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Mangrove wetlands provide essential ecosystem services such as coastal protection and fisheries. Metal pollution due to industrial and agricultural activities represents an issue of growing concern for the Guayas River Basin and related mangroves in Ecuador. Fisheries and the related human consumption of mangrove crabs are in need of scientific support. In order to protect human health and aid river management, we analyzed several elements in the Guayas Estuary. Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg accumulation were assessed in different compartments of the commercial red mangrove crab Ucides occidentalis (hepatopancreas, carapax, and white meat) and the environment (sediment, leaves, and water), sampled at fifteen sites over five stations. Consistent spatial distribution of metals in the Guayas estuary was found. Nickel levels in the sediment warn for ecological caution. The presence of As in the crabs generated potential concerns on the consumers’ health, and a maximum intake of eight crabs per month for adults is advised. The research outcomes are of global importance for at least nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results presented can support raising awareness about the ongoing contamination of food and their related ecosystems and the corresponding consequences for environmental and human health worldwide.
Andrée De Cock; Niels De Troyer; Marie Anne Forio Eurie; Isabel Garcia Arevalo; Wout Van Echelpoel; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Stijn Luca; Gijs Du Laing; Filip Tack; Luis Dominguez Granda; Peter L. M. Goethals. From Mangrove to Fork: Metal Presence in the Guayas Estuary (Ecuador) and Commercial Mangrove Crabs. Foods 2021, 10, 1880 .
AMA StyleAndrée De Cock, Niels De Troyer, Marie Anne Forio Eurie, Isabel Garcia Arevalo, Wout Van Echelpoel, Liesbeth Jacxsens, Stijn Luca, Gijs Du Laing, Filip Tack, Luis Dominguez Granda, Peter L. M. Goethals. From Mangrove to Fork: Metal Presence in the Guayas Estuary (Ecuador) and Commercial Mangrove Crabs. Foods. 2021; 10 (8):1880.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAndrée De Cock; Niels De Troyer; Marie Anne Forio Eurie; Isabel Garcia Arevalo; Wout Van Echelpoel; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Stijn Luca; Gijs Du Laing; Filip Tack; Luis Dominguez Granda; Peter L. M. Goethals. 2021. "From Mangrove to Fork: Metal Presence in the Guayas Estuary (Ecuador) and Commercial Mangrove Crabs." Foods 10, no. 8: 1880.
The treatment and hydrometallurgical recovery of Pb from zinc leaching residue (ZLR), a waste stream generated by the zinc refining process, is proposed in this work. Leaching achieved complete extraction of Pb (140 mg g–1) within 24 h contact time using a 0.8 M sodium citrate solution. The batch leaching process that operates at ambient temperature results in a pregnant leachate solution of dissolved lead citrate. Pb is recovered from the dissolved organometal complex as a precipitate of PbSO4 after chemical reaction in acidic conditions that are maintained through continuous membrane electrolysis. In addition, an alkaline buffer is generated at the cell cathode to regenerate the leachate, so that the recycled lixiviant can be used in consequent leaching steps. Characterization of the final product by XRD, ICP-AES, and Raman spectroscopy identified an amorphous PbSO4 phase with traces of lead citrate. The overall purity of Pb is 46 ± 4%, representing a 3.3 fold concentration of ZLR. The integrated process is capable to treat ZLR sustainably. It can resolve the need for landfilling the mineral tailing and treat historic dump sites, respecting the zero-waste rationale, while also recovering raw material from a secondary source.
Karel Folens; Adam J. Williamson; Kylian Van Damme; Pieter Ostermeyer; Cristina García Timermans; Gijs Du Laing; Nico Boon; Tom Hennebel. Citrate-Mediated Hydrometallurgical Lead Extraction and Integrated Electrochemical Recovery from Zinc Leaching Residue. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 2021, 9, 9282 -9288.
AMA StyleKarel Folens, Adam J. Williamson, Kylian Van Damme, Pieter Ostermeyer, Cristina García Timermans, Gijs Du Laing, Nico Boon, Tom Hennebel. Citrate-Mediated Hydrometallurgical Lead Extraction and Integrated Electrochemical Recovery from Zinc Leaching Residue. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 2021; 9 (28):9282-9288.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKarel Folens; Adam J. Williamson; Kylian Van Damme; Pieter Ostermeyer; Cristina García Timermans; Gijs Du Laing; Nico Boon; Tom Hennebel. 2021. "Citrate-Mediated Hydrometallurgical Lead Extraction and Integrated Electrochemical Recovery from Zinc Leaching Residue." ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 9, no. 28: 9282-9288.
Multicoloured luminescence and long-lived blue-shifted afterglow have been obtained in a europium-doped hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF). The material displays multi-stimuli responsive emission with anticounterfeiting application potential.
Chaoqing Yang; Flavia Artizzu; Karel Folens; Gijs Du Laing; Rik Van Deun. Excitation dependent multicolour luminescence and colour blue-shifted afterglow at room-temperature of europium incorporated hydrogen-bonded multicomponent frameworks. Journal of Materials Chemistry C 2021, 9, 7154 -7162.
