Benzo Pyrene Research Articles

Analysis of the quality of liquid smoke coconut shells using Technoher equipment

Many food industry products require preservatives to extend their shelf life. Natural preservatives are a necessity for safe food products. One natural preservative can be made from coconut shells. Liquid smoke from coconut shells is produced using liquid smoke pyrolysis equipment which has been developed by authors called Technoher. This study aimed to compare physical and chemical properties of various grades of liquid smoke from coconut shells produced using Technoher equipment, and study the specific applications of liquid smoke based on the grades. To produce the expected quality (3 grades), 3 treatments are made. The results showed that Grade 1 (G1) specifically the G1+ treatment sample had the lowest PAH value of 0.00 µg/g, while the G1 had a value of 0.007 µg/g. Grade 2 consisting of G2 and G2+ treatments, yielded PAH values of 0.002 µg/g, and 0.006 µg/g respectively, while Grade 3, produced a value of 0.026 µg/g. Based on the results, the three grades of Coconut liquid smoke were within the tolerance limit for PAH (Benzo (a) pyrene). The products contain no toxic substances and are safe, with Grades 1 and 2 are food grade, while Grade 3 has the potential for non-food preservation (non-food grade).

A low dose of benzo(a)pyrene during prepuberty in male rats generated immediate oxidative stress in the testes and compromised steroidogenic enzymes/proteins

The prepubertal period is crucial for sexual development and any alterations can interfere with the reproductive system in adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate how Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) can affect the testes during the prepubertal period. Juvenile male Wistar rats were divided into a control (corn oil + DMSO) and a BaP-group (0.1 μg/kg/day), exposed to BaP for 31 days (gavage), and all parameters were evaluated on postnatal day (PND) 54. Leukocyte counts were decreased. Histological analyses of the testes revealed that height and seminiferous tubules diameters (STDs) were reduced, tubular dynamics were altered, and Leydig cell atrophy was evident in the BaP-group. The testosterone concentration was decreased while FSH levels increased within the BaP-exposed group. Steroidogenic enzymes in the testes were decreased, but steroidogenic acute regulatory protein was not altered. The expression of gstp1 and ckit enzymes was decreased. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were increased, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased in the testes. In conclusion, BaP or its metabolites causes low systemic toxicity; however, it adversely influences testicular function by disrupting the hormonal axis, unbalancing testicular antioxidative, and blocking the action of the steroidogenic mechanisms.

Surfactant protein D prevents mucin overproduction in airway goblet cells via SIRPα

Mucin overproduction is a common feature of chronic airway diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and exacerbates their underlying respiratory condition. Surfactant protein D (SP-D) protects against airway diseases through modulation of immune reactions, but whether it also exerts direct effects on airway epithelial cells has remained unclear. Therefore, we sought to investigate the inhibitory role of SP-D on mucin production in airway epithelial cells. We prepared air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures of human primary bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs), which recapitulated a well-differentiated human airway epithelium. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a key toxicant in cigarette smoke, induced mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) production in ALI-cultured HBECs, airway secretory cell lines, and airway epithelia of mice. Then, the protective effects of SP-D against the BaP-induced mucin overproduction were examined. BaP increased MUC5AC production in ALI cultures of HBECs, and this effect was attenuated by SP-D. SP-D also suppressed the BaP-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and MUC5AC expression in NCI-H292 goblet-like cells, but not in NCI-H441 club-like cells. Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) was found to be expressed in HBECs and NCI-H292 cells but absent in NCI-H441 cells. In NCI-H292 cells, SP-D activated SH2 domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase-1 (SHP-1), downstream of SIRPα, and knockdown of SIRPα abolished the suppressive effects of SP-D on BaP-induced ERK phosphorylation and MUC5AC production. Consistent with these in vitro findings, intratracheal instillation of SP-D prevented the BaP-induced phosphorylation of ERK and Muc5ac expression in airway epithelial cells in a mouse model. SP-D acts directly on airway epithelial cells to inhibit mucin secretion through ligation of SIRPα and SHP-1-mediated dephosphorylation of ERK. Targeting of SIRPα is therefore a potential new therapeutic approach to suppression of mucin hypersecretion in chronic airway diseases such as COPD and asthma.

