Journal of Chemical Health Risks
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Spring 2020

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a leading cause of death especially in industries worker. The aim of this study is to identify the role of heavy elements exposure on CRC DNA methylation.The study was conducted on 25 CRC patients. Biopsies were taken by colonoscopy from malignant tissue and adjacent normal tissues for comparative assessment of BRAF/KRAS, methylated MLH1 and MGMT between the normal and malignant tissues by using real time PCR. In an attempt to identify wither heavy metal like Lead, Aluminum and Mn have a role in cancer development or not, we compared their levels in the serum of 25 CRC patients and 25 normal volunteers by using atomic absorption. The expressions of BRAF/KRAS, methylated MLH1 and MGMT were significantly higher in malignant tissues compared to normal tissues (p value<0.001). Additionally, the levels of lead and aluminum but not Mn were statistically significantly increased in CRC patients compared to normal controls (p value<0.001). Lead and Aluminum were positively correlated with all studied parameters. Heavy metals act as starting signals for carcinogenesis through DNA methylation.

Natural elemental impurities are recognized as a threat for safety and quality of edible salt and have adverse effects on public health. In the current study, fiftysamples of packages containing 1 kg of salt from 25 different brands were collected from retailers in Semnan city (Iran). The concentrations of main impurities of edible salt including magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulphate (SO4-2) ions were quantified by the aid of an Ion Chromatography with conductivity detector. According to findings, the maximum concentrations of Mg, Ca, and SO4-2 ions in salt samples were 0.067, 0.226, and 0.888 % w/w (dry matter basis), respectively. In addition, the concentration of Mg in 16%, Ca in 4%, and SO4-2 in 28% of samples suppressed the acceptable limit proposed by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI) (0.15% for Ca, 0.03% for Mg, and 0.46% for SO4-2). Moreover, the maximum and minimum levels of purity in the salt samples were recorded as 99.940 and 97.730%, respectively. Moreover, the purity in 12% of the investigated samples was lower than that of the minimum acceptable limit suggested by ISIRI, while the purity of 97% samples met the acceptable Codex Alimentarius limit (97% Min). Based on results of the current investigation, the routine purification processes used in some factories of Iran did not reduce impurities. Hence, purification process bedsides constant monitoring and safety management should be improved to promote the health quality of edible salt.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages being widely used by all families, especially among Iranians. Thus, the presence of any contaminants in tea can be dangerous for the health of consumers. The present study aimed to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals and their potential health risk in the dry black teas available in Kashan shops. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 31 brands of dry black tea purchased randomly from shops in Kashan, Iran in 2019. After the preparation of samples, the concentration of some heavy metals was determined by ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma/Optical Emission Spectrophotometer)based on the procedure described in the Standard Method. The evaluation carcinogenic risk was performed using related formula. Based on results of this study, the mean concentration of Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, As and Cd was 83.42, 21.47, 19.46, 4.04, 0.72, 0.66, 0.4 and 0.04 Mgkg-1 of dry black tea, respectively. According to their associated potential health risk assessment, THQ of some heavy metals including As, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Fe, Zn and Cd was 0.064, 0.023, 0.011, 9.76×10-3, 9.11×10-3, 5.76×10-3, 3.46×10-3 and 1.88×10-3 Mgkg-1day-1 and HI was less than one (0.129). Regarding the findings, it can be concluded that, the concentration of Cu, Ni and Cr in all samples of dry black tea was compatible with the Iranian and WHO standard level, while for Cd, Pb, As, Zn and Fe in some samples were more than the Iranian and WHO standard level. In addition, risk assessment analysis indicated that the consumption of the studied black tea had no carcinogenic potential risk for consumers.

This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of morning and afternoon aerobic program on obestatin and the body composition in overweight and obese women. This quasi-experimental study was done in Rasht in 2018. In this study, 36 obese and overweight volunteers were randomly divided into 3 groups of training group in the morning (N=12), training group in the evening (N=12), and control group (N=12). The aerobic group did the aerobic exercise three 60-70 minute sessions for eight weeks. Exercise intensity was 55-70% MHR for the exercise period. Obestatin level and body composition of the subjects were measured before and after eight weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed using dependent t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The results revealed no significant differences between the effects of aerobic exercise program in the morning and afternoon on obestatin in overweight and obese women. No significant difference was observed in obestatin between the training group at the morning and evening times, while a significant difference was observed in the body composition of the participants in the training group. In general, it can be concluded that morning and evening exercise have no significant effect on obstatin.

