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Levels of OH-PAHs and markers of oxidative stress in urine of taxi drivers and controls

Na-Youn PARK ; Geurim SONG ; Kyungmu LEE ; Younglim KHO

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(4):e2024027-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024027

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are pervasive in the atmosphere, originating from sources like vehicle emissions and incomplete combustion. Exposure to PAHs occurs through diet, tobacco smoke, and air pollutants, and they are recognized as carcinogens. This study, conducted from July to October 2021 in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Ulsan regions, focused on taxi drivers, a group with elevated PAH exposure due to prolonged vehicle use. The study involved 19 male taxi drivers and 46 control participants (18 male, 28 female). LC-MS/MS analysis was employed to quantify urinary levels of 18 hydroxy-PAHs, oxidative damage markers (MDA, 8-OHdG), and cotinine. The detection rates of OH-PAHs were 1-naphthol (96.9 %), 2-naphthol (90.8 %), 2-hydroxyfluorene (86.2 %), and 1-hydroxypyrene (80.0 %). Compared to the male controls, taxi drivers showed higher median concentrations of 2-OH-Na (1.698 ng/mL), 1-OH-Na (0.666 ng/mL), 2-OH-Flu (0.067 ng/mL), and 1-OHP (0.045 ng/mL). Similarly, significant differences were observed between taxi drivers and female controls for 1-OH-Na, 2-OH-Na, 2-OH-Flu, 3-OH-Phe, and 1-OHP. MDA and 8-OHdG were detected in over 90% of all groups, with significant differences between taxi drivers. Strong positive correlations were revealed between urinary OH-PAHs, MDA, and 8-OHdG (r ranging from 0.589 to 0.770, p<0.01). The findings suggest that taxi drivers, due to prolonged exposure to traffic-related air pollutants, have elevated levels of PAH metabolites and oxidative stress, especially among smokers. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended to validate these results and explore the long-term health implications of occupational PAH exposure in urban transportation workers..

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A comparative neuro-study of solo or accompanied low and high boric acid doses with date molasses in adult male albino rats

Mohamed M. REZK

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(4):e2024026-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024026

Boric acid (BA) is a weak acid and the simplest compound resulting from the dissolution of boron in water. There is great competition to determine whether boron is an essential or nonessential nutrient. Date molasses is a potent type of sweetener with valuable components, such as flavonoids and phenolics, and has significant health benefits. This study investigated the neuro-essentiality and neurotoxicity of boric acid boron in adult male albino rat cortex and cerebellum brain areas and the impact of date molasses treatment. Animals were grouped into the following groups: control, low and high boric acid doses, 10 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, with or without 250 mg/kg date molasses. The results revealed the ability of BAs to cross the blood–brain barrier and accumulate in the cerebellum and cortex, revealing the ability of date molasses to decrease BA accumulation at different time intervals. Additionally, the results varied between a nonsignificant increase or decrease in calcium ion content, monoamines (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin), glucose, adenosine triphosphate, malondialdehyde and glutathione, depending on the BA dose. Moreover, date molasses mitigated any unwanted BA results. In conclusion, boric acid, which is within a permissible limit, could be essential and have a neuroprotective effect, whereas at a sublethal level, it could have a neurotoxic effect. Additionally, Date molasses can have neuroprotective effects and antagonize the neurotoxic effects of boric acid through its antioxidant and scavenging effects.

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Effect of fluoride-induced testicular alteration in rats fed a high-fat diet

Manuel SÁNCHEZ-GUTIÉRREZ ; Itziar HERNÁNDEZ-MARTÍNEZ ; Eduardo Osiris MADRIGAL-SANTILLÁN ; Kevin Francisco FLORES-ELIZALDE ; Jeannett Alejandra IZQUIERDO-VEGA

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(3):e2024023-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024023

