Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals and Health Risks

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Metals and Radioactive Substances".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 6220

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Food Safety, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing St., Taipei 11031, Taiwan
Interests: heavy metals; health risk assessment; environmental epidemiology; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Heavy metals are omnipresent in our daily lives, and dietary exposure is the primary source of heavy metal intake in the human body. However, given the vast variety of foods, different types of heavy metals are present in various diets. Hence, exploring the impact of heavy metal exposure through dietary intake on human health is worthy of investigation.

This Special Issue aims to collect more research reports related to heavy metal exposure through dietary pathways. Beyond the commonly studied heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, etc., we are particularly interested in reports about other harmful heavy metals found in different types of food. We encourage studies that explore the potential health risks resulting from the human consumption of these metals. Whether the findings come from small-scale community studies or large-scale national surveys, your submissions are welcome.

Dr. Kai-Wei Liao
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • heavy metals
  • dietary risk assessment
  • exposure assessment
  • food analysis
  • food safety

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 2629 KiB  
Article
Biomonitoring of Mercury and Lead Levels in the Blood of Children Living near a Tropical River Impacted by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Colombia
by Eurípides Palacios-Valoyes, Manuel H. Salas-Moreno and José L. Marrugo-Negrete
Toxics 2024, 12(10), 744; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12100744 - 13 Oct 2024
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Abstract
(1) Background: Mercury and lead contamination resulting from various anthropogenic activities represents a global environmental problem and a considerable risk to the health of the human population. (2) Methods: The objective of this research was to evaluate the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Mercury and lead contamination resulting from various anthropogenic activities represents a global environmental problem and a considerable risk to the health of the human population. (2) Methods: The objective of this research was to evaluate the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) in the blood of the child population in the municipalities in the Atrato River basin using a direct Hg analyzer and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. (3) Results: In total, 171 children (5–14 years of age) were taken into account, and 18.71% (32) of the children had concentrations of Hg and Pb above the permissible values established by the WHO. In the municipality of UN, 19 children had blood Hg concentrations between 5.29 and 17.71 μg/L. In CA, two children had concentrations of 5.03 and 8.43 μg/L, separately. In the case of Pb, seven children showed concentrations between 3.60 and 4.83 μg/dL in the municipality of RQ, three in UN (3.59, 3.61, and 4.60 μg/dL), and one in Carmen de Atrato (5.47 μg/dL). (4) Conclusions: The levels of Hg and Pb in the blood of children living in the riparian areas of the Atrato River basin are related to gold mining activities in the basin and the consumption of contaminated fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals and Health Risks)
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19 pages, 3110 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Health Risk and Trophic Transfer of Lead and Cadmium in Dairy Farming Systems in the Mantaro Catchment, Central Andes of Peru
by Doris Chirinos-Peinado, Jorge Castro-Bedriñana, Eustace P. G. Barnes, Elva Ríos-Ríos, Edgar García-Olarte and Gianfranco Castro-Chirinos
Toxics 2024, 12(5), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050308 - 24 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1331
Abstract
This study investigated lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) transfer in three dairy farming areas in the Mantaro river headwaters in the central Peruvian Andes and at varying distances from the mining complex at La Oroya. At each of these sites, the transfer of [...] Read more.
This study investigated lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) transfer in three dairy farming areas in the Mantaro river headwaters in the central Peruvian Andes and at varying distances from the mining complex at La Oroya. At each of these sites, the transfer of trace metals from the soil to raw milk was estimated, and a hazard assessment for lead and cadmium was carried out in scenarios of minimum, average, and maximum milk consumption in a Peruvian population aged 2–85. Pb and Cd were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Significantly, the concentrations of lead and cadmium were found to exceed the maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization, with a positive geospatial trend correlated with the distance from mining activity. Both Pb and Cd were found to be transferred through the soil–pasture–milk pathway, with the primary source of Cd being phosphate-based fertilizers used in pasture improvement. Pb was found to be the most significant contributor to the Hazard Index (HI) with those under 19 years of age and over 60 recording an HI of >1, with infants being the most vulnerable group due to their greater milk consumption in relation to their body weight. A marginal increase in contamination was observed in the dry season, indicating the need for studies to be expanded over several annual cycles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals and Health Risks)
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17 pages, 310 KiB  
Article
Occurrence and Exposure Assessment of Nickel in Zhejiang Province, China
by Junde Han, Ronghua Zhang, Jun Tang, Jiang Chen, Chenyang Zheng, Dong Zhao, Jikai Wang, Hexiang Zhang, Xiaojuan Qi, Xiaoli Wu, Qin Weng, Jinping Zeng, Jiaolan Du, Min Zhang, Yinyin Wu and Biao Zhou
Toxics 2024, 12(3), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12030169 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1753
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) is a silver-white metal with high antioxidative properties, often existing in a bivalent form in the environment. Despite being the fifth most abundant metal on Earth, anthropogenic activities, including industrial processes, have elevated Ni levels in environmental media. This study investigated [...] Read more.
Nickel (Ni) is a silver-white metal with high antioxidative properties, often existing in a bivalent form in the environment. Despite being the fifth most abundant metal on Earth, anthropogenic activities, including industrial processes, have elevated Ni levels in environmental media. This study investigated Ni contamination in various food groups in Zhejiang Province, China, mainly focusing on Ni levels in beans, vegetables, aquatic foods, meat products, cereal products, and fruits. A total of 2628 samples were collected and analyzed. Beans exhibited the highest Ni content in all samples. The overall detection rate of Ni was 86.5%, with variation among food categories. For plant-origin foods, legumes had the highest Ni concentration while for animal-origin foods, shellfish showed the highest median Ni concentration. The results indicate generally acceptable Ni exposure levels among Zhejiang residents, except for children aged 0–6. Beans were identified as the primary contributor to high Ni exposure risk. The paper suggests monitoring Ni contamination in food, especially for vulnerable populations, and provides insights into exposure risks in different age groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals and Health Risks)
16 pages, 1865 KiB  
Article
Expression Profiling of Adipogenic and Anti-Adipogenic MicroRNA Sequences following Methylmercury Exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans
by Giancarlo Garofalo, Tyson Nielsen and Samuel Caito
Toxics 2023, 11(11), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11110934 - 17 Nov 2023
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Abstract
MicroRNA (miRNA) are important regulators of gene expression that respond not only to developmental and pathological cues, but also to environmental stimuli. Dyslipidemia is a hallmark of metabolic conditions and has been shown to significantly affect the expression of circulating miRNA sequences. Recently, [...] Read more.
MicroRNA (miRNA) are important regulators of gene expression that respond not only to developmental and pathological cues, but also to environmental stimuli. Dyslipidemia is a hallmark of metabolic conditions and has been shown to significantly affect the expression of circulating miRNA sequences. Recently, our lab has shown that the environmental toxicant methylmercury (MeHg) causes dyslipidemia in the Caenorhabditis elegans model organism. While 10 and 20 μM MeHg increases the expression of adipogenic transcription factors and lipid-binding proteins in worms, there is limited information on how the toxicant affects the miRNA regulators of these genes. We hypothesized that MeHg would increase the expression of adipogenic miRNA sequences and/or decrease the expression of anti-adipogenic miRNA sequences. We further hypothesized that the target mRNA sequences for the miRNAs affected by MeHg would be consequently altered. We selected three potentially adipogenic (mir-34, mir-124, and mir-355) and three potentially anti-adipogenic (mir-240, mir-786, and let-7) miRNA sequences homologous to known human miRNA sequences altered in obesity, and quantified their levels 24 h and 48 h post MeHg treatment. At 24 h post exposure, MeHg significantly increased expression of both the adipogenic and anti-adipogenic miRNA sequences 1.5–3x above untreated control. By 48 h post exposure, only the adipogenic miRNA sequences were elevated, while the anti-adipogenic miRNA sequences were decreased by 50% compared to untreated control. These data suggest that there are developmental changes in miRNA expression over time following MeHg exposure. We next selected one target mRNA sequence for each miRNA sequence based on miRNA–mRNA relationships observed in humans. MeHg altered the gene expression of all the target genes assayed. Except for mir-34, all the tested miRNA–mRNA sequences showed a conserved relationship between nematode and humans. To determine whether the selected miRNA sequences were involved in lipid accumulation in response to MeHg, lipid storage was investigated in transgenic worm strains that lacked the specific miRNA strains. Of the six strains investigated, only the mir-124 and let-7 mutant worms had lipid storage levels that were statistically different from wild type, suggesting that these two sequences can be potential mediators of MeHg-induced lipid dysregulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals and Health Risks)
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Review

