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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Toxicology and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 May 2021) | Viewed by 31132

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Aisha S. Dickerson

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Guest Editor

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Interests: environmental epidemiology; neuroepidemiology; autism spectrum disorder; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; dementia; life course exposures; environmental justice

Dr. Aaron J. Specht

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue. Building 1. Boston, MA 02115, USA
Interests: exposure assessment; metals; biomarkers; X-ray fluorescence; lead; bone

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental factors are known to impact the health of both individuals and their future generations. Although the placenta offers some protection against chemical exposures, heavy metals can easily cross the placenta, which is not fully developed until a few months after birth. Additionally, some metals can accumulate in tissues over the life-course, then rapidly metabolize during pregnancy and as tissues degenerate during aging. Several of these elements have been shown to have adverse impacts on health, particularly regarding the neurodevelopment of children and neurodegeneration later in life. The impact of these toxicants has been especially evident in vulnerable, low-income communities with a disproportionate burden of exposure through inadequate housing, highly exposed occupations, residence near industrial facilities and high-traffic roads, poor air quality, and contaminated water sources. This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health invites the submission of research papers and reviews on environmental metal exposures and health risk assessment, with a specific focus on the following topics:

Biomarkers for cumulative metal exposure;
Environmental justice issues specific to metal exposure;
Metal exposure in low-and-middle income countries;
Metal exposure and risk of adverse health outcomes;
Assessment of metal exposures from personal care products or food sources;
Occupational exposure to metals;
Life-course measurements of metal exposure;
Analytical methods for analyzing mixed metal co-exposures.

Dr. Aisha S. Dickerson
Dr. Aaron J. Specht
Guest Editors

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Keywords

metal exposure assessment
biomarkers
risk assessment
environmental justice issues
occupational exposures

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 3747 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hazardous Heavy Metals Accumulation and Health Risk Assessment of Different Vegetable Species in Contaminated Soils from a Typical Mining City, Central China

by Zhen Wang, Jianguo Bao, Tong Wang, Haseeb Tufail Moryani, Wei Kang, Jin Zheng, Changlin Zhan and Wensheng Xiao

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2617; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052617 - 5 Mar 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 4684

Abstract

Heavy metal poisoning has caused serious and widespread human tragedies via the food chain. To alleviate heavy metal pollution, particular attention should be paid to low accumulating vegetables and crops. In this study, the concentrations of five hazardous heavy metals (HMs), including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were determined from soils, vegetables, and crops near four typical mining and smelting zones. Nemerow’s synthetical pollution index (P_n), Potential ecological risk index (RI), and Geo-accumulation index (I_geo) were used to characterize the pollution degrees. The results showed that soils near mining and metal smelting zones were heavily polluted by Cu, Cd, As, and Pb. The total excessive rate followed a decreasing order of Cd (80.00%) > Cu (61.11%) > As (45.56%) > Pb (32.22%) > Cr (0.00%). Moreover, sources identification indicated that Cu, Pb, Cd, and As may originate from anthropogenic activities, while Cr may originate from parent materials. The exceeding rates of Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, and As were 6.7%, 6.7%, 66.7%, 80.0%, and 26.7% among the vegetable and crop species, respectively. Particularly, vegetables like tomatoes, bell peppers, white radishes, and asparagus, revealed low accumulation characteristics. In addition, the hazard index (HI) for vegetables and crops of four zones was greater than 1, revealing a higher risk to the health of local children near the mine and smelter. However, the solanaceous fruit has a low-risk index (HI), indicating that it is a potentially safe vegetable type. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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11 pages, 1613 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Positive Relationship between Exposure to Heavy Metals and Development of Chronic Diseases: A Case Study from Chile

by Sandra Cortés, Liliana Zúñiga-Venegas, Floria Pancetti, Alejandra Covarrubias, Muriel Ramírez-Santana, Héctor Adaros and Luis Muñoz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041419 - 3 Feb 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4896

