Danger Dust

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.

Named AuFeAuNDs, the new nanomaterial features a disk-shaped structure with gold on the outer layers and iron in the middle. This design provides greater stability compared to traditional spherical nanomaterials.

When a magnetic field is applied near a tumor, the iron component acts like a “magnet,” guiding the nanodisk directly to the tumor site. This targeted delivery significantly enhances treatment effectiveness while minimizing collateral damage.

Another key innovation is the nanodisk’s photoacoustic (PA) imaging capability, which allows real-time tracking of the material inside the body. Using a laser beam to heat the nanodisk, the process generates vibrations that are captured via ultrasound and converted into images.

Many environmental and occupational substances such as vinyl chloride, epoxy resins, solvents, pesticides, paraffin/silicone and silica particles cause dysregulation of autoimmunity.

Silica-exposed patients suffer from silicosis  There are several typical pulmonary complications such as pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous pleurisy, pneumothorax, bronchiectasis and lung cancer.

In addition to these lung complications, it is well known that the condition of silicosis patients is often complicated with autoimmune diseases. The classical disease is known as Caplan’s syndrome, complicated with rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, other autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis,systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) positive vasculitis/nephritis have been reported in case reports and epidemiological investigations.

Summer often brings with it the unmistakable sniffles and sneezes of hay fever. As plants and trees release pollen into the air, many of us start to feel the effects – itchy eyes, runny noses and general discomfort. But hay fever doesn’t just affect people – our pets can suffer too.

Like us, dogs, cats, horses and even small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs can struggle during pollen season. So how can you spot the signs – and more importantly, how can you help?

.....While antihistamines are a common remedy for people, don’t be tempted to use them on pets unless prescribed by your veterinary surgeon. Many over-the-counter options are not safe for animals and could cause harm. Your vet can recommend safe alternatives and help create a management plan tailored to your pet.

Researchers examined follicular fluid from 29 women and seminal fluid from 22 men, both of which play critical roles in natural conception and assisted reproduction.

A range of commonly used microplastic polymers, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP) and polyurethane (PU), were identified in both groups.

Microplastics were present in 69% of the follicular fluid samples analyzed. Notably, the most frequently detected polymer was PTFE, found in 31% of the samples. This was followed by PP (28%), PET (17%), PA (14%), polyethylene (PE) (10%), PU (10%) and PS (7%), in descending order of prevalence.

In male seminal fluid samples, microplastics were found in 55% of those analyzed. PTFE again emerged as the most prevalent polymer, identified in 41% of the samples. Other polymers detected included PS (14%), PET (9%), PA (5%), and PU (5%), though in lower concentrations.

Not every tick bite yields disease, since not every tick carries pathogens or bites long enough to transmit them. Still, most reported cases of vector-borne disease (including mosquitoes) come from ticks, which can carry pathogens with terrible consequences.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the U.S., estimated to affect more than 470,000 people each year.

But ticks can actually expose people in the U.S. to more than a dozen different disease-causing agents," including toxins, allergens, bacteria, parasites and viruses.

Tire wear particles enter rivers and lakes primarily via wind and rain. These particles account for 50% to 90% of all microplastics that run off roads during rainfall. Furthermore, scientific extrapolations suggest that nearly half (45%) of the microplastics found in soil and water come from tire abrasion.

The concentration of tire wear particles in water bodies can vary by several orders of magnitude, ranging from 0,00001 to 10.000 milligrams per liter.

The particles contain a complex mixture of different compounds, including toxic substances: heavy metals such as cadmium and zinc and organic substances such as the ozone protection or antioxidant 6-PPD. If the tire wear particles end up in freshwater ecosystems, the pollutants are leached out there.

Despite sharing >98% genomic similarity, humans are more likely to develop cancers than our closest living ancestors, the nonhuman primates. Here, we unexpectedly discover that, unlike chimpanzee and other primates, a critical embryonic development, immune homeostasis, and general cell-death regulator protein called Fas Ligand (FasL) contains a Pro153-Ser153 evolutionary substitution in humans.

These findings of evolutionary significance highlight that elevated plasmin in metastatic tumors potentially contributes to differential outcomes of T-cell-based immunotherapies in solid tumors.

HYDERABAD: The accident at the factory of Sigachi Industries at Pashamylaram in Sangareddy was not caused by a reactor blast but could have been triggered by a dust explosion in the dryer section, a top official of the Hyderabad-based company said on Wednesday.

"As we await the results of the investigation, we would like to clarify that the accident was not caused by a reactor explosion at the plant...," Sigachi said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday morning.

However, while interacting with mediapersons at the accident site later in the evening, Sigachi Industries managing director & CEO Amit Raj Sinha said: "It (accident) has nothing to do with any reactor blast. We don't use any solvents here. I believe a dust explosion took place in the dryer section, though the investigation is still on."

In science-fiction stories, companies often mine the moon or asteroids. While this may seem far-fetched, this idea is edging closer to becoming reality.

