Exposure to and health effects of volatile PCBs

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David O. Carpenter

AbstractPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent, lipophilic contaminants that are known to increase risk of a number of human diseases. Although ingestion of animal fats is a major route of exposure, there is increasing evidence that inhalation of vapor-phase PCBs is also important and may be as or even more important than ingestion under some circumstances.The evidence that inhalation of PCBs may cause cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes is reviewed and presented in this report.PCBs are known human carcinogens. A husband and wife, occupationally required to ‘smell’ PCB-containing oils, both developed thyroid cancer, malignant melanoma/severely melanocytic dysplastic nevus (a precursor to malignant melanoma) and the husband, a non-smoker, developed and died of lung cancer. The serum of both had highly elevated concentrations of lower chlorinated, volatile PCB congeners. In other studies, residents living near PCB-containing hazardous waste sites, and thus breathing PCB-contaminated air, have elevated rates of hospitalization for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and reduced cognitive performance, whereas other studies in defined populations show that there is an elevated risk of all of these diseases in individuals with elevated serum PCBs.These results are consistent with the conclusion that inhaled PCBs can increase risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and reduce cognitive function.

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 173-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liesl Hill ◽  
Sebastian Jooste

With the increasing focus on environmental issues, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of contaminated sediments of the Blesbok Spruit near Witbank - which receives acid mine drainage (AMD) inter alia - on biota. Direct transfer of chemicals from sediments to organisms is considered to be a major route of exposure for many species, and therefore focusing attention on sediment contamination and highlighting the fact that sediments are an important resource. Acute toxicity tests were performed on Daphnia pulex using both extracted sediment interstitial water and surface water. Chemical analyses were also performed on the sediment, interstitial water and surface water samples. The toxicity results suggest that metal toxicity adds significantly to the toxicity of the stream water which is enhanced by the effect of pH. The pH of the stream and interstitial water was consistently below 4.5.


BMC Cancer ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Úna McMenamin ◽  
Blánaid Hicks ◽  
Carmel Hughes ◽  
Peter Murchie ◽  
Julia Hippisley-Cox ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is widely used and has proven benefits for women with menopausal symptoms. An increasing number of women with cancer experience menopausal symptoms but the safety of HRT use in women with cancer is unclear. There are particular concerns that HRT could accelerate cancer progression in women with cancer, and also that HRT could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in such women. Therefore, our primary aim is to determine whether HRT use alters the risk of cancer-specific mortality in women with a range of common cancers. Our secondary objectives are to investigate whether HRT alters the risk of second cancers, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism and all-cause mortality. Methods The study will utilise independent population-based data from Wales using the SAIL databank and Scotland based upon the national Prescribing Information System. The study will include women newly diagnosed with common cancers from 2000 to 2016, identified from cancer registries. Women with breast cancers will be excluded. HRT will be ascertained using electronic prescribing in Wales or dispensing records in Scotland. The primary outcome will be time to cancer-specific mortality from national mortality records. Time-dependent cox regression models will be used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for cancer specific death in HRT users compared with non-users after cancer diagnosis after adjusting for relevant confounders, stratified by cancer site. Analysis will be repeated investigating the impact of HRT use immediately before cancer diagnosis. Secondary analyses will be conducted on the risk of second cancers, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism and all-cause mortality. Analyses will be conducted within each cohort and pooled across cohorts. Discussion Our study will provide evidence to inform guidance given to women diagnosed with cancer on the safety of HRT use and/or guide modifications to clinical practice.


Jurnal Biota ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Muhammad Sungging Pradana ◽  
Imam Suryanto

