|
Water Quality, Exposure and Health
Number of Followers: 2  Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)ISSN (Print) 1876-1666 - ISSN (Online) 1876-1658 Published by Springer-Verlag  [2468 journals]
|
- The Challenge of Global Aflatoxins Legislation with a Focus on Peanuts and
Peanut Products: A Systematic Review-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Globally, of all mycotoxins, aflatoxins present a significant threat to human and animal health and has resulted in the introduction of strict food regulatory limits to protect public health. A systematic review, was performed to elucidate the rationale applied in establishing aflatoxin standards and evaluate the economic impacts of these. The focus was peanuts, a principal trading commodity susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. Results revealed that although regulations are established in many countries, there is huge disparity in the maximum limits applied due to different methodologies used when considering exposure assessment. Moreover, in countries most affected by aflatoxin contamination in peanuts, few, if any standards exist. In the case of risk assessments, knowledge gaps identified include the impact of climate change on peanut aflatoxin contamination, the role of aflatoxins in child stunting, Kwashiorkor and immunomodulation and a lack of occurrence and exposure data in many developing countries from contaminated peanuts. Few quantitative studies evaluating the impact of aflatoxin regulations on trade exist and evidence is lacking in terms of what happens to exports that do not meet regulatory requirements. Evidence does suggest a lack of knowledge of the extent of the aflatoxin problem, associated health risks and mitigation strategies in developing countries. A hugely important factor that needs to be highlighted is that while there is a fundamental right for sufficient, safe, nutritious food, in many cases in low-income and lower middle-income countries there exists an incredibly difficult and complex trade-off between food security and food safety.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Toxicity Predictions for Mycotoxins: A Combined In Silico Approach on
Enniatin-Like Cluster-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Due to climate change, mycotoxins are expected to become a specific concern worldwide. In the future, predicted changes in environmental conditions will affect the growth of crops and may favor the development of fungi and, therefore, the presence of mycotoxins. In addition to direct human oral exposure to mycotoxins through cereal food products, potential human exposure may also occur as a result of crop contamination with mycotoxins via animal feed and consumption of meat or milk products. Fungi can produce numerous compounds, many of which have not yet been characterized, including in terms of their toxicological potency. A large number of mycotoxins and their metabolites have not been evaluated for their toxicity so far. In this study, an innovative combined strategy based on several validated in silico tools was used to assess specific toxicity endpoints. From a list of 552 mycotoxins, 12 mycotoxins were clustered together based on physico-chemical parameters. On this specific cluster, firstly quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) tools were used to assess the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential of each compound. From this analysis, 12 mycotoxins were found to have a potential activity in cancer promotion. The link between these compounds and cancer activity was further investigated by two complementary approaches: identification of gene pathways involved in the toxic response and a datamining search. Altogether, the results point to a potential association between these mycotoxins and lung cancer.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Spatial–Temporal Variation and Health Risk Assessment of Fluoride in
Surface Water in the Tibetan Plateau-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is known as the “Asian Water Tower” and provides vital drinking water for residents of China and Southeast Asian countries. However, large-scale regional research on water quality in this climate-sensitive and ecologically-fragile area is still lacking. Considering that drinking from fluoride-contaminated water poses serious health concerns worldwide, especially in Asian counties, it is urgent to clarify the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics, influencing factors, and health risk of fluoride in surface water in the TP. In this study, a total of 2697 surface water samples from major rivers and typical lakes in the TP were systematically analysed. Overall, fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.003 to 6.240 mg L−1 and varied among water periods, water basins and even water types. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that the distribution of fluoride concentration was closely related to the regional climate and positively correlated with anthropogenic activities. Probabilistic health risk assessment revealed that potential hazards in the Inner Basin were the highest for all age groups (HR > 1), especially for infants and adults (HR > 3), while the risks in most other water basins were acceptable (HR < 1). Our findings can provide scientific support for fluorosis prevention, and guide water resource utilization in the TP and adjacent regions.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Impact of Soil Amendment Regimes on Arsenic Exposure to Human Through