AMA StyleChaoqing Yang, Flavia Artizzu, Karel Folens, Gijs Du Laing, Rik Van Deun. Excitation dependent multicolour luminescence and colour blue-shifted afterglow at room-temperature of europium incorporated hydrogen-bonded multicomponent frameworks. Journal of Materials Chemistry C. 2021; 9 (22):7154-7162.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChaoqing Yang; Flavia Artizzu; Karel Folens; Gijs Du Laing; Rik Van Deun. 2021. "Excitation dependent multicolour luminescence and colour blue-shifted afterglow at room-temperature of europium incorporated hydrogen-bonded multicomponent frameworks." Journal of Materials Chemistry C 9, no. 22: 7154-7162.
A study to quantify the toxicity and ecotoxicological pressure of pesticides in the Sancti Spíritus province, Cuba, was carried out between 2011 and 2014. A longitudinal descriptive work was designed for the study period to identify potential risks to the environment and also to human health associated with the use of pesticides in the country. The Spread Equivalents (ƩSeq) and Pesticide Occupational and Environmental Risk (POCER) indicators, as well as the Toxic Load (TL) methodology of Instituto Cubano de Sanidad Vegetal, were used to determine the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pesticide use. One hundred and twenty-four active ingredients corresponding to 62 chemical families were applied in the province during the study period. Organophosphates, triazoles, sulfonylurea, pyrethroids, inorganic compounds (such as copper), carbamates, dithiocarbamates, neonicotinoids, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, and organochlorines predominated due to their use frequency. The use of toxic pesticides, and the lack of personal protection equipment, among others, made workers, residents, and applicators the toxicological modules with the highest risk of exposure. On the other hand, aquatic organisms, and the persistence of the pesticides in the soil and in groundwater, are the modules with the highest ecotoxicological pressure. By using the POCER and ƩSeq indicators, a more accurate toxicity and ecotoxicity assessment for certain pesticides can be performed in Cuba, in comparison to the one obtained when using only the TL equation currently employed in the country. In addition, substituting the most toxic pesticides (e.g., parathion, endosulfan, bifenthrin, copper oxychloride, mancozeb, paraquat, diquat, and ametryn) with less toxic ones (e.g., cypermethrin, tebuconazole, triadimenol, and bispyribac-sodium) could help reduce synthetic pesticide pressure on humans and the environment.
Edelbis Lopez-Dávila; Michael Houbraken; Jasmine De Rop; Gijs Du Laing; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Pieter Spanoghe. Toxicological and ecotoxicological pressure assessment on the use of synthetic pesticides in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Ciencia & Tecnología Agropecuaria 2021, 22, 1 .
AMA StyleEdelbis Lopez-Dávila, Michael Houbraken, Jasmine De Rop, Gijs Du Laing, Osvaldo Romero Romero, Pieter Spanoghe. Toxicological and ecotoxicological pressure assessment on the use of synthetic pesticides in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Ciencia & Tecnología Agropecuaria. 2021; 22 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdelbis Lopez-Dávila; Michael Houbraken; Jasmine De Rop; Gijs Du Laing; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Pieter Spanoghe. 2021. "Toxicological and ecotoxicological pressure assessment on the use of synthetic pesticides in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba." Ciencia & Tecnología Agropecuaria 22, no. 2: 1.
This study evaluates the differences in mineral and toxic trace element concentrations of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) tissues from three aquatic ecosystems in Ethiopia—Lake Ziway, Lake Langano, and Gilgel Gibe reservoir—with a focus on edible (fillet) and discarded (digestive tract, gills, skin, and liver) parts. A total of sixty (n = 60) Nile tilapia samples were collected, comprising twenty (n = 20) fish from each lake, and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All elements varied markedly among tissues and between the lakes. Some differences in element concentrations were attributed to differences in nutrient load in the ecosystems and the function of the tissues. For instance, the calcium concentrations in skin and gill were distinctly higher in fish from calcium-rich Lake Langano. The d iscarded parts were richer in essential trace elements, showing an opportunity to promote their use in human nutrition to increase the intake of important minerals. However, the accumulation of elements toxic to humans, such as aluminum, should be monitored and, in particular, controlled when rearing these fish in aquaculture.
Tokuma Bayissa; Sangi Gobena; Donna Vanhauteghem; Gijs Du Laing; Mulugeta Kabeta; Geert Janssens. The Impact of Lake Ecosystems on Mineral Concentrations in Tissues of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). Animals 2021, 11, 1000 .
AMA StyleTokuma Bayissa, Sangi Gobena, Donna Vanhauteghem, Gijs Du Laing, Mulugeta Kabeta, Geert Janssens. The Impact of Lake Ecosystems on Mineral Concentrations in Tissues of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). Animals. 2021; 11 (4):1000.
Chicago/Turabian StyleTokuma Bayissa; Sangi Gobena; Donna Vanhauteghem; Gijs Du Laing; Mulugeta Kabeta; Geert Janssens. 2021. "The Impact of Lake Ecosystems on Mineral Concentrations in Tissues of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.)." Animals 11, no. 4: 1000.
A new oxygen-rich porous polymer based on bisvanillonitrile was synthesized and characterized. This polymer was employed as support for the anchoring of 14.5 w% amorphous zirconium oxide nanoparticles. The formation of homogeneously dispersed nanoparticles in the poly-bisvanillonitrile (PBVN) host material was confirmed using N2-sorption, XRPD, XPS and electron microscopy. The combination of zirconium oxide nanoparticles having active adsorption sites with the porous supporting material showed excellent adsorption of arsenic species. The resulting adsorption capacities of the hybrid material extend to 245 mg g−1 for arsenite (AsIII) and 115 mg g−1 for arsenate (AsV). Moreover, adsorption kinetics showed a fast removal of both arsenic species with initial adsorption rate h of 0.0646 mg g−1 min−1 for arsenite and 0.0746 mg g−1 min−1 for arsenate. The immobilization was not interfered by the presence of other compounds in solution, indicating the applicability in real working environments. The material could be regenerated in a continuous mode using a 0.1 mol L−1 sodium hydroxide solution at 70 °C to desorb arsenic.