Cholesterol is a waxy substance which is mainly made in the body. Cholesterol can provide benefits. However, having too much cholesterol in the blood can increase risk of cardiovascular disease. Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease can be done by taking synthetic drugs such as statin. Due to side effects of synthetic drugs, it is necessary to substitute synthetic drugs with herbal plant and some natural component in these plants. The important ones is garlic. Garlic contain organosulphur compounds such as diallyldisulphide (DADS), dipropyldisulphide (DPDS), diallytrisulphide (DATS) and dipropyltrisulphide (DPTS) which have anti artherogenic effects. Garlic also have active agent allicin, can reduce the levels of cholesterol. This research was conducted at the Experimental Animal Enclosure Installation, Center for Veterinary Farma Surabaya with 3 experimental groups. Animals used in this research were female mice 2 months old were feeding with high cholesterol feed such as fried offal of chicken twice a day as much 0,5 cc/ day every 3 days. On the 3rd day, the levels of cholesterol in each group was examined. On the 4th day, mice in group 3 were given 1cc of garlic juice. 1 hour later mice was examined blood cholesterol using Strip Test Easy Touch GCU. The results through T-paired test on SPSS stated that (p < 0,05), it means there is influence between the 3 treatment of mice. This results it can be concluded that the provision of garlic juice can reduced blood cholesterol levels in mice after fed with high cholesterol.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vignesh Chidambaram ◽  
Jennie Ruelas Castillo ◽  
Amudha Kumar ◽  
Justin Wei ◽  
Siqing Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) have a close epidemiological and pathogenetic overlap. Thus, it becomes essential to understand the relationship between ASCVD and TB outcomes.Methods:From our retrospective cohort on drug-susceptible TB patients at the National Taiwan University Hospital, we assessed the association of pre-existing ASCVD (coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherothrombotic stroke (ATS)) with 9-month all-cause and infection-related mortality and the extent of mediation by systemic inflammatory markers. We determined the effect of pre-existing ASCVD on 2-month sputum microbiological status. Among ASCVD patients, we assessed the association of statin use on mortality.Results:Nine-month all-cause mortality was higher in CAD patients with prior acute myocardial infarction (CAD+AMI+) (adjusted HR 2.01, 95%CI 1.38-3.00) and ATS patients (aHR 2.79, 95%CI 1.92-4.07) and similarly, for infection-related mortality was higher in CAD+AMI+ (aHR 1.95, 95%CI 1.17-3.24) and ATS (aHR 2.04, 95%CI 1.19-3.46) after adjusting for confounding factors. Pre-existing CAD (AMI- or AMI+) or ATS did not change sputum culture conversion or sputum smear AFB positivity at 2 months. The CAD+AMI+ group had significantly higher levels of CRP at TB diagnosis in the multivariable linear regression analysis (Adjusted B(SE) 1.24(0.62)). CRP mediated 66% (p=0.048) and 25% (p=0.033) of the association all-cause mortality with CAD+AMI- and CAD+AMI+, respectively. ConclusionsIn summary, patients with ASCVD have higher hazards of 9-month all-cause and infection-related mortality, with elevated serum inflammation mediating one to three-quarters of this association when adjusted for confounders. Statin use was associated with lower all-cause mortality among patients with ASCVD.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Majewski ◽  
Michał Orylski ◽  
Aleksander Całkosiński ◽  
Maciej Majewski

Acerola is a tropical fruit which contains extremely high amounts of vitamin C. Thanks to that, it is used to produce concentrates of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is also proven to have impact on human immune system. Additionally, it is a good source of carotene, vitamin A, anthocyanins and other nutrients. Several studies were carried out to establish acerola impact on the metabolism. Among mice it decreased the after-meal glucose level and HbA1c but had no effect on insulin resistance. Another study shows that acerola can contribute to reducing obesity and inflammation thanks to increasing IL-10/TNF ratio. Also, it may lead to decrease the risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease thanks to having strong antioxidant activity. Mice given acerola had decreased level of fatigue and could withstand longer periods of activity compared to control group. All those features of acerola are available if it is processed shortly after being collected and is not exposed to heat.


Toxins ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessia Bertero ◽  
Paola Fossati ◽  
Doriana Eurosia Angela Tedesco ◽  
Francesca Caloni

Food and feed contamination by emerging mycotoxins beauvericin and enniatins is a worldwide health problem and a matter of great concern nowadays, and data on their toxicological behavior are still scarce. As ingestion is the major route of exposure to mycotoxins in food and feed, the gastrointestinal tract represents the first barrier encountered by these natural contaminants and the first structure that could be affected by their potential detrimental effects. In order to perform a complete and reliable toxicological evaluation, this fundamental site cannot be disregarded. Several in vitro intestinal models able to recreate the different traits of the intestinal environment have been applied to investigate the various aspects related to the intestinal toxicity of emerging mycotoxins. This review aims to depict an overall and comprehensive representation of the in vitro intestinal effects of beauvericin and enniatins in humans from a species-specific perspective. Moreover, information on the occurrence in food and feed and notions on the regulatory aspects will be provided.


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