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Toxics
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Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical...
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Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents

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 (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 16684

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mirta Milić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mutagenesis Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: exposure to chemical and physical agents; genotoxicity; DNA damage and repair; biomonitoring; toxicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Nursen Basaran

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Başkent University, Bağlıca, Ankara, Turkey
Interests: biomonitoring of chemicals in workplaces; DNA damage; occupational toxicology; genotoxicity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biological monitoring (BM) (used mostly in occupational, but also accidental, at home and environmental exposure) is an important, but still underrepresented and not efficiently used, tool in risk assessment. There are also different BM regulations in each country, mostly due to the lack of strong data and databases to be analyzed for final confirmation about specific chemical/physical agent risk. New data, improvements of already existing methods, use of newly developed sensitive methods, or the combination of analysis techniques for quantitative determinations have made it possible to establish new limits of exposure or even helped in classifying some substances as carcinogens or mutagens with limits of exposure, especially in the workplace. Still, the development of new materials, chemicals, co-exposures with mixed toxicokinetic pathways and similar/different modes of action, and new uses of already known/unknown chemical and physical agents are still demonstrating the need for new data collection for a strong database fulfilment in order to finally reveal whether a specific mixture of agents is dangerous and, if so, to what extent. At present, for exposure biomarkers and other types of biomarkers used in biomonitoring, such as effect and susceptibility biomarkers, data regarding possible databases and literature surveys are still insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to further collection of data on the evidence of biological monitoring and risk assessment considering all types of biomarkers and exposure types and routes in living organisms or revealing their pathways in vivo and in vitro to obtain new insights into the old/new and novel use of chemicals and/or physical agents. This Special Issue will include original articles, as well as systematic/reviews on these topics including human, in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro studies.

Dr. Mirta Milić
Prof. Dr. Nursen Basaran
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • biomarkers of effect
  • biomarkers of exposure
  • biomarkers of susceptibility

  • DNA damage and repair

  • meta-analysis
  • biomonitoring
  • exposure
  • toxicokinetics and modes of action
  • risk assessment
  • epidemiology

