Transport is one of the most important sources of environmental pollution. More and more information has shown that one of the greatest sources of emissions from transport are emissions related to the release of microplastics from tyres. This is one of the most underestimated sources of emissions into the environment. In this study, environmental samples are analysed for the presence of these particles. For this purpose, optical methods and spectroscopic methods are used. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is used to identify synthetic rubber, most likely derived from car tyres. A complementary confocal microscopy method is used to confirm the FTIR results. The soil samples and road dust from the areas with heavy traffic are tested. An average of 372 ± 50 fragments per kilogram dry weight are detected in the soil samples. In the case of samples from the road, this number is 515 ± 20 fragments per kilogram of dry matter. In the samples, most of the microplastics come from tyres, which confirms the scientists’ assumptions about the amount of emissions in the environment. More than 90% of the black fragments later identified as tyre-derived synthetic rubber are found in the samples. A greater number of microplastics are found in road dust samples than in the soil. This may be due to the direct influence of braking, which causes greater accumulation of samples at the emission source than at a short distance into the soil. There is also a noticeable difference in the size of the fraction. In the case of soils, a fraction below 50 µm accounts for the majority of cases. When one analyses road dust samples, one may observe that most of the fractions are between 50 and 200 µm. This may be due to the possibility of smaller emission particles over longer distances and the greater degradation process that occurs in soils. The microplastics from the road dust are less degraded than the microplastics from the soil.

Wastewater treatment processes can fragment microplastics (MPs), which may subsequently enter fertilizers applied in agricultural settings. This study aimed to quantify the occurrence of MPs in stabilized sewage sludge intended for fertilizer production. Matrix elimination was performed using an oxidative method to isolate MPs, followed by MPs separation with a saturated salt solution of appropriate density to enhance the accuracy of identification. The resulting samples were analyzed using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to provide the detailed characterization of MPs content. The highest concentrations of MPs were recorded during the months of June, July, and May, with average values of 2942, 2341, and 1746 fragments per 100 g of dry weight, respectively. The analysis revealed that fragments were the dominant morphological form, and low-density polyethylene was the most common polymer type detected. These findings underscore a significant risk of MPs re-emission into the environment through the agricultural application of fertilizers derived from sewage sludge. Such practices may lead to the introduction of between 6110 and 13,889 MPs per square meter of soil, depending on the application rates, thereby posing potential risks to soil health and the broader ecosystem. This study highlights the importance of monitoring MPs content in fertilizers derived from wastewater treatment by-products.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), meaning functional or structural brain damage which appear as a result of the application of the external physical force, constitutes the main cause of death and disability of individuals and a great socioeconomic problem. To search for the new therapeutic strategies for TBI, better knowledge about posttraumatic pathological changes occurring in the brain is necessary. Therefore in the present paper the Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and Raman microscopy were used to examine local and remote biochemical changes occurring in the rat brain as a result of focal cortex injury. The site of the injury and the dorsal part of the hippocampal formation together with the above situated cortex and white matter were the subject of the study. The topographic and quantitative biochemical analysis followed with the statistical study using principal component analysis showed significant biomolecular anomalies within the lesion site but not in the area of the dorsal hippocampal formation and in the above situated white matter and cortex. The observed intralesional anomalies included significantly decreased accumulation of lipids and their structural changes within the place of injury. Also the levels of compounds containing phosphate and carbonyl groups were lower within the lesion site comparing to the surrounding cortex. The opposite relation was, in turn, found for the bands characteristic to proteins and cholesterol/cholesterol esters.

Microplastics are an increasingly concerning environmental pollutant. Their presence in agricultural settings is particularly troubling due to their persistence and potential to infiltrate soil, groundwater, and the food chain. This study focused on analyzing fertilizer derived from stabilized sewage sludge collected in June and July. The average mass of microplastics isolated per 100 g of fertilizer was 461.28 mg in June and 458.92 mg in July. The analysis revealed a substantial quantity of microplastics, with fragments and fibers being the predominant forms. In the June samples, an average of 860 microplastic particles was detected, compared to 734 in July (507 fragments and 227 fibers). The most common particle sizes in June ranged from 1500 to 2000 µm and 2000 to 2500 µm, with a significant proportion also exceeding 4000 µm. In July, particles larger than 4000 µm were the most prevalent. Qualitative analysis using Raman microscopy identified polyethylene—a widely used, inexpensive, and chemically stable polymer—as one of the main types of plastic present.

Introduction: Melanoma, an aggressive and highly immunogenic cancer, arises from uncontrolled melanocyte growth. FLASH radiotherapy, a breakthrough technique, delivers ultra-high radiation doses, offering the potential for improved cancer treatment while minimizing harm to healthy tissue. Material and Methods: To study the short-term response of spheroids to FLASH radiotherapy, 3D cultures of melanocytes and melanoma were used. Spheroids were irradiated using the FLASH method with the total doses of 3, 20, and 40 Gy, and conventionally with a dose of 3 Gy. After 8 days from irradiation, the measurements were taken using an imaging cytometer, FTIR and colorimetric microscopy (C-Microscopy). Results: Studies conducted on melanocytes showed that doses of 20 and 40 Gy are toxic to them and cause cell necrosis. In contrast, for melanoma, these two doses resulted in tumor growth inhibition. IR measurements revealed spectral changes in lipids, proteins, and DNA/RNA, indicating similarities between the effects of the FLASH method and conventional radiotherapy for both spheroid models (i.e., cancerous and normal). The spheroid quantitative color analysis allowed for the differentiation between different irradiated and control groups. Conclusion: Both colorimetric and infrared microscopy can be used to analyse the response of tumors to radiation.