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Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs

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A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Exposome Analysis and Risk Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 35832

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kirill S. Golokhvast

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

1. Siberian Federal Scientific Center of Agrobiotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 633501 Krasnoobsk, Russia
2. Laboratory of Supercritical Fluid Research and Application in Agrobiotechnology, Tomsk State University, 634050 Tomsk, Russia
3. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, 190000 Sankt-Petersburg, Russia
4. Institute of Life Science and Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, 690922 Vladivostok, Russia
Interests: ecotoxicology, sustainability; environmental protection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Aleksandra Buha Djordjevic

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Guest Editor

Department of Toxicology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Pharmacy, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
Interests: toxicology of mixtures; endocrine disrupting chemicals; human health risk assessment; chemical carcinogenicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are synthetic, environmentally highly persistent chemicals that adversely affect human health and the environment worldwide. Due to their unique characteristics, their effects, both on human and environment, are produced adjacent to and also distant from their origin of emission. These chemicals impose serious adverse effects both on our ecosystem and human health. Hence, public, scientific, and regulatory concerns about the toxicity by POPs have been amplified.

Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in the toxicology and ecotoxicology of POPs, more specifically, in adverse ecotoxicological and human health risks associated with background exposure to these chemicals.

For this Special Issue on “Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs” in Toxics, we are interested in broad-scope original research presenting experomental data on the determination of POPs in surface water, food, etc., short communication, and review articles assessing the risk for various populations exposed to POPs, as well as proposing various measures for risk mitigation, such as convention and regulation, control, and removal measures of POPs.

Prof. Dr. Kirill Golokhvast
Dr. Aleksandra Buha Djordjevic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

persistent organic pollutants
risk assessment
ecosystem
human health
dose-response
risk mitigation

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Contamination of Flamed and Braised Chickens and Health Risk Assessment in Burkina Faso

by Bazoin Sylvain Raoul Bazié, Caroline Douny, Thomas Judicaël Ouilly, Djidjoho Joseph Hounhouigan, Aly Savadogo, Elie Kabré, Marie-Louise Scippo and Imaël Henri Nestor Bassole

Toxics 2021, 9(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics9030065 - 18 Mar 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2427

Abstract

Charcoal- or wood-cooked chicken is a street-vended food in Burkina Faso. In this study, 15 samples of flamed chicken and 13 samples of braised chicken were analyzed for 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with a high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector. A face-to-face survey was conducted to assess the consumption profiles of 300 men and 300 women. The health risk was assessed based on the margin of exposure (MOE) principle. BaP (14.95–1.75 μg/kg) and 4PAHs (BaP + Chr + BaA + BbF) (78.46–15.14 μg/kg) were eight and five times more abundant at the median level in flamed chickens than in braised ones, respectively. The contents of BaP and 4PAHs in all flamed chicken samples were above the limits set by the European Commission against 23% for both in braised chickens. Women had the highest maximum daily consumption of both braised (39.65 g/day) and flamed chickens (105.06 g/day). At the estimated maximum level of consumption, women were respectively 3.64 (flamed chicken) and 1.62 (braised chicken) times more exposed to BaP and 4PAHs than men. MOE values ranged between 8140 and 9591 for men and between 2232 and 2629 for women at the maximum level of consumption of flamed chickens, indicating a slight potential carcinogenic risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs)

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12 pages, 9350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends of Polychlorinated Compounds in the Surroundings of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator in Mataró (Catalonia, Spain): Assessing Health Risks

by Martí Nadal, Montse Marquès, Montse Mari, Joaquim Rovira and José L. Domingo

Toxics 2020, 8(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics8040111 - 22 Nov 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2338

Abstract

Since 2008, the environmental levels of polychlorinated compounds near a municipal solid waste incinerator in Mataró (Catalonia, Spain) have been periodically monitored. The present study aimed at updating the data regarding the temporal changes occurred between 2015 and 2017, when air and soil samples were collected again, and the concentrations of the same chemical pollutants (i.e., polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)) were analysed. Furthermore, the health risks associated with their human exposure were also evaluated. The levels of all the contaminants in soil were far below the threshold established by regional and national legislations, also being lower than those observed in previous surveys. A similar trend was also noted for PCDD/Fs in air samples, while airborne PCBs were the only group of chemicals whose levels significantly increased. In any case, the global assessment of the data regarding the different pollutants and matrices indicates that there has not been a general increase in the environmental pollution around the facility. In addition, the environmental exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs by the population living nearby is still clearly lower than the dietary intake of these same chemical pollutants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs)

