 1,266 postmenopausal breast cancer patients with node-positive disease were randomly assigned to receive one of four adjuvant therapy regimens: (A) tamoxifen alone for 5 years; (B) tamoxifen plus three courses of early cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) on months 1, 2, and 3; (C) tamoxifen plus delayed single courses of CMF on months 9, 12, and 15; (D) tamoxifen plus early and delayed CMF on months 1, 2, 3, 9, 12, and 15. The two-by-two factorial design allowed two direct comparisons: early CMF (B and D) versus no early CMF (A and C), and delayed CMF (C and D) versus no delayed CMF (A and B). Estrogen receptor (ER) status was known for all patients and was used to stratify the randomization. A total of 1, 212 patients (96%) were eligible and assessable. The median follow-up duration was 60 months. RESULTS: The results of the two-by-two factorial comparisons were as follows: (1) early CMF added to tamoxifen significantly improved 5-year disease-free survival (DFS; 64% v 57%; hazards ratio [HR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.95; P = .01); and (2) delayed CMF added to tamoxifen did not improve DFS (5-year DFS, 61% v 60%; HR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.17; P = .77). For patients with ER-positive tumors, the addition of CMF, either early or delayed or both, reduced the relative risk of relapse by 22% to 36%. In contrast, for patients with ER-negative tumors, tamoxifen with delayed CMF was associated with a nonsignificant increased risk of relapse (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.76; P = .15). CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer should be offered combination chemotherapy in addition to tamoxifen. Tamoxifen should not be initiated before CMF, as this might be detrimental, especially for patients with ER-negative tumors