Previous research on the well-known environmental pollutant fluoride has demonstrated that fluoride exposure can lead to oxidative stress-related male infertility. Obesity is another public health issue that has a detrimental impact on male fertility. Previously, findings on fluoride toxicity in high-fat diet (HFD) conditions associated with oxidative stress have been evidenced. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of subchronic fluoride exposure (5 mg/kg) plus a HFD on testicular alteration in Wistar rats. Animals were divided into four groups (control, HFD, fluoride, and fluoride 5 mg/kg plus HFD). The HFD contained a 50% kcal increase in fat (saturated fat), after 90 days of co-exposure to fluoride plus HFD, the animals showed a significant decrease in the adiposity index. The co-exposed group showed oxidative damage assessed through decreased glutathione (GSH) concentration (p < 0.0001), increased concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.0001), and the oxidation of proteins (p < 0.0001) vs the control group. Finally, testicular histology exhibited a reduction in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The results of the study indicate that under these conditions, subchronic co-exposure to fluoride under HFD conditions could protect against the accumulation of epididymal fat, however, oxidative alteration at the testicular level is maintained.

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Quercetin diminishes the apoptotic pathway of magnetite nanoparticles in rats' ovary: Antioxidant status and hormonal profiles

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(3):e2024025-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024025

Magnetite nanoparticles have attracted the attention of researchers for biomedical uses, but their impacts on the reproductive system did not report. Here, we have studied the possible attenuation efficiency of quercetin against magnetite nanoparticles-induced apoptosis in ovarian. Forty female rats were divided equally into control, quercetin (100 mg/kg), magnetite nanoparticles (50 mg/kg), and magnetite nanoparticles+quercetin, where all rats received their doses for four weeks. Compared with the control, magnetite nanoparticles significantly reduced the serum hormonal levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen, and progesterone) along with glutathione and superoxide dismutase in ovarian tissues. Moreover, magnetite nanoparticles markedly increased the ovarian malondialdehyde, and apoptotic gene expressions (Bax and caspase-3), and induced many histopathological changes. Significantly, co-treatment with quercetin markedly alleviated the hormonal profile, antioxidant disturbance, and ovarian apoptotic pathway of magnetite nanoparticles. Furthermore, our docking study revealed that quercetin could act as a caspase-3 inhibitor and allosteric agonist to follicle-stimulating hormone (Met520 and Val53), luteinizing hormone (Met517, Ala589, Ser604, and Lys595), estrogen (Met421, Phe425, and Ala350), and progesterone (Met759 and Met909) receptors. Those records reveal that the antioxidants and antiapoptotic characteristics are acceptable pointers for female infertility defenders of quercetin, especially during nanoparticle exposure.

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Development of a multi-analysis model using an epithelial-fibroblast co-culture system as an alternative to animal testing

Min-Ju KIM ; Hee-Sung HWANG ; Jee Hoon CHOI ; Eun-Seon YOO ; Mi-Im JANG ; Juhee LEE ; Seung Min OH

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(3):e2024024-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024024

The evaluation of respiratory chemical substances has been mostly performed in animal tests (OECD TG 403, TG 412, TG 413, etc.). However, there have been ongoing discussions about the limited use of these inhalation toxicity tests due to differences in the anatomical structure of the respiratory tract, difficulty in exposure, laborious processes, and ethical reasons. Alternative animal testing methods that mimic in vivo testing are required. Therefore, in this study, we established a co-culture system composed of differentiated epithelial cells under an air-liquid interface (ALI) system in the apical part and fibroblasts in the basal part. This system was designed to mimic the wound-healing mechanism in the respiratory system. In addition, we developed a multi-analysis system that simultaneously performs toxicological and functional evaluations. Several individual assays were used sequentially in a multi-analysis model for pulmonary toxicity. Briefly, cytokine analysis, histology, and cilia motility were measured in the apical part, and cell migration and gel contraction assay were performed by exposing MRC-5 cells to the basal culture. First, human airway epithelial cells from bronchial (hAECB) were cultured under air-liquid interface (ALI) system conditions and validated pseudostratified epithelium by detecting differentiation-related epithelial markers using Transepithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) measurement, Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining, and immunocytochemistry (ICC) staining. Afterward, the co-culture cells exposed to Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), a key mediator of pulmonary fibrosis, induced significant toxicological responses such as cytotoxicity, cell migration, and gel contraction, which are wound-healing markers. In addition, cilia motility in epithelial cells was significantly decreased compared to control. Therefore, the multi-analysis model with a 3D epithelial-fibroblast co-culture system is expected to be useful in predicting pulmonary toxicity as a simple and efficient high-throughput screening method and as an alternative to animal testing.

