Malondialdehyde and heavy metal contents in Piper betel: Possible risks of heavy metals in human health

 

Abstract

The content of heavy metals in the food chain has grown due to human activities and rapid industrial growth. The accumulation of heavy metals in P. betel leaves and the related threat to human health were analyzed by using the AAS that was collected from eleven locations inside the city of Dhaka. High MDA contents indicated contamination in P. betel samples and can regulate biochemical activity by different potential toxic elements (PTEs). The P. betel samples revealed the highest mean concentrations of As (2.09 mg/kg), Pb (0.06 mg/kg), Mn (218 mg/kg), Ni (1.55 mg/kg), Cu (10 mg/kg), Zn (2.6 mg/kg), Cr (5.1 mg/kg), and Cd (0.003 mg/kg) and certain metal exceed the guideline value. Mn, Cr, and As mean values at the research sites are higher than the permitted concentration range. Among all metals, Mn was the most accumulated metal in leaves and enhanced hazard index (HI) and non-carcinogenic risk for children. Individual metal THQ values were all less than 1 (except Mn), indicating that consuming only one metal from betel samples would not pose a serious risk to one's health. However, HI value (> 1) indicates a possible non-carcinogenic health risk to urban city people, especially in children. The assessment revealed that the allowable range of Cr and As content in betel leaves may enhance the carcinogenic risk (CR). Among heavy metals, the CR value of Cr indicated an enhanced cancer risk in children at L3, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, L10, and L11 sites. This study shows from a health perspective that people who eat contaminated betel leaves are continuously exposed to metal pollution, which can have both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic effects.

Source: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2024.106540

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the invasive Asian clam (Corbicula fuminea) from polluted urban river areas of Bangladesh and evaluation of human health risk

Abstract

The invasive Asian clam species, Corbicula fluminea, has significant ecological and societal implications at both local and international levels due to its nutritional aspects. C. fluminea from four urban rivers in Bangladesh exhibited negative allometric growth and degree of contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which posed a concern to human health based on the AAS and USEPA risk models. The highest mean concentration of PTEs followed a decreasing order: Zn (155.08 ± 4.98 mg/kg) > Cu (53.96 ± 7.61 mg/kg) > Mn (14.29 ± 3.25 mg/kg) > Cd (2.23 ± 0.10 mg/kg) > Pb (1.64 ± 0.14 mg/kg) > As (1.51 ± 0.45 mg/kg) > Ni (1.25 ± 0.27 mg/kg) > Cr (0.65 ± 0.02 mg/kg) in C. fluminea and raising safety concerns. With the exception of Cr and Mn, all element levels were exceeded safety guideline value (SGV) (mg/kg. ww) and exhibited a strong positive correlation (p < 0.05) among the sites. The target hazard quotient of Mn is THQ > 1, and As showed a non-carcinogenic risk in children at OBR, BR, and MR site. The hazard index (HI > 1) value at the BR and MR sites indicated a public health risk associated with the clam. The target cancer risk (TCR) values for As, Cd, and Ni showed that consuming clams posed a carcinogenic risk to human health. These findings suggest that eating these clams may put consumers at significant risk for health issues related to As, Cd, Ni, and Mn exposure. The study emphasizes the need for strict monitoring and preventative measures to reduce the health risks posed by PTEs contamination in clams.

 Journal : Environmental Monitoring and Assessment

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-024-13322-6

Distribution of potentially toxic elements in sediments of the municipal river channel (Balu), Dhaka, Bangladesh: Ecological and health risks assessment.

