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Barros B, Oliveira M, Morais S. Biomonitoring of firefighting forces: a review on biomarkers of exposure to health-relevant pollutants released from fires. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2023; 26:127-171. [PMID: 36748115 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2023.2172119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposure as a firefighter has recently been classified as a carcinogen to humans by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Biomonitoring has been increasingly used to characterize exposure of firefighting forces to contaminants. However, available data are dispersed and information on the most relevant and promising biomarkers in this context of firefighting is missing. This review presents a comprehensive summary and critical appraisal of existing biomarkers of exposure including volatile organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, several other persistent other organic pollutants as well as heavy metals and metalloids detected in biological fluids of firefighters attending different fire scenarios. Urine was the most characterized matrix, followed by blood. Firefighters exhaled breath and saliva were poorly evaluated. Overall, biological levels of compounds were predominantly increased in firefighters after participation in firefighting activities. Biomonitoring studies combining different biomarkers of exposure and of effect are currently limited but exploratory findings are of high interest. However, biomonitoring still has some unresolved major limitations since reference or recommended values are not yet established for most biomarkers. In addition, half-lives values for most of the biomarkers have thus far not been defined, which significantly hampers the design of studies. These limitations need to be tackled urgently to improve risk assessment and support implementation of better more effective preventive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bela Barros
- REQUIMTE-LAQV,Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE-LAQV,Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE-LAQV,Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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2
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Montano L, Pironti C, Pinto G, Ricciardi M, Buono A, Brogna C, Venier M, Piscopo M, Amoresano A, Motta O. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility. TOXICS 2022; 10:365. [PMID: 35878270 PMCID: PMC9323099 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10070365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade or so, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) garnered renewed attention in the scientific community due to new evidence pointing at their continued presence in the environment and workplaces and the potential human risks related to their presence. PCBs move from the environment to humans through different routes; the dominant pathway is the ingestion of contaminated foods (fish, seafood and dairy products), followed by inhalation (both indoor and outdoor air), and, to a lesser extent, dust ingestion and dermal contact. Numerous studies reported the environmental and occupational exposure to these pollutants, deriving from building materials (flame-retardants, plasticizers, paints, caulking compounds, sealants, fluorescent light ballasts, etc.) and electrical equipment. The highest PCBs contaminations were detected in e-waste recycling sites, suggesting the need for the implementation of remediation strategies of such polluted areas to safeguard the health of workers and local populations. Furthermore, a significant correlation between PCB exposure and increased blood PCB concentrations was observed in people working in PCB-contaminated workplaces. Several epidemiological studies suggest that environmental and occupational exposure to high concentrations of PCBs is associated with different health outcomes, such as neuropsychological and neurobehavioral deficits, dementia, immune system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, recent studies indicate that PCBs bioaccumulation can reduce fertility, with harmful effects on the reproductive system that can be passed to offspring. In the near future, further studies are needed to assess the real effects of PCBs exposure at low concentrations for prolonged exposure in workplaces and specific indoor environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Montano
- Andrology Unit and Service of Lifestyle Medicine in UroAndrology, Local Health Authority (ASL) Salerno, Coordination Unit of the Network for Environmental and Reproductive Health (Eco-FoodFertility Project), S. Francesco di Assisi Hospital, Oliveto Citra, 84020 Salerno, Italy;
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Pironti
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Gabriella Pinto
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.P.); (A.A.)
- INBB—Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Ricciardi
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.P.); (M.R.)
| | - Amalia Buono
- Research Laboratory Gentile, S.a.s., 80054 Gragnano, Italy;
| | - Carlo Brogna
- Craniomed Laboratory Group Srl, Viale degli Astronauti 45, 83038 Montemiletto, Italy;
| | - Marta Venier
- O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA;
| | - Marina Piscopo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy;
| | - Angela Amoresano
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cinthia 26, 80126 Naples, Italy; (G.P.); (A.A.)
- INBB—Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi, Consorzio Interuniversitario, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Oriana Motta
- Department of Medicine Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy; (C.P.); (M.R.)
