Analysis of Some Pesticide Residues in Tomatoes in Ghana

Pesticide residues, both natural and synthetic, can be found in most of the things we eat, for example, fruits, vegetables, bread, meat, poultry, fish, and the processed foods made from them. Some of this pesticide contamination is legal, but does this mean it is safe? Much of it is illegal, with residues found in excess of regulatory safe levels. Identifying and determining the level of trace contaminants in our food and environment is critical in protecting and improving human health and the environment. This study evaluates the residue levels of select pesticides used on tomato crops in Ghana that are likely to have accumulated in the tomatoes during application. The results obtained confirm that pesticide residues were indeed present in the tomatoes and further analysis quantified the amount present. Analysis of some organochlorine and organophosphorus residue levels in the fruits indicated that chlorpyrifos, which is an active ingredient of pesticides registered in Ghana under the trade name dursban 4E or terminus 480 EC for use on vegetables, has the greatest residue level of 10.76 mg/kg. The lowest residue level observed was that of pirimiphos-methyl with 0.03 mg/kg. Human health risk assessment was performed on the results obtained from the analysis using Human Health Evaluation computerized software-RISC 4.02. The risk assessment showed cancer risk for adults and children due to the presence of endosulfan and chlopyrifos. Endosulfan is not registered in Ghana as a pesticide for use on vegetables, therefore the detection of endosulfan in several samples indicates misuse of agrochemicals among Ghanaian farmers.     

Dietary Exposure Assessment of Potentially Toxic Trace Elements in Fruits and Vegetables Sold in Town of Kapan,Armenia

Fruits and vegetables grown under the impact of Armenia’s mining industry are widely sold in markets of adjacent towns. As the share of fruits and vegetables in Armenians’ diet is significant, the present study aims to assess the dietary exposure of potentially toxic trace elements through the intake of fruits and vegetables sold in Kapan town, located in the biggest mining region of Armenia. The concentrations of Cu, Mo, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn, Hg, As, and Cd in 15 types of fruits and vegetables were determined. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were assessed. Although the estimated daily intakes of trace elements for each studied food item did not exceed health-based guidelines values, in case of the combined consumption of fruits and vegetables estimated cumulative daily intakes exceeded reference doses for Cu and Mo. Moreover, carcinogenic risk for the majority of fruits and vegetables exceeded the EPA recommended risk level of 10⁻⁶, indicating adverse health effect to local population. The outcomes of this study can serve as a basis for further research that will consider many other exposure pathways (i.e., inhalation or dermal pathways) in order to ensure the safety of the residents living under the impact of mining industry.

     

Risk assessment of population exposure to toxic trace elements via consumption of vegetables and fruits grown in some mining areas of Armenia

Consumption of unsafe food is one of the most important public health concerns. Trace elements’ contamination caused by direct or indirect activities of mining industries is of importance in this respect. The present study was conducted to assess the chronic dietary exposure and related health risks of trace elements through the intake of selected vegetables and fruits grown under the impact of mining industry in Syunik region (Armenia). Consumption data were obtained via food frequency questionnaire and the concentrations of Cu, Mo, Ni, Cr, Pb, Zn, Hg, and Cd in different fruits and vegetables were determined. Moreover, by combining concentration data with consumption data, estimated daily intake, and target hazard quotient were assessed for each element. The results obtained showed that mean concentrations for Pb and Hg in some vegetables exceeded maximum acceptable levels set by international organizations. Hazard indexes > 1 have been obtained in some cases indicating that for some vegetables (particularly for potato, carrot, maize, onion leaf, grape, bean, beet, sweet pepper, eggplant, and tomato) habitual consumption has a potential to pose adverse health effect to the local population.     

