Human hair is a biological sample that is, unlike blood, noninvasively collected and can be used in the assessment of element intake. Before analysis, hair samples need to be washed to eliminate ...external contamination, for which no standard procedure exists. The present study evaluated the efficiency of different processes for washing hair samples (by non-ionic detergent, acids, solvents, and their mixtures), including ultrasonication before ICP-MS element (As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Se, and Zn) analysis. All tested washing procedures using detergent or solvents were satisfactory, while nitric and hydrochloric acid solutions yielded to “released” and lost elements due to damaged hair (visible discolouration and hair impairment). The application of ultrasonication improved washing efficiency up to 10 %, depending on the tested element and washing procedure.
•Element levels determined in maternal blood, placenta and cord blood (fetus).•Maternal smoking increases Cd and Pb in mother and newborn, and affects serum MT2.•Maternal smoking increases Fe and Cu ...in cord blood and Zn in placenta.•Maternal and cord blood elements and MT2A rs28366003 could not be related.•Placental Fe levels are lower in non-smoking AG/GG genotype subjects.
The main source of exposure for all essential and toxic elements in the general population is diet. In smokers, the main route for cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) intake is the inhalation of tobacco smoke. Besides gender, age, nutrition, lifestyle, and physiological conditions such as pregnancy, specific genetic characteristics also influence individual element uptake. Metallothionein MT2 is a cysteine-rich low-weight protein found ubiquitously throughout the body. Specific gene polymorphism may influence MT2 expression and subsequent binding, transfer and organ accumulation of metals, though data on these influences are lacking, especially in human mother-newborn pairs. The objective of this study was to determine selected toxic (Cd, Pb, Hg) and essential (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) elements in maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood (by ICP-MS), and MT2 levels in maternal serum (by ELISA) in relation to maternal MT2A –5A/G (rs28366003) polymorphism (by RFLP-PCR and electrophoresis). Study participants were healthy postpartum women in Croatia (n=268, mean age 29 years) with term vaginal childbirth in a maternity ward assigned into two study groups by self-reporting about their smoking habit (by questionnaire). Smokers vs. non-smokers had increased levels of Cd and Pb in all measured samples, Fe and Cu in cord blood, Zn in placenta, and MT2 in maternal serum. Among subjects with AG/GG genotype, placental Fe was significantly lower only among non-smokers, while MT2 levels in serum were lower, though not significantly, regardless of maternal smoking habit. There was no impact of MT2A –5A/G SNP on any element in maternal or cord blood. In conclusion, the results confirmed maternal smoking-related increases in Cd and Pb levels in the maternal-placental-foetal unit. They also provided additional data on concomitant metal concentrations in representative samples of maternal blood, placenta, and cord blood, as well as increased cord blood Fe and Cu, placental Zn, and maternal serum MT2 in smokers. New evidence is that MT2A –5A/G SNP was associated with decreased placental Fe levels in non-smokers. For a final conclusion on the influence of the MT2A –5A/G polymorphism on toxic and essential element levels in mother-newborn pairs, further research would require a larger number of participants divided across subgroups defined by the main source of particular toxic metal exposure (such as specific food intake, cigarette smoking, air pollution and/or occupational exposure).
Detoxification of mercury (Hg) with selenium (Se) in the early postnatal period with regard to the expression of metallothionein protein (MT), essential element status, and lipid peroxidation level ...in tissues has not been studied. Seven-day-old Wistar pups were orally pretreated with Se 6 μmol Na
2
SeO
3
/kg body weight (b.w.) for 3 days and then cotreated with Hg (6 μmol HgCl
2
/kg b.w.) for the following 4 days. This group (Se + Hg) was compared to the groups treated with Hg, Se, or vehicle (control). Compared to the Hg-group, Se + Hg-group exhibited lower renal MT expression, reduced accumulation of Hg, Cu and Zn, and reduced excretion of Se, Hg and Zn in urine. In the liver, MT was stimulated by Se treatment in both, Se and Se + Hg-group. Hepatic and brain levels of the endogenous essential elements Cu, Fe, Mg, and Zn remained unchanged in all of the studied groups. Brain Hg levels and oxidation of lipids measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were diminished in Se + Hg-group of pups compared to the Hg-group. This study suggests that Se pretreatment can help reduce Hg in the tissues of suckling rats, simultaneously preventing impairment of essential element levels in the kidneys and their excessive excretion via urine. Also, Se was shown to prevent oxidative damage of lipids in the brain, which is particularly susceptible to Hg during the early postnatal period.
