scholarly journals A review on ecotoxic potential of pollutants in fish

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-53
Author(s):  
Kirandeep Kaur ◽  
Satinder Kaur ◽  
Arvinder Kaur

Fishes in the aquatic food web are at the top of most aquatic food chains and form an important link in the aquatic-terrestrial food chain also. They are easily available in the wild, market, can be easily maintained in the laboratory and act as important models for indicating the outcome of exposure of human populations to toxic and genotoxic chemicals in drinking water. They respond to toxicants in a manner similar to higher vertebrates and metabolize and accumulate pollutants. Food is a major route for exposure of human populations to toxic chemicals in water so fish and shell fish have been recognized as major vectors for transfer of contaminants to humans, as these major sources of protein in many countries, are often contaminated with high concentrations of pollutants. In living systems, these are biotransformed to various toxic derivatives which react with DNA and lead to tumour development are carcinogenic and/or mutagenic to life leading to the number of cancer cases. Epidemiological studies have revealed that workers in the dye industry had a higher incidence of urinary bladder tumours than that of the general population. Therefore, in the present review an attempt has been made to document the work done in past on the use of fishes for studying toxicological changes induced by pollutants. Actually, toxicity and genotoxicity of dyes in fish has not been much explored, therefore along with the few reports available on dyes, literature on toxicity and genotoxicity of other aquatic pollutants has also been reviewed in the present study.

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaotong Ji ◽  
Yingying Zhang ◽  
Guangke Li ◽  
Nan Sang

Recently, numerous studies have found that particulate matter (PM) exposure is correlated with increased hospitalization and mortality from heart failure (HF). In addition to problems with circulation, HF patients often display high expression of cytokines in the failing heart. Thus, as a recurring heart problem, HF is thought to be a disorder characterized in part by the inflammatory response. In this review, we intend to discuss the relationship between PM exposure and HF that is based on inflammatory mechanism and to provide a comprehensive, updated evaluation of the related studies. Epidemiological studies on PM-induced heart diseases are focused on high concentrations of PM, high pollutant load exposure in winter, or susceptible groups with heart diseases, etc. Furthermore, it appears that the relationship between fine or ultrafine PM and HF is stronger than that between HF and coarse PM. However, fewer studies paid attention to PM components. As for experimental studies, it is worth noting that coarse PM may indirectly promote the inflammatory response in the heart through systematic circulation of cytokines produced primarily in the lungs, while ultrafine PM and its components can enter circulation and further induce inflammation directly in the heart. In terms of PM exposure and enhanced inflammation during the pathogenesis of HF, this article reviews the following mechanisms: hemodynamics, oxidative stress, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and epigenetic regulation. However, many problems are still unsolved, and future work will be needed to clarify the complex biologic mechanisms and to identify the specific components of PM responsible for adverse effects on heart health.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1901815
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Wills ◽  
Samir S. Soneji ◽  
Kelvin Choi ◽  
Ilona Jaspers ◽  
Elizabeth K. Tam

BackgroundUse of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is prevalent among adolescents and young adults but there has been limited knowledge about health consequences in human populations. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of results on respiratory disorder from studies of general-population samples and consider the mapping of these results to findings about biological processes linked to e-cigarettes in controlled laboratory studies.MethodWe conduct a literature search and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies on the association of e-cigarette use with asthma and with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We then discuss findings from laboratory studies about effects of e-cigarettes on four biological processes: cytotoxicity, oxidative stress/inflammation, susceptibility to infection, and genetic expression.ResultsEpidemiological studies, both cross-sectional and longitudinal, show a significant association of e-cigarette use with asthma and COPD, controlling for cigarette smoking and other covariates. For asthma (n=15 studies), the pooled adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was 1.39 (CI 1.28–1.51); for COPD (n=9 studies) the AOR was 1.49 (CI 1.36–1.65). Laboratory studies consistently show an effect of e-cigarettes on biological processes related to respiratory harm and susceptibility to illness, with e-cigarette conditions differing significantly from clean-air controls though sometimes less than for cigarettes.ConclusionsThe evidence from epidemiological studies meets established criteria for consistency, strength of effect, temporality, and in some cases a dose-response gradient. Biological plausibility is indicated by evidence from multiple laboratory studies. We conclude that e-cigarette use has consequences for asthma and COPD, which is of significant concern for respirology and public health.