Rice: Risk Assessment and Prediction for Remediation-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Rice is the mainstay of food-chain led arsenic (As) toxicity to humans. Mitigating As loading in rice and its risk to human health using soil amendments and prediction models for pre-emptive correction measures are paramount in As-contaminated areas. We, therefore, assessed the effectiveness of 14 amendment regimes involving CaSiO3 (CS), FeSO4 (FS), farmyard manure (FYM), and vermicompost (VC) in curbing As transfer from soil to mouth and its risk to human health by monitoring several factors influencing the processes involved. Tracing the translocation of As from soil to polished rice, FS and its combinations were found as most effective in curbing As loading, and their effect magnified as As moved from soils (27.0%) to polished rice (61.1%). Under FS regimes, average daily intake (ADI) was reduced by half compared with the others (0.71 to 0.81 μg kg−1 BW) and the estimated hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of cooked rice were 0.65 to 0.45 and 0.20 × 10–3 to 0.61 × 10–3 compared with an alarming level of 1.61 and 1.15 × 10–3 of no amendment regime. Cluster analysis with cost and As mitigating efficiency of the amendments reiterated FS along with organics (FYM/VC) as the best management options for mitigating As poisoning to human caused through paddy-rice system. The prediction model developed and validated for an early detection of As toxicity in human from mid-season shoot As would help producing As-benign rice with pre-emptive remediation measures. Graphical
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Hexavalent Chromium Induces Cartilage Degeneration and Osteoarthritis
Pathogenesis-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), an environmental hazard, can damage human organs and is associated with various diseases when ingested; however, its effects on the progression of osteoarthritis, the most prevalent form of arthritis, remain unknown. Therefore, we investigate the effects of Cr(VI) on osteoarthritis pathogenesis by evaluating the mechanistic role of a novel Cr(VI) “hot spot,” articular cartilage, using a noncarcinogenic concentration of Cr(VI) in a murine model. Intra-articular injection of 100 ppm of Cr(VI) resulted in significant cartilage degeneration; mice with surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus exposed to a low oral dose of Cr(VI) for 16 weeks also showed increased osteoarthritis parameters. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that Cr(VI) increased osteoarthritis induc ers, including Hif-2α and Zip8, as well as metalloproteinases Mmp3 and Mmp13. Moreover, Cr(VI)-induced Hif-2α and Zip8 promoted Mmp3 and Mmp13 expression through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings suggest that Cr(VI) can influence articular cartilage degeneration and affect osteoarthritis development through the NF–κB–Hif-2α/Zip8 signaling pathway.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Children’s Exposure to Lead from Tap Water in Child Care Centers and
Estimation of Blood Lead Levels-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: The continuous exposure of young children to low levels of lead is a public health concern since it is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental effects. Drinking water is a potentially important source of lead exposure for children. In the present study, lead concentrations from a public dataset that contains 27,734 regulatory water samples collected in child care centers across Ontario, Canada were analyzed to determine the water lead concentration distributions for each public health unit. The seasonal changes of the water lead concentrations were also assessed. Children’s blood lead levels (BLLs) were estimated using the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic model for children aged 1–5 years old. In this analysis, the median lead concentrations of the flushed samples were used to estimate the average exposure, and the 90th percentile of the standing samples was used to estimate the worst-case scenario. The results indicated that the geometric means of the modeled BLLs varied from 1.5 to 1.6 (GSD = 1.6) µg/dL for the average (median) exposure scenario which is significantly lower than the 5 µg/dL level of concern for children. However, the geometric means of the modeled BLLs varied from 3.9 to 4.9 (GSD = 1.6) µg/dL for the worst-case (90th percentile) scenario which indicate relatively elevated blood lead levels for children.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Contamination and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Soils
