Toxicological mechanisms and potential health effects of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 323-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pestka
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Growth Retardation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Potential Health

Produced by the mould genus Fusarium, the type B trichothecenes include deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV) and their acetylated precursors. These mycotoxins often contaminate cereal staples, posing a potential threat to public health that is still incompletely understood. Understanding the mechanistic basis by which these toxins cause toxicity in experimental animal models will improve our ability to predict the specific thresholds for adverse human effects as well as the persistence and reversibility of these effects. Acute exposure to DON and NIV causes emesis in susceptible species such as pigs in a manner similar to that observed for certain bacterial enterotoxins. Chronic exposure to these mycotoxins at low doses causes growth retardation and immunotoxicity whereas much higher doses can interfere with reproduction and development. Pathophysiological events that precede these toxicities include altered neuroendocrine responses, upregulation of proinflammatory gene expression, interference with growth hormone signalling and disruption of gastrointestinal tract permeability. The underlying molecular mechanisms involve deregulation of protein synthesis, aberrant intracellular cell signalling, gene transactivation, mRNA stabilisation and programmed cell death. A fusion of basic and translational research is now needed to validate or refine existing risk assessments and regulatory standards for DON and NIV. From the perspective of human health translation, biomarkers have been identified that potentially make it possible to conduct epidemiological studies relating DON consumption to potential adverse human health effects. Of particular interest will be linkages to growth retardation, gastrointestinal illness and chronic autoimmune diseases. Ultimately, such knowledge can facilitate more precise science-based risk assessment and management strategies that protect consumers without reducing availability of critical food sources.

scholarly journals Methodological, political and legal issues in the assessment of the effects of nanotechnology on human health

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Guseva Canu ◽  
Paul A Schulte ◽  
Michael Riediker ◽  
Liliya Fatkhutdinova ◽  
Enrico Bergamaschi
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) raise questions among the scientific community and public health authorities about their potential risks to human health. Studying a prospective cohort of workers exposed to ENMs would be considered the gold standard for identifying potential health effects of nanotechnology and confirming the ‘no effect’ levels derived from cellular and animal models. However, because only small, cross-sectional studies have been conducted in the past 5 years, questions remain about the health risks of ENMs. This essay addresses the scientific, methodological, political and regulatory issues that make epidemiological research in nanotechnology-exposed communities particularly complex. Scientific challenges include the array of physicochemical parameters and ENM production conditions, the lack of universally accepted definitions of ENMs and nanotechnology workers, and the lack of information about modes of action, target organs and likely dose–response functions of ENMs. Standardisation of data collection and harmonisation of research protocols are needed to eliminate misclassification of exposures and health effects. Forming ENM worker cohorts from a combination of smaller cohorts and overcoming selection bias are also challenges. National or international registries for monitoring the exposures and health of ENM workers would be helpful for epidemiological studies, but the creation of such a registry and ENM worker cohorts will require political support and dedicated funding at the national and international levels. Public authorities and health agencies should consider carrying out an ENM awareness campaign to educate and engage all stakeholders and concerned communities in discussion of such a project.

scholarly journals MECHANISMS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY: Estrogens in consumer milk: is there a risk to human reproductive health?

2018 ◽  
Vol 179 (6) ◽  
pp. R275-R286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomaž Snoj ◽  
Gregor Majdič
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Laboratory Animals ◽  
Cow’S Milk ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Cow's Milk ◽  
Intensive Farming

Possible effects of xenoestrogens on human health, in particular on male reproductive health, have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Cow's milk was suggested in numerous publications as one of possible sources of xenoestrogens that could affect human health. Although milk has undoubtedly many beneficial health effects and could even have a role in reducing incidence of some cancers, concerns were raised about presumably high levels of estrogens in cow's milk. In intensive farming, concentrations of estrogens in milk are higher due to long milking periods that today extend long into the pregnancy, when concentrations of estrogens in the cow's body rise. Numerous studies examined potential effects of milk on reproductive health and endocrine-related cancers in both experimental studies with laboratory animals, and in human epidemiological studies. In the present review article, we compiled a review of recently published literature about the content of estrogens in cow's milk and potential health effects, in particular on reproductive system, in humans. Although results of published studies are not unequivocal, it seems that there is stronger evidence suggesting that amounts of estrogens in cow's milk are too low to cause health effects in humans.

scholarly journals A Review of Environment Effects on Nitrate Accumulation in Leafy Vegetables Grown in Controlled Environments

Foods ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 732
Author(s):  
Zhonghua Bian ◽  
Yu Wang ◽  
Xiaoyan Zhang ◽  
Tao Li ◽  
Steven Grundy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Nitrate Accumulation ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Controlled Environments

