Potential Human Health Hazards Research Articles

Persistence, environmental hazards, and mitigation of pharmaceutically active residual contaminants from water matrices

Pharmaceutical compounds are designed to elicit a biological reaction in specific organisms. However, they may also elicit a biological response in non-specific organisms when exposed to ambient quantities. Therefore, the potential human health hazards and environmental effects associated with pharmaceutically active compounds presented in aquatic environments are being studied by researchers all over the world. Owing to their broad-spectrum occurrence in various environmental matrices, direct or indirect environmental hazardous impacts, and human-health related consequences, several pharmaceutically active compounds have been categorized as emerging contaminants (ECs) of top concern. ECs are often recalcitrant and resistant to abate from water matrices. In this review, we have examined the classification, occurrence, and environmental hazards of pharmaceutically active compounds. Moreover, because of their toxicity and the inefficiency of wastewater treatment plants to remove pharmaceutical pollutants, novel wastewater remediation technologies are urgently required. Thus, we have also analyzed the recent advances in microbes-assisted bioremediation as a suitable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative for the decontamination of pharmaceutical pollutants. Finally, the most important factors to reach optimal bioremediation are discussed.

Results of the complex evaluation of bryndza cheese and the byproduct milk whey with the use of enzyme MTG and its activity degree during storage

The paper examines the question of using the enzyme microbial transglutaminase (mTG) for bryndza cheese production. Microbial transglutaminase belongs to the enzyme family that catalyzes formation of bonds between amino groups. One of the problems in production of high-protein products, in particular, cheeses from goat milk is flabbiness of the clot. The use of mTG in the technological process would allow strengthening the product protein matrix, thereby improving its commercial characteristics. When performing the histological investigation of cheeses with this enzyme type to characterize the state of the protein matrix, the authors established that the product protein structure was more condensed compared to the control samples (without mTG), which affected cheese consistency. Consistency became more rubbery negatively influencing the product sensory properties, which are important traits for a consumer when buying a product. Using a Brookfield texture analyzer, it was shown that structural-mechanical characteristics were improved by 1.5 times for cheese samples produced from cow milk and by 2 times for goat cheese when mTG was used. Analysis of the enzyme catalytic activity showed that this enzyme retained its activity throughout the whole storage period, which is a potential hazard for human health. After shelf-life expiration, a change in the mTG activity was not more than 5% relative to the initial levels. The enzyme activity retained not only in cheese but also in the by-product — cheese whey, which made its processing more difficult.

Experimental and numerical investigation of thermal and flow conditions inside a large pharmaceutical storage after the ventilation system failure

Safe storage of pharmaceutical products is of great importance due to potential hazards for human health. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of pharmaceutical storage to recover design temperature during ventilation system recovery. The performed CFD simulations showed good agreement with experimental temperature measurements. Numerical results allowed in-depth analysis of flow field and temperature distribution inside the storage. It was discovered that the flow field is highly non-uniform, which consequently leads to an uneven temperature distribution of pallets with products. However, a high inlet mass-flow rate ensured that all pallets reach the designed temperature.

Cesium transfer to millet and mustard as a function of Cs availability in soils

137Cs is one of the most persistent radioactive contaminants in soil after a nuclear accident. It can be taken up by plants and enter the human food chain generating a potential human health hazard. Although a large amount of literature has highlighted the role of the different processes involved in Cs uptake by plants, there is still no simple way to predict its transfer for a specific plant from a particular soil. Based on the assumption that the concentration ratio (CR) of Cs can be predicted from one plant taxon if the CR of another taxon is known and taken as reference, whatever the supporting soils, a series of plant/soil Cs transfer experiments were performed on Rhizotest during 21 days using three soils with different textures, clay and organic matter contents and two plants (millet and mustard) with potentially contrasting Cs uptake capacity based on their phylogeny. CRs of each plant varied by 2–3 orders of magnitude depending on the soil and contrary to expectations, the CRs of mustard were either higher (for clay soil), equal (for clay-loam soil) or lower (for sandy soil) than the one of millet. Considering Cs availability in soils and defining a new CR based on the amount of Cs available in the soil (CRavail) decreased the range of variation in CR between the different soil types for a given plant by one order of magnitude. Differences in Cs (and K) translocation to shoots, possibly specific to millet within Poales, could partly explain the relative CRs of millet and mustard as a function of soils.

