Mercury levels in blood, urine and hair in a nation-wide sample of Spanish adults.

Mercury (Hg) is among the top 10 environmental chemicals of major public health concern (WHO). The Minamata Convention on Mercury (United Nations Environment Program, 2017), commits signing countries to control anthropogenic mercury emissions and reduce human exposure. Human biomonitoring (HBM) programs, are the most straight-forward approaches to get information on the actual exposure levels in the population and assess over time. We report here the results of a HBM study in a nationwide cross-section of Spanish adults (18-65y) as baseline values obtained before the Minamata Convention entered into force. Subsequent follow-ups will show if the Convention has been successful. The study includes 1880 blood samples, 1704 urine samples and 577 hair samples from all Spanish regions collected and analysed under a strictly quality controlled and quality assured protocol. The EU-DEMOCOPHES project demonstrated that fish and seafood are the major sources of mercury exposure and that the Spanish as well as the Portuguese populations have higher levels than other European countries. The data from the present study confirms this pattern at national level and that inhabitants in coastal regions have higher values than from inland regions. The geometric mean (GM) for blood is 6.35 µg Hg/l, in urine is 1.11 µg Hg/l and for hair is 1.91 µg Hg/g. In an international comparison these values are not exceptional. Spanish concentrations fall into the group of Easter Mediterranean populations. Although information on gender, age, occupational sector, geographical area, sampling period and frequency of fish consumption is reported in the tables, the purpose of this paper has not been to analyse the determinants of exposure in detail but to provide baseline data for future assessments and for regional authorities.

Glyoxal and methylglyoxal as urinary markers of diabetes. Determination using a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Glyoxal (GO) and methylglyoxal (MGO) are α-oxoaldehydes that can be used as urinary diabetes markers. In this study, their levels were measured using a sample preparation procedure based on salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The effect of the derivatization reaction with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene, the addition of acetonitrile and sodium chloride to urine, and the DLLME step using the acetonitrile extract as dispersant solvent and carbon tetrachloride as extractant solvent were carefully optimized. Quantification was performed by the internal standard method, using 5-bromo-2-chloroanisole. The intraday and interday precisions were lower than 6%. Limits of detection were 0.12 and 0.06ngmL-1, and enrichment factors 140 and 130 for GO and MGO, respectively. The concentrations of these α-oxoaldehydes in urine were between 0.9 and 35.8ngg-1 levels (creatinine adjusted). A statistical comparison of the analyte contents of urine samples from non-diabetic and diabetic patients pointed to significant differences (P=0.046, 24 subjects investigated), particularly regarding MGO, which was higher in diabetic patients. The novelty of this study compared with previous procedures lies in the treatment of the urine sample by SALLE based on the addition of acetonitrile and sodium chloride to the urine. The DLLME procedure is performed with a sedimented drop of the extractant solvent, without a surfactant reagent, and using acetonitrile as dispersant solvent. Separation of the analytes was performed using GC-MS detection, being the analytes unequivocal identified. The proposed procedure is the first microextraction method applied to the analysis of urine samples from diabetic and non-diabetic patients that allows a clear differentiation between both groups using a simple analysis.

Morphological, molecular and phylogenetic analyses of the spirurid nematode Stegophorus macronectes (Johnston & Mawson, 1942).

Stegophorus macronectes (Johnston & Mawson, 1942) is a gastrointestinal parasite found in Antarctic seabirds. The original description of the species, which was based only on females, is poor and fragmented with some unclear diagnostic characters. This study provides new morphometric and molecular data on this previously poorly described parasite. Nuclear rDNA sequences (18S, 5.8S, 28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions) were isolated from S. macronectes specimens collected from the chinstrap penguin Pygoscelis antarctica Forster on Deception Island, Antarctica. Using 18S rDNA sequences, phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference) of the order Spirurida were performed to determine the phylogenetic location of this species. Primer pairs of the ITS regions were designed for genus-level identification of specimens, regardless of their cycle, as an alternative to coprological methods. The utility of this molecular method for identification of morphologically altered specimens is also discussed.

Gastrointestinal parasites in Chinstrap Penguins from Deception Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica.

Knowledge about parasites of Antarctic birds is fragmented and scarce. The aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites of the Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) from Deception Island (South Shetlands, Antarctica). Gastrointestinal tracts of 64 fresh dead individuals (61 chicks and three adults) were collected from December 2006 to February 2009 and examined for macroparasites. Three adult parasite species were found: two Cestoda species (Parorchites zederi and Tetrabothrius pauliani) and one Nematoda species (Stegophorus macronectes). Also, immature acanthocephalans (Corynosoma sp.) were found in one penguin. The low parasite richness observed could be related to the stenophagic and pelagic diet of the host species. False negatives were found in coprological studies.

Evaluación de la exposición a elementos inorgánicos (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb) en cormoranes grandes (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) de la laguna costera del Mar Menor de Murcia / Assessment of inorganic element exposure (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd and Pb) in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) from the Mar Menor coastal lagoon