Bram Seynnaeve; Karel Folens; Chidharth Krishnaraj; Ivan K. Ilic; Clemens Liedel; Johannes Schmidt; An Verberckmoes; Gijs Du Laing; Karen Leus; Pascal Van Der Voort. Oxygen-rich poly-bisvanillonitrile embedded amorphous zirconium oxide nanoparticles as reusable and porous adsorbent for removal of arsenic species from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials 2021, 413, 125356 .
AMA StyleBram Seynnaeve, Karel Folens, Chidharth Krishnaraj, Ivan K. Ilic, Clemens Liedel, Johannes Schmidt, An Verberckmoes, Gijs Du Laing, Karen Leus, Pascal Van Der Voort. Oxygen-rich poly-bisvanillonitrile embedded amorphous zirconium oxide nanoparticles as reusable and porous adsorbent for removal of arsenic species from water. Journal of Hazardous Materials. 2021; 413 ():125356.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBram Seynnaeve; Karel Folens; Chidharth Krishnaraj; Ivan K. Ilic; Clemens Liedel; Johannes Schmidt; An Verberckmoes; Gijs Du Laing; Karen Leus; Pascal Van Der Voort. 2021. "Oxygen-rich poly-bisvanillonitrile embedded amorphous zirconium oxide nanoparticles as reusable and porous adsorbent for removal of arsenic species from water." Journal of Hazardous Materials 413, no. : 125356.
Three nano-sized Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas (PMOs) were synthesized and post-modification was employed to two PMOs to introduce Ln3+ coordination sites. Two PMOs (DPA-PMO and ePMO) showed characteristic NIR (Nd3+, Yb3+) emission.
Wanlu Liu; Anna M. Kaczmarek; Karel Folens; Gijs Du Laing; Pascal Van Der Voort; Rik Van Deun. Rational design of lanthanide nano periodic mesoporous organosilicas (Ln-nano-PMOs) for near-infrared emission. Dalton Transactions 2021, 50, 2774 -2781.
AMA StyleWanlu Liu, Anna M. Kaczmarek, Karel Folens, Gijs Du Laing, Pascal Van Der Voort, Rik Van Deun. Rational design of lanthanide nano periodic mesoporous organosilicas (Ln-nano-PMOs) for near-infrared emission. Dalton Transactions. 2021; 50 (8):2774-2781.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWanlu Liu; Anna M. Kaczmarek; Karel Folens; Gijs Du Laing; Pascal Van Der Voort; Rik Van Deun. 2021. "Rational design of lanthanide nano periodic mesoporous organosilicas (Ln-nano-PMOs) for near-infrared emission." Dalton Transactions 50, no. 8: 2774-2781.
Food consumption and tobacco smoke are the main sources of toxic trace elements (TTE) for humans. To the present, no study has been carried out that assessed human exposure to TTE (Cd, Pb, As, Ni, Cr, Cu, and Co) through the consumption of the tomatoes, rice, and tobacco crops grown in the Sancti Spiritus territory of Cuba. Accordingly, the main goal of this study was to assess which metals and crops should receive priority attention for metal pollution management in the local environment. Combining residue element analysis in crops with consumption data collected from a survey, a deterministic exposure assessment was performed. The study identified that priority attention should be focused on Ni and Cd. First, the average concentration of Ni in tomato and rice was found above their reference limits. As a consequence, the concentration of Ni represented a risk to the maximum scenario of children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Together with Ni, Cd, and Cu also contribute slightly to the cumulative risk. Then, Cd and Ni were quantified in tobacco smoke at a concentration that represented an equal risk to both active and passive smokers. Concentrations high enough to hazard from these toxic elements. The study helped to identify children as the highest stratum at risk of developing adverse health effects due to exposure to Ni and Cd. The results obtained from the basis for future research aimed at reducing the polluting pressure of TTE on human health and the environment.
Edelbis López Dávila; Yenima Martínez Castro; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Gijs Du Laing; Pieter Spanoghe. Human exposure to toxic trace elements present in local crops of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Environment, Development and Sustainability 2020, 23, 10547 -10575.
AMA StyleEdelbis López Dávila, Yenima Martínez Castro, Osvaldo Romero Romero, Gijs Du Laing, Pieter Spanoghe. Human exposure to toxic trace elements present in local crops of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 2020; 23 (7):10547-10575.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdelbis López Dávila; Yenima Martínez Castro; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Gijs Du Laing; Pieter Spanoghe. 2020. "Human exposure to toxic trace elements present in local crops of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba." Environment, Development and Sustainability 23, no. 7: 10547-10575.