Novel high throughput screen reports that benzo(a)pyrene overrides mouse trophoblast stem cell multipotency, inducing SAPK activity, HAND1 and differentiated trophoblast giant cells

IntroductionCultured mouse trophoblast stem cells (mTSC) maintain proliferation/normal stemness (NS) under FGF4, which when removed, causes normal differentiation (ND). Hypoxic, or hyperosmotic stress forces trophoblast giant cells (TGC) differentiate. Hypoxic, hyperosmotic, and genotoxic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), which is found in tobacco smoke, force down-regulation of inhibitor of differentiation (Id)2, enabling TGC differentiation. Hypoxic and hyperosmotic stress induce TGC by SAPK-dependent HAND1 increase. Here we test whether BaP forces mTSC-to-TGC while inducing SAPK and HAND1. MethodsHand1 and SAPK activity were assayed by immunoblot, mTSC-to-TGC growth and differentiation were assayed at Tfinal after 72hr exposure of BaP, NS, ND, Retinoic acid (RA), or sorbitol. Nuclear-stained cells were micrographed automatically by a live imager, and assayed by ImageJ/FIJI, Biotek Gen 5, AIVIA proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) software or open source, CellPose artificial intelligence/AI software. ResultsBaP (0.05-1μM) activated SAPK and HAND1 without diminishing growth. TSC-to-TGC differentiation was assayed with increasingly accuracy for 2–4 N cycling nuclei and >4 N differentiating TGC nuclei, using ImageJ/FIJI, Gen 5, AIVIA, or CellPose AI software. The AIVIA and Cellpose AI software matches human accuracy. The lowest BaP effects on SAPK activation/HAND1 increase are >10-fold more sensitive than similar effects for mESC. RA induces 44–47% 1st lineage TGC differentiation, but the same RA dose induces only 1% 1st lineage mESC differentiation. DiscussionFirst, these pilot data suggest that mTSC can be used in high throughput screens (HTS) to predict toxicant exposures that force TGC differentiation. Second, mTSC differentiated more cells than mESC for similar stress exposures, Third, open source AI can replace human micrograph quantitation and enable a miscarriage-predicting HTS.

Effects of Benzo (a) Pyrene and 2,2',4,4'-Tetrabromodiphenyl Ether Exposure on the Thyroid Gland in Rats by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) are widespread environmental pollutants and can destroy thyroid function. We assessed the biochemical changes in the thyroid tissue of rats exposed to B[a]P and BDE-47 using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy combined with support vector machine(SVM). After B[a]P and BDE-47 treatment in rats, the structure of thyroid follicles was destroyed and epithelial cells were necrotic, indicating that B[a]P and BDE-47 may lead to changes of the thyroid morphology of the rats. These damages are mainly related to C=O stretch vibrations of lipids (1743 cm-1), as well as the secondary structure of proteins [amide I (1645 cm-1) and amide II (1550 cm-1)], and carbohydrates [C-OH (1138 cm-1), C-O (1106 cm-1, 1049 cm-1, 991 cm-1), C-C (1106 cm-1) stretching] and collagen (phosphodiester stretching at 922 cm-1) vibration modes. When SVM was used for classification, there was a substantial separation between the control and the exposure groups (accuracy = 96%; sensitivity = 98%; specificity = 87%), and there was also a major separation between the exposed groups (accuracy = 93%; sensitivity = 94%; and specificity = 92%).

Spatiotemporal distributions and ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface seawater of Laizhou Bay, China.