The Causes and Prevention of Cancer: The Role of Environment

The idea that synthetic chemicals such as DDT are major contributors to human cancer has been inspired, in part, by Rachel Carson's passionate book, Silent Spring. This chapter discusses evidence showing why this is not true. We also review research on the causes of cancer, and show why much cancer is preventable.Epidemiological evidence indicates several factors likely to have a major effect on reducing rates of cancer: reduction of smoking, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, and control of infections. Other factors are avoidance of intense sun exposure, increases in physical activity, and reduction of alcohol consumption and possibly red meat. Already, risks of many forms of cancer can be reduced and the potential for further reductions is great. If lung cancer (which is primarily due to smoking) is excluded, cancer death rates are decreasing in the United States for all other cancers combined.Pollution appears to account for less than 1% of human cancer; yet public concern and resource allocation for chemical pollution are very high, in good part because of the use of animal cancer tests in cancer risk assessment. Animal cancer tests, which are done at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), are being misinterpreted to mean that low doses of synthetic chemicals and industrial pollutants are relevant to human cancer. About half of the chemicals tested, whether synthetic or natural, are carcinogenic to rodents at these high doses. A plausible explanation for the high frequency of positive results is that testing at the MTD frequently can cause chronic cell killing and consequent cell replacement, a risk factor for cancer that can be limited to high doses. Ignoring this greatly exaggerates risks. Scientists must determine mechanisms of carcinogenesis for each substance and revise acceptable dose levels as understanding advances.The vast bulk of chemicals ingested by humans is natural. For example, 99.99% of the pesticides we eat are naturally present in plants to ward off insects and other predators. Half of these natural pesticides tested at the MTD are rodent carcinogens. Reducing exposure to the 0.01% that are synthetic will not reduce cancer rates. On the contrary, although fruits and vegetables contain a wide variety of naturally-occurring chemicals that are rodent carcinogens, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables doubles the human cancer risk for most types of cancer. Making them more expensive by reducing synthetic pesticide use will increase cancer. Humans also ingest large numbers of natural chemicals from cooking food. Over a thousand chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee: more than half of those tested (19/28) are rodent carcinogens. There are more rodent carcinogens in a single cup of coffee than potentially carcinogenic pesticide residues in the average American diet in a year, and there are still a thousand chemicals left to test in roasted coffee. This does not mean that coffee is dangerous but rather that animal cancer tests and worst-case risk assessment, build in enormous safety factors and should not be considered true risks.The reason humans can eat the tremendous variety of natural chemical "rodent carcinogens" is that humans, like other animals, are extremely well protected by many general defense enzymes, most of which are inducible (i.e., whenever a defense enzyme is in use, more of it is made). Since the defense enzymes are equally effective against natural and synthetic chemicals one does not expect, nor does one find, a general difference between synthetic and natural chemicals in ability to cause cancer in high-dose rodent tests.The idea that there is an epidemic of human cancer caused by synthetic industrial chemicals is false. In addition, there is a steady rise in life expectancy in the developed countries. Linear extrapolation from the maximum tolerated dose in rodents to low level exposure in humans has led to grossly exaggerated mortality forecasts.Such extrapolations can not be verified by epidemiology. Furthermore, relying on such extrapolations for synthetic chemicals while ignoring the enormous natural background, leads to an imbalanced perception of hazard and allocation of resources. It is the progress of scientific research and technology that will continue to lengthen human life expectancy.Zero exposure to rodent carcinogens cannot be achieved. Low levels of rodent carcinogens of natural origin are ubiquitous in the environment. It is thus impossible to obtain conditions totally free of exposure to rodent carcinogens or to background radiation. Major advances in analytical techniques enable the detection of extremely low concentrations of all substances, whether natural or synthetic, often thousands of times lower than could be detected 30 years ago.Risks compete with risks: society must distinguish between significant and trivial risks. Regulating trivial risks or exposure to substances erroneously inferred to cause cancer at low-doses, can harm health by diverting resources from programs that could be effective in protecting the health of the public. Moreover, wealth creates health: poor people have shorter life expectancy than wealthy people. When money and resources are wasted on trivial problems, society's wealth and hence health is harmed.     