This study aimed to investigate bioaccessible/dialyzable fractions of nickel in selected foods and to clarify the impact of the food digestion/absorption on the final exposure of consumers to nickel. In vitro gastrointestinal incubation experiments were conducted to estimate the bioaccessibility of nickel in different foods. For estimation of a dialyzable fraction, dialysis filtration was conducted. Highest bioaccessibility (99.6%) was observed for wheat-based breakfast cereals. Lowest bioaccessibilities was observed for dried-fruits (on average 20.4%). Highest (61.5%) and lowest (24.5%) dialyzable fractions were observed for wheat-based breakfast cereal and chocolate respectively. Bioaccessible/dialyzable fractions based exposure assessments were highlighted the overestimation of exposures calculated based on total nickel concentrations in foods. This is particularly important when exposure values were compared with toxicological thresholds in a risk characterization study. When threshold values have been obtained through animal studies in which nickel was dosed at 100% accessibility/availability, e.g. nickel salts this is even more important.
Mehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Tom Van de Wiele; Ediu Carlos Da Silva Júnior; Gijs Du Laing. Assessment of bioaccessible and dialyzable fractions of nickel in food products and their impact on the chronic exposure of Belgian population to nickel. Food Chemistry 2020, 342, 128210 .
AMA StyleMehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi, Liesbeth Jacxsens, Tom Van de Wiele, Ediu Carlos Da Silva Júnior, Gijs Du Laing. Assessment of bioaccessible and dialyzable fractions of nickel in food products and their impact on the chronic exposure of Belgian population to nickel. Food Chemistry. 2020; 342 ():128210.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Tom Van de Wiele; Ediu Carlos Da Silva Júnior; Gijs Du Laing. 2020. "Assessment of bioaccessible and dialyzable fractions of nickel in food products and their impact on the chronic exposure of Belgian population to nickel." Food Chemistry 342, no. : 128210.
Two of the most persistent challenges for the high‐end application of luminescent lanthanide (Ln) compounds are a low quantum yield and luminescence quenching caused by a liquid medium. In this work, a type of polymeric hydrogen‐bonded heptazine framework is developed incorporating trivalent europium ions (P‐HHF‐Eu) via a low‐cost and facile low‐temperature thermal condensation reaction. Structural characterization clearly reveals that the solid‐phase pyrolyzation reaction results in the formation of P‐HHF‐Eu. Using time‐resolved and steady state photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies, the photophysics and photochemistry of P‐HHF‐Eu at different hydration degrees are investigated and the role of hydrogen bonding in the significant enhancement of the emission properties is demonstrated. Furthermore, the P‐HHF‐Eu particles suspended in polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel exhibit excellent luminescence stability with a high PL quantum yield of up to ≈46% and wavelength responsive color‐tunable emission, which holds potential for security applications.
Chaoqing Yang; Karel Folens; Gijs Du Laing; Flavia Artizzu; Rik Van Deun. Improved Quantum Yield and Excellent Luminescence Stability of Europium‐Incorporated Polymeric Hydrogen‐Bonded Heptazine Frameworks Due to an Efficient Hydrogen‐Bonding Effect. Advanced Functional Materials 2020, 30, 1 .
AMA StyleChaoqing Yang, Karel Folens, Gijs Du Laing, Flavia Artizzu, Rik Van Deun. Improved Quantum Yield and Excellent Luminescence Stability of Europium‐Incorporated Polymeric Hydrogen‐Bonded Heptazine Frameworks Due to an Efficient Hydrogen‐Bonding Effect. Advanced Functional Materials. 2020; 30 (39):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChaoqing Yang; Karel Folens; Gijs Du Laing; Flavia Artizzu; Rik Van Deun. 2020. "Improved Quantum Yield and Excellent Luminescence Stability of Europium‐Incorporated Polymeric Hydrogen‐Bonded Heptazine Frameworks Due to an Efficient Hydrogen‐Bonding Effect." Advanced Functional Materials 30, no. 39: 1.
Organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids are among the most commonly used pesticides worldwide. However, these pesticides are toxic not only to insects but also to other non-targets such as animals, including humans. The increasing public concern in recent years about possible health risks due to pesticide residues in the diet has influenced the strategies for crop protection. Over the years, researchers have relied on several analytical methods. The importance of enzyme-linked immune sorbent assays (ELISA) for pesticide analysis has increased over the past decades. This study was conducted to assess ELISA as a rapid, economical, and safe analytical procedure as an alternative prior to chromatographic techniques for monitoring the residues of these target pesticides in local Cuban vegetables. A colorimetric ELISA test kit was used to detect organophosphates and carbamates directly, while the analysis of pyrethroid was performed using paramagnetic particles attached to antibodies specifically to detect pyrethroids. To confirm the positive results, the samples were also analyzed by chromatography. With the use of the ELISA kits, it was possible to determine the presence of organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroid residues in the collected samples. The ELISA kits tested showed quantification capacity at values below the detection limit of the chromatographic techniques used. Linear relationships between the quantified values obtained by the chromatographic technique and results obtained through the pyrethroid ELISA test kits were observed. The developed ELISA exhibited high accuracy and is ideally suited as a fast, high-throughput, and low-cost screening test for organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroid residues to monitor and control these residue levels in the Cuban agriculture context.
Edelbis López Dávila; Michael Houbraken; Zuleiqui Gil Unday; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Gijs Du Laing; Pieter Spanoghe. ELISA, a feasible technique to monitor organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid residues in local vegetables. Cuban case study. SN Applied Sciences 2020, 2, 1 -12.
