The environmental impact of informal and home productive arrangement in the jewelry and fashion jewelry chain on sanitary sewer system

An investigation into the present levels of contamination in children's toys and jewelry in different countries: a systematic review

Contamination by heavy metals and toxic elements in children's toys and jewelry is an ongoing challenge in different countries. These contaminants can enter the children's body via oral, dermal, and respiratory routes, leading to adverse health effects. This study aimed to investigate the present levels of contamination in children's toys and jewelry in 15 countries, including UK, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, China, Kosovo, Nigeria, North American, Kazakhstan, UAE, Pakistan, Iraq, Israel, West Bank/Palestine, Czech Republic, and Turkey. In this review, the legislation and recommendation of the United States (U.S.), the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), Canada, and the European Union (E.U.) on toxic elements in toys and jewelry are introduced. Plastic or metallic toys and children's jewelry still have the most severe toxic elements pollution and the existence of lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), selenium (Se), barium (Ba), Zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), bisphenol A, phthalates, parabens, azo dyes, and flame retardants has been regarded as an ongoing challenge in these articles. Finally, this review offers benchmarking of the concentrations of toxic elements in all types of children's toys and jewelry in different nations.

Removal of Heavy Metal Ions from Wastewaters: An Application of Sodium Trithiocarbonate and Wastewater Toxicity Assessment

The synthesis and application of sodium trithiocarbonate (Na2CS3) for the treatment of real galvanic wastewater in order to remove heavy metals (Cu, Cd and Zn) was investigated. A Central Composite Design/Response Surface Methodology (CCD/RSM) was employed to optimize the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. Adequacy of approximated data was verified using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The calculated coefficients of determination (R2 and R2adj) were 0.9119 and 0.8532, respectively. Application of Na2CS3 conjugated with CCD/RSM allowed Cu, Cd and Zn levels to be decreased and, as a consequence, ∑Cu,Cd,Zn decreased by 99.80%, 97.78%, 99.78%, and 99.69%, respectively, by using Na2CS3 at 533 mg/L and pH 9.7, within 23 min. Implementation of conventional metal precipitation reagents (NaOH, Ca(OH)2 and CaO) at pH 11 within 23 min only decreased ∑Cu,Cd,Zn by 90.84%, 93.97% and 93.71%, respectively. Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis was used to conduct the assessment of wastewater toxicity. Following the application of Na2CS3, after 60 min the mortality of B. plicatilis was reduced from 90% to 25%. Engagement of Na2CS3 under optimal conditions caused the precipitation of heavy metals from the polluted wastewater and significantly decreased wastewater toxicity. In summary, Na2CS3 can be used as an effective heavy metal precipitating agent, especially for Cu, Cd and Zn.

Construção colaborativa de um fluxo de atendimento a crianças e adolescentes expostos ao trabalho: aplicação do método de estimulação dupla

Em Limeira, cidade do estado de São Paulo, Brasil, houve o reconhecimento da existência de trabalho infantil ligado ao setor de produção de bijuterias como problema de saúde pública. Uma das iniciativas da sociedade civil e entes governamentais foi a criação da Comissão de Erradicação do Trabalho Infantil (Cometil), para coordenar o processo de atendimento integrado a crianças e adolescentes. O objetivo deste artigo é mostrar como ocorreu a construção de soluções integradas por meio da utilização do método de estimulação dupla usado na intervenção formativa (laboratório de mudança) aplicada na Cometil. Os dados para análise e identificação de ações agentivas e aprendizagem expansiva provêm da transcrição da discussão do caso de ingestão acidental de ácido por uma criança. Os resultados mostram que o método de estimulação dupla permitiu aos atores visualizar lacunas nos serviços prestados pela rede e desenhar novo fluxo de atendimento.

Home-based and informal work exposes the families to high levels of potentially toxic elements

The city of Limeira presents a relevant productive chain of jewelry and fashion jewelry, including a scenario of outsourcing informal home practices. It is highly complex to understand the potentially toxic elements (PTE: Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hg, and Pb) exposures of the workers because this productive chain encompasses households. This study aimed to investigate the associations between blood PTE levels and informal work in the home environment. Fifty-two families divided into Exposed group (n = 112) and Control group (n = 53) were included. Families' blood (n = 165) and welder's breathing zone air samples (n = 9) were collected and PTEs concentrations were determined by ICP-MS. Questionnaires were applied to collect sociodemographic information and workplace details. Principal component analysis, Mann-Whitney test, cluster and a logistic regression analysis based on environment-wide association studies (EWAS) were carried out. Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb concentrations in the air samples were higher than occupational guidelines. Eighty percent of the workers were female, and 43.5% of those females then worked as welder. A significant difference was found for Pb concentration between the exposed and control group (p < 0.0001) and between sexes (p = 0.0046). For Cu (p < 0.0001) and Sb (p = 0.0434), differences were found between the sexes. The receiver operating characteristic of the EWAS was 0.80, providing evidence of a potential model to associate exposure levels and occupational factors. PTEs concentrations in the air samples raised concerns, particularly for children, who were in the same exposure scenario. Inadequate work conditions were observed in the houses, revealing the need of public actions to protect these families.

Electroplating for Decorative Applications: Recent Trends in Research and Development

Electroplating processes are widely employed in industrial environments for a large variety of metallic coatings, ranging from technological to decorative applications. Even if the galvanic electrodeposition is certainly a mature technology, new concepts, novel applications, environmental legislation and the new material requirements for next-generation devices make the scientific research in this field still very active. This review focuses mostly at the decorative and wearable applications, and aims to create a bridge between the past knowledge and the future direction that this process, i.e., electrodeposition, is taking. Both the theoretical fundamentals as well as some of the most widespread practical applications—limited to metallic and alloy coatings—are explored. As an integral part of the industrial process, we take a look at the main techniques thought which the quality control of deposits and surfaces is carried out. Finally, global industrial performance and research directions towards sustainable solutions are highlighted.