Developed from Different Soil Parent Materials-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Accurate risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in soil is a prerequisite for environmental and human health protection. Due to the spatial heterogeneity in the environment, biased results can be obtained when uniform background values are introduced in regional heavy metal pollution assessment. In this study, considering the heavy metal background variation in different regions, 209 surface samples and 18 deep samples were collected from soils developed from different parent materials. In addition, the pollution level, environmental, and health risks and spatial pattern were analyzed. The results indicated that the overall mean concentrations of Cr, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg were 60.02, 39.79, 14.32, 0.38, and 0.18 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, heavy metals exhibited significantly different pollution levels and environmental risks among soils developed from the different parent materials: due to the higher accumulation and toxicity response coefficients for Cd, Hg, and As, heavy metal pollution and ecological risks in soils developed from plain river alluvium and granite eluvium were higher than those in soils developed from the other parent materials. Regarding human health risks, ingestion was found to be the main exposure pathway, and children exhibited higher noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks than the adults. Heavy metal pollution in soils developed from granite eluvium indicated a significantly higher health risk than those in soils developed from the other parent materials due to higher As accumulation. The assessment index spatial distributions revealed that high-risk areas mainly occurred in the eastern broad valley plain, central river valley plain, and northwestern mountain areas, demonstrating that due to intensive human activities, heavy metal accumulation in these areas yielded higher risks. When formulating soil pollution prevention measures, attention should be directed toward high-risk areas to achieve sustainable environmental development.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Health Risk Assessment of Globally Consumed Shark-Derived Products
-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Shark meat and fin soup are seafood commodities exported and consumed worldwide. Because sharks are large and slow-growing marine predators they tend to accumulate a large amount of mercury in the form of methylmercury. Due to this well-documented biomagnification, many nations have blanket advisories urging citizens, especially pregnant women and children, to avoid consuming shark-derived products. Mercury levels, however, may vary greatly within and among shark species. Since shark-derived products can represent an important source of protein in some communities, assessing the consumption health risks of different shark species is needed. Here, we analyzed total mercury, methylmercury and selenium concentrations of 267 processed fin trimmings from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and mainland China and 33 meat samples from Trinidad and Tobago. In conjunction with the most recent data from consumer practices surveys, and taking into account consumption rates, average body weight of consumers and the chemical interaction between mercury and selenium, we calculated the risks of consuming shark meat and shark fin soup from different shark species. We found that blanket maximum safe consumption limits applied to shark products are often overly restrictive because they do not take mode of consumption into account. Nonetheless, meat and fin products from large hammerhead species, Sphyrna mokarran, S. zygaena and S. lewini, need to be avoided by consumers, and not sold by retailers, due to high mercury levels. Species-specific advisories should also be issued for meat and fin products from oceanic whitetip and dusky smooth-hound sharks, which should be avoided by women of childbearing age.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Arsenic Speciation in Rice, Mechanisms and Associated Health Risk Through
Rice Consumption in Various Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Arsenic (As) is one of the toxic metalloids, therefore, can cause health risk in the consumers through consumption of contaminated food and rice. The current study focused on As speciation in rice, bioavailability, mechanisms and its potential human health risk. For this purpose, rice and soil samples were collected from 16 different districts (non-mining and mining sites) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). Soil physicochemical characteristic such as texture, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), pH, iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) were determined. Total arsenic (AsT) concentrations were analyzed using ICP-MS, while the arsenite (As3+), arsenate (As5+), arsenobetine (BAs), dimethylarsenic (DMA) and monomethyl arsenic (MMA) were determined by HPLC–ICP-MS method. The highest AsT (0.28 mg/kg) was observed in the rice sample of DI Khan District and lowest (0.06 mg/kg) in Shangla District. However, these findings were found within the permissible limits set by various authorities. Furthermore, results showed higher concentrations of inorganic As (Asi) than organic As (Aso) species in rice. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILTCR) were used to evaluate the potential human health risk for As consumption in rice. Results revealed that the rice samples collected from the district having mining activities had higher value of As (0.28 mg/kg of AsT) as compared to non-mining (0.072 mg/kg of AsT). The highest ILTCR value (0.00196) was observed for rice collected from mining districts. This study revealed that mining activities have great influence on the As contamination of soil and grown rice. This study recommends the use of geo-sorbents as soil amendments in districts having mining activities for the purpose to lower As availability in soil and its bioaccumulation in growing rice that will help to keep lower the potential risk.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Leveraging Systematic Reviews to Explore Disease Burden and Costs of Per-
and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Exposures in the United States-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Accelerating evidence confirms the contribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to disease burden and disability across the lifespan. Given that policy makers raise the high cost of remediation and of substituting PFAS with safer alternatives in consumer products as barriers to confronting adverse health outcomes associated with PFAS exposure, it is important to document the costs of inaction even in the presence of uncertainty. We therefore quantified disease burdens and related economic costs due to legacy PFAS exposures in the US in 2018. We leveraged systematic reviews and used meta-analytic inputs whenever possible, identified previously published exposure–response relationships, and calculated PFOA- and PFOS-attributable increases in 13 conditions. These increments were then applied to census data to determine total annual PFOA- and PFOS-attributable cases of disease, from which we calculated economic costs due to medical care and lost productivity using previously published cost-of-illness data. We identified PFAS-attributable disease costs in the US of $5.52 billion across five primary disease endpoints shown to be associated with PFAS exposure in meta-analyses. This estimate represented the lower bound, with sensitivity analyses revealing as much as $62.6 billion in overall costs. While further work is needed to assess probability of causation and establish with greater certainty effects of the broader category of PFAS, the results confirm further that public health and policy interventions are still necessary to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS and their endocrine-disrupting effects. This study demonstrates the large potential economic implications of regulatory inaction.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- A Targeted Lipidomic Reveals CYP450-Derived Oxylipin Linked to the
Inflammatory Response by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in
Children-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure is a cause of chronic inflammation. The effect of PAHs on bioactive lipid mediators involved in the inflammatory process remains largely unknown. This study measured ten urinary monohydroxy-PAHs (OH-PAHs), 54 plasma oxylipins, and inflammation-related markers. Children with high PAH exposure had higher levels of ten OH-PAHs, (±)18-HETE, 19(S)-HETE, 5,6-DiHETrE, 9,10-DiHOME, more monocytes, interleukin (IL)-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6 than those with low PAH exposure (all p < 0.05). The ƩOH-PAHs were inversely correlated to the levels of anti-inflammatory oxylipins, including 5,6-EET (p for trend = 0.007), 11,12-EET (p for trend = 0.035), 14,15-EET (p for trend = 0.022), and 16(17)-EpDPE (p for trend = 0.043), but positively associated with pro-inflammatory 9,10-DiHOME (p for trend < 0.001). Mediation analyses indicated that cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived 9,10-DiHOME mediated a separate 42.7%, 31.1%, 57.8%, and 38.5% of the associations between OH-PAHs and monocytes, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α (p = 0.017, 0.014, 0.005 and 0.012, respectively). Our study suggests that CYP-derived oxylipins can be considered sensitive lipid mediators to signal the early inflammation response to PAH exposure.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Bacterial Modification of the Association Between Arsenic and