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.

Characterisation of potentially toxic natural fibrous zeolites by means of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and morphological-mineralogical studies

This study explored the morphological, mineralogical, and physico-chemical features of carcinogenic erionite and other possibly hazardous zeolites, such as mesolite and thomsonite, while also investigating the interacting capability of the mineral surface at the liquid/solid interface. Extremely fibrous erionite is K+ and Ca2+-rich and shows the highest Si/Al ratio (3.38) and specific surface area (8.14 m2/g). Fibrous mesolite is Na+ and Ca2+-rich and displays both a lower Si/Al ratio (1.56) and a smaller specific surface area (1.56 m2/g). The thomsonite composition shows the lowest values of Si/Al ratio (1.23) and specific surface area (0.38 m2/g). Electron paramagnetic resonance data from selected spin probes reveal that erionite has a homogeneous site distribution and interacts well with all spin probes. The surfaces of mesolite and thomsonite are less homogeneous and closer polar sites were found through consequent interaction with the probes. The mesolite surface can also clearly interact but with a lower strength and may represent a potential health hazard for humans, though with a lower degree if compared to erionite. The thomsonite surface is not inert and interacts with the probes with a low-grade capability. We can expect small fragments of thomsonite to interact with the biological environment, though with a low-grade intensity.

An innovative biofilter technology for reducing environmental spreading of emerging pollutants and odour emissions during municipal sewage treatment

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are known sources of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) spreading into the environment, as well as, of unpleasant odors. CECs represent a potential hazard for human health and the environment being pharmaceutical or biologically active compounds and they are acquiring relevance in European directives. Similarly, the public concern about odour emissions from WWTPs is also increasing due to the decreasing distance between WWTP and residential areas. This study focuses on the effectiveness of the recently developed MULESL technology (MUch LEss SLudge; WO2019097463) in removing CECs and limiting odour emissions from WWTPs. MULESL technology has been developed for its ability to reduce up to 80% the sludge production from WWTPs. However, it is ought to evaluate if the benefits coming from sludge production reduction do not invalidate CECs removal or negatively affect odour emissions. Thus, the performances of a MULESL and a conventional WWTP (flow rate of 375 m3/d and 3600 m3/d, respectively) were compared while treating the same municipal sewage.Whereas both plants succeeded in removing the traditional gross parameters characterizing wastewaters (e.g. chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen), the MULESL was much more effective than the conventional one in terms of CECs removal for about 60% of the identified compounds showing, however, the same or lower effectiveness for about 30% and 10% of them, respectively. This result was attributed to the high sludge retention time and biomass concentration in the MULESL (enabling enrichment of slow growing microorganisms and forcing biomass to use unusual substrates, respectively), and to the biomass feature to grow in the form of biofilm and granules (favoring micropollutants absorption on biomass).Furthermore, odour impact analysis has shown that the MULESL was characterized by a much lower impact, i.e. 45% lower than that of primary and secondary treatments of the conventional WWTP.

Supplemental Effects of Biochar and Foliar Application of Ascorbic Acid on Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Cadmium-Contaminated Soil

Biochar, prepared from organic waste materials, can improve the quality of contaminated soil areas. Biochar can be used as an economic centerpiece over other available resources and can properly utilize large amounts of waste. Soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) is a worldwide problem that poses potential agricultural and human health hazards. Moreover, Cd toxicity causes serious problems for sustainable food production, especially in food crops like barley. High cadmium concentration in soil is phytotoxic and decreases plant growth and ultimately yields. Biochar and ascorbic acid in ameliorating Cd stress are economically compatible and consistent approaches in agriculture. The present study aimed to evaluate biochar’s and foliar-applied ascorbic acid’s influence on some growth and biochemical characteristics of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to Cd stress. The soil was supplemented with biochar 2% w/w and 20 mg Cd kg−1. The foliar application of 30 mM ascorbic acid was done on plants. The results revealed that Cd stress decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. It also increased oxidative stress indicators, i.e., APX, COD, POD, flavonoids, anthocyanin, phenolics, and electrolyte leakage, in barley with Cd-contamination. A significant enhancement in root and shoot length, gas exchange attributes, and chlorophyll contents validated the effectiveness of Bio + Asa treatments over all other treatments under Cd contamination. In conclusion, the sole applications of biochar and Asa in Cd contamination are also effective, but Bio + Asa is a better amendment for Cd stress alleviation in barley plants.