Abstract

Chile is a mining country, where waste mining is frequently found in the vicinity of inhabited areas. To explore the association between metal exposure and alterations in glucose metabolism, inflammatory status, and oxidative stress in individuals with chronic exposure to metals, a cross-sectional study was performed with 25 volunteers, between 45–65 years old. Inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to measure urinary levels of total arsenic (As) and its metabolites, cooper, nickel, chromium, and lead. Lipid profile, glucose, and insulin were measured in blood, as well as inflammation (interleukin-6, IL-6) and oxidative stress (8-hydroxy-2′deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG) markers. Increased levels of Low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol and 8-OHdG, and the index for homeostasis model assessment—insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were observed in 72%, 60%, and 56% of the volunteers, respectively. Blood-glucose levels were correlated with dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) (R² = 0.47, p = 0.019), inorganic As (As_i) (R² = 0.40, p = 0.012), and Ni (R² = 0.56; p = 0.044). The models with these compounds explained 72% of the glycemia variability (β_DMA = −6.47; β_Asi = 6.68; β_Ni = 6.87). Ni showed a significantly influence on IL-6 variability (β = 0.85: R² = 0.36). Changes in glycemia could be related to exposure to low levels of As_i and Ni, representing risk factors for metabolic diseases. Body mass index would confuse the relation between IL-6 and Ni levels, probably due to known chronic inflammation present in obese people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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20 pages, 912 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations of Metabolic Genes (GSTT1, GSTP1, GSTM1) and Blood Mercury Concentrations Differ in Jamaican Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder

by Mohammad H. Rahbar, Maureen Samms-Vaughan, Sepideh Saroukhani, Jan Bressler, Manouchehr Hessabi, Megan L. Grove, Sydonnie Shakspeare-Pellington, Katherine A. Loveland, Compton Beecher and Wayne McLaughlin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041377 - 3 Feb 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3465

Abstract

We investigated interactive roles of three metabolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes (GSTP1, GSTT1, and GSTM1) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) status in relation to blood Hg concentrations (BHC) of Jamaican children. We used data from 266 children (2-8 years) with ASD and their 1:1 age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) controls. After adjusting General Linear Models for child’s age, socioeconomic status, consumption of leafy vegetables, fried plantain, canned fish, and the interaction between GSTP1 and GSTT1, we found significant interactions between GSTP1 and ASD status in relation to BHC either in a co-dominant or dominant genetic model for GSTP1(P < 0.001, P = 0.007, respectively). In the co-dominant model for the Ile105Val GSTP1 polymorphism, geometric mean (GM) BHC in ASD cases with genotype Ile/Ile were significantly higher than in cases with the Ile/Val genotype (0.73 vs. 0.48 µg/L, P = 0.01). In contrast, in TD controls with the Ile/Val genotype GM BHC were significantly higher than in those with the Ile/Ile genotype (0.72 vs. 0.49 µg/L, P = 0.03) or the Val/Val genotype (0.72 vs. 0.51 µg/L, P = 0.04). Although our findings are consistent with the role of GSTP1 in detoxification of Hg, replication in other populations is warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

9 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of Occupational Chromium, Iron, and Nickel Exposure and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Denmark

by Aisha S. Dickerson, Johnni Hansen, Ole Gredal and Marc G. Weisskopf

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 8086; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218086 - 2 Nov 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2872

Abstract

Studies of occupational metal exposures and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have focused primarily on known neurotoxicants, including lead, mercury, selenium, and cadmium. However, these exposures are often co-occurring with other lesser studied metals. We conducted a population-based case-control study with the aim of assessing associations between occupational chromium, iron, and nickel exposures and risk of ALS. We identified ALS cases in Denmark from 1982 through 2013 from the Danish National Patient Registry and matched them to 100 controls based on birth year and sex. Cumulative metal exposures were estimated using job exposure matrices applied to occupational history from the Danish Pension Fund. Although mutually adjusted odds of ALS were higher in men with chromium exposures in the third quartile (aOR = 1.24; 95% CI 0.91, 1.69) and fourth quartile (aOR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.80, 1.76) compared to those with no exposure, differences did not reach statistical significance. We also observed higher odds of ALS in women with nickel exposures in the third quartile (aOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.14, 4.28), but not for the fourth quartile (aOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.23, 1.64). Our findings do not suggest associations between occupational exposures to these metals and ALS. However, unavoidable non-differential misclassification from the use of JEMs may have masked truly increased risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

9 pages, 1256 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Fenton Reaction-Induced Oxidative Damage to Membrane Lipids and Protective Effects of 17β-Estradiol in Porcine Ovary and Thyroid Homogenates

by Aleksandra Rynkowska, Jan Stępniak and Małgorzata Karbownik-Lewińska

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(18), 6841; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186841 - 18 Sep 2020