2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-386
Author(s):  
Simona Valean ◽  
Romeo Chira ◽  
Dan Dumitrascu

Cancer has emerged as the leading cause of death in human populations, according to recent estimations. Epidemiological studies emphasized the role of life style and of environmental factors in promoting the risk for digestive cancers. The contribution of alcohol was highly suspected. Even for digestive cancers with dominant infection etiology, like liver cancer and gastric cancer, the contribution of alcohol should be assessed. At population level there is therefore a need to compare trends in epidemiological data of gastrointestinal cancers and data on alcohol consumption, in order to extrapolate any causative relationship. The purpose of this review was to analyze the time trend of digestive cancers in Romania, in terms of mortality rates (between 1955-2012), and incidence rates (between 2008-2012), in males and females, and to analyze the alcohol consumption data, aiming to find out if there is any association.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyo Soung Koo ◽  
Soorim Song ◽  
Jae Hyeok Choi ◽  
Ha-Cheol Sung

Globally, an increase in the transportation and expansion of the pet market is the most important cause of the invasion of non-native species. Invasion of non-native species disturbs native ecosystems and leads to socio-economic problems. The pet trade involving turtles has been globally recognized as the route through which non-native species enter ecosystems. As a result, the invasion of non-native turtles worldwide is causing problems such as competition, predation, transmission of parasites, and hybridization with native turtles. Every year, both the number of non-native turtles imported as pets in the Republic of Korea and the number of introduced species found in the wild is increasing. However, the current status of non-native turtles in the wild is not well known, posing major challenges to their management. In this study, we aimed to determine the current status of non-native turtles introduced into the wild in Korea. We analyzed the factors associated with the detection and distribution of non-native turtles. In total, 1587 of non-native turtles (three families, six genera, and 13 species including subspecies) were found in 648 sites in Korea: Chelydra serpentina, Mauremys sinensis, Chrysemys picta bellii, Graptemys ouachitensis, G. pseudogeographica pseudogeographica, G. p. kohni, Pseudemys concinna, P. nelsoni, P. peninsularis, P. rubriventris, Trachemys scripta elegans, T. s. scripta, and T. s. troostii. There was relationship between the distribution of non-native turtles and environmental factors such as precipitation and temperature. Moreover, human factors such as number of human populations and size of region were significantly related with the distribution and number of non-native turtles. In conclusion, it is likely that human factors are associated with the influx of invasive turtles to the natural habitat, while the possibility of survival and adaption for the turtles is associated mainly with environmental factors. Our result will be an essential guideline not only for understanding the current status of non-native turtles in Korea, but also for establishing strategies for management and control.


2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 1053-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samina Alam ◽  
Michael J. Conway ◽  
Horng-Shen Chen ◽  
Craig Meyers

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies suggest that cigarette smoke carcinogens are cofactors which synergize with human papillomavirus (HPV) to increase the risk of cervical cancer progression. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a major carcinogen in cigarette smoke, is detected in the cervical mucus and may interact with HPV. Exposure of cervical cells to high concentrations of BaP resulted in a 10-fold increase in HPV type 31 (HPV31) viral titers, whereas treatment with low concentrations of BaP resulted in an increased number of HPV genome copies but not an increase in virion morphogenesis. BaP exposure also increased HPV16 and HPV18 viral titers. Overall, BaP modulation of the HPV life cycle could potentially enhance viral persistence, host tissue carcinogenesis, and permissiveness for cancer progression.


1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norihiro Mutoh ◽  
Chiaki W Nakagawa ◽  
Kenichiro Yamada

The role of catalase in hydrogen peroxide resistance in Schizosaccharomyces pombe was investigated. A catalase gene disruptant completely lacking catalase activity is more sensitive to hydrogen peroxide than the parent strain. The mutant does not acquire hydrogen peroxide resistance by osmotic stress, a treatment that induces catalase activity in the wild-type cells. The growth rate of the disruptant is not different from that of the parent strain. Additionally, transformed cells that overexpress the catalase activity are more resistant to hydrogen peroxide than wild-type cells with normal catalase activity. These results indicate that the catalase of S. pombe plays an important role in resistance to high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide but offers little in the way of protection from the hydrogen peroxide generated in small amounts under normal growth conditions.Key words: catalase, gene disruption, induced hydrogen peroxide resistance, overexpression, Schizosaccharomyces pombe.


2017 ◽  
Vol 145 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 309-314
Author(s):  
Ljiljana Markovic

Iodine is one of the best-characterized environmental factors associated with autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD). Epidemiological studies have shown that ATD incidence has increased following the introduction of salt iodination in the 1920s; in addition, ATD patients can improve upon iodine restriction. In animal models such as BioBreeding/Worcester and Buffalo rats, obese chicken strain, and non-obese diabetic H-2h4 mice, excess iodine is associated with autoimmunity. Analyses of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) have shown enlarged number of apoptotic follicular cells, and the destruction is an effect of death receptormediated apoptosis. Excess of iodine induces rapid apoptosis of goitrogen Wistar pretreated rats, possibly connected with inhibition of polyamine synthesis, inhibitors of DNA fragmentation. Percentage of apoptotic cells was statistically higher in patients with HT than in those with euthyroid goiter, with significant increase of caspase 32. Genes for Bcl-2 and Bax proteins are under the transcriptional control of p53. In TAD-2 cell cultures, apoptosis is p53-independed, suggesting that DNA damage is not primarily evoked by potassium iodide (KI). High concentrations of NaI increase the proportion of apoptotic cells in FTRL5 thyroid cell line. Iodide cytotoxicity is inhibited by a TPO inhibitor and is relieved with an anti-oxidant agent. Chronic iodine excess induces apoptosis and necrosis of thyroid follicular and endothelial cells, leading to thyroglobulin accumulation in connective tissue. Iodide excess requires peroxidase enzymatic activity to induce apoptosis. Ionic iodide is not directly toxic, whereas its molecular form I2 mediates the apoptotic effect of KI.