The Investigation into Neurotoxicity Mechanisms of Nonylphenol: A Narrative Review.

Background Nonylphenol (NP), a chemical compound widely used in industry, is the result of the nonylphenol ethoxylate decomposition and it is known as an estrogen-like compound. Numerous studies and researches have shown that it has many destructive functions of various organs such as the brain. This toxicant causes oxidative stress in the cortex and hippocampus cells, which are two essential regions to preserve memory and learning in the brain.Methods This review examines recent findings to better understanding the mechanisms of NP neurotoxicity. We used Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases to find articles focused on the destructive effects of NP on the oxidative stress pathway and its defense mechanisms.Results NP has potential human health hazards associated with gestational, peri- and postnatal exposure. NP can disrupt brain homeostasis in different ways, such as activation of inflammatory factors in brain especially in hippocampus and cortex, disruption of the cell cycle, changes in neuron, dendrites and synapses morphology, disruption of extra and intracellular calcium ion balance and also memory and learning disorders

Health risk assessment of heavy metals accumulation and Health status of O. niloticus from two Egyptian lakes

Water resources have become world social and economic concerns. Lake Nasser provides more than 95% of the Egyptian freshwater funds. Wadi Al- Rayan lakes are man-made with a vital role in irrigation water and fisheries. The present study was aimed to investigate and compare the effect of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb and Cd) accumulation in muscles, liver and gills on the health status of O. niloticus collected from both lakes and the potential human health hazard of consuming those fish. The results demonstrated that the accumulation of different metals arranged in the following order; Fe˃ Zn˃ Mn ˃Cd˃ Cu> Pb in Nasser Lake, while the order was Fe˃ Zn˃ Mn ˃Cu˃ Pb>Cd in Wadi Al-Rayan Lake. The metal pollution index (MPI) in fish tissues followed the order: liver > gills > muscles. Moreover, the biochemical indices of O. niloticus from both Nasser and Wadi Al-Rayan Lakes showed a significant alteration due to metal pollution. Moreover, the human health hazard index recorded an adverse health effect for habitual fish consumers from Wadi Al-Rayan Lake during both seasons, while the same hazard was recorded in spring for habitual fish consumers from Nasser Lake which yield an alarming concern for fish consumers’ health.

Hydrochemical characteristics and human health risk assessment of groundwater in the Shivalik region of Sutlej basin, Punjab, India

Shivalik region is one of the agri-intensive regions in Punjab, India, wherein groundwater quality is a major human health concern. In this study, a total of 57 groundwater samples were collected from the Rupnagar district of this region (one sample per 36 km2) to evaluate its quality, the role of hydrogeochemical processes in its contamination, and further their potential human health hazards. The results indicate that the major water chemistry is governed by carbonate weathering followed by silicate weathering. The Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, and HCO3- concentrations exceeded the BIS drinking water standards in 86, 51, 11, 9, and 79% of the samples, respectively. Piper and Durov plots indicated the dominance of Ca-HCO3- water types, followed by Ca-Mg-Cl- and Ca-Cl-. Furthermore, multivariate analyses indicated the geogenic origin for Fe, Mg, Mn, Se, SO42-, and anthropogenic sources (agrochemicals, cement factories, and fly ash) for NO3-, Cu, and Cr. The estimated carcinogenic risk of As and Cr falls under the very low (10-6) to low (10-5) risks category. Furthermore, the cumulative risk of non-carcinogenic contaminants (F-, U, NO3-) (HI-0.93) is at an alarming level and also close to the boundary line of USEPA limits (HI-1). There is an urgent need to undertake suitable policy measures for sustainability of groundwater quality.