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2607

Abstract

The Fenton reaction (Fe²⁺+H₂O₂→Fe³⁺+^•OH+OH^-) results in strong oxidative damage to macromolecules when iron (Fe) or hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) are in excess. This study aims at comparing Fe²⁺+H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) and protective effects of 17β-estradiol (a potential antioxidant) in porcine ovary and thyroid homogenates. Iron, as one of the Fenton reaction substrates, was used in the highest achievable concentrations. Thyroid or ovary homogenates were incubated in the presence of: (1st) FeSO₄+H₂O₂ with/without 17β-estradiol (1 mM; 100, 10.0, 1.0 µM; 100, 10.0, 1.0 nM; 100, 10.0, 1.0 pM); five experiments were performed with different FeSO₄ concentrations (2400, 1200, 600, 300, 150 µM); (2nd) FeSO₄ (2400, 1200, 600, 300, 150 µM)+H₂O₂ with/without 17β-estradiol; three experiments were performed with three highest 17β-estradiol concentrations; (3rd) FeSO₄ (2400, 1200, 1100, 1000, 900, 800, 700, 600, 300, 150, 75 µM)+H₂O₂ (5 mM). LPO level [MDA+4-HDA/mg protein] was measured spectrophotometrically. The basal LPO level is lower in ovary than in thyroid homogenates. However, experimentally-induced LPO was higher in the former tissue, which was confirmed for the three highest Fe²⁺ concentrations (2400, 1200, 1100 µM). Exogenous 17β-estradiol (1 mM, 100, and 10 µM) reduced experimentally-induced LPO independently of iron concentration and that protective effect did not differ between tissues. The ovary, compared to the thyroid, reveals higher sensitivity to prooxidative effects of iron, however, it showed similar responsivity to protective 17β-estradiol activity. The therapeutic effect of 17β-estradiol against iron overload consequences should be considered with relation to both tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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15 pages, 1181 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Blood Cadmium with Cardiovascular Disease in Korea: From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2013 and 2016

by Jihyun Jeong, Sang-moon Yun, Minkyeong Kim and Young Ho Koh

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6288; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176288 - 28 Aug 2020

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 3159

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally, although the mortality rate has declined with improved technology and risk factor control. The incidence rate of stroke, one of the CVDs, is increasing in young adults, whereas it is decreasing in the elderly. The risk factors for CVD may differ between young adults and the elderly. Previous studies have suggested that cadmium was a potential CVD risk factor in the overall and middle-aged to elderly populations. We assessed the associations between cadmium and CVD events in the Korean population aged 20–59 years using the 2008–2013 and 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a population-based cross-sectional study. Among 10,626 participants aged 20–59 years, those with high blood cadmium (BCd) level (>1.874 µg/L, 90th percentile) were higher associated with stroke and hypertension (stroke: odds ratio (OR), 2.39; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–5.56; hypertension: OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.20–1.76). The strongest association between high blood cadmium concentrations and hypertension was among current smokers. Ischemic heart disease (IHD) was not associated with high blood cadmium level. These findings suggest that high blood cadmium levels may be associated with prevalent stroke and hypertension in the Korean population under 60 years of age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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14 pages, 1313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Demolition Activity and Elevated Blood Lead Levels among Children in Detroit, Michigan, 2014–2018

by Carla Bezold, Samantha J. Bauer, Jessie P. Buckley, Stuart Batterman, Haifa Haroon and Lauren Fink

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6018; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176018 - 19 Aug 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3258

Abstract

Older buildings in the United States often contain lead paint, and their demolition poses the risk of community lead exposure. We investigated associations between demolitions and elevated blood lead levels (EBLLs) among Detroit children aged <6 years, 2014–2018, and evaluated yearly variation given health and safety controls implemented during this time. Case-control analysis included incident EBLL cases (≥5 µg/dL) and non-EBLL controls from test results reported to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Exposure was defined as the number of demolitions (0, 1, 2+) within 400 feet of the child’s residence 45 days before the blood test. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and test effect modification by year. Associations between demolition and EBLL differed yearly (p = 0.07): 2+ demolitions were associated with increased odds of EBLLs in 2014 (OR: 1.75; 95% CI: (1.17, 2.55), 2016 (2.36; 1.53, 3.55) and 2017 (2.16; 1.24, 3.60), but not in 2018 (0.94; 0.41, 1.86). This pattern remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. The null association in 2018 may be related to increased health and safety controls. Maintenance of controls and monitoring are essential, along with other interventions to minimize lead exposure, especially for susceptible populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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Review

