Potential Human Health Hazard of Post-Hurricane Harvey Sediments in Galveston Bay and Houston Ship Channel: A Case Study of Using In Vitro Bioactivity Data to Inform Risk Management Decisions

Natural and anthropogenic disasters may be associated with redistribution of chemical contaminants in the environment; however, current methods for assessing hazards and risks of complex mixtures are not suitable for disaster response. This study investigated the suitability of in vitro toxicity testing methods as a rapid means of identifying areas of potential human health concern. We used sediment samples (n = 46) from Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel (GB/HSC) areas after hurricane Harvey, a disaster event that led to broad redistribution of chemically-contaminated sediments, including deposition of the sediment on shore due to flooding. Samples were extracted with cyclohexane and dimethyl sulfoxide and screened in a compendium of human primary or induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell lines from different tissues (hepatocytes, neuronal, cardiomyocytes, and endothelial) to test for concentration-dependent effects on various functional and cytotoxicity phenotypes (n = 34). Bioactivity data were used to map areas of potential concern and the results compared to the data on concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the same samples. We found that setting remediation goals based on reducing bioactivity is protective of both “known” risks associated with PAHs and “unknown” risks associated with bioactivity, but the converse was not true for remediation based on PAH risks alone. Overall, we found that in vitro bioactivity can be used as a comprehensive indicator of potential hazards and is an example of a new approach method (NAM) to inform risk management decisions on site cleanup.

Nutritional Evaluation and Biochemical Profiles of Microalgae as Potential Human Health Supplements

Food supplements industries, an important place must be assigned to nutraceuticals containing microalgae, nowadays accounting for a large and rapidly expanding market. The marketed products are mainly based on production strains, i.e., Spirulina and Chlorella in the composite situation, since two of them are cyanobacteria and the second one is eukaryotic. In the marketed form and several utilizations, and peculiarities that need special attention and adequate studies. General report is about the current scientific knowledge on each microalga, in particular the nutritional value and properties in prevention and wellbeing. Second, original studies are presented concerning the quality control of marketed products. Quality control is act as key argument in nutraceuticals validation. Microalgae one of particular organisms that need specific approaches to check identity and validate properties of microalgae. The paper is dedicated to the need for specificity in uses and to considerations about the future of microalgae in food supplements in our daily needs. India is a country with heterogenic population having diverse food habits become a driving force in the shift towards a greater recognition between diet and health care in research the use of few natural unprocessed foods like blue-green algae “spirulina” which has a galaxy of nutrients as diet supplements. The purpose of the present review is to compile evidence regarding the health benefits of spirulina, amount of evidence on health benefits are its effect in preventing anaemia, blood sugar and obesity many health diseases. Keywords: Microalgae, Nutraceuticals, Omega fatty acids, Phycocyanin, Spirulina: Blue-Green Algae.

Human Health Effects of Microplastics in Drinking Water: A Review

Introduction: Polymer products have become inexpensive, convenient and widely used in all spheres of everyday life recently. Microplastics are found in seawater, wastewater, fresh water, foodstuffs, and air. Over the past few years, the presence of microplastics in treated tap and bottled water has been reported, raising questions and concerns about their potential human health effects. Objective: To summarize and systematize the results of studying health effects of exposure to microplastics in potable water. Materials and methods: A literature review was done based on ten topical articles and reviews published in 2014–2021 out of 64 sources found in the PubMed and Scopus international databases and the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI). Results and conclusions: Generalization and systematization of the published research data demonstrated the lack of strong evidence to draw conclusions about human health effects of microplastics. Information on toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of ingested microplastic particles is absent just like the studies of the most common shapes and sizes of plastic particles and health risks from exposure to such particles in drinking water.