AMA StyleEdelbis López Dávila, Michael Houbraken, Zuleiqui Gil Unday, Osvaldo Romero Romero, Gijs Du Laing, Pieter Spanoghe. ELISA, a feasible technique to monitor organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid residues in local vegetables. Cuban case study. SN Applied Sciences. 2020; 2 (9):1-12.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdelbis López Dávila; Michael Houbraken; Zuleiqui Gil Unday; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Gijs Du Laing; Pieter Spanoghe. 2020. "ELISA, a feasible technique to monitor organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid residues in local vegetables. Cuban case study." SN Applied Sciences 2, no. 9: 1-12.
The success of an orthopedic implant therapy depends on successful bone integration and the prevention of microbial infections. In this work, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) was performed to deposit TiO2 coatings enriched with Ca, P, and Ag on titanium to improve its surface properties and antibacterial efficacy while maintaining normal biological functions and thus to enhance the performance of orthopedic implants. After PEO treatment, the surface of Ti was converted to anatase and rutile TiO2, hydroxyapatite, and calcium titanate phases. The presence of these crystalline phases was further increased with an increased Ag content in the coatings. The developed coatings also exhibited a more porous morphology with an improved surface wettability, roughness, microhardness, and frictional coefficient. In vitro antibacterial assays indicated that the Ag-doped coatings can significantly prevent the growth of both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli by releasing Ag+ ions, and the ability to prevent these bacteria was enhanced by increasing the Ag content in the coatings, resulting in a maximal 6-log reduction of E. coli and a maximal 5-log reduction of S. aureus after 24 h of incubation. Moreover, the in vitro cytocompatibility evaluation of the coatings showed that the osteoblast (MC3T3) cell integration on the PEO-based coatings was greatly improved compared to untreated Ti and no notable impact on their cytocompatibility was observed on increasing the amount of Ag in the coating. In conclusion, the coating with favorable physicochemical and mechanical properties along with controlled silver ion release can offer an excellent antibacterial performance and osteocompatibility and can thus become a prospective coating strategy to face current challenges in orthopedics.
Monica Thukkaram; Renee Coryn; Mahtab Asadian; Parinaz Saadat Esbah Tabaei; Petra Rigole; Naveenkumar Rajendhran; Anton Nikiforov; Jacob Sukumaran; Tom Coenye; Pascal Van Der Voort; Gijs Du Laing; Rino Morent; Alexander Van Tongel; Lieven De Wilde; Patrick De Baets; Kim Verbeken; Nathalie De Geyter. Fabrication of Microporous Coatings on Titanium Implants with Improved Mechanical, Antibacterial, and Cell-Interactive Properties. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2020, 12, 30155 -30169.
AMA StyleMonica Thukkaram, Renee Coryn, Mahtab Asadian, Parinaz Saadat Esbah Tabaei, Petra Rigole, Naveenkumar Rajendhran, Anton Nikiforov, Jacob Sukumaran, Tom Coenye, Pascal Van Der Voort, Gijs Du Laing, Rino Morent, Alexander Van Tongel, Lieven De Wilde, Patrick De Baets, Kim Verbeken, Nathalie De Geyter. Fabrication of Microporous Coatings on Titanium Implants with Improved Mechanical, Antibacterial, and Cell-Interactive Properties. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2020; 12 (27):30155-30169.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonica Thukkaram; Renee Coryn; Mahtab Asadian; Parinaz Saadat Esbah Tabaei; Petra Rigole; Naveenkumar Rajendhran; Anton Nikiforov; Jacob Sukumaran; Tom Coenye; Pascal Van Der Voort; Gijs Du Laing; Rino Morent; Alexander Van Tongel; Lieven De Wilde; Patrick De Baets; Kim Verbeken; Nathalie De Geyter. 2020. "Fabrication of Microporous Coatings on Titanium Implants with Improved Mechanical, Antibacterial, and Cell-Interactive Properties." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12, no. 27: 30155-30169.
One of the leading causes of failure for any bone implant are implant associated infections. The implant-bone interface is in fact the crucial site of infection where both microorganisms and cells compete to populate the newly introduced implant surface. Most of the work dealing with this issue has focused on the design of implant coatings capable of preventing infection while ignoring cell proliferation or vice versa. The present study is therefore focused on investigating the antibacterial and biological properties of nanocomposite coatings based on an amorphous hydrocarbon (a-C:H) matrix containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). a-C:H coatings with varying silver concentrations were generated directly on medical grade titanium substrates using a combination of a gas aggregation source (GAS) and a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) process. The obtained results revealed that the surface silver content increased from 1.3 at% to 5.3 at% by increasing the used DC magnetron current in the GAS from 200 to 500 mA. A series of in-vitro antibacterial assays also indicated that increasing the number of AgNPs in the nanocomposites led to excellent antibacterial activities resulting in a 6-log reduction of E. coli and a 4-log reduction of S. aureus after 24 hours of incubation. An MTT assay, fluorescence live/dead staining and SEM microscopy observations of MC3T3 cells seeded on the uncoated and coated Ti substrates also showed that increasing the amount of AgNPs in the nanocomposites had no notable impact on their cytocompatibility, while improved cell proliferation was especially observed for the nanocomposites possessing a low amount of Ag NPs. These controllable Ag/a-C:H nanocomposites on Ti substrates which simultaneously provide an excellent antibacterial performance and good biocompatibility could thus have promising applications in orthopedics and other biomedical implants.
