Phoka Caiphus Rathebe

Intensive mining in Mpumalanga, South Africa, risks contaminating drinking water and topsoil with toxic trace metals. While systemic toxicological impacts are well-documented, the specific relationship between this multi-matrix environmental exposure and localized dental hard tissue pathologies remains critically under-researched. This study protocol outlines a standardized, multidisciplinary approach to evaluate these oral health impacts. Field sampling and clinical screenings are scheduled across an 11-month execution timeline (January 2027 to November 2027). This cross-sectional protocol features three integrated phases: (1) Environmental Geochemistry: Drinking water (n = 120) from source, municipal, and point-of-use taps, alongside concurrent residential topsoil samples (n = 60), will be analysed for trace metals and metalloids (Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn, As, Fe, Cu, and Zn) using ICP-MS/ICP-OES, and fluoride (F⁻) using an Ion-Selective Electrode. (2) Clinical Assessment: Registered dental professionals will screen a resident cohort (N = 388) using Dean’s Index for fluorosis, the DMFT index for dental caries, and the Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) index. (3) Health Risk Assessment: Human health risks will be quantified via Chronic Daily Intake (CDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ), and cumulative Hazard Index (HI) models. This protocol will generate high-resolution spatial contamination maps using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation and establish predictive multivariate regression models correlating environmental metal burdens with clinical oral pathologies. Ultimately, it provides a legally defensible scientific baseline for provincial water quality policy adjustments and targeted public health interventions in mining-affected communities.

Radon is a colourless, odourless, and tasteless radioactive gas produced by the decay of uranium-238, which naturally occurs in varying concentrations in soil, rocks, and groundwater [1]. The most ...

Radon (²²²Rn) is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas and a leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoking. Elevated concentrations in groundwater, mainly from uranium-rich geological formations, pose significant health risks in regions reliant on groundwater. This review critically examines current tools and techniques for detecting radon in drinking water, focusing on how methodological choices affect reported levels and risk assessments. A structured literature review from major scientific databases covers established laboratory methods like liquid scintillation counting (LSC), alpha/gamma spectrometry, Lucas cells, and electret chambers, alongside field methods such as the RAD7, and new technologies including IoT sensors and AI analytics. The review finds that accurate radon measurement is limited more by sampling losses due to volatility, radioactive decay (half-life: 3.82 days), and the heterogeneity of fractured aquifers, than by instrument precision. While LSC remains the regulation standard for its traceability and low detection limits, portable methods are key for quick field screening, and automated systems are increasingly important for capturing transient changes in treatment settings and high-risk aquifers. A decision matrix is provided to help choose methods based on monitoring goals, infrastructure, and needed confidence levels. The study emphasizes that improving data quality and comparability requires not just technological progress but also harmonized sampling protocols, rigorous quality assurance, transparent uncertainty reporting, and the inclusion of hydrogeological context in monitoring design. This comprehensive approach is crucial for translating measurements into effective exposure assessments, regulatory decisions, and public health protections.

Mining activities release radionuclides and toxic heavy metals into aquatic systems, creating long-term risks to water quality, ecosystems, and human health. Conventional remediation technologies often show limited effectiveness in mining-impacted waters due to complex geochemical conditions, including high salinity, variable pH, and co-occurring contaminants. This review evaluates non-graphene nanomaterials as emerging tools for mitigating radionuclide and heavy metal contamination, focusing on magnetic nanoparticles, metal oxides, nanoclays and zeolites, metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and biogenic nanoparticles. Graphene-based nanomaterials are excluded from the present review because they have been comprehensively addressed in a dedicated review previously published by the authors. A comparative evaluation of these nanomaterial classes demonstrates that no single material is universally optimal; rather, remediation performance depends on contaminant speciation, water chemistry, and operational requirements. Emphasis is placed on the mechanistic processes governing contaminant removal, including ion exchange, surface complexation, chemisorption, physisorption, and photocatalytic redox reactions. The role of environmental factors such as pH, ionic strength, competing ions, and natural organic matter in controlling nanomaterial performance is critically assessed. While laboratory studies demonstrate high removal efficiencies, practical implementation remains constrained by nanoparticle aggregation, long-term stability, recovery, and scalability under realistic mining-water conditions. The review highlights composite materials, immobilized nanostructures, green synthesis routes, and hybrid treatment systems as viable pathways for field deployment. This work underscores the importance of mechanistic insight and environmental compatibility in translating nanomaterial-based remediation strategies from laboratory research to sustainable water management solutions in mining-impacted environments.

