Environmental toxicant-induced maladaptive mitochondrial changes: A potential unifying mechanism in fatty liver disease?

Occupational and environmental exposures to industrial chemicals are well known to cause hepatotoxicity and liver injury. However, despite extensive evidence showing that exposure can lead to disease, current research approaches and regulatory policies fail to address the possibility that subtle changes caused by low level exposure to chemicals may also enhance preexisting conditions. In recent years, the conceptual understanding of the contribution of environmental chemicals to liver disease has progressed significantly. Mitochondria are often target of toxicity of environmental toxicants resulting in multisystem disorders involving different cells, tissues, and organs. Here, we review persistent maladaptive changes to mitochondria in response to environmental toxicant exposure as a mechanism of hepatotoxicity. With better understanding of the mechanism(s) and risk factors that mediate the initiation and progression of toxicant-induced liver disease, rational targeted therapy can be developed to better predict risk, as well as to treat or prevent this disease.

Determinación de residuos de plaguicidas organoclorados en suero sanguíneo de trabajadores de cultivo de Café y plátano en el departamento del quindío por gc-µecd / Determination of organochlorine pesticide residues In serum of coffee and banana growers In the departament of quindío by gc-µecd / Determinação de resíduos de pesticidas organoclorados Em soro da trabalhadores das culturas em café e banana No departamento de quindío por gc-µecd

La falta de conocimiento del potencial nocivo de los plaguicidas por parte de los trabajadores agrícolas puede ocasionar graves problemas en su salud y en la de los consumidores. Se determinó la residualidad de plaguicidas organoclorados (OCP, por sus siglas en inglés) en muestras de suero sanguíneo de trabajadores agrícolas de cultivos de café y plátano en el departamento del Quindío. Para la extracción de los analitos se implementó un método rápido, seguro, económico y eficiente de microextracción dispersiva en fase líquida (DLLME, por sus siglas en inglés) asistida por sonicación, logrando la extracción de 20 OCP de 200 µL de suero sanguíneo en un tiempo de 35 min con porcentajes de recuperación mayores al 87 %. Se empleó cromatografía de gases con detector de micro captura de electrones (GC-µECD) para el análisis de los OCP. Para cada analito, los coeficientes de correlación obtenidos a partir de las curvas de calibración interna fueron superiores a 0,9996, los límites de detección (LOD) se establecieron entre 0,02 a 0,04 ng/mL y los límites de cuantificación (LOQ) por debajo de 0,14 ng/mL. En el 55 % de las muestras analizadas (166) se evidenció la presencia de: 4,4-DDE, alfa y gamma BHC, endrin aldehído, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfato, heptacloro y metoxicloro, compuestos que están prohibidos por la regulación nacional e internacional.

Lack of knowledge of the harmful potential of pesticides by agricultural workers can cause serious health problems for them and the consumer. The residual organochlorine pesticides (OCP) was determined in serum samples of coffee and banana crops farmworkers in the department of Quindio, Colombia. To extract analytes a fast, efficient, safe, and economic assisted dispersive liquid liquid microextraction (DLLME) method was implemented by sonication, achieving extraction of 20 OCP in 200 µL of blood serum in a time of 35 min with percentage recoveries higher than 87 %. OCP were analysed by gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-µECD). For each analyte, the correlation coefficients obtained from internal calibration curves were higher than 0.9996, the limits of detection (LOD) were established between 0.02 to 0.04 ng/mL and the limits of quantification (LOQ) below 0.14 ng/mL. A total of 55 % of the samples analyzed (166) showed the presence of 4,4-DDE, alpha and gamma BHC, endrin aldehyde, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate, heptachlor, and methoxychlor, compounds that are prohibited by both national and international regulation.