The spatial-temporal distribution, source, and potential ecological risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface seawater from Laizhou Bay were investigated. The total PAH (ΣPAH) concentrations ranged from 277 to 4393 ng/L with an average of 1178 ng/L, thereby suggesting a relatively moderate to high PAH exposure level in Laizhou Bay in comparison to other bays in the world. The composition patterns and source apportionment results revealed that the coal, biomass burning, diesel emissions, and petroleum combustion as well as the combination of these processes were the dominant sources of PAHs in the surface water, which were closely associated with sail process and sewage effluents. The ecological risk assessment indicated that benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), phenanthrene (Phe), luoranthene (Flua), and naphthalene (Nap) would exist ecological risks in most of surface seawater sites, but the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) results showed that the current level of risk is not as severe as the risk quotient (RQ) results revealed.

Effect of vacuum UV and UV-C treatment on degradation and ecotoxicity of tire wear microrubber leachates.

Tire wear microrubber particles (TWMP) are a major source of environmental contamination. Degradation of TWMP is slow and leachates contain toxic constituents including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organic additives. Few studies have addressed methods to mitigate the potential ecotoxicity of TWMP leachates. This study investigated the effects of UV-C (254 nm) and combined UV-C and vacuum UV (185 nm) treatment (VUV-UV-C) of TWMP leachates on degradation and ecotoxicity. VUV-UV-C treatment mitigated dissolved zinc and degraded the TWMP constituents fluoranthene, pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene by up to 90%, and the additives benzothiazole and phthalates by up to 70%. The potential ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of TWMP constituents were examined before and after UV treatment in bioassays with Escherichia coli, the luminescent bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri, the microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata and the crustacean Daphia magna. VUV-UV-C treatment decreased the potential ecotoxicity up to five-fold as indicated by changes in median effective concentrations (EC50). This was likely due to the formation of less toxic and less bioavailable transformation products. The VUV-UV-C treatment did not require the addition of oxidants or catalysts, and the study indicated a potential of VUV-UV-C as an advanced oxidation process to mitigate toxic compounds in TWMP leachates from urban or industrial sources.

Traditional smoking of Wallachian cheeses and sausages in Polish and Slovak parts of the Carpathian Mountains

AbstractWallachian expansion brought to the Carpathian Mountains a system of shepherd economy—farming, production of Wallachian cheeses, animals adapted to life in difficult mountain conditions—mainly sheep of the Cakiel breed group. Mountain sheep's milk is used to produce traditional cheeses: bundz, bryndza podhalańska, oscypek, redykołka—on the Polish side and Slovenská bryndza, Slovenská parenica, Slovenský oštiepok, Ovčí hrudkový syr salašnícky—on the Slovak side. Also sausages are made from sheep meat. These cheeses and sausages are salted and then traditionally smoked. The source of heat and smoke is hard wood with appropriate humidity, burned in the hearth located in the shepherd's hut, over which the cheeses are placed under the roof. Among several hundred smoke components, there are also polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which, on the one hand, give the smoked product its taste and aroma, and on the other hand have carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Sausages and cheeses from Poland and Slovakia, made from milk and meat of native sheep breeds, preserved by traditional smoking, were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content. The analyzed cheeses were characterized by a trace or low content of benzo[a]pyrene and the sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene. In cheeses from outer Eastern Carpathians subprovince (Bieszczady), the high content of naphthalene, acenaphthylene, fluorene and phenanthrene is noteworthy. Polish lamb sausages were characterized by a higher content of benzo(a)pyrene and the sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene. The differences result from the method of smoking (warm or cold in the south of the Carpathians—hot in the north) and the type of wood used for smoking.

Distinct roles and molecular mechanisms of nicotine and benzo(a)pyrene in ferroptosis of lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma.