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Nowak A, Nowak I. Review of harmful chemical pollutants of environmental origin in honey and bee products. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2021:1-23. [PMID: 34904474 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.2012752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Honey is a natural food with many pro-health properties, which comprises a wide variety of valuable ingredients. It can also be the source of chemical contaminants of environmental origin, including POPs that can contribute to adverse health effects to human. Monitoring the degree of pollution of honey/bee products with hazardous chemicals is important from a nutraceutical point of view. In the present work, overview of recent literature data on chemical pollutants in honey/bee products originating from the environment was performed. Their MLs, MRLs and EDI were discussed. It can be concluded that huge amount of research concerned on the presence of TMs and pesticides in honey. Most of the studies have shown that honey/bee products sampled from urban and industrialized areas were more contaminated than these sampled from ecological and rural locations. More pollutants were usually detected in propolis and bee pollen than in honey. Based on their research and regulations, authors stated, that most of the toxic pollutants of environmental origin in honey/bee products are at levels that do not pose a threat to the health of the potential consumer. The greatest concern relates to pesticides and TMs, because in some research MLs in individual samples were highly exceeded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Nowak
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ireneusz Nowak
- Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Li C, Liu Y, Dong Z, Xu M, Gao M, Cong M, Liu S. TCDD promotes liver fibrosis through disordering systemic and hepatic iron homeostasis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 395:122588. [PMID: 32325343 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a toxic environmental pollutant which can cause severe health problems, such as fibrosis. However, the toxic effects and related mechanism of TCDD on the liver remain largely unknown. In this study, we established a liver fibrosis mouse model upon exposure of TCDD, as evidenced by increased collagen I, tumor growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Masson staining. Meanwhile, there was also a significant increase of inflammatory factors and TUNEL-positive hepatocytes in liver, indicating that liver inflammation and hepatic cell apoptosis occurred. In addition, increased serum and liver iron were concomitant with liver injury induced by TCDD. We further investigated the mechanism underlying TCDD-induced hepatocyte apoptosis through apoptosis polymerase chain reaction array, and found that a crucial apoptosis-related gene, cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector b (Cideb), was significantly increased in primary hepatocytes from TCDD-exposed mice, and accompanied by liver iron deposition in hepcidin knockout mice. Therefore, Cideb depletion could effectively attenuated TCDD or iron induced cell death related genes expression. In conclusion, our results showed that iron-induced Cideb expression played a critical role in promoting TCDD-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis, which provide a novel mechanism for understanding TCDD-induced liver injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changying Li
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Yingying Liu
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Zheng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ming Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ming Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Min Cong
- Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Diseases, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Dai Q, Xu X, Eskenazi B, Asante KA, Chen A, Fobil J, Bergman Å, Brennan L, Sly PD, Nnorom IC, Pascale A, Wang Q, Zeng EY, Zeng Z, Landrigan PJ, Bruné Drisse MN, Huo X. Severe dioxin-like compound (DLC) contamination in e-waste recycling areas: An under-recognized threat to local health. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105731. [PMID: 32315892 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) burning and recycling activities have become one of the main emission sources of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). Workers involved in e-waste recycling operations and residents living near e-waste recycling sites (EWRS) are exposed to high levels of DLCs. Epidemiological and experimental in vivo studies have reported a range of interconnected responses in multiple systems with DLC exposure. However, due to the compositional complexity of DLCs and difficulties in assessing mixture effects of the complex mixture of e-waste-related contaminants, there are few studies concerning human health outcomes related to DLC exposure at informal EWRS. In this paper, we have reviewed the environmental levels and body burdens of DLCs at EWRS and compared them with the levels reported to be associated with observable adverse effects to assess the health risks of DLC exposure at EWRS. In general, DLC concentrations at EWRS of many countries have been decreasing in recent years due to stricter regulations on e-waste recycling activities, but the contamination status is still severe. Comparison with available data from industrial sites and well-known highly DLC contaminated areas shows that high levels of DLCs derived from crude e-waste recycling processes lead to elevated body burdens. The DLC levels in human blood and breast milk at EWRS are higher than those reported in some epidemiological studies that are related to various health impacts. The estimated total daily intakes of DLCs for people in EWRS far exceed the WHO recommended total daily intake limit. It can be inferred that people living in EWRS with high DLC contamination have higher health risks. Therefore, more well-designed epidemiological studies are urgently needed to focus on the health effects of DLC pollution in EWRS. Continuous monitoring of the temporal trends of DLC levels in EWRS after actions is of highest importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Dai
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Xijin Xu
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, China
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA
| | | | - Aimin Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Julius Fobil
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Ghana
| | - Åke Bergman
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden; Department of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Sweden; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, China
| | - Lesley Brennan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter D Sly
- Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Antonio Pascale
- Department of Toxicology, University of the Republic, Uruguay
| | - Qihua Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China
| | - Zhijun Zeng
- Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Developmental Toxicology, Shantou University Medical College, China
| | | | - Marie-Noel Bruné Drisse
- Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Xia Huo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, China.