A falta de conhecimento do potencial nocivo dos pesticidas por trabalhadores agrícolas, pode causar sérios problemas de saúde e do consumidor. Os pesticidas organoclorados residuais (OCP) foi determinada em amostras de soro de trabalhadores rurais de café e plantações de banana, no departamento de Quindío. Para analitos extração método eficiente rápida e segura, econômica e assistida por dispersão de fase líquida microextração (DLLME) aplicado por ultra-som, a realização de extração OCP 20 200 uL de soro sanguíneo em um tempo de 35 min com porcentagens recuperação > 87%. Detector Foi realizada cromatografia gasosa com captura de elétrons micro (GC-AECD) para a análise da OCP. Para cada analito, os coeficientes de correlação obtidas a partir de curvas de calibração interna foram maiores do que 0,9996, foram estabelecidos os limites de detecção (LOD) entre 0,02-0,04 ng / mL e os limites de quantificação (LOQ) abaixo de 0,14 ng / mL. 55% das amostras analisadas (166) mostrou a presença de 4, 4-DDE, alfa e gama-BHC, aldeído endrina, endossulfão II, sulfato de endosulfan, heptacloro e metoxicloro, compostos que são proibidos pelo regulamento nacional e internacional.

The pesticide use in mongolia and the actual problems / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Like other crops, fruits and vegetables are attacked by pests and diseases during production andstorage leading to damages that reduce the quality and the yield. In order to reduce the loss andmaintain the quality of fruits and vegetables harvest, pesticides are used together with other pestmanagement techniques during cropping to destroy pests and prevent diseases. The presenceof pesticide residues is a concern for consumers because pesticides are known to have potentialharmful effects to other non-targeted organisms than pests and diseases. The major concerns aretheir toxic effects such as interfering with the reproductive systems and fetal development as wellas their capacity to cause cancer and asthma. Some of the pesticides are persistent and thereforeremain in the body causing long term exposure.Pesticides can be classified based upon their biological mechanism function or application methods;arsenic content, organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, mercury content.Glyphosate is the active ingredient in herbicide formulations containing it. Human acute toxicity isdose related. Acute fatal toxicity has been reported in deliberate overdose. Epidemiological studieshave not found associations between long term low level exposure to glyphosate and any disease.The purpose of pesticide monitoring programs is to ensure that in fruits and vegetables do not exceedmaximum residues levels (MRLs) allowed by the government, no misuse of pesticides that couldresult in unexpected residues in food and that good agricultural practices (GAP) are maintained. Theresults from these monitoring programs are also used by regulatory bodies for future developmentsin setting MRLs and risk assessment exercises for public health.The MRLs are always set far below levels considered to be safe for humans. It should be understoodthat MRLs are not safety limits, a food residue can have higher level than MRL but can still be safefor consumption. Safety limits are assessed in comparison with acceptable daily intake (ADI) forshort term exposure or acute reference dose (ARfD).Nowadays, the pesticides imported 657 000-1 079 000 tn. in each year by Custom Agency ofMongolia[⁵²] and still unenforced Pest monitoring program, Pest management in the agriculture.

Caracterizacao da exposicao de populacao a organoclorados: uma aplicacao da analise de cluster / Characterization of population exposure to organochlorines: a cluster analysis application

O presente trabalho objetivou apresentar os resultados da aplicação da análise de agrupamento (cluster) para a caracterização da exposição a organoclorados, através de variáveis relacionadas ao tempo e à dose de exposição. Características de 354 sujeitos de uma população exposta a resíduos de pesticidas organoclorados relacionadas ao tempo e à dose de exposição foram submetidas à análise de cluster para separá-las em subgrupos. Foi realizada a análise de cluster hierárquico. Para avaliar a precisão da classificação, foram comparadas a variabilidade intragrupo e a variabilidade inter-grupos através do teste de ANOVA para cada dimensão. A estratégia de agregação foi realizada pelo método de Ward. Para criação dos clusters, foram comparadas as variáveis associadas à exposição e às rotas de contaminação. As informações referentes às doses estimadas de ingesta do composto foram usadas para ponderar os valores de tempo de exposição a cada uma das rotas, de forma a obter valores proxy de intensidade de exposição. Os resultados indicaram 3 clusters: o cluster 1 (n = 45), com características de maior exposição; o cluster 2 (n = 103), de exposição intermediária, e o cluster 3 (n = 206), de menor exposição. As análises bivariadas realizadas com os grupos evidenciaram que são grupamentos com diferença estatisticamente significativa. Este estudo evidenciou a aplicabilidade da análise de cluster para categorizar populações expostas a organoclorados, e aponta para a relevância de estudos tipológicos que possam contribuir para uma melhor classificação de sujeitos expostos a agentes químicos, condição típica dos estudos de epidemiologia ambiental, para uma mais ampla compreensão dos aspectos etiológicos, preventivos e terapêuticos da contaminação.