Phthalates consumed from milk: safety assessment for the population

Phthalates, or phthalic acid ethers, are hazardous for human health as they produce negative effects on the endocrine system and liver when entering a body. Alimentary introduction into a body with food products is a priority for phthalates. Phthalates contents in milk are of particular interest since milk is the most popular food product among the population. It is vital to assess whether phthalates consumption from milk is safe for people due to their potential contents in this product and their potential hazards for human health. Research results indicate that when phthalates are introduced with milk it creates unacceptable non-carcinogenic risks for the examined children. Assessment of hazards caused by phthalates introduction allowed revealing that calculated phthalates doses were not safe as per adherence to the reference dose both for children and examined adults. The carcinogenic risk was also estimated as unacceptable both for children and adults.

Superwetting polyethersulfone membrane functionalized with ZrO2 nanoparticles for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon removal

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent and widespread in the aquatic environment, causing potential hazards for human health. In this study, a superwetting and robust PES-PAA-ZrO2 nanofiltration membrane was proposed through surface modification for PAH removal with high efficiency. A ZrO2 coating was formed on polyethersulfone (PES) membrane surface through chemical bonding, thus the PES-PAA-ZrO2 membrane exhibited super-hydrophilicity, under-water oleophobicity, and excellent stability. In comparison with the original PES membrane, the water contact angle of the modified membrane was significantly decreased from about 50° to less than 10°, and quickly dropped to 0° within 1 s. This provided a much lower energy barrier for water permeation due to its super-high water affinity. The wastewater treatment efficiency was increased by about 4 times after modification with more than 90% of PAH rejection rate. The excellent robustness of PES-PAA-ZrO2 membrane was verified under various conditions, which gave the membrane practical potential for long-term operation.

Geographic information system-based health risk assessment of rural drinking water in Central China: a case study of You County, Hunan.

This study assessed potential human health hazards posed by drinking water from centralized water supply systems in rural You County, along with its spatial distribution. While most previous studies have focused on source water or urban drinking water, this study evaluated the health risk posed by 20 common pollutants (arsenic, cadmium, chromium(VI), lead, mercury, selenium, cyanide, fluoride, nitrate nitrogen, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, chlorite, aluminum, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, ammonia nitrogen, chlorine dioxide, and volatile phenols) in rural terminal tap water. The assessment adopted the model recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and was combined with the geographic information system (GIS) analysis to explore the spatial distribution of risk factors. Water samples were collected from 13 townships in You County across four quarters of 2019. The results indicated that the average carcinogenic risk of the rural drinking water was 2.45 × 10-5, ranging from 1.80 × 10-5 to 3.89 × 10-5, which never exceeded the maximum acceptable range recommended by the US EPA (1.0 × 10-4 ~ 1.0 × 10-6). The average hazard index (HI), which reflects noncarcinogenic risk levels, was 0.75 and ranged from 0.34 to 1.74. Throughout the year, some townships presented HI > 1, indicating a non-carcinogenic risk. The GIS analysis indicated that noncarcinogenic risks were mainly distributed in the north, followed by the east and west. This is generally consistent with the spatial distribution of chlorite concentrations, which contribute most strongly to noncarcinogenic risk levels. The northern You County should therefore be prioritized for health risk control, followed by the eastern and western regions. Chlorite is the priority pollutant for control.

Višekriterijumski pristup izboru modela obuke savetnika za bezbednost transporta opasne robe u Ministarstvu odbrane i Vojsci Srbije

Introduction/purpose: Progress of science and development of new technologies brings increased everyday use of goods with potential human safety and health hazards. The aim of this paper was to select a model for training individuals who are to perform the function of dangerous goods transport advisors in the Ministry of Defense (MD) and the Serbian Armed Forces (SAF). Methods: The problem was solved through the use of the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) with ten subject-matter experts involved, who all contributed - within their individual competency level, with different individual weight of knowledge - to the final decision. Results: The stability of the final decision was confirmed with a dynamic sensitivity analysis through the use of Expert Choice 2000 software. Connclusion: The results of the conducted research favored the model by which the training should be conducted relying on one's own resources.

