Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in commonly consumed seafood from the coastal area of Bangladesh: occurrence, distribution, and human health implications

Globally, anthropogenic sound and artificial light pollution have increased to alarming levels. Evidence suggests that these can disrupt critical processes that impact ecosystems and human health. However, limited focus has been given to the potential effects of sound and artificial light pollution on microbiomes. Microbial communities are the foundations of our ecosystems. They are essential for human health and provide myriad ecosystem services. Therefore, disruption to microbiomes by anthropogenic sound and artificial light could have important ecological and human health implications. In this mini-review, we provide a critical appraisal of available scientific literature on the effects of anthropogenic sound and light exposure on microorganisms and discuss the potential ecological and human health implications. Our mini-review shows that a limited number of studies have been carried out to investigate the effects of anthropogenic sound and light pollution on microbiomes. However, based on these studies, it is evident that anthropogenic sound and light pollution have the potential to significantly influence ecosystems and human health via microbial interactions. Many of the studies suffered from modest sample sizes, suboptimal experiments designs, and some of the bioinformatics approaches used are now outdated. These factors should be improved in future studies. This is an emerging and severely underexplored area of research that could have important implications for global ecosystems and public health. Finally, we also propose the photo-sonic restoration hypothesis: does restoring natural levels of light and sound help to restore microbiomes and ecosystem stability?

Download Full-text

Human Health Risk Assessment of The Levels of Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Soils From Mechanic Workshops Within Nekede Mechanic Village, Imo State, Nigeria

10.21203/rs.3.rs-699487/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Victor Chukwuemeka Eze ◽

Azuka Nwabudike ◽

Chidi Duru ◽

Beniah Isiuku ◽

Francis Ibe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Human Health ◽

Organic Pollutant ◽

Human Health Risk ◽

Control Sample ◽

Sampling Point ◽

Toxic Substances ◽

Imo State ◽

Pet Bottles

Abstract Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) are a class of persistent toxic substances with a high potential to accumulate in the soil as an organic pollutant and bioaccumulate in humans. The study determined the level and human health risk of twelve (12) DL-PCBs in soils from mechanic workshops within Nekede mechanic village (NMV), Imo State. In this study, soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were collected at four different sampling points within Nekede mechanic village. At each sampling point, composite samples consisting of 10 sub-samples were collected with pre-cleaned pet bottles using soil auger and were labeled SA, SB, SC, SD. Control sample was taken 500 metres away from the mechanic village where there was no form of auto-mechanic activities. Sample analysis was conducted using Agilent GC 6890N coupled with Agilent MS 5970B to determine the levels of DL-PCBs. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. The results revealed that the mean concentration of 12 DL-PCB congeners (Σ12PCBs) in soil ranged from 0.31–16.31 µg kg− 1, which was much higher than that in the control sample (0.006–0.087 µg kg− 1). PCB-126 was the major contributor (58.99%) while the least contributor was PCB-157 (0.0040%) of the Σ12 DL-PCBs TEQ. The estimated LCR (adults 1.29×101, children 4.42×101) and HQs (adults 6.68×102, children 2.29×103) were above the acceptable risk limit (LCR = 10− 4, HQ = 1); indicating a very high adverse effect of DL-PCBs on humans especially children.

Download Full-text