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Liu LJ, Chen XC, Fu JP, Qing X, Huang JQ, Han JL. Male workers' exposure characteristics of ΣPCDD/F from a municipal solid waste incinerator in south China through hair analysis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 178:105-112. [PMID: 30999178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Human hair, flue gas and fly ash from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) in south China were collected and analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF). The ΣPCDD/F level in hair from male workers were higher than those from residents. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) suggested that ΣPCDD/F in flue gas is an external source of male workers' hair ΣPCDD/F. Results of daily intake of ΣPCDD/F by inhaling flue gas suggested that the inhalation exposure of ΣPCDD/F was at a slight health risk. For the male workers directly exposed to the MSWI power plant, ΣPCDD/F levels in their hair were significantly higher than those who were non-directly exposed. Moreover, a significantly positive relationship was obtained between ΣPCDD/F levels in male workers' hair and the working time. The result of correlation analysis suggested that 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and OCDD could be level indicator congeners to estimate ΣPCDD/F levels. In addition, 2,3,7,8-TCDD could be applied as TEQ indicator congener to characterize the hair of MSWI male workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Jun Liu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Xi Chao Chen
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Jian Ping Fu
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Xian Qing
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Jin Qiong Huang
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510000, China
| | - Jing Lei Han
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou, 510000, China.
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Jalilian H, Ziaei M, Weiderpass E, Rueegg CS, Khosravi Y, Kjaerheim K. Cancer incidence and mortality among firefighters. Int J Cancer 2019; 145:2639-2646. [PMID: 30737784 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Firefighters are exposed to both known and suspected carcinogens. This study aims to systematically review the literature on the association of firefighting occupation and cancer incidence and mortality, overall and for specific cancer sites. A systematic review using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science was performed up to January 1, 2018. We extracted risk estimates of cancers and calculated summary incidence risk estimates (SIRE), summary mortality risk estimates (SMRE), and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Publication bias and risk of bias in individual studies were assessed using Begg's and Egger's tests and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS), respectively. We included 50 papers in the review and 48 in the meta-analysis. We found significantly elevated SIREs for cancer of the colon (1.14; CI 1.06 to 1.21), rectum (1.09; CI 1.00 to 1.20), prostate (1.15; CI 1.05 to 1.27), testis (1.34; CI 1.08 to 1.68), bladder (1.12; CI 1.04 to 1.21), thyroid (1.22; CI 1.01 to 1.48), pleura (1.60; CI 1.09 to 2.34), and for malignant melanoma (1.21; CI 1.02 to 1.45). We found significant SMREs of 1.36 (1.18 to 1.57) and 1.42 (1.05 to 1.90) for rectal cancer and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, respectively. Considering the significantly elevated risk of some cancers in this occupational group, we suggest improving preventive measures and securing adequate and relevant medical attention for this group. Further studies with more accurate and in-depth exposure assessments are indicated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Jalilian
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Health, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Mansour Ziaei
- School of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
| | - Elisabete Weiderpass
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.,Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway - Institute of Population-Based Cancer Research, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Genetic Epidemiology Group, Folkhälsan Research Center, and Faculty of Medicine, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Corina Silvia Rueegg
- Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yahya Khosravi
- Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Research Center for Health, Safety and Environment, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Kristina Kjaerheim
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway - Institute of Population-Based Cancer Research, Oslo, Norway
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‘t Mannetje A, Eng A, Walls C, Dryson E, Kogevinas M, Brooks C, McLean D, Cheng S, Smith AH, Pearce N. Sex ratio of the offspring of New Zealand phenoxy herbicide producers exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Occup Environ Med 2016; 74:24-29. [DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2016-103771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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