Danger Dust

This device is the first of its kind to operate in a moist environment, better approximating the conditions inside the human mouth.

The sensor described in the paper was made of multiple layers of graphene oxide, a material well known for its tunable electrical properties and high chemical reactivity, enclosed in a nanofluidic device

Fully implantable and wireless operation in a simulated 2-week therapeutic scenario results in a remarkable 50% tumor reduction from the initial volume while minimizing damage to nearby normal tissue and off-target organs such as the heart, liver, spleen, and kidney.

The study analyzed several air pollutants, including those commonly linked to traffic—such as nitrogen dioxide and ultrafine particles—which are especially concentrated in urban environments.

Various types of air pollution have been shown to have negative effects on health, and ultrafine particles are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier and may directly affect brain tissue.

Of particular interest was the analysis of toxic metal sources, which revealed the significant contribution of non-exhaust emissions to health risks. While vehicle exhaust has long been recognized as a major pollution concern, the study found that brake pad and tire wear particles also play an important role in urban air toxicity.

The team identified that these "non-exhaust emission sources" generate heavy metals, including cobalt and nickel, which account for 56% of total health risks, despite contributing less to the particle surface area.

A leading expert in the health impacts of plastic pollution and microplastics is calling on the UN to end the use of toxic chemicals in all plastics, cap and reduce plastic production and argues against a treaty focused on waste management and recycling, as part of an international Plastics Treaty.

Much of this pollution is linked to plastic production, use and disposal, and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries.

Alarmingly, plastic production is predicted to grow 300% by 2060.

August 2017:

Several occupational hazards, especially exposure to silica, have been implicated as causal factors for the development of scleroderma-like disorders. Compared to other connective tissue disorders, silica-associated systemic sclerosis (SA-SS) is relatively rare. Silica-induced scleroderma is indistinguishable from idiopathic systemic sclerosis. However, the former expresses a high predisposition of pulmonary involvement and anti-Scl-70 antibody.

We report the case of a 42-year-old male, stone cutter by occupation, who was diagnosed as simple chronic silicosis and developed systemic sclerosis.

August 2018:

In the past decades, evidence from several reports has shown that environmental agents can act as potential triggers for SSc. One of these is exposure to silica — a mixture of the natural chemical silicon with two oxygen atoms (dioxide) — which is naturally found in rocks, sand and clay and in materials such as bricks and concrete.

Inhalation of silica-containing dust has been linked to autoimmune diseases in genetically predisposed individuals, including SSc. Research with humans and animal models suggests that silica exposure triggers multiple changes in the immune system, such as the production of signaling molecules (cytokines) that promote inflammation and scarring (fibrotic) lesions.

In this study, researchers analyzed blood samples for traces of silica microparticles and nanoparticles, as well as silicon, in 80 SSc patients, including 70 females, at a mean age of 58.4, who lived in the Italian province of Modena, which has a high density of industries with high risk of silica dust exposure. The same analysis was performed on 50 sex-matched healthy controls from the same geographical area.

Additional elements screened in the analysis included aluminium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, titanium, and zinc.

Participants’ possible exposure to microparticles and nanoparticles was determined via a questionnaire focusing on their occupational exposure, environmental exposure, smoking habits, and prosthesis implants.

Of the 80 SSc patients, 43 (54%) were exposed to microparticles and nanoparticles, as well as six of the controls (12%), mainly due to work in the ceramic industries.

Other exposure categories — environmental exposure, smoking habits, and prosthesis implants — were much rarer in both groups.

Exposure to silica dust preceded disease onset, with a median exposure duration of 16.4 years, and 21 of the 43 SSc patients were still exposed to the harmful particles at the time of the study.

In these 21 patients, the levels of silicon were significantly higher than in the remaining 22 patients who had been exposed in the past.

Turtles are renowned for their extreme longevity and tremendous range in body size.

Theoretically, large, long-lived organisms should face higher cancer risks because of increased cell numbers and lifetime cellular turnover, yet cancer appears to be exceptionally rare in turtles.