The essence of ferroptosis is the accumulation of membrane lipid peroxides caused by increased iron, which disrupts the redox balance within cells and triggers cell death. Abnormal metabolism of iron significantly increases the risk of lung cancer and induces treatment resistance. However, the roles and mechanisms of smocking in ferroptosis in patients with lung cancer are still unclear. Our study was a secondary bioinformatics analysis followed by an experimental cell culture analysis. In this study, we identified the different ferroptosis-related genes and established the signature in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with different smocking status, based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Fanyl diphosphate fanyl transferase 1 (FDFT1) in LUSC patients and solute carrier one family member 5 (SLC1A5) in LUAD patients were confirmed to be related to ferroptosis. Next, we checked the roles of two main components of smoke, nicotine, and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), in ferroptosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. We confirmed that nicotine inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and induced glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) expression, while the opposite roles of BaP were observed in NSCLC cells. Mechanically, nicotine protected NSCLC cells from ferroptosis through upregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and SLC1A5 expression. BaP-induced ferroptosis in NSCLC cells depends on FDFT1 expression. In this study, the ferroptosis-associated gene signature was identified in LUAD and LUSC patients with different smoking status. We confirmed nicotine-protected LUAD and LUSC cells from ferroptosis by upregulating EGFR and SLC1A5 expression. BaP-induced ferroptosis in these cells depends on FDFT1 expression.

Benzo[a]pyrene exposure prevents high fat diet-induced obesity in the 4T1 model of mammary carcinoma.

Tumor metastasis is the main cause of death in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. TNBC is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer lacking the expression of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors, thereby rendering it insensitive to targeted therapies. It has been well-established that excess adiposity contributes to the progression of TNBC; however, due to the aggressive nature of this breast cancer subtype, it is imperative to determine how multiple factors can contribute to progression. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if exposure to an environmental carcinogen could impact a pre-existing obesity-promoted cancer. We utilized a spontaneous lung metastatic mouse model where 4T1 breast tumor cells are injected into the mammary gland of BALB/c mice. Feeding a high fat diet (HFD) in this model has been shown to promote tumor growth and metastasis. Herein, we tested the effects of both a HFD and benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) exposure. Our results indicate that diet and B[a]P had no tumor promotional interaction. However, unexpectedly, our findings reveal an inhibitory effect of B[a]P on body weight, adipose tissue deposition, and tumor volume at time of sacrifice specifically under HFD conditions.

Policiklični aromatični ugljovodonici kao limitirajući parametar tradicionalne proizvodnje suhomesnatih proizvoda

The goal of the study was to investigate the concentration of 16 US EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and check the sensory properties in 11 dry-cured meat products, smoked in three different ways (atmospheric simulation chamber (ATMOS), industrial chamber and traditional craft smokehouse) in one meat industry facility in Serbia. Controlled industrial production cannot provide all distinguishable and specific sensory properties of traditional dry-cured products, so more and more frequently meat industries decide to include the products smoked in traditional craft smokehouses in their product assortment. 16 US EPA PAHs were determined using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method (GC-MS). The obtained results are part of the production technology validating process of the tested smoked meat products. Total concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluranthene and chrysene (comprising the so-called "PAH4" group) in traditional homemade smoked bacon produced in compliance with all the guidelines of good manufacturing and hygiene practice, reached 15.82 µg/kg what was above the legal limits set by Serbian legislation. This indicates that there is a need for monitoring the PAH content compounds in traditional smoked meat products, and quite likely the revision of the current rulebook on traditional dry-cured meat products following the EU practice.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content of food, water and vegetables and associated cancer risk assessment in Southern Nigeria.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of water (four surface water, six underground water (borehole water), seven sachet water), barbecued food and their fresh equivalents (barbecued beef, fish, plantain, pork, yam, chicken, chevon, potato, corn), oil (three palm oil, nine vegetable oil), and fresh vegetable samples (water leaf, bitter leaf, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, pumpkin, garlic, ginger, green leaf, Gnetum Africana, onion, pepper) were determined by GC-MS analysis. The current study also determined the estimated lifetime cancer risk from ingesting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated food. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content of water, oil, vegetable, and food samples were within the United States Environmental Protection Agency/World Health Organization safe limits. The naphthalene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(k)fluoranthene levels in surface water were significantly higher than in borehole samples (P = 0.000, 0.047, 0.047). Vegetable oils had higher anthracene and chrysene compared to palm oil (P = 0.023 and 0.032). Significant variations were observed in levels of naphthalene, acenaphthylene, phenanthrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene among the barbecued and fresh food samples (P <0.05). Barbecued pork, potato, and corn had significantly higher naphthalene compared to their fresh equivalents (P = 0.002, 0.017, and <0.001). Consumption of barbecued food and surface water may be associated with higher exposure risk to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which may predispose to increased cancer health risk. The current work explores in depth the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different dietary categories that pose direct risk to humans via direct consumption. These findings add knowledge to support future considerations for human health.

