Journal of Chemical Health Risks
Volume:12 Issue: 1, Winter 2022

We undertook this study to propose a noninvasive method for measuring oxytocin (OT) level in pregnant women. Most of previous studies have focused on the measurement of OT levels in blood plasma through invasive method. Due to the important role of OT hormone level during pregnancy, in this study, the level of salivary OT during pregnancy was measured to investigate its applicability as an alternative to invasive conventional methods. In this case-control study, 126 individuals (63 pregnant women as case group and 63 non-pregnant women as control group) referred to in Fatemiyeh Hospital of Hamadan, Iran, were selected and evaluated. After obtaining written consent, saliva sampling was performed by stripping, and the samples were transferred to a laboratory at -4°C and then stored at -22°C. ELISA technique was applied for measuring the level of salivary OT. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The results indicated that the mean level of salivary OT in the control group was 98.40±362.92 pg mL-1. The mean level of salivary OT in the case group was 1.016±403.75 pg mL-1 with the maximum and minimum concentrations ​​of 628.60 and 169.60 pg mL-1, respectively. The results of this study implied that the mean level of salivary OT in pregnant women was significantly higher than that in non-pregnant women (P = 0.024). Also, OT levels were not significantly different in trimesters of pregnancy (P1 = 0.941, P2 = 0.844, P3 = 0.552). Our findings depicted that measuring salivary OT in pregnant women can be used as a noninvasive and accurate method instead of blood test.

Formaldehyde as a mass-produced chemical is used in many contexts. The genotoxicity and mutagenicity of formaldehyde are observed in different human body organs, such as buccal and white blood cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the lower confidence interval of benchmark dose (BMDL) for genotoxic damage of formaldehyde in the workplace, according to published studies. Studies from occupational genotoxic damage of formaldehyde were retrieved using search in databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed until April 2020. The search strategy was established based on the words “formaldehyde”, “genotoxicity”, “carcinogenicity”, “DNA damage,” and “occupational exposure”. Based on dose-response data from three studies, benchmark dose (BMD) analysis was performed using EPA-BMD Software. Finally, five studies were included in the final BMDL conclusion. Polynomial and Hill models were used for BMDL evaluation in three studies, and BMD of formaldehyde was estimated between 0.062 to 0.26 ppm. The lowest level of BMDL (0.028 ppm) in five studies was considered the basic value for genotoxicity risk assessment. The estimated BMDL is approximated to the time-weighted average of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This value is suggested for the evaluation of the carcinogenic properties of formaldehyde.

Due to the impacts of heavy metals on human health and the top rank of these elements on marine products such as canned fish, this study aimed to determine the heavy metals of the most widely used brands of canned fish on the market of Iran. In this study, referring to the 25 major distribution centers of canned goods such as canned fishing, 10 brands of the most widely consumed brands of available canned tunas that produced in 2018, were sampled in two series of production. 10 g of homogenized samples was dried by the hot plate and 10 ml of concentrated nitric acid was added. Then, it was injected into the ICP - AES. For data analysis, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare brands, also, one sample T-test was used to compare heavy metals of each brand. Our study showed that the average lead concentrations obtained was above the standard limit is 86.7 percent of samples. According to World Health Organization standard limits, the tin content was less than standard level in all brand sin the study. Cadmium concentration was in the standard limit in 96.7 percent of samples. The results showed that canned fish of Kashan market production have the most lead among brands. Measured values are higher than standard lead level, also with enhanced monitoring and the use of appropriate coverage in conserve cans or using non-soldered cans, decreased levels of metals such as lead and tin.

Following the CODEX Alimentarius Commission's request for data to aid decision-making in the review of regulated limits of mycotoxin in groundnut, this study determined the incidence of total aflatoxin (AFT) in processed groundnut from Niger state, which is located in Nigeria's north-central region.  A total of 180 ready-to-eat groundnut samples were collected across four microclimatic zones in Niger state, with 60 samples each of boiled groundnut, roasted groundnut, and groundnut cakes. The ELISA technique was used to test the samples. For groundnut cakes, roasted groundnut, and boiled groundnut, the incidence and mean concentrations of AFT were 100% (11.15±3.31 µg.kg-1), 83.3% (4.50±2.47 µg.kg-1) and 38.3% (1.51±2.13 µg.kg-1) respectively, across all areas, suggesting that groundnut cake had the highest incidence and concentrations of AFT. While, 95% of groundnut cake, 53.3% of roasted groundnut, and 18.3% of boiled groundnut samples had AFT levels above 4 µg.kg-1. The result of this research suggests that storage time had a negative effect on the safety of groundnut.

