Heavy metals in the volcanic environment and thyroid cancer

2017 ◽  
Vol 457 ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Vigneri ◽  
P. Malandrino ◽  
F. Gianì ◽  
M. Russo ◽  
P. Vigneri
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Volcanic Environment

scholarly journals Thyroid Stem Cells But Not Differentiated Thyrocytes Are Sensitive to Slightly Increased Concentrations of Heavy Metals

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiorenza Gianì ◽  
Roberta Masto ◽  
Maria Antonietta Trovato ◽  
Annarita Franco ◽  
Giuseppe Pandini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Response Curve ◽  
Living Cells ◽  
Human Thyroid ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Volcanic Area ◽  
Thyroid Cells ◽  
Biphasic Pattern ◽  
Thyroid Cancer Incidence

Thyroid cancer incidence is markedly increased in volcanic areas where residents are biocontaminated by chronic lifelong exposure to slightly increased metals in the environment. Metals can influence the biology of living cells by a variety of mechanisms, depending not only on the dose and length of exposure but also on the type and stage of differentiation of target cells. We explored the effect of five heavy metals (Cu, Hg, Pd, W and Zn) at nanomolar concentrations (the biocontamination level in residents of the volcanic area in Sicily where thyroid cancer is increased) on stimulating the proliferation of undifferentiated (thyrospheres) and differentiated human thyroid cells. Thyrosphere proliferation was significantly increased after exposure to each individual metal and a greater stimulating effect was observed when a mixture of the examined metals was used. No effect was seen in differentiated thyrocytes. For all metals, the dose-response curve followed a biphasic pattern that is typical of hormesis. Thyrosphere growth concerned the size rather than number, except with the metal mixture. An altered morphology was also observed in metal-treated thyrospheres. Metal-induced proliferation was due to activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, as confirmed by growth inhibition when ERK1/2 signaling was blocked. These studies show that stem/precursor thyroid cells are sensitive to small increases in environmental metal concentrations that are harmless for differentiated thyrocytes.

scholarly journals Heavy Metals in the Environment and Thyroid Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4052
Author(s):  
Fiorenza Gianì ◽  
Roberta Masto ◽  
Maria Antonietta Trovato ◽  
Pasqualino Malandrino ◽  
Marco Russo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Thyroid ◽  
Thyroid Cells ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Causative Link

In recent decades, the incidence of thyroid cancer has increased more than most other cancers, paralleling the generalized worldwide increase in metal pollution. This review provides an overview of the evidence supporting a possible causative link between the increase in heavy metals in the environment and thyroid cancer. The major novelty is that human thyroid stem/progenitor cells (thyrospheres) chronically exposed to different metals at slightly increased environmentally relevant concentrations show a biphasic increase in proliferation typical of hormesis. The molecular mechanisms include, for all metals investigated, the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. A metal mixture, at the same concentration of individual metals, was more effective. Under the same conditions, mature thyrocytes were unaffected. Preliminary data with tungsten indicate that, after chronic exposure, additional abnormalities may occur and persist in thyrocytes derived from exposed thyrospheres, leading to a progeny population of transformation-prone thyroid cells. In a rat model predisposed to develop thyroid cancer, long-term exposure to low levels of metals accelerated and worsened histological signs of malignancy in the thyroid. These studies provide new insight on metal toxicity and carcinogenicity occurring in thyroid cells at a low stage of differentiation when chronically exposed to metal concentrations that are slightly increased, albeit still in the “normal” range.

scholarly journals The role of heavy metals in thyroid cancer: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maaike Van Gerwen ◽  
Eric Alerte ◽  
Mathilda Alsen ◽  
Eric Genden
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Meta Analysis

scholarly journals The role of heavy metals in thyroid cancer: A meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
pp. 126900
Author(s):  
Maaike van Gerwen ◽  
Eric Alerte ◽  
Mathilda Alsen ◽  
Christine Little ◽  
Catherine Sinclair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Meta Analysis

scholarly journals Increased Thyroid Cancer Incidence in Volcanic Areas: A Role of Increased Heavy Metals in the Environment?

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasqualino Malandrino ◽  
Marco Russo ◽  
Fiorenza Gianì ◽  
Gabriella Pellegriti ◽  
Paolo Vigneri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Thyroid Cancer ◽  
Cancer Incidence ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Anthropogenic Pollution ◽  
Volcanic Area ◽  
Carcinogenic Effect ◽  
Metal Levels ◽  
Intracellular Binding ◽  
Thyroid Cancer Incidence

Thyroid cancer incidence is significantly increased in volcanic areas, where relevant non-anthropogenic pollution with heavy metals is present in the environment. This review will discuss whether chronic lifelong exposure to slightly increased levels of metals can contribute to the increase in thyroid cancer in the residents of a volcanic area. The influence of metals on living cells depends on the physicochemical properties of the metals and their interaction with the target cell metallostasis network, which includes transporters, intracellular binding proteins, and metal-responsive elements. Very little is known about the carcinogenic potential of slightly increased metal levels on the thyroid, which might be more sensitive to mutagenic damage because of its unique biology related to iodine, which is a very reactive and strongly oxidizing agent. Different mechanisms could explain the specific carcinogenic effect of borderline/high environmental levels of metals on the thyroid, including (a) hormesis, the nonlinear response to chemicals causing important biological effects at low concentrations; (b) metal accumulation in the thyroid relative to other tissues; and (c) the specific effects of a mixture of different metals. Recent evidence related to all of these mechanisms is now available, and the data are compatible with a cause–effect relationship between increased metal levels in the environment and an increase in thyroid cancer incidence.

Sampling and analysis of the air-water interface with SEM and EDS of microlayers

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 1004-1005
Author(s):  
Randall W. Smith ◽  
John Dash
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Surface Microlayer ◽  
Surface Films ◽  
Water Interface ◽  
Physical Processes ◽  
Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis ◽  
Eds Analysis ◽  
Air Water Interface ◽  
Significant Area ◽  
Bulk Chemical

The structure of the air-water interface forms a boundary layer that involves biological ,chemical geological and physical processes in its formation. Freshwater and sea surface microlayers form at the air-water interface and include a diverse assemblage of organic matter, detritus, microorganisms, plankton and heavy metals. The sampling of microlayers and the examination of components is presently a significant area of study because of the input of anthropogenic materials and their accumulation at the air-water interface. The neustonic organisms present in this environment may be sensitive to the toxic components of these inputs. Hardy reports that over 20 different methods have been developed for sampling of microlayers, primarily for bulk chemical analysis. We report here the examination of microlayer films for the documentation of structure and composition.Baier and Gucinski reported the use of Langmuir-Blogett films obtained on germanium prisms for infrared spectroscopic analysis (IR-ATR) of components. The sampling of microlayers has been done by collecting fi1ms on glass plates and teflon drums, We found that microlayers could be collected on 11 mm glass cover slips by pulling a Langmuir-Blogett film from a surface microlayer. Comparative collections were made on methylcel1ulose filter pads. The films could be air-dried or preserved in Lugol's Iodine Several slicks or surface films were sampled in September, 1987 in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and in August, 1988 in Sequim Bay, Washington, For glass coverslips the films were air-dried, mounted on SEM pegs, ringed with colloidal silver, and sputter coated with Au-Pd, The Langmuir-Blogett film technique maintained the structure of the microlayer intact for examination, SEM observation and EDS analysis were then used to determine organisms and relative concentrations of heavy metals, using a Link AN 10000 EDS system with an ISI SS40 SEM unit. Typical heavy microlayer films are shown in Figure 3.

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