Browsing by Author "Ali, Waqar"

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    Comprehensive review of the basic chemical behaviours, sources, processes, and endpoints of trace element contamination in paddy soil-rice systems in rice-growing countries
    (Elsevier, 2020-04-21) Ali, Waqar; Mao, Kang; Zhang, Hua; Junaid, Muhammad; Xu, Nan; Rasool, Atta; Feng, Xinbin; Yang, Zhugen
    Rice is the leading staple food for more than half of the world’s population, and approximately 160 million hectares of agricultural area worldwide are under rice cultivation. Therefore, it is essential to fulfil the global demand for rice while maintaining food safety. Rice acts as a sink for potentially toxic metals such as arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) in paddy soil-rice systems due to the natural and anthropogenic sources of these metals that have developed in the last few decades. This review summarizes the sources and basic chemical behaviours of these trace elements in the soil system and their contamination status, uptake, translocation, and accumulation mechanisms in paddy soil-rice systems in major rice-growing countries. Several human health threats are significantly associated with these toxic and potentially toxic metals not only due to their presence in the environment (i.e., the soil, water, and air) but also due to the uptake and translocation of these metals via different transporters. Elevated concentrations of these metals are toxic to plants, animals, and even humans that consume them regularly, and the uniform deposition of metals causes a severe risk of bioaccumulation. Furthermore, the contamination of rice in the global rice trade makes this a critical problem of worldwide concern. Therefore, the global consumption of contaminated rice causes severe human health effects that require rapid action. Finally, this review also summarizes the available management/remediation measures and future research directions for addressing this critical issue.
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    Insights into the mechanisms of arsenic-selenium interactions and the associated toxicity in plants, animals, and humans: a critical review
    (Taylor and Francis, 2020-03-18) Ali, Waqar; Zhang, Hua; Junaid, Muhammad; Mao, Kang; Xu, Nan; Chang, Chuanyu; Rasool, Atta; Wajahat Aslam, Muhammad; Ali, Jamshed; Yang, Zhugen
    This review highlights arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) sources in the environment, their uptake in the soil-plant system, interactions between these metals and the associated toxicity in major biological compartments, which may assist in addressing the hazardous impacts associated with As and Se contamination. The interaction between As and Se is a critical factor for a detailed systematic understanding of the transportation, environmental fate, and associated toxicological effects of these metalloids in plants, animals, and humans. Arsenic and Se induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Compared to arsenite (AsIII), methylated arsenicals, including methylarsonous acid (MAsIII) and dimethylarsinous acids (DMAsIII), exhibit more cytotoxic and genotoxic potential to inhibit more potent enzymes and activate the protein AP˗1, which is a critical marker of genetic stability. Methylated AsIII and its associated metabolites are well-known potential carcinogens that induce toxicity by blocking Se metabolism pathway. The imbalance of Se compounds can lead to the generation of ROS, which can inhibit or decrease genomic stability. The As and Se nexus also affect cellular signaling through activation of transcription factors such as NFκB and AP-1.
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    Occurrence of various viruses and recent evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater systems
    (Elsevier, 2021-02-19) Ali, Waqar; Zhang, Hua; Wang, Zhenglu; Chang, Chuanyu; Javed, Asif; Ali, Kamran; Du, Wei; Niazi, Nabeel Khan; Mao, Kang; Yang, Zhugen
    Viruses are omnipresent and persistent in wastewater, which poses a risk to human health. In this review, we summarize the different qualitative and quantitative methods for virus analysis in wastewater and systematically discuss the spatial distribution and temporal patterns of various viruses (i.e., enteric viruses, Caliciviridae (Noroviruses (NoVs)), Picornaviridae (Enteroviruses (EVs)), Hepatitis A virus (HAV)), and Adenoviridae (Adenoviruses (AdVs))) in wastewater systems. Then we critically review recent SARS-CoV-2 studies to understand the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic through wastewater surveillance. SARS-CoV-2 genetic material has been detected in wastewater from France, the Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Japan, Spain, Turkey, India, Pakistan, China, and the USA. We then discuss the utility of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate the occurrence, distribution, and genetic diversity of these viruses and generate human health risk assessment. Finally, we not only promote the prevention of viral infectious disease transmission through wastewater but also highlight the potential use of WBE as an early warning system for public health assessment.