In the present article, we synthesize the current knowledge on cancer prevalence in turtles, drawing from zoo necropsies, pathology reports, and comparative oncology studies, and present new data spanning additional species that reinforce this pattern.

Emerging molecular evidence suggests that turtles possess high resistance to oxidative stress and protein dysregulation, which may contribute to cancer resistance.

Given their extreme lifespans and unique physiology, turtles represent a promising but underexplored model for studying the evolution of longevity and natural cancer suppression mechanisms.

Infectious diseases have had devastating effects on human populations throughout history, but important questions about their origins and past dynamics remain.

To create an archaeogenetic-based spatiotemporal map of human pathogens, we screened shotgun-sequencing data from ancient humans covering 37,000 years of Eurasian history.

We demonstrate the widespread presence of ancient bacterial, viral and parasite DNA, identifying 5,486 individual hits against 492 species from 136 genera. Among those hits, 3,384 involve known human pathogens, many of which had not previously been identified in ancient human remains.

Grouping the ancient microbial species according to their likely reservoir and type of transmission, we find that most groups are identified throughout the entire sampling period.

Zoonotic pathogens are only detected from around 6,500 years ago, peaking roughly 5,000 years ago, coinciding with the widespread domestication of livestock.

Our findings provide direct evidence that this lifestyle change resulted in an increased infectious disease burden.

They also indicate that the spread of these pathogens increased substantially during subsequent millennia, coinciding with the pastoralist migrations from the Eurasian Steppe

This study reports the first-in-human application of iPSC-derived CD19/BCMA dual-targeting chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer (CAR-NK) cells (QN-139b) in a patient with severe, diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. The allogeneic product was genetically edited for reduced alloreactivity and improved in vivo performance, with no structural chromosomal abnormalities detected. The treatment led to significant B cell depletion with minimal toxicity, similar to CAR T cell therapy.

The patient showed marked clinical improvements during the 6-month follow-up, including reduced autoantibodies and reversed fibrosis, which are resistant to conventional treatments. Single-cell analysis of peripheral blood revealed that the treatment shifted B cells toward more naive phenotypes and eliminated pathogenic B cells.

Proteomic studies demonstrated suppression of inflammation and fibrosis, enhanced tissue regeneration, and improved angiogenesis. Pathological evaluation confirmed the elimination of infiltrated lymphocytes from affected skin along with restored skin and microvascular structure.

These findings suggest QN-139b is a promising immune-modulatory treatment for severe autoimmune diseases.

While trumpeting five decades of lifesaving regulatory successes on the Health and Safety Executive’s 50th birthday, the regulator’s leadership glossed over one inconvenient truth.

The improvements ended years ago. Stone dead.

Latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual statistics on work-related ill-health and workplace injuries, published on 20 November 2024, reveal that the number of workers reported to be suffering from work-related ill-health during 2023/24 is 1.7 million –similar to 2022/23, which hit an all-time record 1.8 million workers ...

Their stories were similar. Both were stone dressers. Both lived and worked in Bradford, surrounded by the rugged sandstone bluffs that fringe the southern edge of the Yorkshire Dales. And both died before they could claim their pension.

Paul Gray and Stuart Johnson succumbed to silicosis, caused by inhaling the silica dust that filled the air as they worked.

West Yorkshire – but notably Bradford – with its sandstone quarries and stoneyards is a recognised hotspot for silicosis, say workplace disease lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, who represented the widows of both men.

Paul (right) had worked as a stone dresser from 1997 to 2017. He would fashion quarried stone into paving slabs, using power tools, including saws and hand tools, including hammers and chisels.

He was never provided with overalls made from low dust retention fabric. There were no changing or cleaning facilities and no provision for the removal of silica-clogged clothing. Paul said he was never provided with any respiratory protective equipment (RPE) during his career.

He had been in good health until he started to experience breathing difficulties in October 2017. He was diagnosed with silicosis in November 2017.

Every week, thousands of people with kidney disease in the UK spend long hours in hospital receiving life-saving dialysis. For many, this means travelling to a kidney unit three times a week and sitting through sessions that last four hours or more. It’s a huge commitment that affects people’s ability to work, travel and maintain a normal social life.

