Humans ; Metals, Heavy ; toxicity ; Paint ; toxicity ; Pica ; complications

In this study, the content of five heavy metals(Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Cu) in 59 batches of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos(LJF) medicinal materials and pieces were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The health risk assessment was processed using the maximum estimated daily intake(EDI), target hazard quotients(THQ), and carcinogenic risks(CR) assessment models. With reference to the limit standard for heavy metal content in LJF specified in 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia, five batches produced in Hebei were found to contain excessive Pb, and the remaining 54 batches met the specifications, with the unqualified rate of 8.47%. Comparative analysis of heavy metal content in LJF samples from three different producing areas, namely Shandong, Henan, and Hebei showed that the levels of Pb, As, and Hg in LJF from Hebei were significantly higher than those from Henan and Shandong. The samples produced in Shandong contained the highest content of Cd. The samples from Hebei contained the highest content of Cu while those from Shandong had the lowest content of Cu. As demonstrated by health risk assessment based on the EDI, THQ and CR models, these 59 batches of LJF samples did not cause significant health hazards for the exposed population, and there was no potential non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risk. In conclusion, a few of LJF samples contained excessive heavy metals, so some measures, including controlling production environment, cultivating management mode, and optimizing processing methods, should be taken for ensuring the medication safety of LJF.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Environmental Pollution/analysis* ; Mercury/toxicity* ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity* ; Risk Assessment

OBJECTIVETo examine maternal and fetal exposure levels to four carcinogenic metals, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and beryllium (Be), and to investigate their environmental influences.

METHODSMetal concentrations in maternal and umbilical cord blood were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Environmental factors that might play a role in exposure were analyzed using Mann-Whitney nonparametric U-tests and multiple linear regression.

RESULTSThe concentrations of As, Cd, and Ni in umbilical cord blood (5.41, 0.87, and 139.54 μg/L) were significantly lower than those in maternal blood (6.91, 1.93, and 165.93 μg/L). There were significant positive correlations between the maternal and cord concentrations of each carcinogen. Our results showed that: (i) exposures to potentially harmful occupational factors during pregnancy were associated with high levels of maternal As, Cd, and Ni; (ii) living close to major transportation routes (<500 m) or exposure to second-hand smoke during pregnancy increased the maternal Cd levels and (iii) living close to industrial chimneys induced high maternal Ni levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that these environmental factors remained significant in models of the influences of these four carcinogens.

CONCLUSIONBoth mothers and fetuses had been exposed to As, Cd, Ni, and Be. The increased levels of these carcinogens in pregnant women were associated with some detrimental environmental factors, such as occupational exposure, contact with second-hand smoke and living close to major transportation routes or industrial chimneys.

Carcinogens, Environmental ; toxicity ; Environmental Exposure ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Maternal-Fetal Exchange ; Metals ; toxicity ; Pregnancy ; Time Factors

Whole embryo culture (WEC) is an experimental tool, which is made use of embryos in vitro to replace whole animals to investigate the growth and development of early organs, the embryo toxicity of chemical materials and the mechanism of the occurrence of embryo toxicity. Compared with experiment with whole animals, WEC could reduce the number of experimental animals, shorten experimental time, decrease experimental expenses, eliminate disturbing factors and control dosage more exactly. So it is generally received that WEC tool is a good experimental method to match the principles of replacement, reduction, refinement and responsibility. This article is a review of the WEC tool of rat and mouse, including the development of this tool, announcements, and the application in the development of organs, the embryo toxicity of environmental pollution and heavy metal, safety evaluation of medicine and the embryo toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine and its mechanism. There is also a discussion of the application of this tool in the investigation of the embryo toxicity of traditional Chinese medicine.
Animals ; Culture Media ; Embryo Culture Techniques ; methods ; Embryonic Development ; drug effects ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Metals, Heavy ; toxicity ; Mice ; Rats

