An updated status of currently used pesticides in India: Human dietary exposure from an Indian food basket.

Currently used pesticides (CUPs) were introduced to have lower persistence and bioaccumulation, and lesser bioavailability towards non-target species. Nevertheless, CUPs still represent a concern for both human health and the environment. India is an important agricultural country experiencing a conversion from the use of obsolete organochlorine pesticides to a newer generation of phytosanitary products. As for other developing countries, very little is known about the transfer of CUPs to the human diet in India, where systematic monitoring is not in place. In this study, we analyzed ninety four CUPs and detected thirty CUPs in several food products belonging to five types: cereals and pulses, vegetables, fruits, animal-based foods, and water. Samples were taken from markets in Delhi (aggregating food produced all over India) and in the periurban area of Dehradun (northern India) (representing food produced locally and through more traditional practices). Overall, chlorpyrifos and chlorpropham were the most detected CUPs with a detection frequency of 33% and 25%, respectively. Except for vegetables and fruits, the levels of CUPs in all other food types were significantly higher in samples from Delhi (p < 0.05). Exposure dosage of CUPs through different food matrices was calculated, and chlorpropham detected in potatoes had the maximum exposure dosage to humans (2.46 × 10-6 mg/kg/day). Risk analysis based on the hazard quotient technique indicated that chlorpyrifos in rice (2.76 × 10-2) can be a concern.

COVID-19-associated 2020 lockdown: a study on atmospheric black carbon fall impact on human health.

The mean mass concentrations of black carbon (BC), biomass burning (BC)bb, and fossil fuel combustion (BC)ff have been estimated during March-May 2020 (during the COVID-19 outbreak) and March-May 2019 at a semiarid region of Agra over the Indo-Gangetic basin region. The daily mean mass concentration of BC in 2020 and 2019 was 3.9 and 6.9 µg m-3, respectively. The high monthly mean mass concentration of BC was found to be 4.7, 3.4 and 3.3 µg m-3 in Mar-2020, Apr-2020, and May-2020, respectively, whereas in Mar-2019, Apr-2019, and May-2019 was 7.7, 7.5 and 5.4 µg m-3, respectively. The absorption coefficient (babs) and absorption angstrom exponent (AAE) of black carbon were calculated. The highest mean AAE was 1.6 in the year 2020 (Mar-May 2020) indicating the dominance of biomass burning. The mean mass concentration of fossil fuel (BC)ff and biomass burning (BC)bb is 3.4 and 0.51 µg m-3, respectively, in 2020 whereas 6.4 and 0.73 µg m-3, respectively, in 2019. The mean fraction contribution of BC with fossil fuel (BC)ff was 82.1 ± 13.5% and biomass burning (BC)bb was 17.9 ± 4.3% in 2020, while in 2019, fossil fuel (BC)ff was 86.7 ± 13.5% and biomass burning (BC)bb was 13.3 ± 6.7%. The population-weighted mean concentration of BC, fossil fuel (BC)ff, and biomass burning (BC)bb has been calculated. The health risk assessment of BC has been analyzed in the form of attributable relative risk factors and attributed relative risk during the COVID-19 outbreak using AirQ + v.2.0 model. The attributable relative risk factors of BC were 20.6% in 2020 and 29.4% in 2019. The mean attributed relative risk per 10,000,000 populations at 95% confidence interval (CI) due to BC was 184.06 (142.6-225.2) in 2020 and 609.06 (418.3-714.6) in 2019. The low attributed factor and attributed relative risk in 2020 may be attributed to improvements in air quality and a fall in the emission of BC. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole country faced the biggest lockdown, ban of the transportation of private vehicles, trains, aircraft, and construction activities, and shut down of the industry leading to a fall in the impact of BC on human health. Overall, this was like a blessing in disguise. This study will help in future planning of mitigation and emission control of air pollutants in large and BC in particular. It only needs a multipronged approach. This study may be like torch bearing to set path for mitigation of impacts of air pollution and improvement of air quality.