Profile, health risk assessment and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in terrestrial snails and some aquatic species consumed in parts of Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa, Nigeria

Abstract The determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in giant land snails (Achatina achatina) and three aquatic species [mudfish (Clarias anguillaris), mud crab (Scylla serrata), and prawn (Palaemon maculatus)] in Ogbia LGA, their origin and their health implications on consumers were the focus of this work. PAHs analysis was done with Gas Chromatography couple to a Mass Spectrometer Detector (GC-MS), after extractions with 1:1 mixture of hexane and dichloromethane and clean-up with silica gel column. Total PAHs (∑16PAHs) in µg/kg in edible tissues averaged: 3342.26±845.70 for snails, 393.14±452.50 for fishes, 382.22±235.72 for crabs, and 344.81±91.93 for prawns respectively. The hazard indices showed some potential for non-carcinogenic harms: very high for snails, moderately high for fishes and crabs, and slightly high for the prawns. The calculated benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentrations (PEC) for species were higher than the estimated screening value (SV) of 3.95 µg/kg, an indications of possible carcinogenic effects on consumers of these foods. However, the excess cancer risk (ECR) did not indicate threat of additional cancer risk as most of the calculated values (except in some snails’ samples with values &lt; 10-4) were less than the acceptable standard of 1.0x10-6 established by the USEPA. Source diagnostic ratios revealed that source of PAHs were largely pyrolytic. The presence of these PAHs in these edible species, and possible further accumulations and its attendant impacts on human’s health calls for periodic monitoring.

Acceleration of benzo(a)pyrene-induced colon carcinogenesis by Western diet in a rat model of colon cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortalities in the USA and around 52,550 people were expected to die from this disease by December 2023. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diet type on benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced colon cancer in an adult male rat model, the Polyposis In the Rat Colon (PIRC) kindred type. Groups of PIRC rats (n = 10) were fed with AIN-76A regular diet (RD) or Western diet (WD) and received 25, 50 and 100 µg B(a)P/kg body wt. via oral gavage for 60 days. Rats fed diets alone, but no B(a)P, served as controls. After exposure, rats were euthanized; colon and liver samples were analyzed for activation of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) CYP1A1, CYP1B1, SULT and GST. Plasma and tissue samples were analyzed by reverse phase-HPLC for B(a)P metabolites. In addition to these studies, DNA isolated from colon and liver tissues was analyzed for B(a)P-induced DNA adducts by the 32P-postlabeling method using a thin-layer chromatography system. Western diet consumption resulted in a marked increase in DME expression and B(a)P metabolite concentrations in rats that were administered 100 µg/kg B(a)P + WD (p < 0.05) compared to other treatment groups. Our findings demonstrate that WD accelerates the development of colon tumors induced by B(a)P through enhanced biotransformation, and the products of this process (metabolites) were found to bind with DNA and form B(a)P-DNA adducts, which may have given rise to colon polyps characterized by gain in tumor number, sizes, and dysplasia.