Environmental Risks Caused by Pesticides at Forest Nurseries in Finland

Previously, various persistent pesticides were used extensively in the production of seedlings at Finnish forest nurseries. The extent and magnitude of the risks arising from the consequent environmental contamination are largely unknown. Therefore, we selected two representative nurseries for which we conducted tiered health risk assessments (HRA) using risk-based benchmarks and two calculation tools (SSL and Risc-Human software). Ecological risk assessments (ERA) involved comparisons of environmental concentrations with ecotoxicological benchmarks. Site investigations revealed that the concentration of several pesticides exceeded the Finnish soil quality guidelines in some places. The compost pile for organic residues and the pond receiving runoffs contained traces of pesticides and the maximum concentration of atrazine and terbuthylazine in groundwater exceeded the corresponding guideline for household water. Hexachlorobenzene proved to pose the highest health risks, the maximum hazard quotient being around 10 (carcinogenity-based) in the residential land use scenario. Owing to the conservative assumptions, health risks are expected to remain insignificant, however. Risks to the local terrestrial ecosystem would also remain low, while only further studies will reveal the actual risks to the adjoining aquatic ecosystem. Both calculation tools showed shortcomings that generate uncertainty in the HRA, whereas the ERA was hampered particularly by the lack of benchmarks.     

The accumulation characteristics and potential health risks of heavy metals in vegetables from reclaimed area of China

The reclamation of subsidence area was regarded as a useful pathway to rebuild landscape and ecosystem. However, the elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the reclaimed area may lead to potential environmental and health risks. This study was aimed at investigating the accumulation of heavy metals in the soils and vegetables, and evaluate the potential health risks to human beings via consuming these vegetables. The concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) were measured by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The elevated concentrations of heavy metals were found in the soil from the reclaimed area when compared with the background value. The concentrations of heavy metals were various among the different vegetable species. The heavy metal tolerance could be found in all the selected vegetables. The elevated concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Zn in the edible part of the selected vegetables indicated that the consumption of these vegetables may lead to potential health risk. The intake of soybean, radish, sweet potato, and mugwort may lead to potential health risks due to the elevated target health quotients. Chinese cabbage and pepper were regarded as the suitable vegetables which may help in reducing the potential health risk.     

控制果蔬采后病害的生物学技术

化学农药对环境和农产品的污染直接影响人类的健康,已成为当今公众所关注的主要问题之一。为了保证农产品的卫生和安全,世界各国都在探索能代替化学农药的防病新技术。生物防治是近年来被证明很有成效的新途径,它主要是利用微生物之间的拮抗作用,选择对农产品不造成危害的微生物来抑制引起采后腐烂的病原真菌的生长。生物防治的研究主要包括以下三方面：（1）选用有拮抗作用的微生物;（2）利用植物和动物产生的自然抗病物质;（3）抗性的诱导。本文主要论述近年来生物防治领域的研究结果与进展,拟在为进一步开拓和发展控制采后病害的安全有效的技术提供新的思路。     

Dietary Exposure to Organochlorine Compounds in Tarragona Province (Catalonia,Spain): Health Risks

The human health risks due to the dietary exposure to organochlorine compounds (OC) were assessed in the Catalan stretch of the Ebro River (Spain). The concentrations of various persistent organic pollutants (POPs): polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), various hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), as well as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and derivatives, were determined in samples of fish and seafood, vegetables, fruits, and rice, acquired in localities of the zone under evaluation. In general terms, pollutant concentrations were similar to recent levels reported in the literature. With the exception of the consumption of fish and seafood by children, and due to the presence of PCBs (Aroclor 1254), food intake from local sources does not pose non-carcinogenic risks for all population groups examined. The presence of OC in foods of local origin in the Catalan basin of the Ebro River would not increase the health risks for the area's consumers.     