Signalling and responding to zoonotic threats using a One Health approach: a decade of the Zoonoses Structure in the Netherlands, 2011 to 2021.

In the Netherlands, the avian influenza outbreak in poultry in 2003 and the Q fever outbreak in dairy goats between 2007 and 2010 had severe consequences for public health. These outbreaks led to the establishment of an integrated human-veterinary risk analysis system for zoonoses, the Zoonoses Structure. The aim of the Zoonoses Structure is to signal, assess and control emerging zoonoses that may pose a risk to animal and/or human health in an integrated One Health approach. The Signalling Forum Zoonoses (SO-Z), the first step of the Zoonoses Structure, is a multidisciplinary committee composed of experts from the medical, veterinary, entomology and wildlife domains. The SO-Z shares relevant signals with professionals and has monthly meetings. Over the past 10 years (June 2011 to December 2021), 390 different signals of various zoonotic pathogens in animal reservoirs and humans have been assessed. Here, we describe the Zoonoses Structure with examples from signals and responses for four zoonotic events in the Netherlands (tularaemia, Brucella canis, West Nile virus, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)). This may serve as an example for other countries on how to collaborate in a One Health approach to signal and control emerging zoonoses.

Adaptive-weight water quality assessment and human health risk analysis for river water in Hong Kong.

The water quality of Hong Kong's four water control zones (Tolo Harbour and Channel, Port Shelter, Victoria Harbour, and Junk Bay) is of vital importance and has attracted much attention. This study aims to more objectively and comprehensively assess the water quality and its health impact based on the four-year monitoring data of 21 parameters collected from four zones. First, physicochemical characteristics of the water system were investigated based on multivariate statistical approaches, including Kruskal-Wallis test, hierarchical cluster analysis, and Mann-Kendall test. Then, water quality levels over space and time and the element sources were analyzed using adaptive-weight water quality index (AWQI) method, and factor analysis, respectively. Finally, the potential harm of trace elements for humankind was identified based on the health risk assessment model. The results revealed that (1) the values of more than half of the water quality parameters exhibited significant interannual changes, and the values of all parameters distinctly varied over space; (2) The water quality status in four water control zones showed a steady and long-term improvement trend from 2016 to 2019; (3) The sources of pollution elements impacting water quality status were related to the comprehensive influence of human activities and natural processes; (4) The carcinogenic risks of all trace elements were negligible or acceptable, while Mn and As may cause noncarcinogenic harm to humankind.

Exposure analysis of lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in workplace workshop PT. X.

OBJECTIVE: The workshop (pipe repair place) owned by PT. X is potential for heavy metal exposure which can exceed the quality standards. This study is to identify and analyze the risk of heavy metal exposure from the production process and compare it with the quality standards for the workplace that have been set by the government. METHODS: This research is a quantitative study using the method of environmental health risk analysis (EHRA). RESULT: The concentration of risk agents that could cause adverse health effects of non-carcinogenic due to lead exposure was 15 workers both realtime and lifetime, chromium exposure was 6 workers in realtime and 15 workers for lifetime. While the results of carcinogenic effects due to lead exposure were 1 worker for lifetime and chromium was 15 workers both realtime and lifetime. CONCLUSION: Efforts to control heavy metals can be carried out through technical engineering, administrative control, and personal protective equipment.

Exposure analysis of lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in workplace workshop PT. X

Objective: The workshop (pipe repair place) owned by PT. X is potential for heavy metal exposure which can exceed the quality standards. This study is to identify and analyze the risk of heavy metal exposure from the production process and compare it with the quality standards for the workplace that have been set by the government. Methods: This research is a quantitative study using the method of environmental health risk analysis (EHRA). Result: The concentration of risk agents that could cause adverse health effects of non-carcinogenic due to lead exposure was 15 workers both realtime and lifetime, chromium exposure was 6 workers in realtime and 15 workers for lifetime. While the results of carcinogenic effects due to lead exposure were 1 worker for lifetime and chromium was 15 workers both realtime and lifetime. Conclusion: Efforts to control heavy metals can be carried out through technical engineering, administrative control, and personal protective equipment. (AU)

Exposure to respirable and fine dust particle over North-Central India: chemical characterization, source interpretation, and health risk analysis.

