Analysis of PCDDs/PCBs by AhR-CALUX assay in Indian dietary food and environment ash

This study found distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in bovine milk and ash samples collected from 9 different major districts namely Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Trippur, Madurai, Chennai, Dindigul and Tiruchirappalli, which were highly populated and industrialized districts of South India (Tamil Nadu). The total toxic equivalency (TEQ) for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in the bovine milk samples were ranged from 0.028 to 7.331-pg TEQ/g fat. Some of the districts showed higher PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs concentration in milk and ash samples. Further, BM14 (7.331 pg-TEQ/g fat) and BM21 (6.406 pg-TEQ/g fat) sampling sites showed exceed level of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs than WHO regulation limits (6 pg-TEQ/g fat). Similarly, Total dioxins and DL-PCBs concentration in the ash sample were between 0.003-1. ng TEQ/g. Samples from AS3 (1.2 ng-TEQ/g) and AS11 (1.06 ng-TEQ/g) showed higher total dioxins and DL-PCBs level among other sampling sites. This study provides an overview of dioxins and dioxin-related compounds contamination in bovine milk and ash samples in south Tamil Nadu. Further, the CALUX assay method validation has simplified the monitoring of dioxin contamination in the environment.

Analysis of PCDDs/PCBs by AhR-CALUX assay in Indian dietary food and environment ash

This study found distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in bovine milk and ash samples collected from 9 different major districts namely Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore, Trippur, Madurai, Chennai, Dindigul and Tiruchirappalli, which were highly populated and industrialized districts of South India (Tamil Nadu). The total toxic equivalency (TEQ) for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in the bovine milk samples were ranged from 0.028 to 7.331-pg TEQ/g fat. Some of the districts showed higher PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs concentration in milk and ash samples. Further, BM14 (7.331 pg-TEQ/g fat) and BM21 (6.406 pg-TEQ/g fat) sampling sites showed exceed level of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs than WHO regulation limits (6 pg-TEQ/g fat). Similarly, Total dioxins and DL-PCBs concentration in the ash sample were between 0.003-1. ng TEQ/g. Samples from AS3 (1.2 ng-TEQ/g) and AS11 (1.06 ng-TEQ/g) showed higher total dioxins and DL-PCBs level among other sampling sites. This study provides an overview of dioxins and dioxin-related compounds contamination in bovine milk and ash samples in south Tamil Nadu. Further, the CALUX assay method validation has simplified the monitoring of dioxin contamination in the environment.

CALUX Bioassay analysis of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in Bovine milk and Municipal dumping site Ash samples from Indian environment

This study showed the distribution of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in bovine milk and ash samples collected from urban and rural areas of south Tamil Nadu and one milk sample from Japan. Around 25 bovine milk samples and 16 ash samples were collected accordingly. The total TEQ for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs were ranged from 0.028 to 7.331 pg TEQ/g fat. Some of the districts were showed higher PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs concentration in milk and ash samples. Further, BM14 (7.331 pg-TEQ/g fat) and BM21 (6.406 pg-TEQ/g fat) area exceed level of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs than WHO regulation limits (6 pg-TEQ/g fat). Likewise, BM3, BM8, and BM14 areas showed higher milk contamination by dioxins, which exceed the WHO regulation limit (3pg-TEQ/g fat). Similarly, the total TEQ for PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in ash samples was ranged from 0.02 to 1.2 ng TEQ/g. AS3 (1.2 ng-TEQ/g) and AS11 (1.06 ng-TEQ/g) areas showed higher dioxins and DL-PCBs among the samples. This study provides an overview of dioxins and dioxin-related compounds contamination in bovine milk and ash samples. Further, the CALUX assay method validation has simplifies the monitoring of dioxin contamination in the environment.

Risk, Stigma, Trustworthiness, and Citizen Participation—A Multifaceted Analysis of Media Coverage of Dioxin Contamination in Midland, Michigan

In the United States, more than 200 communities are designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as areas of concern for dioxins. Informing the public about potential risks associated with dioxins and delivering information about how to avoid such risks are essential activities. News coverage of environmental and health problems affects how members of the public assess those problems in terms of both severity and how they are understood, as well as the extent of attention given to the problem by policy-makers. To contextualize public and institutional responses to dioxin contamination and remediation in a dioxin-affected community, we assessed 176 newspaper articles published over 30 years concerning dioxin contamination in Midland, Michigan, in terms of risk, trust in institutions, environmental stigma, and citizen participation. Articles about dioxin contamination and remediation in Midland appeared in both domestic and international newspapers. Domestically, both national and local newspapers covered this issue. The risks for human health and the environment caused by exposure to dioxins were widely covered, with much less media attention given to the trustworthiness of the organizations responsible for managing the risk, environmental stigma, and citizen participation. News coverage of these four themes also changed significantly overtime. Overall, our findings highlight the important role of local news media in communicating risk information, guiding safe behaviors, and facilitating community-level decision-making.

Whole Genome Sequencing of a Vietnamese Family from a Dioxin Contamination Hotspot Reveals Novel Variants in the Son with Undiagnosed Intellectual Disability

Although it has been a half-century since dioxin-contaminated herbicides were used to defoliate the landscape during the Vietnam War, dioxin contamination “hotspots” still remain in Vietnam. Environmental and health impacts of these hotspots need to be evaluated. Intellectual disability (ID) is one of the diseases found in the children of people exposed to the herbicides. This study aims to identify genetic alterations of a patient whose family lived in a dioxin hotspot. The patient’s father had a highly elevated dioxin concentration. He was affected with undiagnosed moderate ID. To analyze de novo mutations and genetic variations, and to identify causal gene(s) for ID, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) of the proband and his parents. Two de novo missense mutations were detected, each one in ETS2 and ZNF408 genes, respectively. Compound heterozygosity was identified in CENPF and TTN genes. Existing knowledge on the genes and bioinformatics analyses suggest that EST2, ZNF408, and CENPF might be promising candidates for ID causative genes.