Celestial bodies like the moon contain valuable resources, such as lunar regolith — also known as moon dust — and helium-3. These resources could serve a range of applications, including making rocket propellant and generating energy to sustaining long missions, bringing benefits in space and on Earth.

A longstanding debate centres on whether Article II of the treaty, which prohibits the appropriation of outer space — including the moon and other celestial bodies — also prohibits space mining.

The prevailing position is that Article II solely bans the appropriation of territory, not the extraction of resources themselves.

We are now at a crucial moment in the development of space law. Arguing over whether extraction is legal serves no purpose. Instead, the focus must shift to ensuring resource extraction is carried out in accordance with principles that ensure the safe and responsible use of outer space.

Recognizing the need for a co-ordinated global approach, the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space created a Working Group on Legal Aspects of Space Resource Activities. Its mandate is to develop a set of general principles to guide the development of the activity.

The development of a legal framework for space resources is still in its early stages. The working group is expected to submit its final report by 2027, but the non-binding nature of the principles raises concerns about their enforcement and application.

As humanity moves closer to extracting and using space resources, the need for a cohesive and responsible governance system has never been greater.

Scopolamine, more chillingly known as “devil’s breath,” is a drug with a dual identity. In medicine, it’s used to prevent motion sickness and nausea. But in the criminal underworld, particularly in parts of South America, it has gained a dark reputation as a substance that can erase memory, strip away free will and facilitate serious crimes. Now, its presence may be sparking fresh concerns in the UK.

While most reports of devil’s breath come from countries like Colombia, concerns about its use in Europe are not new. In 2015, three people were arrested in Paris for allegedly using the drug to rob victims, turning them into compliant “zombies”.

Scopolamine, also known as hycosine, is a tropane alkaloid, a type of plant-derived compound found in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It has a long history: indigenous communities in South America traditionally used it for spiritual rituals due to its potent psychoactive effects.

In modern medicine, scopolamine (marketed in the UK as hyoscine hydrobromide) is prescribed to prevent motion sickness, nausea, vomiting and muscle spasms. It also reduces saliva production before surgery. Brand names include Kwells (tablets) and Scopoderm (patches).

As an anticholinergic drug, scopolamine blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a vital role in memory, learning, and coordination.

Lung macrophages play a pivotal role in diseases like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Two types of macrophages—the white blood cells that defend the body by killing microbes, removing dead cells and stimulating immune responses—are found in the lung. They are tissue resident macrophages, which are present from birth, and monocyte-derived macrophages that enter the lungs for a short time in response to damage or infection.

Recently these monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages, or Mo-AMs, were identified as key drivers of lung fibrosis disease progression. However, the mechanisms of their pro-fibrotic behavior and survival in the lungs remained unclear, so clinicians continue to lack effective therapies.

Paper:

TREM2 promotes lung fibrosis via controlling alveolar macrophage survival and pro-fibrotic activity

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-57024-0

The Kirkuk Health Department in northern Iraq reported dozens of suffocation cases due to the dust storm that hit the governorate over the past few hours.

Director of Media at the Kirkuk Health Department Saman Yabeh said that Kirkuk hospitals received 109 suffocation cases of varying severity due to the dust storm. Medical teams dealt with the cases immediately.

He added that all health facilities were on full alert in anticipation of any emergency, stressing that most cases have recovered after receiving the necessary treatment.

Since Tuesday morning, Kirkuk has been experiencing a heavy dust storm, which has reduced visibility and caused widespread suffering among citizens, especially those suffering from chronic respiratory diseases.

• 124 workers died in work-related incidents in 2024/25

• 2,218 mesothelioma deaths in 2023 through past exposure to asbestos

Latest annual figures show 124 workers were killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain. A decrease of fourteen from the previous 12-month period.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has today, Wednesday 2 July, published its latest annual fatality statistics, covering the period from April 2024 to March 2025. The number of deaths remain broadly in line with pre-pandemic levels, and compares to 223 twenty years ago (2004/05) and 495 in 1981.

The industries with the highest number of deaths were construction (35) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (23). Of all main industry sectors, agriculture, forestry and fishing continues to have the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers followed by waste and recycling.

A rare cell in the lining of lungs is fundamental to the organ-wide response necessary to repair damage from toxins like those in wildfire smoke or respiratory viruses, Stanford Medicine researchers and their colleagues have found. A similar process occurs in the pancreas, where the cells, called neuroendocrine cells, initiate a biological cascade that protects insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells from damage.

As for the question of whether actually snorting Moon dust Jordan Belfort-style would be a sound idea, the researchers say you probably could. But while it's unlikely you'd experience long-term illness as a result, you should be prepared for discomfort.

"Any dust, if you inhale it, you'll sneeze, cough, and have some physical irritation," Smith's statement continued. "But it's not highly toxic like silica, where you end up with silicosis from being on a construction site for 10 years. It's not going to be something like that."

As the adage goes: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Traditional scintillators rely on rigid inorganic matrices with high-Z elements, whose mechanical inflexibility restricts applications in multiple scenarios.

