John Baptist Nzukizi Mudumbi

Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctane sulfonate in South African river water

This study examined the prevalence of perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in river water samples (n = 56) and suspended solids (n = 5) from three major Western Cape rivers, in South Africa. Solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography combined with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using an analytical method developed in ISO 25101 (2009), PFOS and PFOA concentration in river water and in suspended solids from the rivers was investigated and quantified. From the results, PFOA and PFOS were detected in all the river water samples and were found in concentrations up to 314 and 182 ng/L for Diep River; 390 and 47 ng/L for Salt River; and 146 and 23 ng/L for Eerste River, respectively. In suspended solids, concentrations for PFOS and PFOA were 28 and 26 ng/g for Diep River; 16 and less than limit of detection for Eerste River; and 14 and 5 ng/g for Salt River, respectively. Some of these concentrations are higher than those previously reported in similar studies in various countries, and this suggests there is a cause for concern, in the Western Cape, South Africa, particularly in catchments where river and ground water is drawn for agricultural purposes in the province.

Metagenomic data of free cyanide and thiocyanate degrading bacterial communities

The data presented in this article contains the bacterial community structure of the free cyanide (CN-) and thiocyanate (SCN-) degrading organisms that were isolated from electroplating wastewater and synthetic SCN- containing wastewater. PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA V1-V3 regions was undertaken using the 27F and 518R oligonucleotide primers following the metacommunity DNA extraction procedure. The PCR amplicons were processed using the illumina® reaction kits as per manufacturer׳s instruction and sequenced using the illumina® MiSeq-2000, using the MiSeq V3 kit. The data was processed using bioinformatics tools such as QIIME and the raw sequence files are available via NCBI׳s Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database.

The role of pollutants in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their prospective impact on phytomedicinal treatment strategies

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common form of diabetes and it is characterized by high blood sugar and abnormal sera lipid levels. Although the specific reasons for the development of these abnormalities are still not well understood, traditionally, genetic and lifestyle behavior have been reported as the leading causes of this disease. In the last three decades, the number of diabetic patients has drastically increased worldwide, with current statistics suggesting the number is to double in the next two decades. To combat this incurable ailment, orthodox medicines, to which economically disadvantaged patients have minimal access to, have been used. Thus, a considerable amalgamation of medicinal plants has recently been proven to possess therapeutic capabilities to manage T2DM, and this has prompted studies primarily focusing on the healing aspect of these plants, and ultimately, their commercialization. Hence, this review aims to highlight the potential threat of pollutants, i.e., polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and heavy metals, to medicinal plants, and their prospective impact on the phytomedicinal therapy strategies for T2DM. It is further suggested that auxiliary research be undertaken to better comprehend the factors that influence the uptake of these compounds by these plants. This should include a comprehensive risk assessment of phytomedicinal products destined for the treatment of T2DM. Regulations that control the use of PFC-precursors in certain developing countries are also long overdue.

A decade’s (2014–2024) perspective on cassava’s (Manihot esculenta Crantz) contribution to the global hydrogen cyanide load in the environment

Abstract In recent years, developing countries have increased their cassava (Manihot esculenta) production for food security. Cassava contains cyanogen glycosides, mainly as linamarin, which through bio-catalysis, i.e. enzyme hydrolysis, results in hydrogen cyanide (HCN). HCN is released into the environment through numerous ways with subsequent volatilisation. Thus, the HCN released during the period 2002–2013 was estimated between 0.025 × 10−3 to 6.71 ppq (African), 0.012 × 10−3 to 1.01 ppq (Asian) and 0.007 × 10−3 to 0.920 × 10−3 ppq (South American). Furthermore, a decade’s (2014–2024) projection of HCN volatilisation displays increases of 60.5% (Africa), 57.7% (Asia) and 50.5% (South America) when compared with the current production. Furthermore, gas released during cassava plants’ growth, i.e. HCN, NH3, and NO2, was quantified in healthy plants. Varying concentrations of HCN were released. These further indicated the presence of a pseudo-halogenic gas in the environment – a contributor to climate change.

Recent developments in polyfluoroalkyl compounds research: a focus on human/environmental health impact, suggested substitutes and removal strategies

Between the late 1940s and early 1950s, humans manufactured polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) using electrochemical fluorination and telomerisation technologies, whereby hydrogen atoms are substituted by fluorine atoms, thus conferring unnatural and unique physicochemical properties to these compounds. Presently, there are wide ranges of PFCs, and owing to their bioaccumulative properties, they have been detected in various environmental matrices and in human sera. It has thus been suggested that they are hazardous. Hence, this review aims at highlighting the recent development in PFC research, with a particular focus on perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), the most studied and predominantly found PFCs in various environmental matrices, although recent reports have included perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), which was previously regarded as innocuously harmless, when compared to its counterparts, PFOA and PFOS. As such, proper investigations are thus required for a better understanding of short-chain PFC substitutes, which have been suggested as suitable replacements to long-chained PFCs, although these substitutes have also been suggested to pose various health risks comparable to those associated with long-chain PFCs. Similarly, several novel technologies, such as PFC reduction using zero-valent iron, including removal at point of use, adsorption and coagulation, have been proposed. However, regardless of how efficient removers some of these techniques have proven to be, short-chain PFCs remain a challenge to overcome for scientists, in this regard.

Are Aquaporins (AQPs) the Gateway that Conduits Nutrients, Persistent Organic Pollutants and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) into Plants?

Besides water and sunlight, plants and/or crops also require an assortment of dissimilar nutrients/elements to grow. Thus, some of these nutrients have been classified as essential or macronutrients, [e.g. calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S)], for they facilitate plant growth; while others, such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), etc., are considered as micronutrients. However, it is apparent now that plants are exposed to a variety of other chemical compounds, including a range of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), which have been found in several plants. Hence, it has been common knowledge that mechanisms, such as mass flow, diffusion, etc., facilitated by plant root systems, have allowed the translocation of these nutrients and pollutants into plants, although other researchers have argued that roots on their own cannot elucidate the dissemination of these chemical constituents into plants. This dissension remained until the discovery of aquaporins (AQPs), which ultimately led to numerous AQPs being identified in plants. Thus, the aim of this review is to present an overview on the progress made thus far in attempting to understand the possibility of these proteins (i.e. AQPs) being the gateway that conduits nutrients, POPs and PFASs into plants; however, the gathered evidence currently remains rudimentary and limited, suggesting that further research is required to elucidate plant AQPs involvement at this stage in POP transportation and storage in plants.