To investigate the ability of a green tea extract and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to protect oral epithelial cells against the deleterious effects of the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan, with respect to cytotoxicity; reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation; cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production; and cell proliferation and migration. The B11 oral keratinocyte and GMSM-K oral epithelial cell lines were used in this study. Cell viability was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay. A fluorometric assay was used to quantify ROS production. Cell proliferation was assessed using a fluorescent cell tracker dye, while a migration assay kit was used to monitor cell migration. Cytokine and MMP secretion was quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The green tea extract and EGCG reduced the cytotoxicity of irinotecan toward oral keratinocyte and epithelial cell lines. Irinotecan-induced intracellular ROS generatioy properties, may protect the oral mucosa against the deleterious effects of the chemotherapeutic agent irinotecan and may be of interest for treating oral mucositis.This study explored whether winter flounder, a benthic species, are potentially exposed to contaminants such as heavy metals released from the sediment of the Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine, both critical habitats identified to have increases in heavy metal levels. Experimentally in fish, exposure to certain heavy metals resulted in reduced weight for length and structural abnormalities, but it is unknown if this occurs in wild fish. Winter flounder (n = 72), harvested between 2015 and 2018 from the aforementioned western Atlantic region of Canada/USA, had detectable levels of most heavy metals, with some exhibiting levels of concern (arsenic, cadmium, lead, selenium, zinc) in muscle, liver, and kidney. A 1.4% incidence of structural abnormalities was noted. When compared to 1980 regionally matched flounder data, the 2018 flounder had significantly reduced weight for length, exacerbated with age. Clearly winter flounder are affected by worsening heavy metal contaminant levels in this geographic area.Currently, our understanding of the mechanisms for, and potential functional implications of, changes in seabed assemblages resulting from dredged material disposal is relatively unknown. Based on empirical data from 17 disposal sites, we address this by quantifying the nature and magnitude of shifts in the relative composition of response and effects traits within disposal site assemblages relative to their reference assemblages. Differing shifts in both response and effects traits were observed across sites, regardless of the trait composition of the reference assemblages. Notable differences in the magnitude of traits changes were also observed for both trait types. Traits shifts are difficult to predict as they appear to reflect both environmental conditions and disposal regime. Temporal data revealed that some sites display relatively consistent responses while others presented large inter-annual variability. These findings are discussed in relation to dredged material monitoring and with respect to conservation objectives of marine protected areas.Mangroves are among the most productive coastal ecosystems; however, they are prone to anthropogenic pollution due to their land-sea interface position. We used stable nitrogen isotopes and spectrophotometric nitrate analysis to study the anthropogenic pollution in five mangrove ecosystems in Tanzania, including two polluted (Mzinga and Kizinga), one moderate (Kunduchi) and non-polluted (Mbegani and Ras Dege) sites. Also, we tested the suitability of mangrove leaves, roots, sediment, and gastropod as indicators of anthropogenic nitrogen pollution using stable δ15N isotope analysis. Results revealed higher than 10‰ δ15N values in all analysed components and the highest nitrate concentrations of 16.44 mg L-1 in the interstitial waters at the polluted sites, indicating anthropogenic nitrogen inputs. The δ15N enrichment increased in the order non-polluted less then moderate less then polluted. The polluted sites are fed by freshwater creeks and probably receive high loads of domestic sewage from the surrounding communities, industries, and agricultural effluents. Therefore, to protect mangrove ecosystems, proper waste and wastewater management upstream are recommended.Plastic pollution is becoming a growing concern on coastal tourism sites. Unquantified amounts of plastic materials are discharged into coastal waters with detrimental effects on local marine environments. With the expansion of the tourism industry, waste increasingly originates from tourism activities and ends up into the ocean due to poor management of solid waste post-consumption. This study explores the sources, abundance, and type of litter in Zanzibar, Tanzania by surveying four coastal tourism sites. The analysis illustrates the contributions to plastic pollution of four sectors of Zanzibar's economy (residential households, building and construction, tourism, and commercial sector). Findings suggest that plastic accounted for almost half (48.5%) of the waste inflow to the environment, and single-use packaging was the dominant litter item on all sampled sites.Face masks are playing an essential role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. Face masks such as N95, and surgical masks, contain a considerable portion of non-recyclable plastic material. Marine plastic pollution is likely to increase due to the rapid use and improper dispensing of face masks, but until now, no extensive quantitative estimation exists for coastal regions. Linking behaviour dataset on face mask usage and solid waste management dataset, this study estimates annual face mask utilization and plastic pollution from mismanaged face masks in coastal regions of 46 countries. It is estimated that approximately 0.15 million tons to 0.39 million tons of plastic debris could end up in global oceans within a year. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/verubecestat.html With lower waste management facilities, the number of plastic debris entering the ocean will rise. Significant investments are required from global communities in improving the waste management facilities for better disposal of masks and solid waste.