This study enhances the understanding of the particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) and their physical and chemical behavior over the Taj Mahal, Agra, in North-Central India. The mass concentration was determined, and the shape and size of the particles and chemical characterizations have been carried out using SEM-EDX. The high level and significant variation of PM10 (162.2 µg m-3) and PM2.5 (83.9 µg m-3) were observed. The exceedance factor of the present study region is in critical and moderate condition. Morphological characterization reveals the particles of different shapes and sizes, while elemental analysis shows the presence of Si, Al, Fe, Ca, K, Cl, Mg, Na, Cu, and Zn. The dominance of Si indicated the contribution of natural sources, i.e., soil over this region. Three significant sources, viz. soil/road paved dust/vegetative emissions, vehicular/industrial emissions, and intermingling of dust and combustion particles, have been identified using principal component analysis over North-Central India. Health risk analysis of particulate matter identified carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals in the present study, which comes in contact with human beings during inhalation. The non-carcinogenic risk was much higher than the acceptable level. The high carcinogenic risks were found in Zn in PM10 and Cu in PM2.5 for both children and adults.

Human health risk exposure with respect to particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at mine fire-affected coal mining complex.

Particulate-bound poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of great concern due to their mutagenicity and carcinogenicity effect on human health. In this context, identification, quantification and inhalation cancer risk (ICR) assessment due to PM10- and PM2.5-bound PAHs has been carried out at six monitoring stations in a critically polluted Jharia coalfield/Dhanbad City. Identification of pollution sources at study area has been performed by using PCA statistical methods. Air quality index (AQI) and air quality health index (AQHI) were calculated based on the concentration levels of PM10. Location-wise direct comparison between AQI, AQHI and ICR was performed to analyse the risk levels. Consequently, maximum concentration levels of particulate (PM2.5 and PM10)-bound total PAHs (400 and 482 ng/m3) were recorded at the monitoring station Lodna Thana, followed by Bank More and Sijua Stadium, respectively. It was also observed that mine fire-affected station Lodna Thana was exaggerated with presence of PAHs due to wood and open coal burning activities. Moreover, about 1000 and 889 cases of inhalation cancer risk were estimated due to direct exposure of PM10- and PM2.5-bound PAHs in the study area, respectively. Active mine fire-affected station Lodna Thana was recorded with maximum probability of lung tumour due to inhalation cancer risk. This study has reported higher AQHI at station Dugdha Basti, Lodna Thana and Bank More, which results increased number of tumours due to ICR. This result concludes that Jharia coalfield/Dhanbad City are not only critically polluted area but it is also an inhalation cancer prone area due to direct exposure of active mine fire.

Analysis of spatial distribution of trace metals, PCB, and PAH and their potential impact on human health in Virginian Counties and independent cities, USA.

Increasing anthropogenic alteration has resulted in increased exposure to both point and nonpoint source pollution. These exposures are increasingly studied for their role in human diseases, including diseases with known genetic or lifestyle risk factors. This study analyzed associations between a variety of human diseases and trace metals, PCBs, and PAHs in soil, groundwater, sediment, and fish. Contaminant spatial data at the county level from Virginia were used in ArcGIS to identify these associations among socially vulnerable populations. The neurologic and psychiatric disorders and cognitive markers were associated with numerous metals in groundwater/soil and/or aquatic system contaminants. Cancer death rates, fetal deaths, and infant deaths were also related to multiple environmental exposures from both categories of exposure. In contrast, many of the chronic diseases which are primarily attributed to lifestyle showed little association with these exposures with the exception of COPD which did appear to be associated with multiple metal exposures. Asthma showed similar associations compared to COPD. Our data suggest that within the context of socially vulnerable populations, where disease burden is often highest, exposures to metals, PAHs, and PCBs may play a role in the development or exacerbation of several highly prevalent categories of disease. These environmental exposures likely act through a variety of pathways all generally leading to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, or interference with biological systems and a subsequent role in disease development.