But for many with kidney failure, there’s another option: dialysis at home. It’s more flexible, often less disruptive and, in the long run, more cost-effective for the NHS. So why do most people still choose hospital dialysis?

A volcano in Antarctica is spewing out £5,000's worth of gold dust every day and because of how slowly it erupts, the gold is crystallising and forming.

Mount Erebus was discovered in 1841 by Captain Sir James Clark Ross who named it after his boat as he and his crew were sailing by it.

It's the world's southernmost active volcano and one of two active volcanoes in Antarctica out of the 138 on the continent.

Two international clinical studies led by PD Dr Norbert Heinrich at the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at LMU University Hospital Munich with international partners have shown the safety and efficacy of two promising antibiotics as potential alternatives to linezolid in the treatment of tuberculosis.

The drugs, sutezolid and delpazolid, have demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity and a notably better safety profile compared to linezolid, with potential to replace this current cornerstone in the treatment of drug-resistant TB. The findings were published on July 8, 2025, in two peer-reviewed articles in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, one of the world’s leading journals in the field of infectious disease medicine. Research partners in Germany included the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, the Center for International Health (CIH) at LMU University Hospital and Helmholtz Munich.

BEIJING: Who says construction can’t be clean or stylish? A giant inflatable dome has been erected over a construction site in eastern China, in what may be the country’s puffiest solution yet to keeping dust and noise pollution down.

According to Times Now News – an English-language news outlet based in India – which reported on the project on July 3, the dome is the first of its kind in China and uses negative pressure and air filtration systems to prevent dust from escaping into nearby areas.

A concrete testing lab at the multi-billion-dollar Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro project has been closed for nearly two months amid concerns workers were being exposed to silica.

SafeWork NSW said it responded to a request for service at Lobs Hole Test Laboratory on May 15 regarding concerns about respirable crystalline silica (RCS).

The inhalation of fine silica dust can result in the lung disease silicosis, causing long-term lung damage that can be fatal.

Dust hazard analysis, a crucial component for ensuring industrial safety where combustible dust is a possibility, is missing from the Factories department’s checklist for inspection of industries.

Dust hazard analysis is done to identify, analyse, and suggest mitigation measures for the risks associated with combustible dust in industries. The analysis is of importance for industries engaged in the manufacture of chemicals, metals, and pharmaceuticals.

A Factories department’s inspection report of the Sigachi Industries in December 2024, pointed at several lapses in the factory, including a paucity of fire exits. According to the report, the number of exits from the machinery hall are insufficient. A recommendation was made for provision of the same without obstruction. Firefighting equipment was inadequate, and all the workers were not trained in firefighting. Thick rubber matting or insulation was not provided at electrical panels, and the electrical wiring was not laid in permanent conduits to prevent danger to workmen. The report remarked that loose and temporary electric wiring was found in the factory.

Personal Protective Equipment such as safety belts, helmets, safety shoes, goggles, masks, and gloves are not provided to the workers, nor was there any safety training for them.

Lung cancer cases are on the rise in non-smokers around the world, and air pollution could be an insidious, contributing factor.

A genome study has now found that outdoor smog and soot are strongly associated with DNA mutations related to lung cancer – including known drivers seen in smokers, and new ones unique to non-smokers.

The more pollution someone was exposed to, the more mutations scientists found in their lung tumors.

The findings don't mean that air pollution is directly causing lung cancer, but they do contribute to evidence suggesting that possibility.

AURILLAC, France (AP) — A unusual attack by bees in the French town of Aurillac has left 24 people injured, including three in critical condition, according to local authorities.

The Prefecture of Cantal, in south-central France, said passersby were stung over a period of about 30 minutes on Sunday morning. Firefighters and medical teams were rushed to the scene to treat the victims while police set up a security perimeter until the bees stopped their attack.

The three people in critical condition were evacuated to a local hospital.

Pierre Mathonier, the mayor of Aurillac, told French broadcaster France 3 the incident may have been related to Asian hornets threatening beehives that had been installed on the roof terrace of a downtown hotel over 10 years ago. He said that this had likely caused the bees to become aggressive.