Benzo (A) Pyrene Detoxification Potential of Bacillus subtilis BMT4i (MTCC 9447) Isolated From Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Benzo (A) Pyrene Detoxification Potential of Bacillus subtilis BMT4i (MTCC 9447) Isolated From Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

Monitoring Toxins and Human Health Risk Assessment of Clarias Gariepinus from Nwangele River in Imo State, Nigeria

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals are ubiquitous environmental contaminants which have caused worldwide concerns as toxic pollutant. This study reports the concentrations of 8 PAHs and 4 heavy metals (Al, As, Pb, and Hg) in clarias gariepinus collected from Nwangele River in Imo State Nigeria. The mean concentration of heavy metals was between 0.06-2.67 mg/kg, with Arsenic having the highest concentration. Daily intake of heavy metals was estimated using daily fish consumption of 0.03643kg/person/day from literature. Referenced oral dose RfD for the four metals were: 0.043, 0.003, 0.004, 0.0001 respectively. Health Risk index (HRI) of heavy metals were &lt; 1 for Al and Pb, but were very high for As and Hg. For PAHs, concentrations showed 13, 4.5, 36.6, 19.6, 80.9, 50.2, 5.1, and 22.4 mg/kg for fluorine, phenanthrene, anthracene, benzo(k) flouranthene, benzo(a) pyrene, benzo (b) flouranthene, pyrene, and dibenzyl (a-h) anthracene respectively. The study indicated that with reference to Al and Pb, fish from the river were safe for consumption. Conversely, the fish were unsafe with reference to concentrations of PAHs, As, and Hg. The study recommended prevention measures towards water pollution and consumer awareness of health hazard in consuming contaminated fish

Smoked and Fermented Bushmeat (Mpunam) Products: Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Resulting From Processing.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) congener concentrations and risk upon human exposure to smoked bushmeat products were analyzed. GC/MS MRM and QuEChERS methods were used for the analysis. This work has become necessary due to the need for more information concerning the quantitative determination of these compounds and their health risk assessment. The 16 PAH congeners identified were acenaphthylene (ACA), naphthalene (NAP), acenaphthene (ACE), fluorene (FLU), anthracene (ANT), phenanthrene (PHE), fluoranthene (FLT), pyrene (PYR), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BBF), benzo[k]fluoranthene (BKF), benzo[a]anthracene (BAA), chrysene (CHR), indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (IND), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DAA), benzo(g,h,i)pyrene (BGP), and benzo[a]pyrene (BAP). At the 5% and 95% daily intake levels, BAP was at 3.34 and 17.39 μg/kg(bw)/day, ΣPAH4 was at 25.11 and 109.15 μg/kg(bw)/day, and ΣPAH8 was at 55.76 and 236.68 μg/kg(bw)/day, respectively. BAP, ΣPAH4, and ΣPAH8 concentration exceeded the European Union limits, as BAP concentration was as low as 6.09 μg/kg and as high as 34.19. The exposure values were significantly high. Specifically, the margin of exposure for BAP was as low as 2.09 × 10-2; for ΣPAH4, it was 1.36 × 10--2; and for ΣPAH8, it was 1.95 × 10-2 all at the 95% level. These figures are substantially lower than the benchmark of 10,000, indicating a higher ILTCR. Furthermore, the ILTCR ranged from a minimum of 47.77 to a maximum of 248.53 at the 5% and 95% levels, respectively. This study makes smoked bushmeat a public health concern because the higher figures obtained indicate higher carcinogenicity upon consumption.

Expression of AhR-regulated miRNAs in non-small cell lung cancer in smokers and never smokers.