Industrial metal pollution in water and probabilistic assessment of human health risk.

Concentration of eight heavy metals in surface and groundwater around Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) industrial area were investigated, and the health risk posed to local children and adult residents via ingestion and dermal contact was evaluated using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Metal concentrations (except Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn) in Bangshi River water were above the drinking water quality guidelines, while in groundwater were less than the recommended limits. Concentration of metals in surface water decreased as a function of distance. Estimations of non-carcinogenic health risk for surface water revealed that mean hazard index (HI) values of As, Cr, Cu, and Pb for combined pathways (i.e., ingestion and dermal contact) were >1.0 for both age groups. The estimated risk mainly came from the ingestion pathway. However, the HI values for all the examined metals in groundwater were <1.0, indicating no possible human health hazard. Deterministically estimated total cancer risk (TCR) via Bangshi River water exceeded the acceptable limit of 1 × 10-4 for adult and children. Although, probabilistically estimated 95th percentile values of TCR exceeded the benchmark, mean TCR values were less than 1 × 10-4. Simulated results showed that 20.13% and 5.43% values of TCR for surface water were >1 × 10-4 for adult and children, respectively. Deterministic and probabilistic estimations of cancer risk through exposure to groundwater were well below the safety limit. Overall, the population exposed to Bangshi River water remained at carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health threat and the risk was higher for adults. Sensitivity analysis identified exposure duration (ED) and ingestion rate (IR) of water as the most relevant variables affecting the probabilistic risk estimation model outcome.

Riesgo sanitario por pesticidas organoclorados en aguas de una laguna pampeana argentina / Health risk by organochlorine pesticides in waters of an Argentine pampean shallow lake

En la laguna El Carpincho (Junín, provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina) se determinaron agroquímicos organoclorados, por lo que podrían existir efectos negativos para la salud en sus usuarios. El objetivo del trabajo fue estimar el riesgo sanitario (ARS) por los pesticidas hallados durante el baño recreativo. El ARS se basó en el modelo USEPA probabilístico para riesgo agregado y acumulativo a los pesticidas alfa y δ Hexaclorociclohexano (HCH), Endosulfán y Endosulfán sulfato. El ARS se estimó tanto para efectos no carcinogenéticos como carcinogenéticos, considerando la ingesta accidental de agua y el contacto dérmico. El individuo expuesto asumido fue un pescador deportivo que toma un baño en la laguna de una hora por día. Su tipología (frecuencia de excursiones, duración y experiencia) se justificó en resultados previos referidos a aspectos sociales de la pesquería allí instalada. El riesgo agregado y acumulativo para los efectos no carcinogenéticos y carcinogenéticos fue de 3,19E-05 y 1,76E-08 (5 y 3 órdenes de magnitud menores al nivel de peligrosidad para cada tipo de efecto), siendo los isómeros de HCH los principales contribuyentes en ambos casos. El uso de la laguna para baño no representaría un riesgo atendible para las condiciones de exposición consideradas.

Organochlorine pesticides were detected in El Carpincho shallow lake (Junín, Buenos Aires province, Argentina), and they could have negative effects on its users' health. The object of this study was to assess the human health risk (HR) associated with these pesticides during recreational bathing. The probabilistic HR assessment was based on aggregate and cumulative USEPA models and applied to alpha and δ HCH, Endosulfan and Endosulfan sulphate pesticides. The cancer and noncancer risks were estimated for accidental drinking and dermal contact. The exposure considered was one hour a day-1 by a sport fisherman. The fisherman characteristics (annual fish trip frequency, event length, experience) were based on previous studies on social aspects of local anglers. The aggregate and cumulative noncancer and cancer risks were 3.19E-05 and 1.76E-08 (5 and 3 orders of magnitude lower than the level of hazard for each type of effect). Isomers of HCH were the major contributors in both cases. The recreational use of this shallow lake would not represent an adverse health risk considering the assumed conditions of exposure.