Excessive accumulation of nitrates in vegetables is a common issue that poses a potential threat to human health. The absorption, translocation, and assimilation of nitrates in vegetables are tightly regulated by the interaction of internal cues (expression of related genes and enzyme activities) and external environmental factors. In addition to global food security, food nutritional quality is recognized as being of strategic importance by most governments and other agencies. Therefore, the identification and development of sustainable, innovative, and inexpensive approaches for increasing vegetable production and concomitantly reducing nitrate concentration are extremely important. Under controlled environmental conditions, optimal fertilizer/nutrient element management and environmental regulation play vital roles in producing vegetables with low nitrate content. In this review, we present some of the recent findings concerning the effects of environmental factors (e.g., light, temperature, and CO2) and fertilizer/nutrient solution management strategies on nitrate reduction in vegetables grown under controlled environments and discuss the possible molecular mechanisms. We also highlight several perspectives for future research to optimize the yield and nutrition quality of leafy vegetables grown in controlled environments.

scholarly journals Adverse reproductive health effects of exposure to chlorination disinfection by-products

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-144
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Birth Outcomes ◽  
Congenital Anomalies ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Reproductive Effects ◽  
By Products

Chlorination disinfection by-products (DBPs) are formed when water is chlorinated and the organic matter in the water reacts with chlorine to form these by-products. There have been concerns about the potential health effects of these by-products, including cancer and reproductive effects. Here we have reviewed the literature on reproductive health effects. Epidemiological studies on neural tube defects, urinary tract defects and small for gestation age/intra growth retardation have shown the most consistent statistically significant associations with an index of DBPs, but generally the risk estimates are small. The interpretation of the studies is not straight forward because they may not be directly comparable because of differences in DBP mixtures, exposure categories and actually uptake of DBPs due to differences in e.g. ingestion rates, showering, bathing, and swimming. Only few specific DBPs have been studied and THMs have often been used as a marker for other DBPs, since they are often routinely available. Sample sizes, and therefore power, have at times been low, particularly when the population was split into exposure categories. Although most studies considered some confounders, (residual) confounding by other water contaminants or other factors related to water intake, cannot always be excluded. Case ascertainment, for outcomes such as spontaneous abortion and certain congenital anomalies is far from straight forward, and for the latter at times anomalies are lumped together with different aetiology, which may be inappropriate. Furthermore, as with many reproductive epidemiological, if the putative agent affects both early pregnancy loss and later birth outcomes such as congenital anomalies, interpretation of later birth outcomes may be more difficult.

Developing a High Time-Resolution Online Instrument to Quantify Aerosol Oxidative Potential via Ascorbic Acid Oxidation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Battist Utinger
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Detection Limit ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Time Resolution ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Uv Absorption ◽  
High Time ◽  
High Time Resolution ◽  
Oxidative Potential

<p>Many large-scale epidemiological studies have shown a close correlation between adverse human health effects and ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> exposure. A report by the World Health Organisation estimates that 1 out of 8 deaths globally are linked to air pollution. Even though various epidemiological studies underline this argument, the chemical components and physical properties of particulate matter that leads to the observed health effects remains highly uncertain.</p><p>            Aerosol oxidative potential defined as the capability of particles to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) with subsequent depletion of anti-oxidants, naturally present in the human lung, has been widely suggested as measure of their potential toxicity. Due to the fact that ROS (i.e. inorganic and organic peroxides and radicals) are highly reactive, they are therefore short-lived. Subsequently, classical offline analysis, where aerosol particles are typically collected on a filter for 24h, may lead to an underestimation of the oxidative potential.</p><p>            Therefore, we developed an online instrument that can continuously measure particle oxidative potential with a high time resolution (10 minutes). We further developed an online instrument described in Wragg et al. (2016) and implemented a physiologically relevant assay to assess aerosol oxidative potential, based on the chemistry of ascorbic acid (Campbell et al. (2019)). Ascorbic acid (AA) is a prevalent naturally occurring anti-oxidant present in the lung and can therefore be used as a proxy to measure the oxidative potential of aerosol. </p><p>            In this work, we further developed the AA online assay based on Campbell et al. (2019), implementing more physiologically relevant chemical conditions such as pH7 and we improved components of the instrument to increase its detection limit. With the current instrument AA oxidation can be quantified via two different spectroscopic methods: one based on fluorescence as described in Campbell et al. (2019) and a newly developed UV-absorption detection system using a liquid waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) which is a very sensitive long pathway (100cm) absorption cell.</p><p>            For the fluorescence approach, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.22 µg/m<sup>3</sup> was determined for copper (Campbell et al. (2019)). In comparison, the current detection limit for the UV-absorption based setup is an order of magnitude lower (0.02 µg Cu/m<sup>3</sup>). This LOD is close to observations of copper concentrations at urban European locations, which are in the range of 0.001-0.009 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. Using both detection methods, we gain an improved understanding of the oxidation process, because the absorbance method measures AA depletion whereas in the fluorescence method the formation of the AA oxidation product dehydroascorbic is quantified. The online ascorbic acid assay as described will be applied in lab experiments (i.e. flow tubes or smog chamber) as well as for field measurements.</p><p>With the improvements of having a more physiological relevant assay and an improved detection method, this instrument is capable of providing a real-time and more realistic estimation of the oxidizing aerosol properties and their potential effect on human health compared to traditional offline methods.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Wragg, F. P. H. et al. (2016), Atmospheric Measurement<br>         Techniques, 9(10), pp. 4891–4900.</p><p> Campbell, S. J. et al. (2019), Analytical Chemistry, 91, 20, 13088-13095.</p>