Smoking is a risk factor for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The most common subtypes of NSCLC are lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The cigarette smoke contains aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands, such as benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). By activating the AhR, BaP can change the expression of many genes, including miRNA-encoding genes. In this study, we have evaluated the expression of few miRNAs potentially regulated by AhR (miR-21, -342, -93, -181a, -146a), as well as CYP1A1, a known AhR target gene, in lung tumor samples from smoking (n=40) and non-smoking (n=30) patients with LAC and from smoking patients with SCC (n=40). We have also collected macroscopically normal lung tissue >5 cm from the tumor margin. We compared the obtained data on the miRNA expression in tumors with data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We found that in 76.7% of non-smoking LAC patients, CYP1A1 mRNA was not detected in tumor and normal lung tissues, while in smoking patients, CYP1A1 expression was detected in tumors in almost half of the cases (47.5% for SCC and 42.5% for LAC). The expression profile of AhR-regulated miRNAs differed between LAC and SCC and depended on the smoking status. In LAC patients, the expression of oncogenic miRNA-21 and miRNA-93 in tumors was higher than in normal lung tissue from the same patients. However, in SCC patients from our sample, the levels of these miRNAs in tumor and non-transformed lung tissue did not differ significantly. The results of our studies and TCGA data indicate that the expression levels of miRNA-181a and miRNA-146a in LAC are associated with smoking: expression of these miRNAs was significantly lower in tumors of smokers. It is possible that their expression is regulated by AhR and AhRR (AhR repressor), and inhibition of AhR by AhRR leads to a decrease in miRNA expression in tumors of smoking patients. Overall, these results confirm that smoking has an effect on the miRNA expression profile. This should be taken into account when searching for new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for NSCLC.

Urban challenges and air quality in selected european cities

More than half of the world's population currently resides in urban areas. Therefore, cities must be part of the solution if the increasingly urbanized world is to successfully address environmental challenges such as climate change. Air pollution poses a significant health risk to Europeans. Due to urbanization, population growth, traffic congestion, industrial activities, energy generation, and inadequate urban planning connected to environmental solutions modern cities confront a range of complex challenges concerning air quality. Achieving the zero-pollution vision for 2050 demands further endeavors to diminish air pollution to levels deemed safe for health. This article examines the multifaceted obstacles that modern cities encounter, with a particular emphasis on the critical issue of air quality. The study aims to analyze low-emission solutions aimed at improving the state of air quality in selected European cities. The study assessed changes in the concentrations of NO2, O3, PM10, PM2.5 and benzo(a)pyrene in chosen European cities between 2013–2022 offering a comparative analysis of air quality challenges and solutions across selected cities. The value of the analysis lies in its ability to draw conclusions from current European urban trends related to air quality improvement and to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations tailored for policymakers.

Assessment of the annual trend of chemical aerogenic risk to health and mortality of the population at an industrial center

Introduction. Ambient air pollution determines high levels of risk to public health, causing excess mortality. &#x0D; The purpose of the study is to analyze the dependence of the seasonal dynamics of pollutants and mortality from major non-infectious diseases in the population of the industrial center of Eastern Siberia.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Air pollution in Bratsk was assessed based on data from monitoring systems for 2017–2022, taking into account one-time, average monthly and annual concentrations. Hazard indices and mortality rates (MR) from major causes were calculated. The annual trend in indicators are assessed using seasonality indices (SI).&#x0D; Results. Features of the seasonal dynamics of pollutants were revealed: maximum fluctuations in SI are characteristic of benzo(a)pyrene (22% in the warm season, 214% in the cold season), formaldehyde (219 and 65%, respectively). The SI for mortality had significant fluctuations throughout the year and varied across age groups and disease classes. Changes in seasonality have been noted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Average monthly MR in the older group is associated with concentrations of PM2.5, formaldehyde, NO2.&#x0D; Limitations of the study are related to the limited data on monitoring pollutants, inevitable errors in conditional division into seasons, and the impossibility &#x0D; of accurately determining the cause of death during a pandemic.&#x0D; Conclusion. The use of average monthly data on MR values and pollutant concentrations confirms the dependence of population mortality on air pollution when studying this phenomenon in medium-sized cities with high levels of hazard indices.