“All ended well,” he said. “The emergency services were perfectly coordinated. There was no panic in Aurillac, but a number of people were stung.”

Residents wore masks to protect themselves from thick volcanic ash that blanketed roads and green rice fields in villages in south-central Indonesia as rumbling Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki erupted Tuesday for a second straight day.

The eruption at dawn sent lava and clouds of ash up to 4 kilometers (2.4 miles) high. That followed an eruption around midday Monday that sent a column of volcanic materials up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) into the sky and an evening burst that spewed lava and send volcanic ash as high as 13 kilometers (8 miles) into the air.

Significance:

The impact of corticosteroids, widely prescribed for palliation of cancer-related symptoms, on ICI therapy remains unclear. This study shows that baseline steroid use is a negative independent prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC undergoing ICI therapy and provides insights into the decreased T-cell effector differentiation and utility of predictive blood-based markers by steroids.

Silica dust exists in both inhalable and respirable forms, but it is respirable crystalline silica (RCS) – the smallest, most dangerous particles – that pose the greatest health risk. These microscopic airborne particles are released during activities such as cutting, drilling, or grinding stone and bricks.

As they are small enough to reach deep into the lungs, prolonged exposure to RCS can lead to irreversible respiratory diseases, including silicosis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In recognition of the growing health crisis, law firm Irwin Mitchell launched the Silica Exposure Register in 2024 to track affected workers and highlight the urgent need for stronger workplace protections.

Silicosis on the rise

Alongside asbestos-related illnesses, silicosis is one of the most common diseases in the construction industry. The condition is caused by the accumulation of silica dust in the lungs, leading to scarring and fibrosis. Sufferers will find breathing difficult, with the effect continuing to develop after exposure has stopped. The majority of sufferers become house- or bed-bound, with premature death from heart failure common.

Most recently, there has been a rise in silicosis-related cases in India. It is projected that the number of silica-exposed workers in India will grow from 11.5 million in 2015 to 52 million by 2026. To save lives, stronger occupational health policies and improved worker protection will be critical to mitigate the impact of silicosis. Countries like Australia have already moved to ban engineered stone due to its high silica content, and experts are calling for more countries to adopt similar policies.

October 2022

Exposure to silica dust is one of the oldest known causes of pulmonary diseases, and is associated with a variety of occupations, such as construction, quarrying, and chemical industries.

While the inhalation of fine silica particles is a well-recognized risk factor for silicosis, several studies have reported an association between silica exposure and sarcoidosis or sarcoid-like granulomatous lung diseases.

According to the literature, silica exposure may also be a trigger for other conditions, including hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), lung cancer, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease.

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with end-stage renal failure, productive cough, and decreased exercise tolerance. She had owned nine cats, which resulted in long-term exposure (18 years) to silica-containing bentonite cat litter. 

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the presence of silicon in the lung biopsy specimen, as well as in the patient’s cat litter. The pulmonary condition was suggestive of sarcoid-like lung disease, rather than silicosis, sarcoidosis, or hypersensitivity pneumonitis, according to the clinicopathological findings.

Renal failure appeared to be a result of chronic hypercalcemia due to extrarenal calcitriol overproduction in activated alveolar macrophages.

Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with sarcoid-like lung disease complicated by end-stage renal failure from exposure to bentonite cat litter.

We believe that our patient’s disease was a result of the chronic inhalation of bentonite dust, as we excluded other possible causes and observed a significant improvement after the causative agent had been removed.

We have developed a novel experimental methodology based on nanotechnology techniques and micromechanical/materials testing to simulate and characterize microwear caused by the sliding of soft matter containing abrasive particles against human enamel. We found:

(1) Plant phytoliths, upon cyclic contacts, increase the extent of pre-existing wear in tooth enamel and decrease its mineral content.

(2) The primary wear mechanism of enamel is quasi-plastic deformation enabled by failure of weak interphases between—and within—mineral rods.

(3) Phytoliths in soft solid media undergo long-term mechanical degradation.

These results provide a better understanding of how mechanical failure of dental enamel (microscopic wear, fracture, etc.) occurs, which has large implications for dentistry and understanding animal ecology and evolution.