Histomorphological Assessment of Formalin versus Nonformalin Fixatives in Diagnostic Surgical Pathology

Introduction Fixation is the critical step in the preservation of tissues in diagnostic pathology. The formalin is an economical and excellent fixative with the inherent property of adequate fixation. The well-established side effects of formalin include mucosal irritation, upper respiratory diseases, and corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, substantial evidence exists regarding the potential role of formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. The carcinogenic and toxic effects of formalin encourage searching for alternative fixatives for tissue fixation. However, “the formalin dogma” has severely hampered the search for alternative fixatives for many years. Material and Methods Ninety tissues of liver and skeletal muscle obtained during autopsies were immersed in adequate amounts of the following fixatives: formalin (10%), methyl alcohol (70%), and acetone (100%). The comparison among the three was made based on time for fixation, preservation of tissue architecture, cell borders, cytoplasm, nuclear contours, chromatin texture, and uniformity of staining. Results The tissue preserved in formalin undergoes rapid fixation compared with alcohol and acetone. The tissue architecture, cell border characteristics of alcohol and acetone was found satisfactory compared with formalin. The cytoplasm and nuclear contour were superior with the formalin. The chromatin texture and uniformity of staining were similar with all the three fixatives. Conclusion The formalin is considered superior to most of the parameters, whereas both methyl alcohol and acetone showed nearly equivalent scores. Hence, owing to the potential human health hazards and carcinogenicity of formalin, no rational reasons hamper the complete substitution of formalin with alternative fixatives such as alcohol and acetone in diagnostic pathology and medical research.

Concentration and Potential Human Health Hazards of Heavy Metals in Periwinkle (Tympanotonus fuscatus) Purchased from Major Markets in Calabar, Nigeria.

Background.As water flows through habitats associated with estuaries, such as mud flats, salt marshes, sea grass and mangrove forests, pollutants such as heavy metals are filtered. The fine sediment dominant in intertidal and subtidal estuarine systems is an important sink for these contaminants. Periwinkle, which inhabit estuarine ecosystems, are known to bioaccumulate large quantities of contaminants.Objectives.In view of the widespread consumption of periwinkle in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, this study was designed to assess the concentration and potential human health hazards of heavy metals due to the consumption of this rich, inexpensive and readily available source of protein in Calabar, Nigeria.Methods.Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) content of edible tissues of periwinkles obtained from major markets in Calabar were determined using Shimadzu atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Model AA-6800, Japan) after wet digestion.Results.The ranges of concentration (mg/kg dry weight) were Pb (0.011–0.056), Cd (0.008–0.032), Cr (0.014–0.157) and Ni (0.053–0.261) for Watt Market and Pb (0.009–0.052), Cd (0.011–0.032), Cr (0.012–0.052) and Ni (0.012–0.322) for Mariam Market. Concentrations of all the metals were below Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), FAO/World Health Organization (WHO) and Commission of European Communities maximum permissible limits. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of Pb and Cd were slightly higher compared to the recommended daily intake for the metals. The EDI of all metals under study were lower than the upper tolerable daily intake. The target hazard quotients (THQ) computed to estimate the human health risk posed by each metal were above the safe limits of unity, except for Cr. The hazard index (HI) for a typical adult of 60.7 kg body weight was found to be 9.7 for Watt Market and the relative contributions to the aggregated risk were 24.66%, 54.51%, 0.0001% and 20.70% for Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni, respectively. The HI for Marian Market was 10.7 and the relative contributions to the aggregated risk were 22.31%, 57.55%, 0.06% and 20.09% for Pb, Cd, Cr and Ni, respectively.Conclusions.Consumption of periwinkles purchased from major markets in Calabar poses toxicological risk with respect to Pb, Cd and Ni poisoning.Competing interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Identification, extraction of microplastics from edible salts and its removal from contaminated seawater

Microplastics (MPs) present in edible salts may create a potential health hazard for humans. The occurrence of MPs in edible salts and their extraction procedure is limited. In this work, we have developed a facile and cost-effective protocol for the extraction and separation of MPs from the edible salt sample. The visual assessment was performed to identify the shape, size, number, and color of microplastic particles using light and fluorescence microscopy. The composition of the sample was analyzed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. A wide range of MPs were found: 1400 ∼1900 particles/kg in refined sea salt, 1900 ∼2300/kg in unrefined sea salts, and 200 ∼400/kg in rock salts. A relatively high number of MPs were found in sea salts rather than rock salts. Sheet type MPs with size 1 ∼ 4μm were observed in rock salts. The most common MPs were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, and polystyrene (PS). Further, MPs were effectively removed from synthetic seawater with the help of a microfiltration membrane, which has the capability of arresting the transfer of microplastic particles into edible salts. Therefore the use of MF/UF pretreated brine from seawater desalination plant can be explored for MPs sea salt production at low cost.