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30 pages, 1623 KiB

Open AccessReview

Impact of Environmental Airborne Manganese Exposure on Cognitive and Motor Functions in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

by Laura Ruiz-Azcona, Ignacio Fernández-Olmo, Andrea Expósito, Bohdana Markiv, María Paz-Zulueta, Paula Parás-Bravo, Carmen Sarabia-Cobo and Miguel Santibáñez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4075; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084075 - 13 Apr 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2645

Abstract

Background/Objective: Whether environmental exposure to Manganese (Mn) in adults is associated with poorer results in cognitive and motor function is unclear. We aimed to determine these associations through a meta-analysis of published studies. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify epidemiological studies on a population ≥18 years old exposed to environmental airborne Mn, and in which results on specific tests to evaluate cognitive or motor functions were reported. We consulted Medline through PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. We also performed a manual search within the list of bibliographic references of the retrieved studies and systematic reviews. To weight Mn effects, a random effects versus fixed effect model was chosen after studying the heterogeneity of each outcome. Results. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Among them, eleven studies reported data susceptible for meta-analysis through a pooled correlation or a standardized means difference (SMD) approach between exposed and non-exposed groups. Regarding cognitive function, the results of the studies showed heterogeneity among them (I² = 76.49%, p < 0.001). The overall effect was a statistically significant negative correlation in the random effects model (pooled r = −0.165; 95%CI: −0.214 to −0.116; p < 0.001). For SMD, the results showed a lower heterogeneity with a negative SMD that did not reach statistical significance under the fixed effects model (SMD = −0.052; 95%CI −0.108 to 0.004; p = 0.068). Regarding motor function, heterogeneity (I² = 75%) was also observed in the correlation approach with a pooled r (random effect model) = −0.150; 95%CI: −0.219 to −0.079; p < 0.001. Moderate heterogeneity was observed according to the SMD approach (I² = 52.28%), with a pooled SMD = −0.136; 95%CI: −0.188 to−0.084; p < 0.001, indicating worse motor function in those exposed. Conclusions: Correlation approach results support a negative effect on cognitive and motor functions (the higher the Mn levels, the poorer the scores). Regarding the SMD approach, results also support a worse cognitive and motor functions in those exposed, although only for motor function statistical significance was obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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Other

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9 pages, 750 KiB

Open AccessLetter

Urinary Metal Levels after Repeated Edetate Disodium Infusions: Preliminary Findings

by Zenith H. Alam, Francisco Ujueta, Ivan A. Arenas, Anne E. Nigra, Ana Navas-Acien and Gervasio A. Lamas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(13), 4684; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17134684 - 29 Jun 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2646

Abstract

Environmentally acquired lead and cadmium are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. In the Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy, up to 40 infusions with edetate disodium over an approximately one-year period lowered the cardiovascular disease risk in patients with a prior myocardial infarction. We assessed whether a reduction in surrogate measures of total body lead and cadmium, post-edetate disodium urine lead and pre-edetate urine cadmium, could be detected after repeated edetate disodium-based infusions compared to the baseline. Fourteen patients with coronary artery disease received multiple open-label edetate disodium infusions. The urine metals pre- and post-edetate infusion, normalized for urine creatinine, were compared to urine levels pre and post final infusion by a paired t-test. Compared with the pre-edetate values, post-edetate urine lead and cadmium increased by 3581% and 802%, respectively, after the first infusion. Compared to baseline, post-edetate lead decreased by 36% (p = 0.0004). A reduction in post-edetate urine lead was observed in 84% of the patients after the final infusion. Pre-edetate lead decreased by 60% (p = 0.003). Pre-edetate lead excretion became undetectable in nearly 40% of patients. This study suggests that edetate disodium-based infusions may decrease the total body burden of lead. However, our data suggest no significant reduction in the body burden of cadmium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metal Exposure and Health Risk Assessment 2020)

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