Iron oxide nanozymes, which are magnetic nanoparticles with enzymatic properties, are explored, including their robust production techniques and diverse applications in the fields of biomedicine and environmental science.

Transmission of respiratory viruses is a complex process involving emission, deposition in the airways, and infection. Inhalation is often the most relevant transmission mode in indoor environments. For severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the risk of inhalation transmission is not yet fully understood. Here, we used an indoor aerosol model combined with a regional inhaled deposited dose model to examine the indoor transport of aerosols from an infected person with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to a susceptible person and assess the potential inhaled dose rate of particles. Two scenarios with different ventilation rates were compared, as well as adult female versus male recipients. Assuming a source strength of 10 viruses/s, in a tightly closed room with poor ventilation (0.5 h⁻¹), the respiratory tract deposited dose rate was 140–350 and 100–260 inhaled viruses/hour for males and females; respectively. With ventilation at 3 h⁻¹ the dose rate was only 30–90 viruses/hour. Correcting for the half-life of SARS-CoV-2 in air, these numbers are reduced by a factor of 1.2–2.2 for poorly ventilated rooms and 1.1–1.4 for well-ventilated rooms. Combined with future determinations of virus emission rates, the size distribution of aerosols containing the virus, and the infectious dose, these results could play an important role in understanding the full picture of potential inhalation transmission in indoor environments.

Here, we report on a phyto-mediated bimetallic (NiFe₂O₄) preparation using a Boswellia carterii extract, which was characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, electron microscopy, magnetic spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy measurements. The prepared nano-catalysts were tested for oxidation of lignin monomer molecules—vanillyl alcohol and cinnamyl alcohol. In comparison with previously reported methods, the nano NiFe₂O₄ catalysts showed high photocatalytic activity and selectivity, under visible light irradiation with a nitroxy radical initiator (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy or 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl; TEMPO) at room temperature and aerobic conditions. The multifold advantages of the catalyst both in terms of reduced catalyst loading and ambient temperature conditions were manifested by higher conversion of the starting material.

In this study, we analyzed the concentrations of accumulation and coarse modes measured during November 2013–July 2017 at an urban background site in Amman, Jordan. The concentrations showed distinct seasonal variations with high concentrations with a monthly average higher than 100 cm⁻³ and 1.5 cm⁻³, respectively, for accumulation and coarse modes during the winter and low concentrations with a monthly average less than 40 cm⁻³ and 1–1.5 cm⁻³, respectively, for accumulation and coarse modes during the summer. Sand and dust storms (SDS) affected the coarse mode during the early spring whereas local dust re-suspension affected them during the autumn. The gravimetric analysis confirmed the seasonal variation of the calculated particulate mass concentration but suggested that the assumption of spherical particles and unit density is not always proper. The ATR-FTIR analysis of selected filters revealed that aerosols in the background atmosphere of Amman are a mixture of locally emitted (fossil fuel combustion) and local/regional dust. Based on the 24-h average of the calculated PM₁₀, the pollution standard index (PSI) revealed that about 81% of the days were either good or moderate air quality conditions. About 71% of the days were below the 24-h PM₁₀ limit value according to the Jordanian air quality standards (120 μg m⁻³).

In this study, we performed elemental analysis for floor dust samples collected in Jordanian microenvironments (dwellings and educational building). We performed intercorrelation and cluster analysis between the elemental, polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and microorganism concentrations. In general, the educational building workshops had the highest elemental contamination. The age of the dwelling and its occupancy played a role on the elemental contamination level: older and more occupied dwellingshad greater contamination. The elemental contamination at a dwelling entrance was observed to be higher than in the living room. We found exceptionally high concentrations for Fe and Mn in the educational workshop and additionally, Hg, Cr, and Pb concentrations exceeded the limits set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. According to the cluster analysis, we found three major groups based on location and contamination. According to the enrichment factor (EF) assessment, Al, Co, Mn, Ti, and Ba had EF < 2 (i.e., minimal enrichment) whereas P, S, Pb, Sb, Mo, Zn, Hg, and Cu had EF > 40 (i.e., extremely enriched). In contrast, Ca and P were geogenically enriched. Furthermore, significant Spearman correlations indicated nine subgroups of elemental contamination combined with PAHs and microbes.