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14 pages, 278 KiB  
Review
Human Exposure through the Diet to Arsenic and Other Toxic Elements: A Literature Review of Scientific Studies Conducted in Catalonia, Spain, in the Current Century
by Jose L. Domingo
Toxics 2024, 12(10), 749; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12100749 - 15 Oct 2024
Viewed by 605
Abstract
Human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements such as cadmium, lead and mercury may lead to a wide range of adverse health effects. In relation to this, it is well established that the diet is the main route of exposure to both [...] Read more.
Human exposure to arsenic and other toxic elements such as cadmium, lead and mercury may lead to a wide range of adverse health effects. In relation to this, it is well established that the diet is the main route of exposure to both essential and toxic trace elements. In recent years, the levels of toxic elements in foodstuffs have been measured in numerous studies conducted all over the world. Scientific databases show that, in the current century, China and Spain have been the countries where the most surveys on this topic have been carried out. Regarding Spain, Catalonia is the region where most studies aimed at determining the concentrations of trace elements in food have been performed. The objective of this paper was to review the studies carried out in Catalonia on the concentrations of As and toxic metals (including Cd, Hg and Pb) in food, as well as their estimated dietary intakes (EDIs). The results of total diet studies (TDSs) and duplicate diet (DD) studies have been included. For most toxic elements, a continued reduction in the EDI has been observed. This reduction is associated with a decrease in their concentrations in food, and with certain changes in dietary habits. Fish and seafood is the food group showing the highest content of toxic elements. However, none of the adult groups exceeded—in general—the safety thresholds for As, Cd, Hg and Pb established by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Exposure to Heavy Metals and Health Risks)
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