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20 pages, 4187 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dimethoate Induces DNA Damage and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Triggering Apoptosis in Rat Bone-Marrow and Peripheral Blood Cells

by Nazia Nazam, Mohammad Iqbal Lone, Abid Hamid, Talal Qadah, Alaa Banjar, Qamre Alam, Mohd Saeed and Waseem Ahmad

Toxics 2020, 8(4), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics8040080 - 1 Oct 2020

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2979

Abstract

Dimethoate (DM) is an organophosphorus (OP) pesticide with wide use in the pest control. Its persistence in crops and soils could possibly cause adverse health consequences in humans as well as other non-target species. Since molecular studies confirming potential genotoxicity of DM have not been previously reported, the acute in vivo toxicological impact was evaluated in Wistar rats. Significant micronuclei induction and metaphase chromosome abnormalities in bone marrow cells exposed to three different DM doses (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg-bw) at multiple treatment durations (24, 48 and 72 h) indicated positive dose response relationship, confirming its genotoxic and cytotoxic potential. Significant mitotic index decrease was seen in dosed animals compared to vehicle control. The study used peripheral blood comet assay, indicating DM-mediated damage to DNA at all exposure levels in a time responsive manner. These assays were found to be an effective, precise, and fast technique with applied value in biomonitoring studies. Cell cycle and apoptosis along with mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in flow cytometric analyses confirmed DM exposure decreased MMP, affected the cell cycle, and inflicted DNA damage, which led to cellular apoptosis of leukocytes culminating into immunotoxic effects. The in silico experiments consequently augmented that DM showed acceptable binding energy value for Cyclin A2, suggesting that it could inhibit the cell cycle progression by inhibiting cyclin A2. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs)

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Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 2096 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Role of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Obesity: A Review of Laboratory and Epidemiological Studies

by Jan Aaseth, Dragana Javorac, Aleksandra Buha Djordjevic, Zorica Bulat, Anatoly V. Skalny, Irina P. Zaitseva, Michael Aschner and Alexey A. Tinkov

Toxics 2022, 10(2), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10020065 - 2 Feb 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4152

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are considered as potential obesogens that may affect adipose tissue development and functioning, thus promoting obesity. However, various POPs may have different mechanisms of action. The objective of the present review is to discuss the key mechanisms linking exposure to POPs to adipose tissue dysfunction and obesity. Laboratory data clearly demonstrate that the mechanisms associated with the interference of exposure to POPs with obesity include: (a) dysregulation of adipogenesis regulators (PPARγ and C/EBPα); (b) affinity and binding to nuclear receptors; (c) epigenetic effects; and/or (d) proinflammatory activity. Although in vivo data are generally corroborative of the in vitro results, studies in living organisms have shown that the impact of POPs on adipogenesis is affected by biological factors such as sex, age, and period of exposure. Epidemiological data demonstrate a significant association between exposure to POPs and obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disturbances (e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome), although the existing data are considered insufficient. In conclusion, both laboratory and epidemiological data underline the significant role of POPs as environmental obesogens. However, further studies are required to better characterize both the mechanisms and the dose/concentration-response effects of exposure to POPs in the development of obesity and other metabolic diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs)

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55 pages, 1931 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

PFAS Molecules: A Major Concern for the Human Health and the Environment

by Emiliano Panieri, Katarina Baralic, Danijela Djukic-Cosic, Aleksandra Buha Djordjevic and Luciano Saso

Toxics 2022, 10(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10020044 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 22337

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of over 4700 heterogeneous compounds with amphipathic properties and exceptional stability to chemical and thermal degradation. The unique properties of PFAS compounds has been exploited for almost 60 years and has largely contributed to their wide applicability over a vast range of industrial, professional and non-professional uses. However, increasing evidence indicate that these compounds represent also a serious concern for both wildlife and human health as a result of their ubiquitous distribution, their extreme persistence and their bioaccumulative potential. In light of the adverse effects that have been already documented in biota and human populations or that might occur in absence of prompt interventions, the competent authorities in matter of health and environment protection, the industries as well as scientists are cooperating to identify the most appropriate regulatory measures, substitution plans and remediation technologies to mitigate PFAS impacts. In this review, starting from PFAS chemistry, uses and environmental fate, we summarize the current knowledge on PFAS occurrence in different environmental media and their effects on living organisms, with a particular emphasis on humans. Also, we describe present and provisional legislative measures in the European Union framework strategy to regulate PFAS manufacture, import and use as well as some of the most promising treatment technologies designed to remediate PFAS contamination in different environmental compartments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs)

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