En el presente estudio, se han analizado las concentraciones de nueve elementos inorgánicos (cromo, manganeso, níquel, cobre, zinc, arsénico, selenio, cadmio y plomo) en distintos tejidos (hígado, riñón, músculo, hueso y pluma) de individuos jóvenes de cormorán grande (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), hallados en estado cadáver en los alrededores de la laguna costera del Mar Menor durante su invernada. Los análisis se realizaron mediante espectrometría de masas con fuente de plasma acoplado inductivamente (ICP-MS). El Mar Menor posee un elevado valor ecológico cuya integridad puede verse amenazada por la presión urbanística, los efluentes de la agricultura intensiva y los residuos de la actividad minera que aportan cantidades considerables de elementos contaminantes. Estos pueden incorporarse a la cadena trófica y ocasionar una biomagnificación, que puede poner en peligro tanto a la fauna como a los seres humanos. Las aves marinas son de gran utilidad en la biomonitorización de contaminantes presentes en el entorno y permiten la evaluación de su exposición y mostrar el estado ecotoxicológico de la zona estudiada. La pluma se presenta como una muestra excelente para la monitorización de la contaminación por plomo y cromo, mientras que el riñón y el hígado son las muestras más adecuadas para la monitorización de la contaminación por cadmio y el estudio de los niveles de selenio. Los niveles de plomo y cromo hallados en los principales órganos de acumulación son elevados, mientras que los niveles del resto de elementos estudiados son reducidos en comparación con la bibliografía consultada. Los resultados obtenidos permiten confirmar la utilidad en la biomonitorización de elementos inorgánicos del cormorán grande (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) en la laguna costera del Mar Menor(AU)

For this study, the levels of nine inorganic elements such as chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium and lead, have been measured in different tissues coming from liver, kidney, muscle, bone and feather in great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), which are installed in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon during the winter. We have had juvenile birds found dead on La Manga del Mar Menor coast. The analyses were made by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Waterbirds are useful for biomonitoring contaminant exposure in aquatic ecosystems as they are on the top of food webs. The Mar Menor coastal lagoon (Murcia, Spain) has high ecological value which integrity is threatened due to impacts of mining and agricultural activities, and urban growing and touristic development that contributes with considerable quantities of contaminants, which can get into the food web joining different strata leading to biomagnification, endangering not only wildlife but also humans. Feathers are presented as an excellent sample for monitoring lead and chromium pollution. Kidney and liver are presented as the most appropriate sample for monitoring cadmium and selenium pollution. Lead and chromium levels are higher than those obtained by other authors from other geographic locations, while other element levels are lower. We have confirmed the utility in the biomonitoring of inorganic elements in great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) from the Mar Menor coastal lagoon(AU)

Envenenamientos e intoxicaciones de fauna silvestre y doméstica en la región de murcia durante el bienio 2005-2006 / Intentional and unintentional poisonings of wild and domestic fauna in the Region of Murcia during biennium 2005-2006

El presente estudio afronta la revisión y análisis de los datos obtenidos a partir de los casos sospechososde envenenamiento o intoxicación en animales silvestres (y domésticos en menor medida), recibidos duranteel bienio 2005-2006 en el Servicio de Toxicología del Centro de Recuperación de Fauna Silvestre “El Valle”(Murcia). Dicha revisión permite ofrecer información epidemiológica acerca de los principales agentes tóxicosrelacionados con envenenamientos de animales de vida silvestre en el Sureste de España, así como de las causasque conducen a provocarlos. De los 94 casos recibidos y analizados, 41 fueron positivos, con un balance totalde 122 cadáveres. Plaguicidas, sobre todo insecticidas y rodenticidas, fueron las sustancias más frecuentementeinvolucradas. En concreto, aldicarb (29,54%), fentión (25,00%), carbofurano (15,90%) y monocrotofos(9,09%) son los compuestos más utilizados en la preparación de cebos para envenenamientos. La primavera yel invierno son las épocas del año en las que los envenenamientos son más numerosos, y mayoritariamente seproducen en zonas rurales y de tradición cinegética

Data of chemical toxicological analyses carried out over a two year period (2005-2006) by the WildlifeRecovery Center “El Valle” of Murcia (Spain). These results allow to perform an epidemiologic information conclusioaboutthe main toxic agents of poisoning wildlife (and domestic animals in some cases) of Southeastern Spain.From 94 cases received and analyzed, 41 were positive to intentional poisoning (a total of 122 dead animals).Pesticides, especially insecticides and rodenticides, were frequently involved. Aldicarb (29,54%), fenthion(25,00%), carbofuran (15,90%) and monocrotophos (9,09%) were the most usual toxic agents in baits preparedfor intentional poisonings. Spring and winter are the seasons of the year in which the poisonings are morecommon, and mainly they take place in rural zones and those of hunting areas

Alterations of the glutathione-redox balance induced by metals in CHO-K1 cells.

The effects of cadmium (Cd(2+)), mercury (Hg(2+)), lead (Pb(2+)), copper (Cu(2+)) and nickel (Ni(2+)) on the glutathione (GSH)-redox cycle were assessed in CHO-K1 by the neutral red uptake inhibition (NR) assay (NR(6.25), NR(12.5) and NR(25)). Mercury proved to be the most and lead the least toxic of the metals tested. The effects on GSH content and intracellular specific activities of enzymes involved in the GSH-redox balance were measured after a 24-h exposure. Total GSH content increased significantly in cultures exposed to the lowest metal concentration assayed (NR(6.25)), but fell to below control values when exposed to concentrations equivalent to NR(25). Oxidised glutathione content dropped significantly at NR(6.25), while somewhat higher values were obtained for cultures exposed to higher doses. Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activities were 1.2-, 1.5-, 1.6-, 2.0- and 2.5-fold higher than untreated controls for cadmium, copper, mercury, nickel and lead, respectively, at concentrations equivalent to NR(6.25). Gpx activity declined at metal concentrations equivalent to NR(12.5) and NR(25). Glutathione reductase activity remained almost unchanged except at low doses of mercury, nickel and lead. Glutathione-S-transferase activity decreased at rising metal concentrations. The results suggest that a homeostatic defence mechanism was activated when cells were exposed to doses equivalent to NR(6.25) while the ability of the cells to respond weakened as the dose increased. A close relationship was also observed between metal cytotoxicity, total GSH content and the dissociation energy of the sulphur-metal bonds. These facts confirm the involvement of antioxidant defence mechanisms in the toxic action of these ions.