Background/Objectives: The impact of non-fluoride trace metals (NFTMs) in drinking water on oral health remains an under-explored area of environmental health. This scoping review maps global evidence on the associations between non-fluoride trace metals (NFTMs) in drinking water and oral health outcomes, such as dental caries, enamel hypoplasia, and periodontal diseases. Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase was executed to identify peer-reviewed observational and experimental studies published within a 10-year window between January 2015 and December 2025. Data extraction captured geographic settings, target populations, specific metal exposures, oral health assessment indices, and observed health parameters. Results: A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 16 cross-sectional studies, 2 case–control studies, 1 prospective cohort study, and 1 experimental laboratory evaluation. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were frequently associated with elevated risks of dental caries and structural enamel defects, such as demarcated opacities. Conversely, elements like molybdenum (Mo) demonstrated potential inverse, protective associations with caries prevalence. Most of the evidence relies on cross-sectional designs, which limits the ability to infer temporal pathways or direct biological causation. Conclusions: The mapped literature indicates that non-fluoride trace metals in drinking water are associated with shifts in oral health outcomes. However, substantial heterogeneity in exposure pathways, geographic variability, and the lack of standardized mixture-risk assessments limit definitive conclusions. Future prospective epidemiological tracking and standardized multi-metal exposure models are required to clarify these environmental pathways.

Climate change is intensifying the frequency, severity, and unpredictability of extreme weather events worldwide, posing significant risks to urban populations. Floods, storms, heatwaves, and droug...

Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental particles with complex physical and chemical properties that enable them to interact with other contaminants. Recent evidence suggests that microplastics act as carriers for various chemical pollutants, altering their transport, deposition, and deposition dose. This conceptual review synthesizes current knowledge of radon progeny behavior and microplastic properties and suggests potential mechanisms for their interaction, although direct experimental validation of radon progeny specifically is currently lacking. It discusses attachment kinetics, transport pathways in air and water, and microplastic-mediated shifts in human lung deposition patterns and ecological exposure. Theoretical dosimetry reasoning suggests that, if attachment occurs, small respirable microplastics (1–10 μm) could increase inhalation doses by prolonging the airborne residence time of progeny indoors, whereas macro- and coarse microplastics would primarily affect localized environmental hotspots. These possibilities remain to be tested experimentally. Integrated experimental and modelling approaches, including radon chamber studies, aerosol and aquatic transport experiments, respiratory tract modelling, and ecological bioassays, are proposed to quantify these processes and inform risk assessment. Knowledge gaps remain in attachment efficiency, retention, co-contaminant interactions, and long-term exposure scenarios. Addressing these gaps is critical for refining human and ecological risk assessments and guiding regulatory frameworks in radon-microplastic-impacted environments.

Dental fluorosis (DF) remains a global public health challenge traditionally attributed to elevated water fluoride F⁻. However, the Halo Effect and environmental factors now complicate this dose–response relationship. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this systematic review identified 20 observational studies (n = 21,780) via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Inclusion logic utilized the PICOS framework, specifically selecting human studies that reported quantitative water F⁻ levels alongside environmental or dietary confounders. Quality was assessed via the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Synthesis revealed that in optimal fluoridated areas (0.7 mg/L), mild DF prevalence reached 15–20% in cohorts with high “Halo Effect” exposure (infant formula, processed beverages) a twofold increase over historical benchmarks. High altitude (>2000 m) and arid climates further exacerbated toxicity by altering renal clearance. These factors sustain systemic fluoride levels that inhibit protease activity (MMP-20/KLK4) and induce endoplasmic reticulum stress during enamel maturation, causing hypomineralization. Current water-centric monitoring is insufficient for modern risk assessment. A transition toward Total Daily Intake (TDI) models and context-specific standards accounting for altitude and dietary diffusion is essential to balance caries prevention with systemic safety.