Determination of parathion, aldicarb, and thiobencarb in tap water and bottled mineral water in Mashhad, Iran

Spatiotemporal variations, surface inventory, and cross regional impact of current-use organoamine pesticides in Chinese Marginal Seas

Current-use Organoamine Pesticides (CUOAPs) are a growing concern as emerging pesticide pollutants that were initially discovered on a large scale in Chinese Marginal Seas (CMSs). The highest level was detected in the East China Sea in the late spring and decreased in the following order: East China Sea (early spring) > the South China Sea > the Bohai Sea. The crucial role played by the Yangtze and Yellow rivers as significant terrestrial sources were established. The fluctuations in the land application and riverine input led to variations in the source, distribution, and seasonal patterns of CUOAPs. Terrestrial-exported CUOAPs were transported and redistributed spatially by the surface ocean currents, resulting in significant regional disparities. The results displayed a pronounced terrestrial source signature and a cross-regional impact. By the ocean current transport, CMSs will likely become a secondary source region for the surrounding seas.

Content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in various animal meats: a meta-analysis study, systematic review, and health risk assessment

Meat comprises the main part of the diet in many countries around the world. The present study aimed to assess potentially toxic elements (PTEs) lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) in various meats (camel, chicken, cow, pork, birds, seafood (fish and crab), and sheep). The present study was performed on the concentration of PTEs in various meats by different databases including Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science along with a meta-analysis. Additionally, the non-carcinogenic risk was assessed by calculating the total hazard quotient (TTHQ). According to findings, the highest concentration of Cd was related to sea (0.460 mg/kg). The highest concentrations of Cd and As were reported in camel meat (1.965 and 1.503 mg/kg, respectively). Regarding trace elements, the highest concentrations of Zn, Fe, Cu, and Ni were observed in seafood (fish and crab), cow meat, and bird's meat (71.159 mg/kg, 36.608 mg/kg, 8.680 mg/kg, and 1.592 mg/kg, respectively). Moreover, considering the type of continents based on the concentration of PTEs in various meats, the highest concentrations of As (0.792 mg/kg), Cd (0.315 mg/kg), Pb (1.049 mg/kg), Fe (44.088 mg/kg), and Ni (1.113 mg/kg) were related to Eastern Mediterranean region (EMRO), African Region (AFRO), EMRO, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and EMRO, respectively. However, the highest concentrations of Cu (4.846 mg/kg) and Zn (60.742 mg/kg) were related to European Region (EURO) and AFRO, respectively. On the other hand, the result of the risk assessment indicated that the risk pattern was different among countries.

The concentration and health risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the breast milk of mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for a newborn during the first six months of his or her life. However there is a possibility that breast milk may contain pollutants such as metals. The current meta-analytic study assessed the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), in mothers' milk.

METHOD

The literature studies regarding the concentrations of PTEs in the breast milk of mothers were collected from international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Afterward, the Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) by Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model was used to assess the non-carcinogenic risk.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

According to 42 of the 836 retrieved articles, the PTE concentrations in mother's milk were as follows: Cu (1.84 mg/kg) > Zn (1.80 mg/kg) > Fe (1.03 mg/kg) > Ni (0.60 mg/kg) > Pb (0.10 mg/kg) > As (0.15 mg/kg) ≈ Cd (0.15 mg/kg). Based on the containment type, the highest concentrations of As (2.80 mg/kg), Cd (0.07 mg/kg), and Pb (2.68 mg/kg) were related to Western Pacific Region (WPRO), European Region (EURO), and WPRO, respectively. In addition, for trace elements, Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) was the region with the highest concentrations of Cu (3.56 mg/kg), Fe (2.78 mg/kg), Ni (3.13 mg/kg), and Zn (5.58 mg/kg) were related to Lastly, the non-carcinogenic risk assessment of the PTEs in breast milk indicated different risk patterns in various countries, and the calculated TTHQ level in infants was below 1.

CONCLUSION

Overall, human breast milk was generally safe for infants to consume and poses no risks to their health.

Concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements in Vegetable Oils and Health Risk Assessment: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The present study evaluates the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including Pb, Cd, As, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Ni, in vegetable oils through a meta-analytic approach. The published studies in relation to the concentrations of PTEs in vegetable oils were retrieved from major international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase followed by meta-analysis. Moreover, the health risk assessment was evaluated using total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) by a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) model. According to the results of 51 articles included among 958 retrieved studies, the concentrations of the PTEs were as follows: Cd ≈As (0.110 mg/kg) > Pb (0.086 mg/kg) in cottonseed, canola, and olive oil and Fe (12.964 mg/kg) > Zn (1.044 mg/kg) > Ni (0.893 mg/kg) > Cu (0.264 mg/kg) in cottonseed, olive, and soybean for trace elementals, respectively. Based on the continent type, the higher concentration of Cd, As, and Pb was related to PAHO (American region) and AFRO (African region), and the higher concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, and Ni were observed in WPRO (Western Pacific Region), EMRO (Eastern Mediterranean Region), and AFRO. On the other hand, non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of the PTEs indicated that there was a different risk pattern in various countries, and the TTHQ level in adult groups was lower than 1. It can be concluded that the consumption of vegetable oils is safe and does not pose risk to the health of consumers.

Organoleptic assessment and median lethal dose determination of oral aldicarb in rats

Aldicarb, a carbamate pesticide, is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, with oral median lethal dose (LD₅₀ ) estimates in rats ranging from 0.46 to 0.93 mg/kg. A three-phase approach was used to comprehensively assess aldicarb as an oral-ingestion hazard. First, the solubility of aldicarb in popular consumer beverages (bottled water, apple juice, and 2% milk) was assessed. Lethality was then assessed by administering aldicarb in bottled water via gavage. A probit model was fit to 24-h survival data and predicted a median lethal dose of 0.83 mg/kg (95% CI: 0.54-1.45 mg/kg; slope: 4.50). Finally, organoleptic properties (e.g., taste, smell, and texture) were assessed by allowing rats to voluntarily consume 3.0 mL of the above beverages as well as liquid eggs adulterated with aldicarb at various concentrations. This organoleptic assessment determined that aldicarb was readily consumed at lethal and supralethal doses. Overt toxic signs presented within 5 min post-ingestion, and all rats died within 20 min after consuming the highest concentration (0.542 mg/mL), regardless of amount consumed. Because rats have more developed chemoreceptive capabilities than humans, these results suggest that aldicarb may be consumed in toxic or even lethal concentrations by humans in a variety of beverages or foods.

Environmental and population studies concerning exposure to pesticides in iran: a comprehensive review

Pesticides are widely used in Iranian agriculture and this has made a major toxicological concern among health professionals. The objective of this study is to explore national data about pesticides toxicity. All relevant databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus in a time period of 1960 to 2012 were searched for the keywords “Pesticides, Iran, Environment, and Population studies”. A total of 57 studies were found relevant and then included into study. Almost all non-experimental studies carried out in Iran were classified into two main categories of residue assessment in different samples and toxic effects on human. Depending on the dose and duration of exposure, toxic effects of pesticides have been studied in two classifications including acute toxicity or acute poisoning and chronic toxicity. High extent of pesticides have been used during the past decade in Iran while no enough proper studies were done to explore their possible toxic effects in the environment and the people.