A toxicogenomics study of two chemicals in coffee roasting process

A Comprehensive Bibliometric Study in the Context of Chemical Hazards in Coffee

The research aimed to carefully review the chemical hazards linked to the coffee production chain to analyse the risks and opportunities for consumers and the environment, as well as identify potential knowledge gaps. The Scopus database was consulted from 1949 to April 2024 to conduct a bibliometric analysis. As a result, 680 articles were analysed. Results indicated a significant increase in research activity since 2015. China, Brazil, and the USA were the leading countries in scientific production and collaborations. The most prolific journals in this field were Chemosphere, Science of the Total Environment, Food Chemistry, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, and Journal of Environmental Management, all of which are in the first quartile. The word analysis revealed two main themes: the first focuses on the chemical hazards of coffee and their impact on health, while the second explores the waste generated during coffee production and its potential for reuse. The topics covered in the research include the composition of coffee, associated chemical hazards, possible health risks, and ways to reuse waste for environmental protection. Future research should concentrate on optimising techniques and processes to ensure quality, safety, and sustainability.

Review of evidence relating to occupational exposure limits for alpha-diketones and acetoin, and considerations for deriving an occupational exposure limit for 2,3-pentanedione

Alpha-diketones, notably diacetyl, have been used as flavoring agents. When airborne in occupational settings, exposures to diacetyl have been associated with serious respiratory disease. Other α-diketones, such as 2,3-pentanedione, and analogues such as acetoin (a reduced form of diacetyl), require evaluation, particularly, in light of recently available toxicological studies. The current work reviewed mechanistic, metabolic, and toxicology data available for α-diketones. Data were most available for diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione, and a comparative assessment of their pulmonary effects was performed, and an occupational exposure limit (OEL) was proposed for 2,3-pentanedione. Previous OELs were reviewed and an updated literature search was performed. Respiratory system histopathology data from 3-month toxicology studies were evaluated with benchmark dose (BMD) modelling of sensitive endpoints. This demonstrated comparable responses at concentrations up to 100 ppm, with no consistent overall pattern of greater sensitivity to either diacetyl or 2,3-pentanedione. In contrast, based on draft raw data, no adverse respiratory effects were observed in comparable 3-month toxicology studies that evaluated exposure to acetoin at up to 800 ppm (highest tested concentration), indicating that acetoin does not present the same inhalation hazard as diacetyl or 2,3-pentanedione. To derive an OEL for 2,3-pentanedione, BMD modelling was conducted for the most sensitive endpoint from 90-day inhalation toxicity studies, namely, hyperplasia of nasal respiratory epithelium. On the basis of this modelling, an 8-hour time-weighted average OEL of 0.07 ppm is proposed to be protective against respiratory effects that may be associated with chronic workplace exposure to 2,3-pentanedione.

Sample management: a primary critical starting point for successful omics studies

Biological samples collected from cohort studies are widely utilized in molecular genetic studies and are typically stored long term for future applications, such as omics analyses. The extent of sample availability is determined by proper sample handling, and it is of primary importance for successful omics studies. However, questions on whether samples in long-term storage are properly available for omics experiments has been raised, because the quality and availability of such samples remain unknown until their actual utilization. In that perspective, several guidelines for proper sample management have been suggested. In addition, several researchers assessed how improper management damages sample using mock sample and suggested a set of requirements for sample handling. In this review, we present several considerations for sample handling eligible for omics studies. Focusing on birth cohorts, we describe the types of samples collected from which omics data were generated. This review ultimately aims to provide proper guidelines for sample handling for successful human omics studies.

Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia risk: a comprehensive review and network-based toxicogenomic approach

Formaldehyde is a widely used but highly reactive and toxic chemical. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen, based on nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia studies. However, the correlation between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia incidence is a controversial issue. To understand the association between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia, we explored biological networks based on formaldehyde-related genes retrieved from public and commercial databases. Through the literature-based network approach, we summarized qualitative associations between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia. Our results indicate that oxidative stress-mediated genetic changes induced by formaldehyde could disturb the hematopoietic system, possibly leading to leukemia. Furthermore, we suggested major genes that are thought to be affected by formaldehyde exposure and associated with leukemia development. Our suggestions can be used to complement experimental data for understanding and identifying the leukemogenic mechanism of formaldehyde.