A leading Croatian manufacturer of natural mineral waters and soft drinks utilizes two artesian wells located in the western part of the Pannonian region to produce over 600 million liters per year. ...In order to assess the chemical contamination levels in natural mineral waters sourced from these wells, this study examined the presence of metal(loid)s by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), phthalate esters (PAEs) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) at various stages of bottled water production (artesian wells, tanks before filling, products after bottling). The results revealed considerable variability in metal(loid)s concentrations between wells due to differences in local lithology. Concentrations of individual PAEs (<LOD–1.435 µg/L) and PAHs (<LOD–6.528 ng/L) were generally low or below detection limits, with diethyl phthalate (DEP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) being the most prevalent PAEs and fluoranthene (FLU) and pyrene (PYR) being the most prevalent PAHs. The storage medium had a significant effect on the inorganic chemical composition of the freshly filled products. Antimony (Sb) was the dominant element leached from plastic packaging, whereas chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), tin (Sn), and strontium (Sr) leached from glass packaging. All compounds analyzed in water samples were significantly below the legal thresholds for drinking water. The probabilistic analysis indicated that cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with ingestion of bottled waters containing metal(loid)s, PAEs, and PAHs were mostly below the safe thresholds (HI<1.0; CCR<10−4) for both children and adults.
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•Metal(loid) concentrations vary between wells owing to lithology.•Rare PAH and phthalate findings in artesian wells and drinking water.•All compounds evaluated in water samples met drinking water regulatory standards.•The cumulative non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were at acceptable levels.
In this study, the influence of anthropogenic pollution on the aquatic environment of Plitvice Lakes National Park (PLNP) was investigated during 2011–2012 using a combination of chemical and ...cytogenetic analyses. Four groups of major contaminants (volatile organic compounds: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX); persistent organochlorine pollutants: organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); major and trace elements; anthropogenic radionuclides (
90
Sr,
134
Cs, and
137
Cs) were determined in three aquatic compartments (water, sediment, fish). Mass fractions of inorganic constituents in different compartments reflected the geological background of the area, indicating their origin from predominantly natural sources. Levels of volatile and persistent organic compounds in water and fish, respectively, were very low, at levels typical for remote pristine areas. Analysis of anthropogenic radionuclides in water and sediment revealed elevated activity concentrations of
137
Cs in water, and measurable
134
Cs in the upper sediment layers from April 2011, possibly as a consequence of the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. The potential genotoxicity of river and lake water and lake sediment was assessed under laboratory conditions using the alkaline comet assay on human peripheral blood lymphocytes, and measured levels of primary DNA damage were within acceptable boundaries. The results showed that despite the protected status of the park, anthropogenic impact exists in both its terrestrial and aquatic components. Although contaminant levels were low, further monitoring is recommended to make sure that they will not rise and cause potentially hazardous anthropogenic impacts.
Selenium (Se) reduces cadmium (Cd) toxicity in adult animals, but its effects in newborn animals are still unknown. This study investigated Cd (as CdCl₂) absorption, distribution, and retention in ...suckling rats receiving oral Se supplementation (as Na₂SeO₃) in equimolar doses (8 μmol Cd and/or Se per kg b.w./day). Selenium was given either before and during Cd exposure (Sepre + Cd group; pre-treatment group) or only during Cd exposure (Se + Cd group). Rats were treated from postnatal day (PND) 6-14 as follows: controls (H₂O, PND 6-14), Se (PND 10-14), Cd (PND 10-14), Sepre + Cd (Se PND 6-14 + Cd PND 10-14) and Se + Cd (Se + Cd PND 10-14). Selenium supplementation, especially pre-treatment, decreased Cd levels in the blood, brain, liver and kidney of suckling rats. Selenium levels in plasma, brain, and kidney also decreased. These findings suggest that higher Se intake could efficiently reduce Cd retention during the suckling period.
Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate exposure to moulds and house dust mite
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
in poultry farms, and related health effects in poultry workers (PW).
Methods
The ...study involved 41 PW and 45 control office workers. Working environment was evaluated for
D. pteronyssinus
allergen (Der p 1), moulds and endotoxin. In workers, eye, skin and respiratory symptoms, ventilatory lung function, atopy markers (skin prick test to inhalatory allergens, total IgE) and specific IgG to moulds were assessed.
Results
Der p 1 levels ranged <0.1–3.3 μg/g, exposure to fungi was 4.9 × 10
3
–6.8 × 10
4
cfu/m
3
, with prevailing
Aspergillus
,
Penicillium
and
Mucor
species, and endotoxin levels ranged 230–284 EU/m
3
. In comparison to control subjects, significantly higher prevalence of work-related nose, asthma, eye and skin symptoms, and slight decline in ventilatory lung function was found in PW. PW had significantly higher prevalence of IgG antibodies to moulds comparing to controls (63 vs. 36%, respectively,
P
= 0.01), especially to
Alternaria
and
Aspergillus
species. The prevalence of atopy markers in PW was lower than in population-based studies.
Conclusions
Hazardous levels of Der p 1, endotoxin and moulds were determined in poultry houses. High prevalence of work-related symptoms and IgG antibodies to moulds was found in PW. Healthy worker effect is proposed as an explanation of low atopy markers prevalence among PW.
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