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1851 KiB  
Article
Lead, Cadmium, and Arsenic in Raw Cow’s Milk in a Central Andean Area and Risks for the Peruvian Populations
by Jorge Castro-Bedriñana, Doris Chirinos-Peinado, Elva Ríos-Ríos, Gianfranco Castro-Chirinos, Perfecto Chagua-Rodríguez and Gina De La Cruz-Calderón
Toxics 2023, 11(10), 809; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11100809 - 25 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2863
Abstract
Milk and its derivatives are basic foods in Peru, especially for children. The Junín region, in the central Andes, is one of the leading dairy basins. However, the safety of milk is affected by mining–metallurgical activities, wastewater dumping, organic residues, and inappropriate use [...] Read more.
Milk and its derivatives are basic foods in Peru, especially for children. The Junín region, in the central Andes, is one of the leading dairy basins. However, the safety of milk is affected by mining–metallurgical activities, wastewater dumping, organic residues, and inappropriate use of organophosphate fertilizers in agriculture whose contaminants reach the food chain, putting human health at risk. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bioaccumulation of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) in milk produced on a representative farm in central Peru, which uses phosphorous agrochemicals and is adjacent to a small mineral concentrator and a municipal solid waste dump, and to evaluate the potential risk for the Peruvian population of 2–85 years considering three levels of daily intake by age, which constitutes the innovative contribution of the study. These three elements were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry following standardized procedures. The mean contents of Pb (0.062 mg/kg), Cd (0.014 mg/kg), and As (0.030 mg/kg) in milk exceeded the maximum limits allowed by international standards. At all ages, the target quotient hazard followed a descending order of As > Pb > Cd, being > 1 in the case of As. The hazard index was >1 for children under 7, 9, and 11 years of age in the scenarios of low, medium, and high milk intake. The information is valid for formulating policies to prevent adverse health effects and develop standards and awareness programs, monitoring, and control of heavy metals in milk in Peru. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
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15 pages, 2236 KiB  
Article
Effect of Air Pollution on the Basal DNA Damage of Mother–Newborn Couples of México City
by Mahara Valverde, Adriana Granados, Mirta Milić, Marcello Ceppi, Leticia Sollano, Stefano Bonassi and Emilio Rojas
Toxics 2023, 11(9), 766; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11090766 - 9 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1570
Abstract
Environmental pollution of megacities can cause early biological damage such as DNA strand breaks and micronuclei formation. Comet assay tail length (TL) reflects exposure in the uterus to high levels of air pollution, primarily ozone and air particles (PM10), including mothers’ [...] Read more.
Environmental pollution of megacities can cause early biological damage such as DNA strand breaks and micronuclei formation. Comet assay tail length (TL) reflects exposure in the uterus to high levels of air pollution, primarily ozone and air particles (PM10), including mothers’ smoking habits during pregnancy, conditions which can lead to low birth weight. In this biomonitoring study, we evaluated basal DNA damage in the cord blood cells of newborn children from Mexico City. We found a correlation between DNA damage in mothers and their newborns, including various parameters of environmental exposure and complications during pregnancy, particularly respiratory difficulties, malformations, obstetric trauma, neuropathies, and nutritional deficiencies. Mothers living in the southern part of the city showed double DNA damage compared to those living in the northern part (TL 8.64 μm vs. 4.18 μm, p < 0.05). Additionally, mothers’ DNA damage correlates with exposure to NOx (range 0.77–1.52 ppm) and PM10 (range 58.32–75.89 μg/m3), as well maternal age >29. These results highlight the sensitivity of the comet assay in identifying differential in utero exposure for newborns whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy. They also suggest the importance of antioxidants during pregnancy and the role of the placental barrier in protecting the newborn from the DNA-damaging effects of oxidative pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
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14 pages, 625 KiB  
Article
Effects of COVID-19 Disease on DNA Damage, Oxidative Stress and Immune Responses
by M. Mert Basaran, Merve Hazar, Mehtap Aydın, Gülsüm Uzuğ, İlkima Özdoğan, Emin Pala, Sevtap Aydın Dilsiz and Nursen Basaran
Toxics 2023, 11(4), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11040386 - 18 Apr 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1969
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a great threat to public health and has caused concern due to its fatal consequences over the last few years. Most people with COVID-19 show mild-to-moderate symptoms and recover without the need for special treatment, while others [...] Read more.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a great threat to public health and has caused concern due to its fatal consequences over the last few years. Most people with COVID-19 show mild-to-moderate symptoms and recover without the need for special treatment, while others become seriously ill and need medical attention. Additionally, some serious outcomes, such as heart attacks and even stroke, have been later reported in patients who had recovered. There are limited studies on how SARS-CoV-2 infection affects some molecular pathways, including oxidative stress and DNA damage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate DNA damage, using the alkaline comet assay, and its relationship with oxidative stress and immune response parameters in COVID-19-positive patients. Our results show that DNA damage, oxidative stress parameters and cytokine levels significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients when compared with healthy controls. The effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on DNA damage, oxidative stress and immune responses may be crucial in the pathophysiology of the disease. It is suggested that the illumination of these pathways will contribute to the development of clinical treatments and to reduce adverse effects in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
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21 pages, 2732 KiB  
Article
Metal Nanoparticles with Antimicrobial Properties: The Toxicity Response in Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells
by Pavel Rossner, Jr., Tereza Cervena, Barbora Echalar, Katerina Palacka, Alena Milcova, Zuzana Novakova, Michal Sima, Zuzana Simova, Jolana Vankova and Vladimir Holan
Toxics 2023, 11(3), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11030253 - 9 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1869
Abstract
Some metal nanoparticles (NP) are characterized by antimicrobial properties with the potential to be used as alternative antibiotics. However, NP may negatively impact human organism, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a cell population contributing to tissue growth and regeneration. To address these issues, [...] Read more.