scholarly journals Plant Polyphenols as Dietary Antioxidants in Human Health and Disease

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanti Bhooshan Pandey ◽  
Syed Ibrahim Rizvi
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Present Knowledge ◽  
Plant Polyphenols ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
Meta Analyses

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants and are generally involved in defense against ultraviolet radiation or aggression by pathogens. In the last decade, there has been much interest in the potential health benefits of dietary plant polyphenols as antioxidant. Epidemiological studies and associated meta-analyses strongly suggest that long term consumption of diets rich in plant polyphenols offer protection against development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we present knowledge about the biological effects of plant polyphenols in the context of relevance to human health.

scholarly journals Short communication: Detection of selected agricultural pesticides in river and tap water in Letsitele, Lomati and Vals–Renoster catchments, South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (4 October) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Machete ◽  
JM Shadung
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Health And Environmental Effects ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
High Exposure ◽  
Agricultural Pesticides ◽  
Catchment Areas

This paper presents the levels of detection of selected agricultural pesticides in river and tap water in the Letsitele, Lomati and Vals–Renoster catchments, South Africa. Agriculture plays a major role in the development of communities through job creation and poverty eradication. However, exposure to agricultural pesticides can result in serious human health and environmental effects. This study, therefore, identified critical areas where specific pesticides might result in high environmental and human health risks. Three water catchment areas, namely, Letsitele, Lomati and Vals–Renoster, were identified for raw and tap water analysis. The results confirmed the presence of selected agricultural pesticides:  atrazine, terbuthylazine, imidacloprid, metolachlor, simazine and alachlor. Although low concentrations of most of these pesticides were detected, pesticides such as atrazine, alachlor and simazine are known for endocrine disruption. A critical finding of this study is the detection of these pesticides in tap water (drinking water) of a primary school in the Lomati catchment. This reveals a high exposure potential for human health. It is thus recommended that further research be conducted to determine the potential health risks associated with these pesticides among vulnerable communities, through epidemiological studies.

scholarly journals Airborne Aerosols and Human Health: Leapfrogging from Mass Concentration to Oxidative Potential

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolina Molina ◽  
Richard Toro A. ◽  
Carlos Manzano ◽  
Silvia Canepari ◽  
Lorenzo Massimi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Mass Concentration ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Atmospheric Particulate Matter ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Oxidative Potential ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
The Impact

The mass concentration of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been systematically used in epidemiological studies as an indicator of exposure to air pollutants, connecting PM concentrations with a wide variety of human health effects. However, these effects can be hardly explained by using one single parameter, especially because PM is formed by a complex mixture of chemicals. Current research has shown that many of these adverse health effects can be derived from the oxidative stress caused by the deposition of PM in the lungs. The oxidative potential (OP) of the PM, related to the presence of transition metals and organic compounds that can induce the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), could be a parameter to evaluate these effects. Therefore, estimating the OP of atmospheric PM would allow us to evaluate and integrate the toxic potential of PM into a unique parameter, which is related to emission sources, size distribution and/or chemical composition. However, the association between PM and particle-induced toxicity is still largely unknown. In this commentary article, we analyze how this new paradigm could help to deal with some unanswered questions related to the impact of atmospheric PM over human health.

scholarly journals Identification of Differential, Health-Related Compounds in Chardonnay Marc through Network-Based Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 475-475
Author(s):  
Gabriel Simmons ◽  
Fanny Lee ◽  
Minseung Kim ◽  
Roberta Holt ◽  
Ilias Tagkopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Compositional Data ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Grape Marc ◽  
Intervention Trials