Monica Thukkaram; Mykhailo Vaidulych; Ondrej Kylian; Jan Hanus; Petra Rigole; Sheida Aliakbarshirazi; Mahtab Asadian; Anton Nikiforov; Alexander Van Tongel; Hynek Biederman; Tom Coenye; Gijs Du Laing; Rino Morent; Lieven De Wilde; Kim Verbeken; Nathalie De Geyter. Investigation of Ag/a-C:H Nanocomposite Coatings on Titanium for Orthopedic Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2020, 12, 23655 -23666.
AMA StyleMonica Thukkaram, Mykhailo Vaidulych, Ondrej Kylian, Jan Hanus, Petra Rigole, Sheida Aliakbarshirazi, Mahtab Asadian, Anton Nikiforov, Alexander Van Tongel, Hynek Biederman, Tom Coenye, Gijs Du Laing, Rino Morent, Lieven De Wilde, Kim Verbeken, Nathalie De Geyter. Investigation of Ag/a-C:H Nanocomposite Coatings on Titanium for Orthopedic Applications. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. 2020; 12 (21):23655-23666.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonica Thukkaram; Mykhailo Vaidulych; Ondrej Kylian; Jan Hanus; Petra Rigole; Sheida Aliakbarshirazi; Mahtab Asadian; Anton Nikiforov; Alexander Van Tongel; Hynek Biederman; Tom Coenye; Gijs Du Laing; Rino Morent; Lieven De Wilde; Kim Verbeken; Nathalie De Geyter. 2020. "Investigation of Ag/a-C:H Nanocomposite Coatings on Titanium for Orthopedic Applications." ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 12, no. 21: 23655-23666.
Unmodified microalgal biomass grown on wastewater works as an effective and selective indium biosorbent even at low pH values.
Nina Ricci Nicomel; Lila Otero-Gonzalez; Larissa Arashiro; Marianna Garfí; Ivet Ferrer; Pascal Van Der Voort; Kim Verbeken; Tom Hennebel; Gijs Du Laing. Microalgae: a sustainable adsorbent with high potential for upconcentration of indium(iii) from liquid process and waste streams. Green Chemistry 2020, 22, 1985 -1995.
AMA StyleNina Ricci Nicomel, Lila Otero-Gonzalez, Larissa Arashiro, Marianna Garfí, Ivet Ferrer, Pascal Van Der Voort, Kim Verbeken, Tom Hennebel, Gijs Du Laing. Microalgae: a sustainable adsorbent with high potential for upconcentration of indium(iii) from liquid process and waste streams. Green Chemistry. 2020; 22 (6):1985-1995.
Chicago/Turabian StyleNina Ricci Nicomel; Lila Otero-Gonzalez; Larissa Arashiro; Marianna Garfí; Ivet Ferrer; Pascal Van Der Voort; Kim Verbeken; Tom Hennebel; Gijs Du Laing. 2020. "Microalgae: a sustainable adsorbent with high potential for upconcentration of indium(iii) from liquid process and waste streams." Green Chemistry 22, no. 6: 1985-1995.
Nickel can occur in plant-based, animal-based foods and drinks. It can either naturally occur in plants or it could originate from contamination. The natural occurrence of nickel arises from the fact that the element plays an essential role in the functioning of enzymes involved in the nitrogen fixation process. Besides, contamination can occur at any stage of the production, processing or packing of the foods. More specifically, nickel can leach from contact materials to foods or drinks before their consumption by humans. In recent years, the European Food Safety Authority expressed concern regarding the chronic and acute exposure of the European population to nickel. This study aimed to screen foods available on the Belgian market for their nickel content and to identify potential sources of the contamination. In total, 708 samples were collected from three different main categories of foods, including plant-based products, animal-based products and drinks. Elevated nickel concentrations were found in plant-based products such as chocolate, legumes, nuts, figs, peanut butter, chocolate spreads and breakfast cereals. The nickel concentrations in the animal-based products and drinks were significantly lower compared to the plant-based products. In the beer samples, no correlation between the alcohol percentage and nickel concentration was found. Higher nickel concentrations were found in the tea drinks in comparison to other drinks. Furthermore, the effect of packaging, e.g. storage in cans, on the final nickel concentration of the foods was investigated. No effect of the packaging was found, demonstrating that leaching of nickel from packaging materials is not significantly contributing to the nickel content in foods. The results demonstrate high concentrations of nickel in some plant-based food products and further exposure assessment studies are needed to evaluate the risk due to intake of nickel-enriched food products.
Mehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Bruno De Meulenaer; Gijs Du Laing. Nickel in foods sampled on the Belgian market: identification of potential contamination sources. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A 2020, 37, 607 -621.
AMA StyleMehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi, Liesbeth Jacxsens, Bruno De Meulenaer, Gijs Du Laing. Nickel in foods sampled on the Belgian market: identification of potential contamination sources. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A. 2020; 37 (4):607-621.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Bruno De Meulenaer; Gijs Du Laing. 2020. "Nickel in foods sampled on the Belgian market: identification of potential contamination sources." Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A 37, no. 4: 607-621.
Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients that are often lacking in the diet of humans and animals, leading to deficiency diseases. Lemna and Azolla are two aquatic plants with a substantial protein content, which offer the possibility of utilizing them to remove Se and Zn from (waste)water while producing micronutrient-enriched dietary proteins and fertilizers. In this study, we explored interaction effects occurring between Se and Zn when these micronutrients are taken up by Azolla and Lemna. The two aquatic plants were grown on hydroponic cultures containing 0–5.0 mg/L of Se (Se(IV) or Se(VI)) and Zn. The Se and Zn content of the plants, growth indicators, bioconcentration factor (BCF) and Se/Zn removal efficiency from the water phase were evaluated. The results demonstrated that Se(IV) is more toxic than Se(VI) for both plant species, as evidenced by the remarkable decrease of biomass content and root length when exposed to Se(IV). Both aquatic plants took up around 10 times more Se(IV) than Se(VI) from the medium. Moreover, the Se accumulation and removal efficiency increased by 66–99% for Se(IV) and by 34–59% for Se(VI) in Lemna when increasing Zn dosage from 0 to 5.0 mg/L in the medium, whereas it declined by 13–26% for Se(IV) and 21–35% for Se(VI) in Azolla, suggesting a synergetic effect in Lemna, but an antagonistic effect in Azolla. The maximum BCF of Se in Lemna and Azolla were 507 and 667, respectively. The protein content in freeze-dried Lemna and Azolla was approximately 17%. The high tolerance and accumulation of Se and Zn in Lemna and Azolla, combined with their rapid growth, high protein content and transformation of inorganic to organic Se species upon Se(IV) exposure make Lemna and Azolla potential candidates for the production of Se(IV)- and Zn-enriched biomass that can be used as crop fertilizers or protein-rich food/feed supplements or ingredients. Accordingly, by growing the Azolla and Lemna on wastewater, a high-value product can be produced from wastewater while recovering resources.
Jun Li; Piet N.L. Lens; Lila Otero-Gonzalez; Gijs Du Laing. Production of selenium- and zinc-enriched Lemna and Azolla as potential micronutrient-enriched bioproducts. Water Research 2020, 172, 115522 .
AMA StyleJun Li, Piet N.L. Lens, Lila Otero-Gonzalez, Gijs Du Laing. Production of selenium- and zinc-enriched Lemna and Azolla as potential micronutrient-enriched bioproducts. Water Research. 2020; 172 ():115522.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJun Li; Piet N.L. Lens; Lila Otero-Gonzalez; Gijs Du Laing. 2020. "Production of selenium- and zinc-enriched Lemna and Azolla as potential micronutrient-enriched bioproducts." Water Research 172, no. : 115522.
Enrichment of food crops with iodine is an option to alleviate dietary deficiencies. Therefore, foliar iodine fertilizer was applied on wheat and rice, in the presence and absence of the other micronutrients zinc and selenium. This treatment increased the concentration of iodine, as well as zinc and selenium, in the staple grains. Subsequently, potential iodine losses during preparation of foodstuffs with the enriched grains were studied. Oven-heating did not affect the iodine content in bread. Extraction of bran from flour lowered the iodine in white bread compared to wholegrain bread, but it was still markedly higher compared to the control. During subsequent in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, a higher percentage of iodine was released from foods based on extracted flour (82-92%) compared to wholegrain foods (50-76%). The foliar fertilization of wheat was found to be adequate to alleviate iodine deficiency in a population with a moderate to high intake of bread.
Ismail Cakmak; Massimo Marzorati; Pieter Van Den Abbeele; Katja Hora; Harmen Tjalling Holwerda; Mustafa Atilla Yazıcı; Erdinc Savasli; Joachim Neri; Gijs Du Laing. Fate and Bioaccessibility of Iodine in Food Prepared from Agronomically Biofortified Wheat and Rice and Impact of Cofertilization with Zinc and Selenium. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 2020, 68, 1525 -1535.
AMA StyleIsmail Cakmak, Massimo Marzorati, Pieter Van Den Abbeele, Katja Hora, Harmen Tjalling Holwerda, Mustafa Atilla Yazıcı, Erdinc Savasli, Joachim Neri, Gijs Du Laing. Fate and Bioaccessibility of Iodine in Food Prepared from Agronomically Biofortified Wheat and Rice and Impact of Cofertilization with Zinc and Selenium. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2020; 68 (6):1525-1535.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIsmail Cakmak; Massimo Marzorati; Pieter Van Den Abbeele; Katja Hora; Harmen Tjalling Holwerda; Mustafa Atilla Yazıcı; Erdinc Savasli; Joachim Neri; Gijs Du Laing. 2020. "Fate and Bioaccessibility of Iodine in Food Prepared from Agronomically Biofortified Wheat and Rice and Impact of Cofertilization with Zinc and Selenium." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 68, no. 6: 1525-1535.
Off-label use of pesticides (i.e. application at inappropriate times and/or on unregistered crops) is a potential risk to the environment and human health. The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of small lot farmers on the use, risk, and hazards associated with exposure to pesticides in the agricultural region of Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. For the fulfillment of the objective, 124 small lot farmers of the province were surveyed. The results were analyzed from an initial descriptive analysis and then through an association analysis using the Chi-Square test and Spearman correlations, with the use of the statistical package SPSS version 20.0. The results showed that only 28.3 % of the farmers had received specific training on pesticides. Personal experience was the main driver for decisions about which pesticides to use and how to apply them. 35.8 % of the farmers stored pesticides in unmarked containers, such as soft drink bottles. The empty containers are stored to be incinerated (31.7 %) or reused (42.6 %) for pesticides, water, or fuel. Around 90 % of farmers do not use personal protection equipment. The study concludes that the lack of knowledge and personal protective equipment, inability to understand the labels, and low risk-perception are the main causes of exposure to pesticides and the health risk for workers and nearby residents, as well as damage to the environment.