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Health effects of microplastics and nanoplastics: review of published case reports

Oche Joseph OTORKPA ; Chinenye Oche OTORKPA

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(2):e2024020-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024020

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) represent a pervasive environmental pollutant, raising significant concerns about potential health effects on humans. These tiny plastic particles have been detected across various environmental matrices, including air, water, soil, and food sources. While the adverse impacts of MNPs on wildlife and ecosystems are well-documented, understanding their effects on human health is still in its infancy. This study aims to comprehensively review existing case reports documenting adverse health outcomes associated with MNPs exposure. Through an extensive literature search, relevant articles were identified and analyzed. MNPs exposure primarily occurs through ingestion and inhalation routes. Health effects on the digestive system include oxidative stress, inflammation, dysbiosis, and metabolic disorders, with cases linking MNPs exposure to gastrointestinal injury and liver dysfunction. Respiratory system impacts include asthma exacerbation and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, particularly in industries involving plastic production. MNPs exposure has also been associated with nervous system conditions, reproductive toxicity, skeletal system interference, excretory system disruption, and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Despite limited case reports, the widespread presence of MNPs warrants further investigation into their potential health risks. This study underscores the urgency of understanding and mitigating the adverse health effects posed by MNPs exposure. Further research is imperative in order to comprehensively assess and address the dangers associated with MNPs contamination in the environment.

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in community drinking water, Nsisioken, Nigeria: Source and health risk assessment

Chinemerem C. NWAOZUZU ; Stephen O. ABAH ; Kingsley C. PATRICK-IWUANYANWU

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(2):e2024015-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024015

In 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme discovered high levels of hydrocarbon pollution in drinking water wells in Nsisioken Agbi Ogale Rivers State, Nigeria. However, the level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the same community's water supply was unknown. A comprehensive study of PAHs in three household dug wells and three boreholes was conducted using Agilent 7890B gas chromatography and 5975A mass spectrometry. The detected PAHs were mainly 4 - 5 ringed PAHs, such as Chrysene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo[a]anthracene, and Benzo[b]fluoranthene. The total mean concentration was 5.8 ± 2.3 μg/L, with values ranging from not detected in borehole 3 to 8.0 μg/L at well 2. Source identification analysis suggested that the PAHs originated from fuel and biomass combustion. The incremental lifetime cancer risk for children and adults due to groundwater ingestion and skin contact ranged from ND to 7.448 × 10−3 and ND to 1.83 × 10−3 respectively. The Risk index (RI) values from ingestion and dermal routes were 1.5 ×10-2 and 2.4 × 10-2, indicating high risk of cancer. The hazard quotient for the two non-carcinogenic PAHs was greater than 1, indicating high toxicity. The PAH concentrations exceeded the maximum contamination limits set by the World Health Organization and the U.S. environmental Protection Agency, highlighting potential health risks associated with water use in the community. Authorities should provide a safe alternative water source for the community.

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Benzene: A critical review on measurement methodology, certified reference material, exposure limits with its impact on human health and mitigation strategies

Poonam KUMARI ; Daya SONI ; Shankar G AGGARWAL

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(2):e2024012-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024012

Benzene is a carcinogenic pollutant with significant emission sources present in the atmosphere. The need for accurate and precise measurement of benzene in the atmosphere has become increasingly evident due to its toxicity and the adverse health effects associated with exposure to different concentrations. Certified reference material (CRM) is essential to establish the traceability of measurement results. The present review compiles the available national and international measurement methods, certified reference materials (CRMs) for benzene and the limit of benzene in fuel composition (v/v) worldwide. Overall, the review indicates the benzene level in the atmosphere and the resulting impacts on the environment and human health, which frequently exceed the exposure limits of different environment regulatory agencies. An extensive literature review was conducted to gather information on monitoring and analysis methods for benzene, revealing that the most preferred method, i.e. Gas Chromatography- Flame Ionization Detector and Mass Spectrometry, is neither cost-effective nor suitable for real-time continuous monitoring. By analysing existing literature and studies, this review will shed light on the understanding of the importance of benzene pollution monitoring in ambient air and its implications for public health. Additionally, it will reflect the mitigation strategies applied by regulators & need for future revisions of air quality guidelines.