Abstract Objectives Food/residue waste streams may be a significant source of bioactive compounds that benefit human health. Dietary intervention trials demonstrate the health benefits of such residues, but they are resource and time intensive. Bioinformatics meta-analyses can elucidate putative pathways, genes and chemicals that are relevant to human health, hence guiding further experimentation and intervention trials. To this end, we integrated publicly available phytochemical datasets related to general grape marc from different varieties (GM) and Chardonnay grape marc (CM) to investigate their differences and potential implications to human health through a network-based meta-analysis. Methods To characterize the phytochemical profile of grape marc, compositional data was aggregated from publicly available literature. To identify potential health effects based on this chemical information, associations between disease states and the chemical profiles of GM/CM were extracted from the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD). Disease associative networks were constructed for a) marc products, b) all marc-related phenolics, c) compounds that are differentially abundant in CM. Results The union of available marc composition datasets from 14 articles contained 66 phenolic compounds; 29 of these were associated with at least 1 disease state in the CTD. There were 5 differentially over-abundant compounds in CM versus other grape marcs (red varietals n = 75, white varietals n = 57). These were flavan-3-ols catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, gallocatechin, and proanthocyanidin C1 (P < 0.001); with gallocatechin unique to CM. Studies investigating marc products indicated associations to 15 diseases. CTD evidence from 934 studies associated the phenolic profile of GM to 358 diseases of 34 disease classes. Network-based meta-analysis suggested associations between GM and CM phenolics and several disease targets. This includes confirmatory associations between flavan-3-ols and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Conclusions Chardonnay marc is not widely studied; however, the developed framework of network-based meta-analysis utilizing composition information provides a holistic view of the knowledge space for grape marc, and highlights suggested health effects that can guide future research programs. Funding Sources Sonomaceuticals, LLC.

scholarly journals Risk assessment of effects of cadmium on human health (IUPAC Technical Report)

2018 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 755-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar F. Nordberg ◽  
Alfred Bernard ◽  
Gary L. Diamond ◽  
John H. Duffus ◽  
Paul Illing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Dose Response ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Cadmium Exposure ◽  
Kidney Cortex ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Urine Cadmium

AbstractChemistry and Human Health, Division VII of the International Union on Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), provides guidance on risk assessment methodology and, as appropriate, assessment of risks to human health from chemicals of exceptional toxicity. The aim of this document is to describe dose-response relationships for the health effects of low-level exposure to cadmium, in particular, with an emphasis on causation. The term “cadmium” in this document includes all chemical species of cadmium, as well as those in cadmium compounds. Diet is the main source of cadmium exposure in the general population. Smokers and workers in cadmium industries have additional exposure. Adverse effects have been shown in populations with high industrial or environmental exposures. Epidemiological studies in general populations have also reported statistically significant associations with a number of adverse health effects at low exposures. Cadmium is recognized as a human carcinogen, a classification mainly based on occupational studies of lung cancer. Other cancers have been reported, but dose-response relationships cannot be defined. Cardiovascular disease has been associated with cadmium exposure in recent epidemiological studies, but more evidence is needed in order to establish causality. Adequate evidence of dose-response relationships is available for kidney effects. There is a relationship between cadmium exposure and kidney effects in terms of low molecular mass (LMM) proteinuria. Long-term cadmium exposures with urine cadmium of 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine cause such effects in a susceptible part of the population. Higher exposures result in increases in the size of these effects. This assessment is supported by toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic (TKTD) modelling. Associations between urine cadmium lower than 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine and LMM proteinuria are influenced by confounding by co-excretion of cadmium with protein. A number of epidemiological studies, including some on low exposures, have reported statistically significant associations between cadmium exposure and bone demineralization and fracture risk. Exposures leading to urine cadmium of 5 nmol mmol−1creatinine and more increase the risk of bone effects. Similar associations at much lower urine cadmium levels have been reported. However, complexities in the cause and effect relationship mean that a no-effect level cannot be defined. LMM proteinuria was selected as the critical effect for cadmium, thus identifying the kidney cortex as the critical organ, although bone effects may occur at exposure levels similar to those giving rise to kidney effects. To avoid these effects, population exposures should not exceed that resulting in cadmium values in urine of more than 2 nmol mmol−1creatinine. As cadmium is carcinogenic, a ‘safe’ exposure level cannot be defined. We therefore recommend that cadmium exposures be kept as low as possible. Because the safety margin for toxic effects in kidney and bone is small, or non-existent, in many populations around the world, there is a need to reduce cadmium pollution globally.

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