Health assessment of freshwater fish species from Albasini Dam,outside a DDT-sprayed area in Limpopo province,South Africa: a preliminary study

During 2006 to 2008, the water, sediment and fish in Albasini Dam, used as a reference site outside a DDT-sprayed area, had been found to be as affected as those in the nearby DDT-sprayed area were. Accordingly, the aim of the current study, conducted in 2014, was to determine the health status of fish from Albasini Dam by means of a histology-based fish health assessment protocol. High levels of nitrates, as well as the organochlorine pesticides aldrin, dieldrin, chlordane and methoxychlor, were found in the water. Fish muscle tissue contained pesticides, including methoxychlor. A semi-quantitative histological assessment on Clarias gariepinus, Coptodon rendalli and Oreochromis mossambicus showed diverse histopathology in selected target organs, with the gills being most affected. Notably, the testis tissue of one C. rendalli was filled with eosinophilic liquid, characteristic of necrosis. Microscopic intersex was found in two of the nine O. mossambicus sampled. This is the second time that intersex as microscopic testicular oocytes has been reported in O. mossambicus in South Africa. This finding perhaps indicates that reproduction may be compromised and this will be investigated further. The presence of intersex and other histopathology in organs could be early warning signs of the declining water quality in this dam.     

The combined effect of persistent organic pollutants in the serum POP mixture in Greenlandic Inuit: xenoestrogenic,xenoandrogenic and dioxin-like transactivities

Greenlandic Inuit have high body burden of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). We analyzed the combined effect of the actual lipophilic serum POP mixture on estrogen-, androgen- and aryl hydrocarbon-receptor functions as effect biomarkers, and the associations between the effect biomarkers and serum POPs, and lifestyle characteristics. The serum POPs were extracted from 232 Inuit from Ittoqqortoormiit, Narsaq and Qeqertarsuaq. The POP-related receptor transactivities correlated negatively to the POP levels and were associated to the lifestyle characteristics. The POP-related receptor transactivities can be used as effect biomarkers. The serum POPs have hormone disruptive potentials.     

典型POPs物质对土壤原生动物丰度的影响

采用“三级十倍环式稀释法（three level ten-fold dilution method）”的方法,对取自添加了DDT、林丹的盆栽实验土壤中的原生动物丰度进行研究分析,以此作为典型POPs物质对土壤原生动物的抑制效应的初步探索性研究。实验发现,在添加了DDT、林丹的土壤中的原生动物的丰度与对照相比有大幅度的下降,其种群结构遭到了相当大的破坏。其中作为优势类群的鞭毛虫、肉足虫平均数量最小时仅为CK对照的0．3％、2．5％,而对污染最为敏感的纤毛虫则在土壤中完全消失。研究结果表明,受典型POPs物质污染的土壤,即使其含量很低,也对原生动物的抑制作用非常显著。     

Persistent organic pollutants in Pakistan: Potential threat to ecological integrities in terms of genotoxicity and oxidative stress

As a consequence of both increasing population and industrialization in agro-economic sector, Pakistan has inevitably been confronted by multicomplex environmental challenges. Owing in part to poor regulatory framework, pollution due to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has caused serious problems throughout the country. Resultantly, extensive use of POPs is causing vigorous deterioration of environment and human health. The current study addresses: (1) the general information on associated ecological effects and toxicity assessment by meta-analysis for local fauna and flora (2) their respective occurrence in living organisms; and (3) sources and distribution patterns of various POPs classes in environmental compartments of Pakistan. Based on the study, it can be concluded that the environment of Pakistan is highly contaminated with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dechlorane plus (DP), and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), which is further supported with the meta-analysis. Nevertheless, unavailability of environmental quality standards and food safety for POPs render it a forthcoming challenge of multicompartment toxicity exposure. Therefore, strategies must be planned for risk assessment of biologically active POPs, while the POP waste inventory should be elevated, along with the necessary measures to promote appropriate handling and treatment of POP as a matter of prime importance.     