Autism-Related Social Behavior Scores-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Arsenic is related to neurodevelopmental outcomes and is associated with the composition of the gut microbiome. Data on the modifying role of the microbiome are limited. We probed suggestive relationships between arsenic and social behaviors to quantify the modifying role of the infant gut microbiome. We followed children for whom arsenic concentrations were quantified in 6-week-old toenail clippings. Scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS-2), which measures autism-related social behaviors, were provided by caregivers when the child was approximately 3 years of age. Metagenomic sequencing was performed on infant stools collected at 6 weeks and 1 year of age. To evaluate modification by the top ten most abundant species and functional pathways, we modeled SRS-2 total T-scores as a function of arsenic concentrations, microbiome features dichotomized at their median, and an interaction between exposure and the microbiome, adjusting for other trace elements and sociodemographic characteristics. As compared to the standardized population (SRS-2 T-scores = 50), participants in our study had lower SRS-2 scores (n = 78, mean = 44, SD = 5).The relative abundances of several functional pathways identified in 6-week stool samples modified the arsenic–SRS-2 association, including the pathways of valine and isoleucine biosynthesis; we observed no association among those with high relative abundance of each pathway [β = − 0.67 (95% CI − 1.46, 0.12)], and an adverse association [β = 1.67 (95% CI 0.3, 3.04), pinteraction = 0.05] among infants with low relative abundance. Our findings indicate the infant gut microbiome may alter neurodevelopmental susceptibility to environmental exposures.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- Occurrence of Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) Residues in Farmed and Wild
Fish in Bangladesh and Implications for Human Health-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: The present study was designed to determine the level of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), including endrin, heptachlor epoxide, heptachlor, methoxychlor, endosulfan, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDD, in four fish species from two different sources (wild and farmed) in Bangladesh. Eight different OCP residues were investigated, of which seven were detected in all the fish samples. The OCP concentrations varied widely within each species, ranging from below the limit of detection to 162 ng/g-ww in wild Heteropneustes fossilis. Among the contaminants, endosulfan was the most abundant OCP. It ranged from 3.94 to 98.4 ng/g-ww. The overall mean level of ΣOCPs in wild fish were significantly higher than the farmed fish (p < 0.05). The highest estimated daily intake (EDI) value was for endosulfan (102.66 ng/g-bw/day), observed in wild Labeo calbasu, whereas the lowest was for p,p'-DDD (0.02 ng/g-bw/day), observed in wild Anabas testudineus. Noncancerous risk estimates revealed that hazard index (HI) values for all fishes except wild L. calbasu were less than 1, which is below the level of concern. HI for wild L. calbasu was 1.1, which indicates a low level of risk for human consumption. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was also calculated; most of the OCP residues had ILCR values below 10−6 for both wild and farmed species except for p,p'-DDE in wild H. fossilis, which had an ILCR value of 4.0 × 10–5. In Bangladesh, no regulations for OCP use or guidelines for maximum admissible concentration are in place. Thus, the findings of the present study will be a baseline for regulatory authorities for developing and implementing regulations and guidelines.
PubDate: 2023-06-01
-
- BDNF and KISS-1 Levels in Maternal Serum, Umbilical Cord, and Placenta:
The Potential Role of Maternal Levels as Effect Biomarker-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and kisspeptin-1 (KISS-1) regulate placental development and fetal growth. The predictive value of maternal serum BDNF and KISS-1 concentrations for placental and umbilical cord levels has not yet been explored. The influence of prenatal lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure and maternal iron status on BDNF and KISS-1 levels is also unclarified and of concern. In a pilot cross-sectional study with 65 mother–newborn pairs, we analyzed maternal and cord serum levels of pro-BDNF, mature BDNF, and KISS-1, BDNF, and KISS-1 gene expression in placenta, Pb and Cd in maternal and umbilical cord blood (erythrocytes), and placenta. We conducted a series of in vitro experiments using human primary trophoblast cells (hTCs) and BeWo cells to verify main findings of the epidemiological analysis. Strong and consistent correlations were observed between maternal serum levels of pro-BDNF, mature BDNF, and KISS-1 and corresponding levels in umbilical serum and placental tissue. Maternal red blood cell Pb levels were inversely correlated with serum and placental KISS-1 levels. Lower expression and release of KISS-1 was also observed in Pb-exposed BeWo cells. In vitro Pb exposure also reduced cellular BDNF levels. Cd-treated BeWo cells showed increased pro-BDNF levels. Low maternal iron status was positively associated with low BDNF levels. Iron-deficient hTCs and BeWo cells showed a consistent decrease in the release of mature BDNF. The correlations between maternal BDNF and KISS-1 levels, placental gene expression, and umbilical cord serum levels, respectively, indicate the strong potential of maternal serum as predictive matrix for BDNF and KISS-1 levels in placentas and fetal sera. Pb exposure and iron status modulate BDNF and KISS-1 levels, but a clear direction of modulations was not evident. The associations need to be confirmed in a larger sample and validated in terms of placental and neurodevelopmental function.