Edelbis Lopez Davila; Liliana Ramos Torres; Michael Houbraken; Gijs Du Laing; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Pieter Spanoghe. Cuba pesticides knowledge and practical use. Ciencia & Tecnología Agropecuaria 2019, 21, 1 -20.
AMA StyleEdelbis Lopez Davila, Liliana Ramos Torres, Michael Houbraken, Gijs Du Laing, Osvaldo Romero Romero, Pieter Spanoghe. Cuba pesticides knowledge and practical use. Ciencia & Tecnología Agropecuaria. 2019; 21 (1):1-20.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEdelbis Lopez Davila; Liliana Ramos Torres; Michael Houbraken; Gijs Du Laing; Osvaldo Romero Romero; Pieter Spanoghe. 2019. "Cuba pesticides knowledge and practical use." Ciencia & Tecnología Agropecuaria 21, no. 1: 1-20.
Selenium (Se) deficiency is associated with increased risk of clinical disorders. Yet, it has not been considered as an important public health issue in Africa. The health burden of this ‘hidden hunger’ remains largely unknown. Using a case study of central Kenya highlands, a cross-sectional survey assesses Se status of agricultural soils, foods, hair, and actual average dietary Se intake of the local population and investigates the soil–food Se concentration and Se intake–individual Se status relationships. The survey examines eight locations characterized by different agricultural soil types and assesses average dietary Se intake among 159 children and 111 women based on 24-h dietary recall data. Soil Se concentration does not explain Se concentration in foods, which instead is associated with soil’s pH, organic matter, and P and Fe content. Cereal grains, beans and potato/green banana form a large portion of the local diet while intake of animal-based foods is limited. This results in Se intake of 15 and 33 µg p−1 d−1 for children and women, respectively. On average, 87% of children and 97% of women have inadequate average daily dietary Se intake, and the hair Se concentration of 92% children and 94% women is below the reference values. Soil’s characteristics contribute to variation in Se concentration in foods and consequently the dietary Se intake. A low diversified diet is a key contributing factor to inadequate dietary Se intake in the region. These findings call for the need to investigate potential intervention measure and the health burden of Se deficiency.
Peter Biu Ngigi; Gijs Du Laing; Peter Wafula Masinde; Carl Lachat. Selenium deficiency risk in central Kenya highlands: an assessment from the soil to the body. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2019, 42, 2233 -2250.
AMA StylePeter Biu Ngigi, Gijs Du Laing, Peter Wafula Masinde, Carl Lachat. Selenium deficiency risk in central Kenya highlands: an assessment from the soil to the body. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 2019; 42 (7):2233-2250.
Chicago/Turabian StylePeter Biu Ngigi; Gijs Du Laing; Peter Wafula Masinde; Carl Lachat. 2019. "Selenium deficiency risk in central Kenya highlands: an assessment from the soil to the body." Environmental Geochemistry and Health 42, no. 7: 2233-2250.
The metal nickel is well known to cause nickel allergy in sensitive humans by prolonged dermal contact to materials releasing (high) amounts of nickel. Oral nickel exposure via water and food intake is of potential concern. Nickel is essential to plants and animals and can be naturally found in food products or contamination may occur across the agro-food chain. This gap analysis is an evaluation of nickel as a potential food safety hazard causing a risk for human health. In the first step, the available data regarding the occurrence of nickel and its contamination in food and drinks have been collected through literature review. Subsequently, a discussion is held on the potential risks associated with this contamination. Elevated nickel concentrations were mostly found in plant-based foods, e.g. legumes and nuts in which nickel of natural origin is expected. However, it was observed that dedicated and systematic screening of foodstuffs for the presence of nickel is currently still lacking. In a next step, published studies on exposure of humans to nickel via foods and drinks were critically evaluated. Not including bioaccessibility and/or bioavailability of the metal may lead to an overestimation of the exposure of the body to nickel via food and drinks. This overestimation may be problematic when the measured nickel level in foods is high and bioaccessibility and/or bioavailability of nickel in these products is low. Therefore, this paper analyzes the outcomes of the existing dietary intake and bioaccessibility/bioavailability studies conducted for nickel. Besides, the available gaps in nickel bioaccessibility and/or bioavailability studies have been clarified in this paper. The reported bioaccessibility and bioavailability percentages for different food and drinks were found to vary between
Mehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Tom Van de Wiele; Gijs Du Laing. Gap analysis of nickel bioaccessibility and bioavailability in different food matrices and its impact on the nickel exposure assessment. Food Research International 2019, 129, 108866 .
AMA StyleMehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi, Liesbeth Jacxsens, Tom Van de Wiele, Gijs Du Laing. Gap analysis of nickel bioaccessibility and bioavailability in different food matrices and its impact on the nickel exposure assessment. Food Research International. 2019; 129 ():108866.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMehrnoosh Babaahmadifooladi; Liesbeth Jacxsens; Tom Van de Wiele; Gijs Du Laing. 2019. "Gap analysis of nickel bioaccessibility and bioavailability in different food matrices and its impact on the nickel exposure assessment." Food Research International 129, no. : 108866.