Journal of Chemical Health Risks
Volume:11 Issue: 1, Winter 2021

Oguta lake has experienced lots of oil spills and heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons could constitute fish contaminants. In order to assess the potential danger associated with consumption of fish from the lake by children and adults the current research was conducted. 6 g of each fish species from the lake were homogenized and divided into two portions. One was digested with aqua-regia while the other was extracted with hexane using a soxhlet extractor. Extracts were analyzed for heavy metal and hydrocarbons concentrations with AAnalyst Perkin Elmer 400 AAS and Buck 530 GC respectively. Data was interpreted with pollution and risk assessment models. Results revealed that except for Hg and Ni all other metals were below permissible levels by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Estimated dietary intakes (EDI mg/kg day-1) were high in children (110.157) for C. spectaculurus to (25.212) for H. fossilis while adult (18.885) C. spectaculurus to (7.951) for H. fossilis. EDI varied for children (Fe > Hg > Zn > Ag > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd) and (Fe > Zn > Hg > Ag > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd) for adults. Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) was highest for Cd in both adults and children. Total petroleum hydrocarbon (µg/l) was high in O. leucosticus (11113755.94) > H. fossilis (40210.66) > C. spectaculums (35184.44) > M. salmoides (6373.27). Fish species from Oguta lake could constitute a health risk with significant potential carcinogenic risk both in children and adults as estimated from fish consumption.

Considerable attempts have been made for the complete elimination of aflatoxins (AFs), as potent health hazards to both humans and animals, or reduction of their content in foodstuffs with increasing the knowledge and awareness of these toxins. In spite of the fact that the most effective intervention is considered prevention, heating has been also applied for the inactivation of AFs in contaminated foodstuffs. In the present study, the adoption of response surface methodology was evaluated for the assessment of the effect of heating on the reduction of AFs. Despite various degrees of AF decrease in the samples by treatment, a significant reduction was observed in the heated samples at a temperature of 90°C for 240 min. According to the results of the current study, a 23.70 % reduction was reported in the amount of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Various treatment conditions demonstrated a significant difference in AFB1 decomposition (p < 0.05). In addition, AFB1 degrading was reported to be depending on both time and temperature. After the statistical analysis of the obtained data, the third-order equation for the reduction of AFB1 is presented as follows (A: Time; B:Heating): AFB1 = 12.28 + 6.24A + 4.95B + 1.12AB - 3.11A2 + 1.55B2

In this study, an edible film is prepared using Mentha piperita essential oil (MPEO) plasticized by sorbitol and glycerol in cassava starch matrix by the solution intercalation process. The effects of MPEO addition on the color, and antimicrobial activity (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli), as well as the barrier properties of active films were investigated. MPEO was incorporated into cassava starch biodegradable films at different level (1- 3%, w/w). A low level of MPEO can obviously increased the water vapor permeability (WVP) of cassava starch/MPEO films. When the MPEO contents varied from 0-3% w/w, the lightness (L*value) decreased from 95.63 to 89.17 while the a* value increased from 0.15 to 0.82. The cassava film showed antimicrobial properties against S. aureus and E.coli by using agar diffusion method. These findings showed that Mentha piperita essential oil has a good potential to be added to cassava to make antimicrobial coating or film for food and non-food packaging.

Soil contamination with heavy metals has pervaded many parts of the world which can influence on human health. Environmental and health risk assessment processes are key steps in obtaining information on potential adverse effects on human health which may arise as a result of exposure to heavy metals from the environment. Thirty samples of soil were collected in summer 2018, from 10 municipal playgrounds in Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegovina) to perform health risk assessment for children exposed to lead (Pb) from soil during their outdoor play activities. The Pb concentrations were determined by ICP-AES. Soil contamination was assessed using contamination factor and geoaccumulation index. Non-cancer risk due to exposure to Pb from soil thorough ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation pathway was estimated using a deterministic methodology. The results of the risk assessment indicated that the highest risk is associated with the ingestion of soil particles compared to two other exposure pathways. The mean total Hazard Index value calculated was 5.34E-02, below the threshold value of 1, indicating there was no increased health risk due to children’s exposure to Pb. Although, the study showed there was no increased risk for children’s health due to exposure to Pb from soil, there is still a rising concern regarding possible adverse effects of Pb on children’s health. It is of great importance to monitor environmental pollution and continuously assess the risk to human health, not only thorough soil, but also through other important pathways of exposure such as food, water, air, toys, etc.

Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of herbal drugs and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the primary dysmenorrhea, but their results have been different.The aim of this study was to compare the effects of herbal drugs and NSAIDon the primary dysmenorrheausing meta-analysis method.A literature search was conducted in Scopus, Pub med, and Google scholar databases from1996 to December 2016 in English and Persian languages using the search keywordsof primary dysmenorrhea combined with herbal and NSAID. The random effect model was adoptedto combine the results of the studies, and I2 index was used to check heterogeneity. One hundred and ninety-nine studies were obtained, and after reading the abstracts, 21 articles were included in the study. The total number of samples was 2041 people. The standard mean difference(SMD)betweenherbal drugs and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the pain reduction in the first intervention was estimated atSMD= 0.2(95%CI:(-0.340.74 ),  z=0.73, p=0.463), and in second intervention it was SMD=-0.59(95%CI: (-1.650.47),Z=1.09 and p=0.278). also, the SMD for the duration of menstrual variable SMD=0.18(95%CI:( 0.02 0.34) , z=2.20, p=0.027) in favor of NSAID drugs and interval cycle of menstrual variable was SMD=0.07(95%CI:(-0.140.28), z=0.68,  p=0.496).Mean difference of pain intensity reduced relatively better by administering herbal medicines, which is supported by the majority of studies, and the herbal drugs were found to be more effective than the NSAIDs drugs. Finally, given the many side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, herbal drugs can be used at the standard dosageand considering the side effects.

This study was conducted to investigate the presence of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and aflatoxin M1 in raw materials and all types of infant formula produced in Pegah Dairy Plants (PDPs) in Shahrekord, Iran. To this aim, 80 samples of raw cow’s milk, whey protein, starch, vitamin and all type of infant formula were collected for 6 months during 2018-2019. Cd and Pb were measured by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) samples and analyzed by ELISA technique. The incidence of contamination of AFM1 in vitamins, raw cow’s milk, whey powder, and baby formula collected from Pegah dairy plants were ND, 34, 23 and 8 ppb, respectively. The result indicated that none of aflatoxin M1 in infant formula samples exceeded FDA lead consumption guidelines. In addition, maximum mean lead in maltodextrin, starch, vitamin, raw cow’s milk, whey powder, baby oil, infant formula, immediate, whole and skim was 20, 23, ND, 49, 20, 21, 17, 17, 12, and 17 ppb, respectively. Further, the maximum cadmium content was found to be 5.5, 9.5, ND, 14, ND, 6.3, 12.30, 7.6, 9.2 and 5.4 ppb, respectively, where the value of the samples was not above the maximum recommended limits by standard of Iran, European Community (EC) and Codex Alimentarius (CAC). The average of the heavy metal (Cd and Pb) and AFM1 in the maltodextrin, starch, vitamin, raw milk, whey powder and baby oil, and the types of infant formula produced by Pegah dairy Plants (PDPs) Shahrekord was below the recommended levels by Iran standard.

Recently Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as in manufacturing of filters to purify drinking water, as a part of surgical prosthesis, splints, dental alloys and most importantly in the medical field as a bactericidal, fungicidal and as a therapeutic agent.  Although these widely usage of AgNPs, can induce toxicity. to evaluate the protective role of vitamin Eon the induced silver nanoparticles toxicity on filiform and circumvallate tongue papillae of albino rats. twenty-eight male albino rats weighing 200-250 grams were divided into; the control and the experimental groups, which is subdivided into, subgroup I receiving AgNPs and subgroup II receiving AgNPs and vitamin E.  the experimental period were 28 days, then rats’ tongue was dissected to be stained by H&E and examined immunohistochemically for BCL-2. Histological examination of the epithelium covering both filiform and circumvallate papillae of subgroup I showed few epithelial cells vacuolations and signs of degeneration. Meanwhile the taste buds’ cells of the circumvallate papillae also showed signs of degeneration together with amalgamated, ill-defined serous acini of Von Ebner Salivary Gland (VESG). Subgroup II showed that the histological features of both tongue papillae were nearly comparable to that of the control group. Immunohistochemical examination showed minimum apoptotic changes in subgroup II as compared to subgroup I and nearly comparable to that of the control group. vitamin E showed an apparent protective role against the histological and apoptotic alterations caused by the toxic effect of AgNPs on both tongue papillae.

Preterm labor is one of the most common midwifery problems in developing and even advanced countries imposing a huge cost on people and the health system. One of the most important causes of preterm labor is short cervical length. Periodic monitoring of cervical length is an important factor in predicting incidence of preterm labor. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of low dose aspirin on cervical length in nulliparous women. In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, nulliparous pregnant women with gestational age of less than 13 weeks and 6 days were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Demographic, clinical and Para clinical data were recorded. The intervention group received 80 mg daily aspirin, while the control group received placebo. Cervical length and maternal and fetal outcomes were recorded and analyzed. The results have shown a decrease in cervical length at 12, 18 and 30 weeks of gestation in the control group and an increase in the intervention group, indicating the effect of aspirin administration on prevention of preterm labor (P <0.05). Maternal complications were not significantly different between the two groups. Cervical length with cut-off point of 30 at 30 weeks’ gestation had a positive predictive value of 64% and a negative predictive value of 94% in predicting preterm labor. Our study has shown that low-dose aspirin administration may prevent cervical length reduction and preterm labor, although it has had no effect on reducing maternal complications such as preeclampsia, vaginal bleeding, low birth weight, and spontaneous abortion. Moreover, measurement of cervical length (with cut-off point of 30 mm) in the third trimester of pregnancy is a good indicator in predicting preterm labor.