PubDate: 2023-05-29
-
- Fertilization Enhances Grain Inorganic Arsenic Assimilation in Rice
-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: To investigate how soil fertilization/amendments alters arsenic speciation grain off-take in paddy rice, rice was grown to maturity in growth chambers fertilized with standard mineral fertilizer, wood ash (rich in silica), pig slurry (rich in organic matter), and non-amended control. The soil was sourced from a Chinese paddy field. The primary fertilized elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) were kept constant across treatments. Porewater chemistry and soil microbiology were monitored throughout the experiments. Total grain arsenic, sum of inorganic arsenic and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), was significantly different between treatments (P = 0.024), with inorganic arsenic varying from 0.025 to 0.08 mg/kg and DMA from 0.08 to 0.16 mg/kg for control compared to fertilized, respectively. Fertilizer source made no difference to arsenic speciation concentration in grain. Porewater analysis found that as anaerobism set in, inorganic arsenic, phosphorus and manganese greatly lowered in concentration. Methylated arsenic species concentrations increased over time, concurrent with an increase in pH, decrease in Eh, and increase in total organic carbon and iron, with no strong treatment effects, except for pig slurry that enhanced pH and decreased Eh. Methanogenic archaea, sulfate-reducing bacteria and Acidobacteria increased with time and some Actinobacteria and Firmicutes increased due to slurry, but then decreased with time (P < 0.01). Methanogenic archaea and sulphate-reducing bacteria correlated positively with porewater DMA and negatively with porewater inorganic arsenic (P < 0.05). Genera within the Actinobacteria and Burkholderiaceae correlated negatively with DMA, while genera with iron-reducing capacity (Clostridiales) correlated positively with porewater inorganic arsenic and DMA (P < 0.05).
PubDate: 2023-05-26
-
- Assessment Between Follicular Fluid Multiple Element Concentrations and
Hormonal Profiles of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among reproductive-aged women. Follicular fluid quality affects early embryonic development and multiple stages of pregnancy. This study measured 12 elements in follicular fluid and 5 blood hormones, aiming to identify the associations between multielement concentrations, as well as blood hormone levels, and PCOS to investigate the interference of multielement coexposure on PCOS and examine the potential roles of hormones. Eight elements (As, Cu, Se, Sr, V, Zn, Cr, Ca), but not Mg, showed a positive dose–effect relationship with PCOS. The OPLS models of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) with relevant elements showed that Mg, Zn, Fe, Se, and V had a more significant effect on FSH and that As, Se, V, Cu, and Zn were positively correlated with AMH (VIP > 1). Further analysis indicated a synergistic effect for FSH and Mg, both of which were protective factors against PCOS; the associations between the five elements and PCOS incidence were mediated by AMH. Changes in hormone levels between multielement coexposure and PCOS development suggest that FSH and Mg are protective against PCOS; female exposure to As, Se, V, Cu, and Zn may affect PCOS progression by perturbing AMH levels.
PubDate: 2023-05-26
-
- Long-Term Atmosphere Surveillance (2016–2021) of PM2.5-bound Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Health Risk Assessment in Yangtze River Delta,
China-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Long-term atmospheric quality monitoring of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed in Wuxi from 2016 to 2021. In total, 504 atmospheric PM2.5 samples were collected, and PM2.5-bound 16 PAHs were detected. The PM2.5 and ∑PAHs level decreased annually from 2016 to 2021, from 64.3 to 34.0 μg/m3 and 5.27 to 4.22 ng/m3, respectively. The benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) levels of 42% of the monitoring days in 2017 exceeded the recommended European Union (EU) health-based standard of 1 ng/m3. Five- and six-ring PAHs were found, including benz[a]anthracene, benzo[k]fluoranthene (Bkf), BaP, and benzo[g,h,i]perylene, which were the dominant components (indicating a prominent petroleum, biomass, and coal combustion contribution) using molecular diagnostic ratios and positive matrix factorization analysis. Moreover, PM2.5 and PAHs were significantly negatively associated with local precipitation over a period of six years. Statistically significant temporal and spatial distribution differences of PM2.5, and ∑PAHs were also found. The toxicity equivalent quotient (TEQ) of total PAHs was 0.70, and the TEQ of BaP (0.178) was the highest, followed by that of Bkf (0.090), dibenz[a,h]anthracene (Dah) (0.048), and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene (0.034). The medians of the incremental lifetime cancer risk for long-term exposure to PAHs were 2.74E−8, 1.98E−8, and 1.71E−7 for children, teenagers, and adults, respectively, indicating that the carcinogenic risk of PAHs pollution in air was acceptable to local residents in this area. Sensitivity analysis revealed that BaP, Bkf, and Dah significantly contributed to carcinogenic toxicity. This research provides comprehensive statistics on the local air persistent organic pollutants profile, helps to identify the principal pollution source and compounds, and contributes to the prevention of regional air pollution. Graphical