Cancer prevention by natural carotenoids

Various natural carotenoids were proven to have anticarcinogenic activity. Epidemiological investigations have shown that cancer risk is inversely related to the consumption of green and yellow vegetables and fruits. Since beta-carotene is present in abundance in these vegetables and fruits, it has been investigated extensively as possible cancer preventive agent. However, various carotenoids which co-exist with beta-carotene in vegetables and fruits also have anti-carcinogenic activity. And some of them, such as alpha-carotene, showed higher potency than beta-carotene to suppress experimental carcinogenesis. Thus, we have carried out more extensive studies on cancer preventive activities of natural carotenoids in foods; i.e., lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin. Analysis of the action mechanism of these natural carotenoids is now in progress, and some interesting results have already obtained; for example, beta-cryptoxanthin was suggested to stimulate the expression of RB gene, an anti-oncogene, and p73 gene, which is known as one of the p53-related genes. Based on these results, multi-carotenoids (mixture of natural carotenoids) seems to be of interest to evaluate its usefulness for practice in human cancer prevention.     

Health Risks Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in the Soil-Crop System from an E-Waste Dismantling Area

Soil is an essential resource for agricultural production. In order to investigate the pollution situation of heavy metals in the soil-crop system in the e-waste dismantling area, the crop and soil samples (226 pairs, including leaf vegetables, solanaceous vegetables, root vegetables, and fruits) around the e-waste dismantling area in southeastern Zhejiang Province were collected. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Cr were determined. The average concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Cr in soils were 0.94, 107.79, 80.28, and 78.14 mg kg^-1, respectively, and their corresponding concentrations in crops were 0.024, 0.7, 0.041, and 0.06 mg kg^-1, respectively. The transfer capacity of leaf vegetables was significantly higher than that of non-leaf vegetables, and the accumulation of four heavy metals in crops tended to be Cd > Cu > Cr/Pb. The pollution index’s results revealed that the soil pollution degree under different land uses ranked as root vegetables soil > leaf vegetables soil > solanaceous vegetables soil > fruit soil. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of heavy metal exposure were ranked as food intake > accidental ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. The comprehensive non-carcinogenic risk was ranked as Cr > Cd > Pb/Cu. Our results could be used to provide useful information for further crop cultivation layout in the study area, which can guarantee the local residents’ health and food safety.

     

Supercritical fluid extraction for the analysis of pesticide residues in miscellaneous samples

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) procedures for pesticide residue analysis are reviewed and discussed. A variety of applications were classified, on matrices such as fruits, vegetables, soils, biological tissues, and other materials. Emphasis is placed on analysis of samples with a high water content containing polar pesticides, with particular attention paid to the multiresidue analyses.     

Prevention of cancer and other chronic diseases worldwide based on sound mechanisms

The transformation of normal cells by DNA reactive, genotoxic carcinogens and the growth promotion and development of mutated cells by enhancing factors is involved in the overall basic mechanism of cancer induction. Thus, discrimination between genotoxic carcinogens and nongenotoxic chemicals is essential. The dose-response curves, reversibility, and organ-and species specificity are distinct. Genotoxic carcinogens are mutagenic, form DNA adducts, induce DNA repair, and form hydroxy radicals and inappropriate peroxidation reactions that antioxidants such as those in vegetables, fruits, and tea can decrease. In contrast, promoters do not form DNA adducts, but raise cell duplication rates, among other attributes. In the USA, about 35% of known cancers are associated with tobacco use and about 55% with inappropriate nutritional habits. Cancer induction can be decreased by avoiding the formation of carcinogens, reducing their metabolic activation, or increasing their detoxification. Excessive dietary salt, and heterocyclic arylamines formed in cooking of meats or fish, and high intake of 40% of calories in fats are health risks, but vegetables, fruits, tea, soy products, and fibers are protective. We review nutritional factors involved in cancer and chronic disease causation and prevention.     

Dietary patterns with fresh fruits and vegetables consumption and quality of sleep among older adults in mainland China