Ionic liquids are liquid in wide range and could be applied in many fields. These compounds can be used as solvents for inorganic and organic synthesis and show biological activities. 1-ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium bromide (1) as an ionic liquid has been synthesized from the reaction of 1-methylimidazole and ethylbromide in toluene as solvent and under refluxed condition. The prepared compound was characterized by 1H-NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The effect of cytotoxicity of -ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium bromide (ion liquid)on the MCF-7 cell line has been investigated. The cytotoxic activity of synthesis compound was assessed by the MTT colorimetric method in vitro assay performed in human MCF-7 breast carcinoma cell line. Dose effect of compound was investigated and results showed that the cytotoxic effect was dose-dependent. The decrease of concentration of ion liquid was followed by markedly increase of tumor cell viability. The cytotoxicity of 1-ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium bromide, expressed as IC50 values after 48 h incubation. This value was 2.91 mM for mcf-7 cell line.

Stroke is the third cause of death worldwide. The present study aimed at determining serum estrogen levels in postmenopausal women with ischemic stroke and compare with a control group admitted to Department of Neurology in Kowsar Hospital of Semnan, Iran in 2017.In this analytic cross-sectional study, serum estrogen levels in 33 women with ischemic stroke (who were eligible to be included in the study) were compared with a control group through the convenience sampling method. The demographic data were collected, and serum estrogen levels were measured through the quantitative luminescence Immunoassay technique in both groups and, the degree of disability was determined using the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) in case group. In case and control group, the age of patients was 74.48±13.44 (mean ± SD) and 73.35±12.89 years respectively, and estrogen levels were 16.65±2.83 and 22.94±3.11 pg/dl respectively, with a significant difference (p=0.03). Hypertension was the most common risk factor in case and control group (84.8% and 78.7%). In case group there was a significant relationship between the degree of disability at discharge from the neurology ward and the degree of disability before undergoing stroke treatment (p < 0.001) and, there was no statistically significant relationship between serum estrogen levels and age, number of risk factors, and disability at admission and at discharge. The results showed that serum estrogen levels in postmenopausal women with ischemic stroke were significantly lower than control group and normal estrogen range in healthy postmenopausal women.

Vegetables as one of the most important sources of nitrate, have positive and negative effects on human health. The goal of this paper was to estimate the nitrate concentration in vegetables production in Pol-e Dokhtar County as one of the main centers of Iranian vegetable production and the possible health risks correlated with high concentration of nitrate in theses crops. Using United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) method, the risk was evaluated and presented as risk diagrams. Additionally, type, amount and method of fertilization in farms with different concentrations of nitrate in vegetables were presented. Almost, all results were within the range of nitrate concentrations in vegetables. Lettuce and Persian leek (716.200 and 378.500 mg NO3 − kg−1 FW, respectively) were the most and least predominant contributors in total NO3 – uptake, respectively. The risk diagrams showed that all values were lower than the acceptable levels for each of vegetables. Furthermore, in most age groups, this index was greater in women than in men. According to the information in the questionnaires, perhaps one of the most important factors in reducing the nitrate accumulation in the vegetables of Pol-e Dokhtar is due to optimal and timely use of fertilizer. Use of nitrogen fertilizers in form of split in 73% of fields decreased the nitrate concentration in plants with no reduction in yield. Therefore, considering crop yields and nitrate accumulation impacts, improved nitrogen management could provide an opportunity to promote production of vegetables and reducing the effects of negative health in high-risk regions in Lorestan Province.

Aflatoxins, are very toxic mixture and having the potential to cause cancer, produce by some the fungi, mostly Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, during their growth, harvest and storage on crops such as wheat, corn, cottonseed, peanut, pistachio, etc. For appraising the reaction of maize varieties to A. flavus growth and produced aflatoxin, five varieties of maize, namely KSC400, KSC403, KSC600, KSC703, KSC704, were selected. An isolate A. flavus that produce afalatoxin was used for inoculation of maize kernels (as in vitro conditions). In a statistic completely random design with three replications, 10 gr of kernels of selected cultivars were inoculated with 1×106 spores/ml of fungal spore suspension. After eight days, the percentage of fungal growth and the colonization of maize kernels were calculated. The aflatoxin B1 produced in contaminated all maize cultivars were measured with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Statistical analyses showed a significant difference (α=0.05) between the fungal growth percentages and the amount of aflatoxin B1 in the kernels of tested maize cultivars. Also, the results showed that among mentioned varieties, KSC600 was the least susceptible variety to the growth of Aspergillus. The amount of produced aflatoxin B1 was variable among the varieties. KSC600 had the least whereas KSC403 had the highest rate of aflatoxin B1 content.