To investigate the effect of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) contamination levels, organic fertilizers (poultry manure (PM) and poultry manure derived biochar (PMB)) and time of cultivation on growth characteristics of Oat (Avena sativa)and barley (Hordeum vulgare) in TPHs-contaminated soil, a pot experiment was conducted. The two studied plants had the potential for soil phytoremediation in highly TPHs contaminated soil; however, the plant growth decreased significantly with increasing the TPHs contamination. A high TPHs content had a toxicity effect on plant growth and degradation of TPHs. The results showed that the best degradation was achieved in the lowest TPHs level for soil cultivated with barleyplant and the degradation of TPHs increased by adding fertilizer. According to the results in TPHs contaminated soil samples, the highest average of relative growth rate (RGR) of roots observed in barley plants as compared to the oat plants. Also, at each period of growth, barley plants showed an increased root/shoot ratio in TPHs contaminated soil compared to the oat plants (27.6% after 10 weeks and 64.17% after 20 weeks). Application of PMB improved mean shoot height, mean root, and shoot weight by about 17.25, 52.7, and 33.88% for oat plants, and 4, 10.23, and 46.28% for barely plants compared to the un-amended treatments, respectively. The most degradation was achieved after 20 weeks for PMB treatment with barley plant at the lowest TPHs level (53.41%) in which oat degraded more than 45% of TPHs from the soil. Generally, the results showed that phytoremediation of TPHs can be affected by different factors such as type of plant, type of fertilizer application, and period of remediation.

A novel edible film was developed using Lallemantia peltata (L.) seed gum (LSG), and its water sensitivity, physico-mechanical, barriers, microstructural and thermal properties as a function of glycerol concentration (20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% w/w) were studied. Different models were also used to investigate the water sorption of the LSG films. Unplasticized LSG films were brittle and difficult to handle which were effectively modified by glycerol addition. Water sensitivity, oxygen permeability, and elongation of LSG films were increased with increasing glycerol concentration. Also, increasing of glycerol concentration resulted in reduction of tensile strength, glass transition temperature (Tg) and melting temperature (Tm) of the films. Electron scanning micrographs revealed a smooth surfaceand compact cross-section microstructure in LSG films.The films showed sigmoid shape type II water sorption isotherms, representing typical features of most of biopolymers. Accordingly, the results suggest that LSG films containing desired glycerol concentration could potentially be used as edible films in food packaging.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) depends on controlling Aedes aegyptimosquitoes and larvae. Currently, larvicide control still uses temefos larvicide, though several studies have reported resistance. Insecticides from plants can be used as an alternative. One of the plants reported to have larvicide potency was Melaleuca leucadendraleaves. This study aimed to look at ethanol extract of M.leucadendra leaves activity in killing Aedes aegyptilarvae and LC50 values ​​after a 24-hour examination. This type of research was Experimental Design with Post-test Only Control Group Design. M. Leucadendra leaves was extracted through maceration process using ethanol 96%. The treatments consisted of 8 concentrations of 400mg/L (0.04%); 1000mg/L (0.1% ); 1600mg/L (0.16%); 2000mg/L (0.2%); 10,000mg/L (1%); 20,000mg/L (2%); 30,000mg/L (3%); 40,000mg/L (4%) and the control group (0%). Each concentration was replicated four times and used twentyof the third larvae A.aegypti. The results showed that M.leucadendra has a lethal ability against A.aegypti. There was a correlation between the extract concentration and the larva mortality (p=0.000; 95%). Extract concentration 0.04-0.2% of the extract caused mortality less than 3%, and the highest mortality (47.5%) reached by concentration 4%. The LOGIT test showed that the number of LC50 was 3.7% (37,600mg/L) with 95% significance. A high concentration (>1%) of extract M. leucadendra caused turbid, greenish-gray color, and unpleasant smell on the water. Regarding the WHO bioassay guideline, etahnol extract of M. leucadendra leaves was less effective in killing Aedes aegypti larvae, though it causes lethal effect A.aegypti.