Some metal nanoparticles (NP) are characterized by antimicrobial properties with the potential to be used as alternative antibiotics. However, NP may negatively impact human organism, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a cell population contributing to tissue growth and regeneration. To address these issues, we investigated the toxic effects of selected NP (Ag, ZnO, and CuO) in mouse MSC. MSC were treated with various doses of NP for 4 h, 24 h, and 48 h and multiple endpoints were analyzed. Reactive oxygen species were generated after 48 h CuO NP exposure. Lipid peroxidation was induced after 4 h and 24 h treatment, regardless of NP and/or tested dose. DNA fragmentation and oxidation induced by Ag NP showed dose responses for all the periods. For other NP, the effects were observed for shorter exposure times. The impact on the frequency of micronuclei was weak. All the tested NP increased the sensitivity of MSC to apoptosis. The cell cycle was most affected after 24 h, particularly for Ag NP treatment. In summary, the tested NP induced numerous adverse changes in MSC. These results should be taken into consideration when planning the use of NP in medical applications where MSC are involved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
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10 pages, 1450 KiB  
Article
Potential Role of Lipase Activity on the Internal Exposure Assessment of Glycidol Released from Its Fatty Acid Esters
by Yuko Shimamura, Ryo Inagaki, Minami Oike, Yuri Wada, Hiroshi Honda and Shuichi Masuda
Toxics 2023, 11(2), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11020175 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1681
Abstract
Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) can be found in food, and they can be converted into genotoxic animal carcinogen glycidol in vivo by the action of lipase. This study examined whether human ingestion of charbroiled pork containing high levels of GEs (300 µg/day) [...] Read more.
Glycidyl fatty acid esters (GEs) can be found in food, and they can be converted into genotoxic animal carcinogen glycidol in vivo by the action of lipase. This study examined whether human ingestion of charbroiled pork containing high levels of GEs (300 µg/day) increased glycidol–hemoglobin adduct (diHOPrVal), a marker of internal exposure to glycidol using LC-MS/MS. Contrary to expectation, the diHOPrVal value before ingesting charbroiled pork was 3.11 ± 1.10 pmol/g globin, which slightly decreased to 2.48 ± 0.47 pmol/g globin after 5 days of consumption. The decrease in lipase activity caused by the continuous consumption of lipid-rich foods such as meat in humans might decrease internal exposure to glycidol released from its esters. Thus, lipase activity was measured in C57/BL6J mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks, and diHOPrVal formation was measured after the administration of glycidyl oleate. Lipase activity was significantly lower in the HFD group than in the normal diet group. The amount of diHOPrVal was reduced in the HFD group. Therefore, the lipase activity was reduced by HFD, thereby decreasing the degradation of glycidol from glycidyl oleate. These results indicate that changes in lipase activity depending on the amount of lipids in the diet may affect the assessment of GEs exposure, and monitoring the lipase activity would provide a comprehensive understanding of exposure assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
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11 pages, 310 KiB  
Article
Effect of Pesticide Exposure over DNA Damage in Farmers from Los Reyes, Michoacan in Mexico
by Rafael Valencia-Quintana, Mirta Milić, Stefano Bonassi, Maria Antonieta Ochoa-Ocaña, Victoria Campos-Peña, Maria Guadalupe Tenorio-Arvide, Guillermo Alejandro Pérez-Flores and Juana Sánchez-Alarcón
Toxics 2023, 11(2), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11020122 - 26 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
In the municipality of Los Reyes, Michoacán, in Mexico, several economic activities coexist; however, the most relevant is agriculture. It stands out as an agro-industrial center and commercial enclave in the region, suitable for the cultivation of sugar cane; however, currently fruit growing [...] Read more.
In the municipality of Los Reyes, Michoacán, in Mexico, several economic activities coexist; however, the most relevant is agriculture. It stands out as an agro-industrial center and commercial enclave in the region, suitable for the cultivation of sugar cane; however, currently fruit growing takes first place with blackberry, raspberry and blueberry, followed by avocado, peach, strawberry and other crops. A large quantity and variety of pesticides are applied to crops, consequently the population is at constant risk. This study aimed to evaluate whether pesticides are a factor in genetic damage to agricultural workers from Los Reyes, Michoacán, using alkaline comet assay. Fifty-nine residents participated (41 workers and 18 controls). Results included confounding factors (alcohol consumption, smoking habit, gender, age, BMI, etc.) indicated a non-significant statistical difference between two groups, with higher DNA damage values in workers that was higher than the values expected in a normal healthy unexposed population. It seems that the control measures, safe handling of pesticides and quality standards, required by the producers so that their products can be exported, have resulted in less damage, despite workers’ activity, but higher damage than the reference values still requires regular surveillance of those exposed. The use of protective equipment or measures can reduce the risk of damage, so it is also necessary to promote their service and comply with labor regulations for agricultural workers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
18 pages, 947 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Toxic Effects Induced by Sub-Acute Exposure to Low Doses of α-Cypermethrin in Adult Male Rats
by Vilena Kašuba, Blanka Tariba Lovaković, Ana Lucić Vrdoljak, Anja Katić, Nevenka Kopjar, Vedran Micek, Mirta Milić, Alica Pizent, Davor Želježić and Suzana Žunec
Toxics 2022, 10(12), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics10120717 - 23 Nov 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2954
Abstract
To contribute new information to the pyrethroid pesticide α-cypermethrin toxicity profile, we evaluated its effects after oral administration to Wistar rats at daily doses of 2.186, 0.015, 0.157, and 0.786 mg/kg bw for 28 days. Evaluations were performed using markers of oxidative stress, [...] Read more.
To contribute new information to the pyrethroid pesticide α-cypermethrin toxicity profile, we evaluated its effects after oral administration to Wistar rats at daily doses of 2.186, 0.015, 0.157, and 0.786 mg/kg bw for 28 days. Evaluations were performed using markers of oxidative stress, cholinesterase (ChE) activities, and levels of primary DNA damage in plasma/whole blood and liver, kidney, and brain tissue. Consecutive exposure to α-cypermethrin affected the kidney, liver, and brain weight of rats. A significant increase in concentration of the thiobarbituric acid reactive species was observed in the brain, accompanied by a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. An increase in GPx activity was also observed in the liver of all α-cypermethrin-treated groups, while GPx activity in the blood was significantly lower than in controls. A decrease in ChE activities was observed in the kidney and liver. Treatment with α-cypermethrin induced DNA damage in the studied cell types at almost all of the applied doses, indicating the highest susceptibility in the brain. The present study showed that, even at very low doses, exposure to α-cypermethrin exerts genotoxic effects and sets in motion the antioxidative mechanisms of cell defense, indicating the potential hazards posed by this insecticide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Risk Monitoring of Exposure to Chemical Pollutants and/or Physical Agents)
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