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Assessment of fishes, sediment and water from some inland rivers across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria for microplastics

Victoria Funmilayo DOHERTY ; Idowu Ayisat ANEYO ; Oluwatoyin Tirenioluwa FATUNSIN ; Christian Ebere ENYOH ; Tajudeen Olanrewaju YAHAYA ; Ikechi Godslove EMERONYE ; Oluwatosin Aishat AMOLEGBE ; Nnamdi Henry AMAEZE ; Felix Emeka ANYIAM ; Aderonke Ajibola OLOIDI ; Folashade AJAGBE ; Oluwaseun POPOOLA ; Moses UGOCHUKWU

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(2):e2024018-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024018

In Nigeria, limited research has been conducted on Microplastics (MPs) in inland rivers, necessitating a comprehensive assessment to understand the extent of contamination. This study aimed to assess the abundance, distribution, and composition of MPs in fishes, sediment, and water from inland rivers across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. Samples were collected from selected rivers in each geopolitical zone (Rivers Yauri, Benue, Argungu, Jamare, Ogun, Ethiope and Orashi). MPs were isolated using a combination of filtration, density separation, and visual identification. MPs abundance, distribution, shapes, colors, and chemical composition were determined using microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The study presents the first report of MPs in six in land rivers in Nigeria and found that MPs were present in all the fishes, sediments and river waters studied across all the rivers. The abundance and composition of MPs varied among the different sample types, with fibers being the most abundant shape in both water and fish samples. PET, PP, and PE were the most prevalent types of plastics found in fish samples, while PE/PA/Nylon, PVA, and PVC were predominant in water samples. PA/Nylon, PUR, PVC, and PET were the most common in sediment samples. Source analysis by Principal component analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) indicated that the presence of MPs was mainly influenced by local anthropogenic activities. However, estimated daily intakes are generally low, indicating that daily consumption of the samples is not likely to be harmful. The widespread presence of MPs in inland rivers across Nigeria highlights the urgent need for effective waste management strategies and environmental conservation efforts to mitigate plastic pollution.

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Abundance, characterization, and health risk evaluation of microplastics in borehole water in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria

Tajudeen YAHAYA ; Mutiyat Kehinde ADEWALE ; Abdulgafar Bala IBRAHIM ; Baliqees ABDULKADIR ; Chikelu Chinelo EMMANUELA ; Adamu Zainab FARI ; Asiya Koko ATTAHIRU ; Joseph Dahali WANDA

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology.2024;39(2):e2024017-. doi:10.5620/eaht.2024017

Microplastic pollution has become a global menace, and water, being a major "sink" for pollutants, represents a significant source of human exposure. This study aimed to assess the safety of borehole water in Birnin Kebbi, Nigeria, specifically concerning microplastic pollution. Water samples were collected from boreholes in selected areas, including Bayan Kara, Malali, Rafin Atiku, Aliero Quarters, GwadanGaji, FUBK Takeoff Site, Kalgo Market, and Tarasa. Microplastics were extracted from the water samples through filtration using glass fiber filter papers, and were subsequently subjected to spectroscopy and microscopy to determine concentrations, shapes, and polymer types. Health risks associated with the microplastics were also calculated. The results revealed that the samples from Tarasa exhibited the highest concentrations of microplastics (96.967 particles/L), followed by Bayan Kara (92.70 particles/L), Rafin Atiku (92.33 particles/L), GwadanGwaji (92.30 particles/L), FUBK Takeoff Site (91.07 particles/L), Aliero Quarters (90.43 particles/L), Kalgo Market (88.00 particles/L), and Malali (86.40 particles/L). The most dominant shape was fibers (73 %), followed by fragments (16 %), foams (6 %), and filaments (5 %). Polyethylene and polyamide, in that order, were the most dominant polymers, while polystyrene was the least common. The majority of risk scores were classified as III. It can be inferred from the results that microplastic pollution in borehole water poses a health hazard in the city. Consumers of borehole water in the studied areas are advised to treat the water before consumption to mitigate potential health risks.

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