A new and efficient procedure has been described for the synthesis of 2- chloro-1,5-Naphthyridine-3-carbaldehyde(1) from the condensation of N-(pyridine-3-yl) acetamide in presence of dimethylformamide and phosphorous oxychloride through Vilsmeir – Haack cyclization. The condensation of compound (1) with acetophenone, p-hydroxy acetophenone, pyridine-3-acetyl, furan-2-acetyl, and indole-2-acetyl in the presence of ethanolic sodium hydroxide through Claisen- Schmidt condensation give quinolinyl chalcones (2a-e) and it's further treated with dimethyl sulfoxide in the presence of iodine to obtained iodo chalcone compounds (3a-e). The smooth and selective bromination of chalcones (2a-e) affords dibromide compounds (4a-e). The structure of prepared compounds was identification by spectral and physical methods. Synthesized compounds (4a, 3e, 3b and 4e) give good biological activity from against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis and moderate activity against Escherichia Coli and Proteus Vulgaris.

The present work deals with a simple, inexpensive, sensitive, high performance and economic technique for extracting and preconcentrating trace quantity of PAHs compounds through glass foam modified with CTAB surfactant. Solution desorption was employed subsequently for transferring the extracted PAHs into a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry’s injection port. BET, TGA, and FT-IR were used to characterize glass foam and CTAB/glass foam. Operative parameters in PAHs extraction and preconcentration such as amount of sorbent, pH, recovery solvent type, ionic power of solution, contacting time, and recovery time were enhanced to quantitatively determine PAHs. Analytical statistics of merit including limit of detection, accuracy, and linear range were determined to prove the suitability of our suggested technique. The CTAB/glass foam represented higher sensitivity to detect very lower concentration of PAHs such as phenanthrene, fluorene, pyrene and anthracene at ng mL-1 level with high accuracy for drinking water samples.

Biosorption ability of commercial dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s yeast), to remove the Methyl green dye from water, was studied. This dye was chosen due to wide using of it in the different industries which is dumped into wastewater. With a view to explore the optimum conditions for adsorption of dye, Batch experiments were performed under various experimental affecting conditions, which are dye concentration, temperature, contact time. The experiment's batches were held using various initial concentrations of dye from 10 to 50 mg L-1, absorbent (Baker's yeast) dosage 0.075g at diverse temperatures (20, 30 and 40°C), and pH=7. In which the results have shown when the temperature increased the adsorption efficiency increased too. The removal percentage (%R) of dye by the baker’s yeast reached equilibrium after 80 minutes. As well as, adsorption isotherm models (Freundlich and Langmuir) were studied. The maximum biosorption capacity values were calculated at mentioned conditions. Furthermore, Kinetic and Thermodynamic parameters were calculated for this adsorption process, which are indicating the process is endothermic, spontaneous process in nature and follow pseudo 2. Order model.

Food contamination with heavy metals is the main concern for human health that increases globally. Bread wheat is one of the most important grain products for human consumption. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of baking methods on residues of heavy metals in the different breads produced with wheat flour in Mashhad, Iran. A total of 180 samples of different breads produced in 90 bakery shops in Mashhad was analyzed for some heavy metals (Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, Co, As, Al, V, Cd, and Ni) by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Results showed that the average concentration of Fe, Al, Zn, Cu, and Cd in some bread samples were significantly (p<0.05) different between traditional and industrial baking processes. The average concentrations of the entire test of Fe (46.35±39.78 mg.kg-1), Cr (0.28±0.33 mg.kg-1), Al (3.49±1.89 mg.kg-1), and As (0.479±0.229 mg.kg-1) were higher than the current corresponding safety limit in all type of bread. The results obtained indicated that the government requires implementing more remediation or intervention to control and mitigating the contamination burden of heavy metals in traditional bread in the study area to reduce its associated risks for human health.

Oil-biodegradable bacterial strains were isolated, identified and characterized from oil contaminated soil samples from three oil refineries in Misan Province. Four bacterial isolates were characterized at biochemical levels by ordinary and standard bacteriological tests. The isolates were further identified by the Vitek-2 system. Three bacterial isolates (Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Novosphingobium subterraneum and Bacillus subtilis) were identified by universal primers and one bacterial isolate (Pseudomonas putida) by Pseudomonas sp. primer. The four bacterial isolates were grown on mineral salt media (MSM) supplemented with 0.5%  crude oil and incubated at three incubation periods (7, 14 and 21) days were showed positive biodegradation of crude oil. The results revealed that the higher percentageof the degradation rate of n-alkanes by Pseudomonas putida (84.21%) followed by Bacillus subtilis (83.39%), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (79.63%) and Novosphingobium subterraneum (78.18%), while the higher percentage of the degradation rate of PAHs occurred by Sphingomonas paucimobilis (93.39%) followed by Novosphingobium subterraneum (92%), Pseudomonas putida (88. 84%) and Bacillus subtilis (85.99%) at the end of the incubation periods (21 days).