The recent tendency in cheese production is to produce flavored cheese using natural flavoring materials with nutritional and high-quality microbial value for human consumption. This research is aimed at investigating the microbiological and physicochemical properties of processed peppery cheese. Samples were kept under the three temperatures of 6, 25 and 37°C; microbial and physicochemical evaluations were performed on the samples immediately after being produced, after the end of each month from the production date until 4 months, and one month after the expiration date. The test was performed using a sample of processed cheese without pepper powder. The used plan was quite random, and it was repeated for 3 times in every treatment. The results of physicochemical analyses of peppery cheese compared to the control sample indicated that the peppery cheese had lower changes in pH, dry matter content and texture during the period of being kept under different temperatures and less microbial contamination was observed in it compared to the control cheese. The obtained results showed that the peppery cheese could keep the product quality better than the control cheese under different time and temperature conditions of treatments while highly controlling the changes in the chemical and microbial factors.

Nowadays, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used in various industries. Considering the exposure probability of these nanomaterials to humans, the purpose of the present study is to assess the effect of MWCNTs on cellular toxicity of human alveolar epithelial. The A549 cells were cultured and treated to various doses of MWCNTs at three different times. Finally, the Tetrazolium colorimetric (MTT) assay was implemented for evaluating the cellular viability. The results indicated that the cytotoxicity for MWCNTs on the human alveolar epithelial cells is related to dose and time of exposure. The inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC50) and non-observed adverse effect concentration (NOAEC) are calculated to be 103.6 as well as 0.65μg/mL, respectively. The findings of this present study could contribute to a better understanding of MWCNTs substances and might be useful as a basis for the future risk evaluation studies of exposed population in industries.

Some studies asserted that some aquatic plants can remove organic pollutants by degrading them into their biomass. In this work, it was aimed to examine the ability of L. gibba L. to remove two dyes, DR-89 and VB-20 and then to elucidate the mechanism of removal. For this purpose, experiments were conducted at 21±1 °C, 12h photoperiod and pH of 6.1± 0.01.  For the maximal dye concentration tolerated by the plants (50 mg L-1), the results demonstrated that maximum dye abatement was determined to be about 53% (VB-20) and 23% (DR-89). In order to identify the mechanism of dye absorption, FT-IR, UV-vis and SEM analyses were conducted on the biomass and liquid phases. The results indicated that alcohol, alkene, phenol, and amine functions are involved in dye binding to the biomass surface without demonstrating any phytodegradation phenomenon. Additionally, the SEM analysis confirmed this result showing that the ventral lobe and the thin root of each frond (unlike the dorsal lobe) are colored via a direct interaction with the dye molecules allowing their absorption from the surrounding water. Thus, the invasive plant, L. gibba L. could remove organic dyes from contaminated mediums by accumulating them in the biomass without degrading them.

Cooking, sterilization and roasting are used in the food industry for different purposes, such as taste improvement, flavor addition, and shelf-life extension. The roasting stage plays an important role in the improvement of color and sensory properties of coffee; although as a result of this process the level of Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is increased. The purpose of the this investigation was to analysis the level of HMF in instant coffee and infant formula samples through Electromembrane extraction (EME) techniques coupled with HPLC. To achieve the highest extraction efficiency, some critical extraction parameters were optimized, including the concentration of geraphen oxide (GO), the pH of the sample solution, the solution existing inside the lumen of hollow fiber, the extraction technique, and desorption time. A full validation was conducted for the method in terms of linearity, precision, and trueness. The method showed good linear ranges (0.1-100μg kg-1) with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999-0.998 μg kg-1 for instant coffee and infant formula. The limit of quantification (LOD) value of the present method for instant coffee and infant formula was 0.1μg kg-1. The method provided high recoveries ranging from 85.0% to 108.0% for instant coffee and infant formula. The results indicated that the method was rapid, efficient and environment-friendly in the determination of HMF in instant coffee and infant formula samples.