Author(s):  
Michael Parkinson ◽  
John P. Dalton ◽  
Sandra M. O’Neill

Liver fluke disease, or fasciolosis, of livestock and humans is caused by endoparasitic trematodes of the genus Fasciola. Fasciola hepatica is responsible for the disease in temperate climates whereas F. gigantica is found in tropical zones. Recently, hybrids between F. hepatica and F. gigantica have been described (Le et al. 2008, Periago et al. 2008). Fasciolosis is a true zoonoses as it is predominantly a disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans at a specific stage of the parasite’s complex life cycle. There are a number of definitive hosts which includes sheep, cattle, and humans but this parasite has evolved to infect many other mammalian hosts including pigs, dogs, alpacas, llamas, rats, and goats (Apt et al. 1993; Chen and Mott 1990; Esteban et al. 1998). While prevalence of infection in humans may be relatively low in relation to animals, in specific geographic locations, for example in Bolivia, the prevalence of fasciolosis is so high in the human populations (hyperendemic) that it contributes to the spread of disease in animals (Esteban et al. 1999; Mas-Coma et al. 1999).Archeological studies showing Fasciola eggs in ancient mummies in Egypt demonstrate that fasciolosis is an ancient human disease (David 1997). Sporadic cases of fasciolosis were reported in Egypt in 1958 (Kuntz et al. 1958). The first to carry out an extensive review on human fasciolosis were Chen and Mott (1990). They reported 2,595 cases in over 40 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the western Pacifi c from 1970 – 1990. This review raised awareness of fasciolosis in humans and triggered a growth in epidemiological studies and a consequential dramatic increase in reporting of cases in the literature. Now human fasciolosis is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an important disease in humans with an estimated 2.4 million people infected annually and 180 million at risk to infection in over 61 countries (Haseeb et al. 2002). There have been several cases of large scale epidemics in France (Dauchy et al. 2007), Egypt (Curtale et al. 2007) and Iran (Rokni et al. 2002).However, the only extensive epidemiological studies to determine the rate of infection have been carried out in Egypt and Bolivia (Curtale et al. 2003, 2007; Esteban et al. 2002; Parkinson et al. 2007). These studies have shown that co-infection with other diseases is a common occurrence and this may lead to under-reporting of the incidence of fasciolosis (Esteban et al. 2003; Maiga et al. 1991). In many countries, the overall rates of infection are extrapolated from sporadic reports of the disease and, consequently, worldwide disease prevalence is uncertain. In this chapter we will review the cause and effect of human fasciolosis, and particularly highlight important considerations in designing control strategies to reduce infection in at-risk communities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Mesnage ◽  
Scarlett Ferguson ◽  
Francesca Mazzacuva ◽  
Anna Caldwell ◽  
John Halket ◽  
...  

Understanding the nature of co-formulants and toxic effects of major glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) formulations is considered a research priority. Indeed, the toxicity of the co-formulants present in GBHs have been widely discussed and the European Union recently banned the co-formulant polyoxyethylene tallow amine (POEA). We provide a foundation for the development of new environmental epidemiological studies by reporting the presence of the most commonly used POEA, known as POE-15 tallow amine, in the widely used US GBH RangerPro. In order to understand if POE-15 tallow amine is present in RangerPro at a concentration at which it can exert toxic effects, we also tested the cytotoxicity of this GBH compared to glyphosate and POE-15 tallow amine in the human epithelial cell line Caco-2, a representative of the human intestinal epithelium, and the first to be exposed from the human diet to glyphosate herbicides. The lethal concentration 50 for each of these substances was 125 ug/ml, 17200 ug/ml, and 5.7 ug/ml, for RangerPro, glyphosate and POE-15, respectively. The Caco-2 cell cytotoxicity assay indicated that RangerPro is more cytotoxic than glyphosate, suggesting that its toxicity can be due to the presence of the POE-15 surfactant. RangerPro and POE-15 tallow amine but not glyphosate exerted cell necrotic effects, but did not induce oxidative stress. We show that RangerPro contains POE-15 tallow amine at a concentration at which it could exert toxic effects, which offers a starting point for conducting surveys of co-formulant exposure in human populations.


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