This study aimed to show the results from a cluster analysis application in the characterization of population exposure to organochlorines through variables related to time and exposure dose. Characteristics of 354 subjects in a population exposed to organochlorine pesticides residues related to time and exposure dose were subjected to cluster analysis to separate them into subgroups. We performed hierarchical cluster analysis. To evaluate the classification accuracy, compared to intra-group and inter-group variability by ANOVA for each dimension. The aggregation strategy was accomplished by the method of Ward. It was, for the creation of clusters, variables associated with exposure and routes of contamination. The information on the estimated intake doses of compound were used to weight the values of exposure time at each of the routes, so as to obtain values proxy exposure intensity. The results showed three clusters: cluster 1 (n = 45), characteristics of greatest exposure, the cluster 2 (n = 103), intermediate exposure, and cluster 3 (n = 206), less exposure. The bivariate analyzes performed with groups that are groups showed a statistically significant difference. This study demonstrated the applicability of cluster analysis to categorize populations exposed to organochlorines and also points to the relevance of typological studies that may contribute to a better classification of subjects exposed to chemical agents, which is typical of environmental epidemiology studies to a wider understanding of etiological, preventive and therapeutic contamination.

Calidad de las gguas superficiales de bahía málaga, pacífico Colombinno / Quality of Superficial Waters in Bahía Málaga Colombian Pacific

El trabajo consistió en un plan de monitoreo que contó con una red de diez estaciones distribuidas en bahía Málaga y fue realizado por muestreos trimestrales entre el 2005 y 2006. En esos muestreos se evaluó la calidad de las aguas superficiales mediante la medición de variables fisicoquímicas, microbiológicas, nutrientes y tóxicos orgánicos. La cercanía a la bahía de Buenaventura y la influencia de algunos esteros como Luisico, Valencia, Los Monos y La Sierpe favorece el aporte de materiales biogénicos (N, P, Si) que sostienen la productividad primaria de bahía Málaga en la que aún no se evidencian riesgos ambientales por procesos de eutrofización. Los resultados muestran un buen estado de la calidad de sus aguas y aportan elementos útiles para las autoridades locales, regionales y nacionales en procesos de conservación y planes de manejo de la bahía como área marina protegida.

A monitory plan in ten stations distributed in bahía Málaga between 2005 and 2006 was done to evaluate superficial water quality using physico-chemical, microbiological, nutrients and toxic organic variables. The streams and rivers in this zone (Luisico, Valencia, Los Monos y La Sierpe) bring biogenic materials (N, P, Si) that sustains primary productivity in the bay. This bay does not show any eutrophication process. The results constitute useful arguments for the local, regional and national authorities in the process of conservation and plans of managing of the bay as marine protected area.

The status of pesticide pollution in surface water (Lakes) of Bijapur.

The paper evaluates and summarizes the results of the pollution of surface waters (lakes) of Bijapur by pesticides. Pesticide classes mostly detected involve herbicides used extensively in cotton, vegetables and grape production, organophosphorus insecticides as well as organochlorines due to their persistence in aquatic environment. The compounds most frequently detected were Endosulphan, 4- bromro-2-chlorphenol, Captan, Chloripyrifosethyl, Fipronil, Oxyfluorfenand monochrotophos respectively. . Nationwide, in many cases the reported concentrations ranged in low levels. However, elevated concentrations were recorded in areas of high pesticide use and intense agricultural practices. Generally, similar trends and levels of pesticides were found in Bijapur lakes. Monitoring of the Bijapur water resources for pesticide residues must continue, especially in agricultural regions, because the nationwide patterns of pesticide use are constantly changing. All these were present above the permissible limits specified by the European Economic Community (EEC), which is the norm used all over the Europe. Moreover emphasis should be placed on degradation products not sufficiently studied so far. Information on pesticide pollution of surface waters in Bijapur is reported.

