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Ben Chabchoubi I, Bouguerra S, Ksibi M, Hentati O. Health risk assessment of heavy metals exposure via consumption of crops grown in phosphogypsum-contaminated soils. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:1953-1981. [PMID: 33216311 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-020-00777-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The management of phosphogypsum (PG) heap, located south of the Sfax city in Tunisia, has been going on for decades. But dumping this solid waste still poses environmental problems. Even though valorized as amendment to agriculture soils, the sanitary impact of this practice is not seriously considered. To assess the risk of the transference of contaminants from PG to agricultural soil-plants food chain, a wild plant species Salicornia arabica grown in PG-contaminated field and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and oat (Avena sativa) grown in laboratory using different rates (10, 20 and 30%) of PG amendment, were tested. The cadmium, lead, chromium, nickel, copper and zinc concentrations in soils and plants were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, respectively. Measurements showed that Ni, Cu and Pb levels in the amended soils were below international standards except for Cd and Cr which exceeded Chinese, FAO/WHO and European allowable standard limits. Gathered results showed that the more the PG rate increases, the more the bioconcentration factors of heavy metals increased in plants, particularly in the roots. This is a prospective study assuming direct or indirect exposure scenario of different human cohorts by consuming varied common food stuffs. The Human Exposure to Soil Pollutants evaluation and United State Environment Protection Agency models were adopted for the hazard quotient calculation to assess the acceptability of sanitary risk related to each metal. The direct and indirect health risk assessments varied in the decreasing order: children, adolescents and then adults. Therefore, the PG amendment must not exceed the rate of 10%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imen Ben Chabchoubi
- Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Taher Haddad, 5000, Monastir, Tunisia
- Laboratoire Génie de l'Environnement et Ecotechnologie (GEET), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, Km 3,5, B.P. 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Sirine Bouguerra
- Laboratoire Génie de l'Environnement et Ecotechnologie (GEET), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, Km 3,5, B.P. 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia
- GreenUPorto - Sustainable Agrifood Production Research Center, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Mohamed Ksibi
- Laboratoire Génie de l'Environnement et Ecotechnologie (GEET), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, Km 3,5, B.P. 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia
- Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Route de Soukra, Km 4,5, B.P. 1175, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Olfa Hentati
- Laboratoire Génie de l'Environnement et Ecotechnologie (GEET), Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Sfax (ENIS), Route de Soukra, Km 3,5, B.P. 1173, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia.
- Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sfax, Université de Sfax, Route de Soukra, Km 4,5, B.P. 1175, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia.
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Yarnell E, Touwaide A. Accuracy of Dioscorides,' De materia medica (First Century C.E.), Regarding Diuretic Activity of Plants. J Altern Complement Med 2018; 25:107-120. [PMID: 30403493 DOI: 10.1089/acm.2018.0251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Assess whether an ancient text on herbal medicine accurately characterizes a class of herbal diuretics. DESIGN The Greek text of Dioscorides De materia medica was assessed for herbs stated to have diuretic activity, and then modern research was sought to determine how accurate the ancient assessment of these herbs was. RESULTS Of the 105 plants cited as having diuretic activity by Dioscorides, 56 (53.3%) genuses are confirmed as being diuretic in animal or human research. For another 38 (36.2%) genuses, no research related to diuresis could be identified. Six (5.7%) genuses had mixed results in modern research, whereas a mere 5 (4.8%) genuses were shown to not have diuretic activity. Considering the 67 genuses that were investigated, 56 (83.6%) were confirmed. CONCLUSION This analysis confirms that Dioscorides was accurate in determining the diuretic nature of herbs, raising the possibility that he was right about other therapeutic suggestions concerning herbs he made. For the remaining herbs that have not been assessed for diuretic effect, it is not yet known if Dioscorides was accurate. Our findings suggest that the 38 herbs Dioscorides categorized as diuretics that have not been studied for diuretic function are candidates for research in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Yarnell
- 1 Department of Botanical Medicine, School of Naturopathic Medicine, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington
| | - Alain Touwaide
- 2 Institute for the Preservation of Medical Traditions, Washington, District of Columbia
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