 

Abstract:

The concern of potential toxic elements (PTEs) contamination in the river ecosystem is growing due to anthropological activity. The contents of seven PTEs in sediments from the Balu River channel were analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and an environmental risk model. Several PTEs were found in the sediment at high levels, including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), and mercury (Hg), that might pose a risk to human and ecological health. The highest mean concentration of PTEs in sediment followed in decreasing order Zn (1365.21 mg/kg) > Cu (149.34 mg/kg) > Pb (46.34 mg/kg) > Ni (34.78 mg/kg) > As (6.31 mg/kg) > Cd (2.34 mg/kg) > Hg (1.03 mg/kg). In addition, most of these PTEs were significantly correlated (p < 0.05) among the sites and exceeded the safety guideline value. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI) showed high levels of PTEs contamination and moderately polluted to highly polluted levels of these elements. At the BL3, BL4, and BL6 sites within the study site, the ecological risk (PERI) score was extremely high, and the PERI values range found was from 75.39 to 355.72. Every PTE had a slightly greater concentration during the dry season than the wet season. Interestingly, PTE accumulation from sediment indicated non-carcinogenic risk (HQdermal) in human health, whereas most of the sites showed carcinogenic risk (CRdermal) to human health (adult and child) due to Cd and Ni accumulation. Multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) indicated the most likely anthropological sources were the untreated wastes discharged in the river sampling area. People who come into contact with polluted sediments are constantly exposed to Ni and Cd pollution, which increases the risk of cancer and non-cancerous diseases. So, continuous PTE monitoring is advised by this study to assess ecological and human health risks.

Sources: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconhyd.2024.104492

 

 

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure in biota and remediation strategies: Toxicological and biochemical perspectives

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become prominent environmental pollutants because of their widespread adoption in various industries. Despite their known persistence, bioaccumulation, detoxifying mechanisms, enzymes and non-enzymes activity, and toxicity behaviour remained poorly understood. The accumulation of “forever chemicals” has been found in water, plants, finfish, and shellfish. They pose adverse effects that might lead to risk and damage. A considerable amount of various PFAS have been identified in biota, raising concern about environmental standards. The current study has investigated the impacts of PFAS on plants, finfish, and animals based on environments and levels. PFAS can interfere with important biological functions. Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), toxicity, and possible cell damage might result from exposure. Exposure to PFAS has been implicated in metabolic pathways and oxidative stress. Their effects on the environment alter metabolic pathways, lead to detoxification processes for ROS, C and N, and change the activities of enzymes (SOD, CAT, POD) and non-enzymes (MDA, AsA, and GSH). Metabolic processes in breathing creatures depend on the TCA cycle. This article highlights distinct ways the impact of PFAS contamination in water, plants, finfish, and shellfish, which is shown in different model diagrams. Contributes to a deeper understanding of PFAS removal techniques for environmental sustainability.

Source : Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances

Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100579

Dr. Md Muzammel Hossain, Founder and Director of the BCFRC Research

Dr. Md Muzammel Hossain is a Founder and Program Coordinator to the Director of Research for the BCFRC (Biodiversity Conservation & Fisheries Research Center). He has successfully completed a Postdoc in Environmental Science and Engineering from the College of the Environmental safety and Engineering, Jiangsu University, China and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from the College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, China.  He was born in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. His research interests are in Ecology, biology and ecotoxicology. As broad interests include Environmental pollution, Remediation, soil pollution, stress, resources, Aquatic animals (fish, shellfish, and mammals) and plants (rice), Silicon (Si), organosilicon or silicone polymers, Ecology, Chemical Ecology, Heavy metal, PFAS, Pollution, Risk Assessment, Toxicology, Biochemical Assay, Antioxidant, Physiology, Water quality, Human Health, Dolphin Conservation, DNA barcoding, Genome, Biodiversity, qRT-PCR and Molecular biology etc. 

Abdullah Al Nahian, Director of the BCFRC

Abdullah Al Nahian, as the Director of the BCFRC (Biodiversity Conservation and Fisheries Research Center), is likely involved in initiatives related to nature research, conservation, and sustainable practices. Leaders in such roles typically focus on advancing scientific knowledge, conducting research on biodiversity, and promoting conservation efforts in ecosystems. He is graduated from the University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh.

His research interest in Biotechnology, Molecular biology, Pollutants, Biota, Genetics etc.