Developing an efficient scintillator that combines inorganic properties with flexibility is a desirable yet highly challenging goal. We pioneered an inorganic metafabric scintillator paradigm through self-sustained slip system engineering, transforming brittle all-inorganic scintillation materials into ductile textile architectures, yielding intrinsically conformally flexible scintillators that adhere seamlessly to complex, curved surfaces.

The ultimate all-inorganic scintillator delivers near-unity quantum yield, with scintillation output more than 10 times higher than that of previous polymer matrix–based flexible scintillators.

Using these metafabric scintillators, a multimodal x-ray interactive wearable platform (X-Wear) was developed, and their applications in body-centered flexible detection and imaging, mobile health, visual radiation monitoring, and breathable radiation shielding were successfully demonstrated.

This work offers a previously undefined paradigm for a scintillator system design strategy that maintains the high performance of inorganic scintillators while adding the functionality of being conformally flexible and wearable of fabrics.

People figured out how to make dry stone walls thousands of years ago. In Scotland, dry stone structures date back as far as 5,000 years, to the actual Stone Age. The Maya ruins in Lubaantun, Belize, built around the eighth or ninth century A.D., used dry stone construction. So did the Great Enclosure, an enormous complex in Zimbabwe, built between the 13th and 14th centuries. The Japanese dry stone craft of ano-zumi thrived in the 17th century. The very fact that these walls still stand in any form speaks to the strength of their construction.

India's capital banned fuel sales to aging vehicles on Tuesday as authorities try to tackle the sprawling megacity's hazardous air pollution.

The city is regularly ranked one of the most polluted capitals globally with acrid smog blanketing its skyline every winter.

At the peak of the smog, levels of PM2.5 pollutants—dangerous cancer-causing microparticles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs—surge to more than 60 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum.

Petrol cars older than 15 years, and diesel vehicles older than 10, were already banned from operating on New Delhi's roads by a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.

But millions flout the rules.

In these autoimmune diseases, T cells mistakenly target the body's own tissues instead of invading viruses or bacteria as they would during normal immune responses. Treatments focused on T cells have been elusive because blocking their action broadly weakens the immune system and creates risk for infections and cancer.

Published online June 30 in the journal Cell, the study revealed that holding closely together two protein groups (signaling complexes) on T cells, including one found more often on T cells involved in autoimmune disease, shuts down those T cells in a limited way.

Once asbestos enters the lungs, it doesn’t leave. Its sharp, microscopic fibres scar tissues, trigger inflammation and can cause deadly diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and laryngeal cancer. That’s why over 60 countries have banned it – and why the US mostly phased it out.

In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) moved to ban all industrial uses. But on June 17, the agency said it would revisit the Biden‑era ban.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral made of thin, fibrous crystals. It is fire-resistant, durable, lightweight, flexible and insulating. This unique blend of properties resulted in its widespread use over millennia. Indeed, asbestos fibres have been found woven into pottery and textiles from 2500BC.

These findings underscore that chronic, sublethal chlorothalonil exposure not only induces larval mortality but also adversely affects fecundity in adult insects.

Amid growing concerns over pesticide-induced insect decline and environmental pollution, interest in sustainable biopesticides has increased, with a particular focus on botanical fungicides derived from plant-based compounds. These natural metabolites offer effective disease control while exhibiting low toxicity to non-target organisms, making them strong candidates for environmentally friendly pest management. Additionally, their compatibility with integrated pest management programmes promotes biodiversity conservation by preserving beneficial insect populations, including pollinators and natural enemies. Collectively, these attributes highlight the value of biopesticides in advancing ecologically responsible and sustainable agricultural practices.

A team of researchers led by Prof. Jiang Changlong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a fast and simple way to detect harmful pesticide residues, with results visible to the naked eye in just 10 seconds.

While effective against pests, overexposure to pyrethroids can cause health issues such as dizziness and breathing problems.

Early one October afternoon in 2023, thick grey smoke drifted across Sheffield’s western skyline. As much of the city became blanketed, residents turned to social media to complain about “bonfire smoke”, while others were forced to leave the city due to breathing difficulties.

However, this smoke did not originate within the city. It was drifting in from the Peak District, more than nine miles away, where controlled heather burning was taking place on the moorlands. For around six hours, levels of fine particulate matter (known as PM2.5), tiny airborne pollutants known to harm human health, exceeded 40 micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m³) and peaked at 70µg/m³, well above the guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization.

This single incident points to the wider and largely invisible problem of the routine burning of the UK’s uplands. This can be a serious source of air pollution, but because most official air pollution monitoring concentrates on urban areas, the effects are overlooked.

Published April 2014

Despite a body of evidence supporting an association between asbestos exposure and autoantibodies indicative of systemic autoimmunity, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), a strong epidemiological link has never been made to specific autoimmune diseases. This is in contrast with another silicate dust, crystalline silica, for which there is considerable evidence linking exposure to diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Instead, the asbestos literature is heavily focused on cancer, including mesothelioma and pulmonary carcinoma.