With modern society’s increased pressures, problems arise regarding duration and quality of sleep. Many Chinese seniors report poor quality of sleep. With rapid urbanization, Chinese dietary patterns have shifted dramatically, with vegetables consumption declining rapidly. This research focuses on the associations between fruits and vegetables consumption with basic dietary behaviors and sleeping patterns. Using the 2014 wave of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS), multinomial logistic regression models predicted older adults’ (age > = 65) quality and duration of sleep. Predictors included fruits and vegetables consumption, types of cooking oil, staple foods, and meat. The mean age of the study sample was around 85 years. Approximately 56% of respondents consumed fresh vegetables daily. A majority of seniors consumed rice as their staple food. Only 14% of seniors consumed fresh fruits daily. Most seniors consumed meat weekly or more frequently. We found that seniors who consumed fruits and vegetables occasionally had lower odds of reporting good quality of sleep [Fruits: AOR (Adjusted odds ratio) = 0.77; Vegetables: AOR = 0.58] compared with daily consumers. Respondents who reported consuming wheat and half rice-half wheat had higher odds of reporting good quality of sleep (Wheat: AOR = 1.52; Half rice-half wheat: AOR = 1.28), compared with seniors who reported rice as their staple food. Chinese public health practitioners and nutritionists should design dietary plans with more frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and wheat to help older adults’ overall health including their sleeping patterns.

     

Carotenoid actions and their relation to health and disease

Based on extensive epidemiological observation, fruits and vegetables that are a rich source of carotenoids are thought to provide health benefits by decreasing the risk of various diseases, particularly certain cancers and eye diseases. The carotenoids that have been most studied in this regard are β-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. In part, the beneficial effects of carotenoids are thought to be due to their role as antioxidants. β-Carotene may have added benefits due its ability to be converted to vitamin A. Additionally, lutein and zeaxanthin may be protective in eye disease because they absorb damaging blue light that enters the eye. Food sources of these compounds include a variety of fruits and vegetables, although the primary sources of lycopene are tomato and tomato products. Additionally, egg yolk is a highly bioavailable source of lutein and zeaxanthin. These carotenoids are available in supplement form. However, intervention trials with large doses of β-carotene found an adverse effect on the incidence of lung cancer in smokers and workers exposed to asbestos. Until the efficacy and safety of taking supplements containing these nutrients can be determined, current dietary recommendations of diets high in fruits and vegetables are advised.     

Evaluation of selected plant growth regulators and fungicide residues in fruits for dietary risk assessment

A total of 96 samples of fresh fruits were collected to investigate the residues of selected plant growth regulators and fungicides. The analyses utilized ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry after a modified QuEChERS method. The results were evaluated according to maximum residue limits (MRLs) by the Chinese regulation. All blueberries, litchis, and watermelons were pesticide-free, and only one (1%) fruit sample contained pesticide residues above MRLs. Concerning the most frequently detected pesticide residues, carbendazim was found in 20% of the samples analyzed. Data obtained were then used to estimate the potential health risks associated with the exposures to these pesticides. The short-term risks were below 3.25% and the long-term risks were also very low, ranging from 0.0005% for dimethomorph to 0.4302% for prochloraz.     

Toxicological evaluation of multi-class pesticide residues in vegetables and associated human health risk study for adults and children

This article describes, for the first time in 10 years, the toxicological evaluation of pesticide residues in highly consumed vegetables (35 commodities) and health risk studies. Among 1075 vegetable samples consisting mainly of tuber, root, fruiting, and Brassica, 20% of samples contained 38 pesticides in the range of 0.005–18.7 mg/kg and 1% > maximum residue limits (MRLs). Organophosphates and chloronitrile were most frequently found (20%) in the pesticide class. The highest concentration of 18.7 mg/kg was noted for dichlofluanid. Fruiting vegetables (8%), especially tomatoes (5%), were the most contaminated, while multi-residues were determined in 5% of the samples. Risk assessment was performed by analytical results and consumption on the 97.5 percentile expressed as hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ). The highest chronic HI was calculated for diazinon in lettuce (32% Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) adults and 36% children) and for forbidden dieldrin in carrots (26%, 62% ADI). The highest acute HI was estimated for dichlofluanid in lettuce (69% Acute Reference Dose (ARfD)) for adults, whereas for children it was above the acceptance values of ARfD (168%). Organophosphate insecticides with common mode of action showed the greatest HQ (108% ADI). Vegetables may not be a serious problem for consumers, but investigations on pesticide residues are necessary to ensure food safety and the protection of human health, especially toward children who are more highly exposed to pesticides than adults.     