Objectives: To study the association between metals mixture exposure and DNA oxidative damage using mixture analysis methods, and to explore the most significant exposure factors that cause DNA oxidative damage. Methods: Workers from steel enterprises were recruited in Shandong Province. Urinary metals were measured by using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. The level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was determined by using the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR), elastic net regression and quantile g-computation regression were used to analyze the association between urinary metals and urinary 8-OHdG. Results: A total of 768 subjects aged (36.15±7.40) years old were included in the study. BKMR, elastic net regression and quantile g-computation all revealed an overall positive association between the mixture concentration and increased urinary 8-OHdG. The quantile g-computation results showed that with a 25% increase in metal mixtures, the urinary 8-OHdG level increased by 77.60%. The elastic net regression showed that with a 25% increase in exposure risk score, the urinary 8-OHdG level increased by 26%. The BKMR summarized the contribution of individual exposures to the response, and selenium, zinc, and nickel were significant contributors to the urinary 8-OHdG elevation. Conclusion: Exposure to mixed metals causes elevated levels of DNA oxidative damage, and selenium, zinc, and nickel are significant exposure factors.
Humans ; Adult ; Nickel/toxicity* ; Selenium ; Bayes Theorem ; Metals/toxicity* ; 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine ; Oxidative Stress/physiology* ; Zinc ; DNA Damage

Animals ; Humans ; Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Metals ; toxicity ; Nervous System ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of aluminum citrate (AC), rare earth compounds (REC) and sodium selenite (SS) on the surface elements of chrysotile fibers and the inhibitory mechanisms of three compounds for chrysotile-induced biological activities.

METHODSAfter being soaked in 250, 500 and 1000 microg/ml aluminum citrate solutions, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 microg/ml mixed rare earths solutions or 125, 250, 500 and 1000 microg/ml sodium selenite solutions for 10 min or 1 hour, the fabrication and the levels of surface elements of chrysotile fibers were determined.

RESULTSAluminum citrate, mixed rare earths or sodium selenite all could be adsorbed by chrysotile fibers. After pretreatment of chrysotile fibers with aluminum citrate, mixed rare earths or sodium selenite solutions for 10 min or 1 hour, the corresponding elements or ion on the surface of chrysotile fibers increased with the increase of concentration of the solutions.

CONCLUSIONPretreatment of chrysotile with aluminum citrate, mixed rare earths or sodium selenite solutions can change the fabrication and the levels of surface elements of chrysotile fibers, and inhibit the biological activities of chrysotile by "sealing" some "active sites" on the surface of chrysotile fibers.

Asbestos, Serpentine ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Citric Acid ; chemistry ; Metals, Rare Earth ; chemistry ; Sodium Selenite ; chemistry

Heavy metal is one of pollutants existed widely in the environment, its relationship with cardiovascular disease has attracted more and more attention. In this review, the concentrations of heavy metals, including lead, cadium and asenic, in the body from several national surveillance networks and the epidemiological studies on the effects of the exposure of three heavy metals on cardiovascular system were summarized. It is suggested to strengthen nationwide surveillance for body concentrations of heavy metals in general population in order to provide baseline data for quantitative evaluation of the risk of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular disease.
Cadmium ; Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Lead/toxicity* ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity* ; Neoplasms ; Research/trends*

As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mineral medicine plays an irreplaceable role. However, little has been reported on its species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements, and also the relevance to pharmacological effect and toxicology. The present paper, in a new perspective, summarized the determination of the species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements in recent years, discussed the progress of the pharmacological effect and toxicology, and prospected for future study which might provide reference for mineral medicine.
Animals ; Drug Contamination ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; toxicity ; Minerals ; analysis ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVEAssessment of the bacterium L. sphaericus as a dual-action candidate for biological control of mosquito-borne diseases and bioremediation of toxic metals.

METHODSLarvae of the mosquito, C. quinquefasciatus, were first evaluated for metal tolerance and then exposed to 5 ppm cadmium, chromium, arsenic, and lead in assays together with seven strains of L. sphaericus. A probit regression analysis was used to estimate the LC(50) of Cd, Cr, As, and Pb to C. quinquefasciatus. An analysis of covariance and multifactorial ANOVA examined the metal biosorption and larvicidal properties of the seven strains of L. sphaericus.

RESULTSWe found that L. sphaericus adsorbed the toxic metal ions and was toxic against mosquito larvae. The L. sphaericus strain III(3)7 resulted in a larvae mortality of over 80% for all the tested metals. This strain also exhibited the capacity to adsorb 76% of arsenic, 32% of lead, 25% of chromium, and 7% of cadmium.

CONCLUSIONThis study found combined metal adsorption and larval toxicity associated with three strains of L. sphaericus [III(3)7, OT4b.31, and CBAM5]. This suggests that a combination of these strains shows strong dual potential for biological control of mosquitos in heavy metal-contaminated areas and remediate the heavy metal contamination as well.

Animals ; Bacillaceae ; physiology ; Culicidae ; microbiology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Insect Vectors ; Larva ; microbiology ; Metals, Heavy ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; metabolism ; toxicity