PubDate: 2023-05-24
-
- A Systems Biology Approach Reveals the Endocrine Disrupting Potential of
Aflatoxin B1-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Background Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus is a potent carcinogen and causative agent of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is a food contaminant which presents a major risk to human health. AFB1 contamination poses a significant economic burden, as 25% of the world's food crops need to be destroyed annually. The mechanism of action (MOA) of aflatoxins remains to be fully elucidated. Recent findings suggest that AFB1 mediated endocrine disruption may occur in the population of regions with high contamination, even without evidence of direct dietary intake. Objective An integrative systems biology approach was undertaken to decipher the estrogenic component of the mechanism of action (MOA) of AFB1. Methods Molecular Docking and Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to examine the binding affinity of AFB1 and its metabolite aflatoxin Q1 (AFQ1) with the Estrogen Receptors (ERs). Differential gene expression (DGE), gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses were carried out on hepatic transcriptomic data generated from in vivo AFB1 exposures. In parallel exposures to the synthetic estrogen ethinylestradiol (EE2) were examined for overlapping effects. Finally, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis assessed the involvement of estrogen responsive targets (ERTs) associated with aflatoxin exposure. Results The free energies of binding affinity and estimated equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) demonstrated that AFB1 and AFQ1 can interact with the ERα and ERβ. DGE and GO analyses highlighted overlap in the responses between AFB1 and EE2 treatments with the activation of key processes involved in estrogenic signaling. PPI network analyses after AFBI exposure revealed a dynamic response to AFB1 treatments with the solid involvement of ERTs in regulatory networks. Conclusions This study revealed molecular interactions between aflatoxins (AFB1, AFQ1) and ERs in addition to overlap in differentially expressed genes and biological processes following AFB1 and EE2 exposures. The estrogenic components at the core of the PPI networks suggest that ER-mediated signaling pathways are a major component in the MOA of aflatoxins.
PubDate: 2023-05-13
-
- The Association of Bisphenol A and Parabens Exposure and Oxidative Stress
in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) and personal care products containing parabens have been linked to disruption of endocrine function. General exposure to BPA and parabens comes from drinking water and food due to the overuse of plastic containers and personal care products. In this study, we sought to determine the relationship between exposure to BPA and parabens with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oxidative stress and the mediating role of oxidative stress in ADHD. This case–control study enrolled 92 children with ADHD and 137 control subjects. Urinary BPA and four paraben levels were measured in these children by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Oxidative stress biomarkers in urine were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray-ionization-mass spectrometry. The results showed that there were significantly higher concentrations of methyl paraben (MP) and ethyl paraben (EP) for ADHD children than in the control group (MP: 35.76 vs. 26.73 µg/g cre., p-value = 0.05; EP: 2.17 vs. 1.41 µg/g cre., p-value = 0.01). It was found that children with increased EP concentration have a higher risk of ADHD (odds ratio [OR]: 2.58, 95% CI 1.42–4.72), and the risk, in particular, increases in male children (OR: 2.83, 95% CI 1.37–5.84). No significant mediating effect of oxidative stress from BPA or parabens exposure on ADHD was found. The results suggest the role of parabens exposure in the onset of childhood ADHD, particularly the increased risk in male children.
PubDate: 2023-05-05
-
- Permeability of Dimethyl Phthalate Through Human Skin Models –
Health Risk Assessment-
Free pre-print version: Loading...
Abstract: Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) is used widely in cosmetics and personal care products as a solvent, skin penetrant, moisturizer and softener as well as an anti-cracking agent. Dermal absorption is one of the major exposure routes for lower molecular weight phthalates such as DMP and assessing their dermal permeability is important for evaluating the impact and toxicity of such compounds in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate DMP permeability through different human skin models (Strat-M® synthetic membrane, in vitro reconstructed human epidermis and human dermatomed skin) using solutions containing various types of surfactants, as a simulation of the types of mixtures occurring in cosmetics and personal care products, in order to ascertain the impact that surfactants can have on skin permeability. The results have shown that human skin is the least permeable of the used skin models, and that surfactants (in particular cationic and non-ionic) lead to a significant increase of DMP permeability through all skin models. The performed risk assessment however shows that, for all tested models, the margin of safety was not exceeded.
PubDate: 2023-05-05
-