Genomics of berry fruits antioxidant components

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen metabolites, which are side products of cell metabolism, can produce a lot of damage in biological macromolecules and tissues, producing a number of chronic illnesses. On the other hand, antioxidant metabolites usually accumulated in fruits and vegetables can provide an effective protection by neutralizing these reactive molecules. Among comestible vegetables, berry fruits are considered one of the richest sources of antioxidant metabolites; hence, they represent a good model for molecular and biochemical investigations about the biosynthesis and the functional role of antioxidants in plants. This review illustrates how recent developments in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics can provide powerful tools to better understand the molecular mechanisms that trigger biosynthesis and accumulation of antioxidant metabolites in berries.     

Alleged misconceptions' distort perceptions of environmental cancer risks.

In a series of papers, Ames and colleagues allege that the scientific and public health communities have perpetuated a series of 'misconceptions' that resulted in inaccurate identification of chemicals that pose potential human cancer risks, and misguided cancer prevention strategies and regulatory policies. They conclude that exposures to industrial and synthetic chemicals represent negligible cancer risks and that animal studies have little or no scientific value for assessing human risks. Their conclusions are based on flawed and untested assumptions. For instance, they claim that synthetic residues on food can be ignored because 99.99% of pesticides humans eat are natural, chemicals in plants are pesticides, and their potential to cause cancer equals that of synthetic pesticides. Similarly, Ames does not offer any convincing scientific evidence to justify discrediting bioassays for identifying human carcinogens. Ironically, their arguments center on a ranking procedure that relies on the same experimental data and extrapolation methods they criticize as being unreliable for evaluating cancer risks. We address their inconsistencies and flaws, and present scientific facts and our perspectives surrounding Ames' nine alleged misconceptions. Our conclusions agree with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the National Toxicology Program, and other respected scientific organizations: in the absence of human data, animal studies are the most definitive for assessing human cancer risks. Animal data should not be ignored, and precautions should be taken to lessen human exposures. Dismissing animal carcinogenicity findings would lead to human cancer cases as the only means of demonstrating carcinogenicity of environmental agents. This is unacceptable public health policy.     

Is lycopene beneficial to human health?

Since humans cannot synthesise carotenoids de novo, we depend upon the diet exclusively for the source of these micronutrients. Although the necessity for beta-carotene, as the precursor of vitamin A has been recognised for many years, it is lycopene that has attracted substantial interest more recently. Lycopene is the red-coloured carotenoid predominantly found in tomato fruit, but in few other fruits or vegetables. It has claimed that it may alleviate chronic diseases such as cancers and coronary heart disease. This possibility has been studied extensively, by epidemiological studies and biochemical investigations of its properties and its bioavailability from tomato-based diets. This article summarises the current state of knowledge of the properties of lycopene, its possible role in human health and areas for future research.     

Health Risks of Heavy Metals through Consumption of Greenhouse Vegetables Grown in Central Iran

Elevated heavy metal (HM) concentrations in vegetables may pose serious health risks to humans. There is limited information on health risks associated with HM contaminants in greenhouse vegetables. The objective of this study was to estimate the health risks of Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cr via consumption of greenhouse cucumbers and bell peppers produced in Iran using the total non-cancer hazard quotient (THQ) and cancer risk assessment estimates. Cadmium, Pb, Ni, and Cr concentrations in the vegetables varied from < 0.02 to 0.05, 0.19 to 0.64, 0.16 to 0.20 and 0.07 to 0.13 μg g^?1, respectively. Individual metal THQ values indicate the relative absence of non-cancer health effects associated with intake of a single metal through consumption of either cucumbers or bell peppers. The THQ for all population groups via consumption of greenhouse cucumbers and bell peppers was smaller than 1.0, which shows low possibility of any obvious risk. The result showed that Cd is the major risk contributor for the consumers. The cancer risk assessment for Pb for Qom adult populations groups via consumption of cucumbers and bell peppers was greater than 1 × 10^?6. High Pb and Cd concentration in the greenhouse vegetables is an important concern that has to be considered.