Material and Substance Flow Analysis of Used Lead Acid Batteries in Nigeria: Implications for Recovery and Environmental Quality.

Background.As resources become scarce, information from material and substance flow analysis can help to improve material recovery policy. The flow of toxic substances such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) can be used as a basis for appropriate risk management decisions for optimum environmental quality.Objectives.The present study examined a material and substance flow analysis of used lead acid batteries (ULAB) from motor vehicles and implications for environmental quality in Nigeria.Methods.Information on motor vehicle imports was obtained from the literature. Mathematical models were constructed and used for the material and substance flow analysis. Samples of 50 brands of ULAB pastes were digested using a microwave digestion system followed by elemental determination (Pb, Cd, silver (Ag), As, cobalt (Co), calcium (Ca), Cr, copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), Sb, selenium (Se), and tellurium (Te)) with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy.Results.Approximately 4.8 million tons (Mt) lead acid batteries (LAB) from vehicles was used in Nigeria between 1980 and 2014, out of which approximately 2.6 Mt had reached end-of-life (EoL) stages. From the total amount in EoL, approximately 2.3 Mt was recycled, and 0.3 Mt was landfilled. Among the toxic elements, Pb, Cd and As were the most abundant in ULAB; and of the valuable elements, Fe and Cu had the highest levels. Approximately 3.5 Mt of Pb was used in the past (1980–2014) in ULAB for motor vehicles, out of which approximately 1.9 Mt tons was in EoL stages.Discussion.The results revealed that the battery pastes were heterogeneous. Only Pb exceeded the total threshold limit concentration (TTLC) of 1000 mg/kg. The TTLC describes the safe levels or concentration of heavy metals in the environment. The levels observed for other metals in this study were below the TTLC values. The present study estimated an average life span for lead acid batteries in motor vehicles in Nigeria of 5 years, suggesting an additional 2.2 Mt at EoL by 2019. High concentrations of Pb in air, water and soil carry the potential for contamination of food products, especially in Nigeria, where food is traditionally prepared and sold in open air markets in an unregulated manner.Conclusions.High amounts of toxic elements present in the various life cycle stages signal potential environmental and human health hazards.Competing Interests.The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Simultaneous quantification of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone in cereals by LC-MS/MS

The occurrence of mycotoxins in foods and feeds has long been recognized as a potential hazard for human and animal health due to its severe toxic and carcinogenic properties. Among various mycotoxins, aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA) and zearalenone (ZON) are most important because of many contamination cases in the world. In this study, a simple and rapid multiresidue method to quantify AFB 1, AFB 2, AFG 1, AFG 2, OTA and ZON was developed. The simultaneous determination of these 6 mycotoxins was performed using immunoaffinity column for clean-up and liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for quantification. Cereal samples were extracted with 80% methanol followed by a Vicam AOZ™ immunoaffinity column clean-up. Mycotoxins were eluted from the column with methanol and quantified using Selected Reaction Monitoring (SRM) mode in LC-MS/MS with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface. A mobile phase of methanol-water was used. Average recoveries of AFs, OTA and ZON spiked in cereals ranged 65-95%, 66-83% and 69-86%, respectively. Good accuracy and precision results were also obtained in intra-day and inter-day analysis. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) of AFB 1, AFB 2, AFG 1, AFG 2, OTA and ZON were 0.1, 0.2, 0.1, 0.3, 0.03 and 2 ppb, respectively. Thirty-five commercial cereal products including thirteen wheat samples, seven oat samples, six rice samples and nine corn samples were analyzed. The results showed that OTA was detected in four samples ranging from 0.05 to 0.07 ppb, and ZON was detected in two samples ranging from 2.73 to 4.73 ppb. This rapid, easy and highly efficient method was successfully developed. Six common mycotoxins could be analyzed in a single 20-min run. The method could be applied to routine cereal analysis, thus dramatically shortening the analysis time.