Desarrollo histórico de la legislación sobre plaguicidas organoclorados en Venezuela / Historical Development of Organochlorine Pesticides Legislation in Venezuela

Se realizó una recuperación de información de la legislación sobre plaguicidas organoclorados en Venezuela, utilizando el motor de búsqueda Google. Se hizo un análisis de avances y retrocesos, incorporando información sobre importaciones, exportaciones, inventarios, sitios de almacenamiento, controles y acciones emprendidas para su eliminación, así como la participación en convenios internacionales. Se evidenció que el país cuenta aparentemente con una legislación adecuada, pero se requiere de mayor coherencia entre las diferentes leyes y decretos. Además, es necesario actualizar la norma técnica e incrementar la capacidad para el control, identificación y eliminación de plaguicidas organoclorados.

Information about organochlorine pesticides legislation in Venezuela was recovered, using the search engine Google. Progress and setbacks was analyzed, with information about imports, exports, inventories, storage sites, controls and actions taken for disposal and participation in international conventions. The country appears to have adequate legislation, however, greater consistency of laws and decrees are required. Update the technical rule is necessary and increases the capacity to monitoring, identification and elimination of organochlorine pesticides.

Esclerose sistêmica e níveis séricos elevados de organoclorado: uma associação possível? / Systemic sclerosis and elevated organochlorine blood levels: a possible association?

A patogênese da esclerose sistêmica (ES) é complexa e pouco conhecida. Há a participação de ativação imune, dano vascular e excessiva produção de matriz extracelular com deposição de colágeno estruturalmente normal. Fatores genéticos e ambientais contribuem para a expressão da doença nos pacientes. Dentre os fatores ambientais, diversos agentes químicos já foram associados à doença. Descrevemos o caso de uma adolescente de 16 anos, com história prévia de hepatite criptogênica e câncer de lábio, que desenvolveu quadro atípico e rapidamente progressivo de esclerose sistêmica. Inicialmente o quadro era compatível com esclerodermia em placas, porém rapidamente evoluiu para uma forma sistêmica com grave acometimento cardiopulmonar e óbito. Durante a investigação de possíveis fatores etiológicos que pudessem estar relacionados, foram encontrados níveis séricos extremamente elevados de oxiclordano, um agrotóxico organoclorado. Uma possível correlação entre a intoxicação por esse agente químico e o surgimento de ES foi aventada.

The pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SS) is complex and not completely understood. Autoimmune mechanisms, vascular damage, and excessive extracelular matrix with collagen deposition play a significant role. Genetic and environmental factors also are decisive to the disease expression. Among environmental factors many chemical agents have been associated with the development of SS. A 16-year-old white woman, with previous history of cryptogenic hepatitis and cancer of the lips, developed an atypical and rapidly progressive form of SS. Initial sclerodermatous plaques progressed to a systemic form with severe cardiopulmonary involvement and death. Diagnostic workup revealed extremely high blood levels of oxychlordane. A possible association of organochlorine intoxication and SS is proposed.

Relationship between Organochlorine Pesticides Exposure after Tangshan Earthquake and Breast Cancer:a Casecontrol Study / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between organochlorine pesticides exposure after Tangshan earthquake and the breast cancer. Methods 1∶1 matched case-control study was conducted in 150 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer with histopathological diagnosis from three city-level hospitals in Tangshan,China and 150 matched controls at the same hospitals,without the related diseases. The levels of derivatives of DDT and HCH in serum were measured by gas chromatography (GC) method and epidemiological survey were conducted by questionnaire for 150 pairs of cases and controls. The relationship between the organochlorine pesticides metabolites and the breast cancer of the exposed population was analyzed by conditional logistic regression model by SAS 8.2 Software. Results Compared with the control,significant higher rates of detection of p,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDT were seen in the case group and the levels of p,p'-DDE,?-HCH and ?-HCH in serum were higher in the case group,and there was a significant difference in serum residues levels of ?-HCH,p,p'-DDE and o,p'-DDT in different exposure areas in Tangshan,the high exposure area showed higher residues levels than the low exposure area. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis showed high pesticides exposure after the earthquake,the serum residues of p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT were associated with breast cancer risk,ORs were 6.592(95%CI:1.402-31.002),2.405(95%CI:1.033-5.600)and 1.845(95%CI:1.028-3.353) respectively. Conclusion Exposure to environmental organochlorines may be one of the risk factors for breast cancer; Higher pesticides exposure after the earthquake may increases breast cancer risk in Tangshan area.