水生生态系统中POPs的免疫毒理学研究进展

持久性有机污染物（POPs）不仅具有＂三致＂效应（致癌、致畸、致突变）和遗传毒性,而且对内分泌系统、神经系统、免疫系统等具有毒害作用。再加上自身具有难降解、易蓄积、可长距离运输等特点,给水生生态系统以及人类带来极大危害。结合当前的研究趋势,围绕水生生物中持久性有机污染物的免疫毒性进行了介绍,同时回顾了近年来该类污染物的污染状况及各方面毒性效应,并对目前该领域中存在的问题及下一步需要关注的热点进行了讨论和总结。     

持久性有机污染物(POPs)对鸟类的影响

持久性有机污染物(POPs)是高残留物质,进入生物体后会长期存留并产生危害。近年来,有关生物体中POPs的研究已成为环境化学、生态毒理学研究的热点之一。本文概述了持久性有机污染物(POPs)的主要类型、生态特征、来源和污染效应。介绍了POPs在鸟类体内富集的特点及其对鸟类的危害;分析了以鸟类作为环境监测指示生物时应注意的问题;对POPs的防治以及利用鹭类等水鸟监测环境污染的方法提出了建议。     

Blood screening for heavy metals and organic pollutants in cancer patients exposed to toxic waste in southern Italy: A pilot study

In Italy, in the eastern area of the Campania region, the illegal dumping and burning of waste have been documented, which could potentially affect the local population's health. In particular, toxic waste exposure has been suggested to associate with increased cancer development/mortality in these areas, although a causal link has not yet been established. In this pilot study, we evaluated blood levels of toxic heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in 95 patients with different cancer types residing in this area and in 27 healthy individuals. While we did not find any significant correlation between the blood levels of POPs and the provenance of the patients, we did observe high blood concentrations of heavy metals in some municipalities, including Giugliano, where many illegal waste disposal sites have previously been documented. Our results showed that patients with different cancer types from Giugliano had higher blood levels of heavy metals than healthy controls. Despite the obvious limitations of this exploratory study, our preliminary observations encourage further research assessing the possible association between exposure to hazardous waste, increased blood metals, and increased risk of cancer.     

Low Risks,High Public Concern? The Cases of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), Heavy Metals,and Nanotech Particles

Risk is an ancient, historic concept; almost everybody has some subjective understanding of what is meant by it. However, there are different types of knowledge, notions, interests, and processes involved both in science-based risk assessment and subjective risk perception. In the present article, we show how risk assessment and risk perception are intricately intertwined. This is exemplified by introducing the state-of-the-art risk assessments applied to three cases (i.e., heavy metals, POPs, and nanotech particles), each with their own unique history and degree of scientific understanding. We elaborate that, when dealing with risk, actors employ different notions (e.g., pure vs. speculative risk), processes (e.g., affective involvement in case) and relations (e.g., trust depending on benefiting from risk) depending on their knowledge, concern, and interests. Finally, we argue that it is important to combine studies on risk perception and risk assessment at an early stage of technology development. The issues and problems of public risk perception are discussed.     

The Life-Cycle of Chlorine, Part IV

Some cyclic organo-chlorines share key characteristics to a significant degree, notably volatility, solubility in lipids, environmental persistence, a tendency to bioaccumulation, and toxicity to animals. A subset of this group has been designated "persistent organic pollutants" (POPs). Because of their volatility, persistence, and tendency to bioaccumulate, POPs are found in remote locations, such as the Arctic, far from the locations where they were initially used or produced.
Except PCDDs (dioxins) and PCDFs (furans), all are, or were, originally produced for use as such , mainly as pesticides or herbicides. PCDDs and PCDFs have never been produced for their own sake; they are unwanted contaminants of chemical intermediates that were passed on and incorporated in final products, notably herbicides; they are also generated spontaneously in most combustion processes and chlorine bleaching of paper. Most POPs have been sharply restricted or banned outright in most of the industrialized countries, but not in less developed countries.
The qualities of persistence and bioaccumulation give special urgency to monitoring not only point source emissions and local concentrations, but also the mobile environmental reservoirs and exposure routes of these chemicals. To conduct adequate risk analyses, far more detailed data is needed on quantities produced and used, quantities and location of storage, mode of use, location of use, and period of use. Such data are not collected consistently by government or international agencies.     

Dietary and toxicity exposure of emerging persistent organic pollutants to human health through consumption of cereal crops from Pakistan

There is a lack of scientific literature regarding the bioaccumulation, dietary, and toxicity exposure of emerging persistent organic pollutants through food crops. The current mini-review presents the dietary intake, spatial distribution pattern, and screening-levels risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the cereal crops and environmental compartments from Punjab Province, Pakistan. Results of congener specific analysis were in accordance to the previously reported pattern of detected POPs across the globe. Spatial distribution was influenced by the industrial and urban fraction and trend of spatial distribution pattern was observed as follows: industrial/urban areas > industrial/peri-urban areas > agricultural/rural areas. Dietary intake of Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) via consumption of cereal crops was observed higher and was in accordance to the previously reported levels while human health was at marginal risk to cancer. The results of dietary and toxicity exposure of detected POPs warrant auxiliary devotion in future, to this group of contaminants.