The concentration of mercury in organs of Whipfin silver biddy (Gerres filamentosus Cuv.) and Flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) in coastal central Vietnam

The concentration of mercury (Hg) in fish species has direct consequences to health of man and ecosystem. Thus, in this paper, the accumulation of Hg in gills, liver, and muscle of the two fish species (Whipfin silver biddy - Gerres filamentosus and Flathead grey mullet - Mugil cephalus) were measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. The fish specimens were collected from local markets and direct fishing with the help of fishermen over the period from July to September 2017 in coastal Vietnam. Differences in the total Hg were found both between two species and organs. The concentration of Hg in all organs investigated of Whipfin silver biddy was higher than of Flathead grey mullet (p < 0.05). The content of Hg in the muscles of Whipfin silver biddy was higher than in liver and gills (p < 0.05), 0.460, 0.245, 0.077 µg g-1 w.w., respectively. Liver of Flathead grey mullet had more Hg accumulated than muscle and gills (0.195, 0.097, 0.046 µg g-1 w.w., respectively). The results revealed that Hg concentrations in Flathead grey mullet did not exceed food fish safety limits established for human consumption while concentration of this toxic element in muscles of Whipin silver biddy almost reached the maximum permissible level

Bird health and sperm quality in relation to environmental levels of neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoids pesticides are commonly used in agriculture. They are administered mainly prophylactically as seed coating, but can also be sprayed in some cultures. Several characteristics of these molecules make them prone to be transported from the field of application to the surrounding areas. As a consequence, neonicotinoid insecticides represent an environmental risk to non-treated land with potential consequences for non-target species. In this context, we visited 62 farms over the Swiss lowland agricultural area managed under three types of agricultural practices: conventional, integrated production called “IP-Suisse” and organic. We collected soil and vegetation samples in cultivated fields as well as in ecological focus areas (EFAs). Additionally, we captured between 5 and 20 house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in each visited farms, with the aim to examined whether neonicotinoid concentrations in soils and plants are related to indices of the birds’ health (body mass, blood and sperm redox status, sperm quality) and/or neonicotinoid concentrations in the birds’ plumage.peerReviewe

Assessment of the Effective Impact of Bisphenols on Mitochondrial Activity, Viability and Steroidogenesis in a Dose-Dependency in Human Adrenocortical Carcinoma Cells

In recent years, bisphenol analogues such as bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol F (BPF), and bisphenol S (BPS) have come to replace bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging and food containers, since BPA has been shown to leach into food and water, causing numerous negative health effects. Although much information on the endocrine activity of BPA is available, a proper human hazard assessment of analogues that are believed to have a less harmful toxicity profile is lacking. The aim of our in vitro study was to assess the potential effect of bisphenol B, F, and S on the biosynthesis of steroid hormones in human H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, we evaluated mitochondrial activity using the MTT test and viability using triple assay. Adrenocortical carcinoma cells were cultivated for 24 h in the presence of bisphenol B, F, or S (0.1, 0.5, 1, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 μM). We demonstrated that BPB, BPF, and BPS could affect progesterone and testosterone secretion, as well as affect cell mitochondrial, lysosomal, and metabolic activity, as well as plasma membrane integrity, but considerably more detailed and systematic research is required for a better understanding of risks associated with the effects of bisphenols on steroidogenesis

Accumulation of metals in cancerous and healthy tissues of patients with lung cancer in Southern Poland

<div><p>The aim of this study was to investigate whether the concentrations of metals differ among patients with and without lung cancer with different smoking status and living in industrialized environments. We also evaluated the relationships between metals and blood parameters including hematocrit level (Hct), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), red (RBC) and white (WBC) blood cells numbers. Concentrations of metals were measured with AAS (copper - Cu, iron - Fe, magnesium - Mg, zinc - Zn) and CV-AAS (mercury - Hg). Neither smoking status nor industrialization could be considered as a significant factor for metals accumulation in blood, lungs and tumor tissues, with the exception of mercury which differed in the aspect of industrialization. According to the type of the disease, Fe, Hg and Mg concentrations differed significantly in lungs. Correlations between metals and blood parameters were observed. Additionally, concentrations of Mg, Cu and Zn were correlated between lungs and tumor tissue of patients with cancer as well as they all were related to each other in lungs, tumor and blood tissues.</p></div