Risk assessment of exposure to multiple mycotoxins in the Icelandic population

Background: The proliferation of mycotoxin-producing fungi in agricultural settings poses a challenge to human health and nutrition around the world. Mycotoxins contaminate food sources and their negative health outcomes include carcinogenic, nephrotoxic, and teratogenic effects. Potential risks are still poorly characterized and few studies assess exposure at an individual level. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess and characterize exposure risk to multiple mycotoxins in the Icelandic population. Methods: Urine samples and data on urinary mycotoxin biomarkers (deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and ochratoxin A) from a pool of 171 individuals living in Iceland between 2020 and 2021 were used to estimate external doses through reverse dosimetry. For risk characterization, Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Margin of Exposure (MoE) approaches were applied for deoxynivalenol zearalenone, and ochratoxin A, respectively. Results: The Icelandic population was revealed to be exposed to multiple mycotoxins. Mean levels of deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A were comparable to what have been reported in other European studies, while levels of zearalenone were considerably lower. Nevertheless, risk assessment revealed safe levels of exposure to deoxynivalenol and zearalenone (HQ < 1) but MoE based on a neoplastic endpoint to ochratoxin A indicated a possible health concern for all participants (MoE < 10000). Conclusions: Although there are some uncertainties associated with a human biomonitoring approach, the results of this study confirm that mycotoxins are a growing threat to public health in the European continent. Since countries with different latitudes already present comparable levels of exposure, this is especially concerning in a climate change scenario. Further studies both on exposure assessment and specific effects on human health are required to accurately assess risk and introduce preventive measures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Environmental pressure from the 2014–15 eruption of Bárðarbunga volcano, Iceland

The effusive six months long 2014-2015 Bárðarbunga eruption (31 August-27 February) was the largest in Iceland for more than 200 years, producing 1.6 ± 0.3 km3 of lava. The total SO2 emission was 11 ± 5 Mt, more than the amount emitted from Europe in 2011. The ground level concentration of SO2 exceeded the 350 μg m−3 hourly average health limit over much of Iceland for days to weeks. Anomalously high SO2 concentrations were also measured at several locations in Europe in September. The lowest pH of fresh snowmelt at the eruption site was 3.3, and 3.2 in precipitation 105 km away from the source. Elevated dissolved H2SO4, HCl, HF, and metal concentrations were measured in snow and precipitation. Environmental pressures from the eruption and impacts on populated areas were reduced by its remoteness, timing, and the weather. The anticipated primary environmental pressure is on the surface waters, soils, and vegetation of Iceland

Effect of genetically low 25-hydroxyvitamin D on mortality risk: Mendelian randomization analysis in 3 large European cohorts

Source at https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010074.The aim of this study was to determine if increased mortality associated with low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) reflects a causal relationship by using a Mendelian randomisation (MR) approach with genetic variants in the vitamin D synthesis pathway. Individual participant data from three European cohorts were harmonized with standardization of 25(OH)D according to the Vitamin D Standardization Program. Most relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms of the genes CYP2R1 (rs12794714, rs10741657) and DHCR7/NADSYN1 (rs12785878, rs11234027), were combined in two allelic scores. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used with the ratio estimator and the delta method for calculating the hazards ratio (HR) and standard error of genetically determined 25(OH)D effect on all-cause mortality. We included 10,501 participants (50.1% females, 67.1±10.1 years) of whom 4003 died during a median follow-up of 10.4 years. The observed adjusted HR for all-cause mortality per decrease in 25(OH)D by 20 nmol/L was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.15–1.25). The HR per 20 nmol/L decrease in genetically determined 25(OH)D was 1.32 (95% CI: 0.80–2.24) and 1.35 (95% CI of 0.81 to 2.37) based on the two scores. In conclusion, the results of this MR study in a combined sample from three European cohort studies provide further support for a causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and increased all-cause mortality. However, as the current study, even with ~10,000 participants, was underpowered for the study of the effect of the allele score on mortality, larger studies on genetics and mortality are needed to improve the precision

Dynamic Measurements of Membrane Insertion Potential of Synthetic Cell Penetrating Peptides

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Langmuir, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://doi.org/10.1021/la403370p.Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been established as excellent candidates for mediating drug delivery into cells. When designing synthetic CPPs for drug delivery applications, it is important to understand their ability to penetrate the cell membrane. In this paper, anionic or zwitterionic phospholipid monolayers at the air-water interface are used as model cell membranes to monitor the membrane insertion potential of synthetic CPPs. The insertion potential of CPPs having different cationic and hydrophobic amino acids were recorded using a Langmuir monolayer approach that records peptide adsorption to model membranes. Fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize alterations in phospholipid packing due to peptide insertion. All CPPs had the highest penetration potential in the presence of anionic phospholipids. In addition, two of three amphiphilic CPPs inserted into zwitterionic phospholipids, but none of the hydrophilic CPPs did. All the CPPs studied induced disruptions in phospholipid packing and domain morphology, which were most pronounced for amphiphilic CPPs. Overall, small changes to amino acids and peptide sequences resulted in dramatically different insertion potentials and membrane reorganization. Designers of synthetic CPPs for efficient intracellular drug delivery should consider small nuances in CPP electrostatic and hydrophobic properties

Harmonization of human biomonitoring studies in Europe: characteristics of the HBM4EU-aligned studies participants

Human biomonitoring has become a pivotal tool for supporting chemicals' policies. It provides information on real-life human exposures and is increasingly used to prioritize chemicals of health concern and to evaluate the success of chemical policies. Europe has launched the ambitious REACH program in 2007 to improve the protection of human health and the environment. In October 2020 the EU commission published its new chemicals strategy for sustainability towards a toxic-free environment. The European Parliament called upon the commission to collect human biomonitoring data to support chemical's risk assessment and risk management. This manuscript describes the organization of the first HBM4EU-aligned studies that obtain comparable human biomonitoring (HBM) data of European citizens to monitor their internal exposure to environmental chemicals. The HBM4EU-aligned studies build on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies. The HBM4EU-aligned studies focus on three age groups: children, teenagers, and adults. The participants are recruited between 2014 and 2021 in 11 to 12 primary sampling units that are geographically distributed across Europe. Urine samples are collected in all age groups, and blood samples are collected in children and teenagers. Auxiliary information on socio-demographics, lifestyle, health status, environment, and diet is collected using questionnaires. In total, biological samples from 3137 children aged 6-12 years are collected for the analysis of biomarkers for phthalates, HEXAMOLL((R)) DINCH, and flame retardants. Samples from 2950 teenagers aged 12-18 years are collected for the analysis of biomarkers for phthalates, Hexamoll((R)) DINCH, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), and samples from 3522 adults aged 20-39 years are collected for the analysis of cadmium, bisphenols, and metabolites of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The children's group consists of 50.4% boys and 49.5% girls, of which 44.1% live in cities, 29.0% live in towns/suburbs, and 26.8% live in rural areas. The teenagers' group includes 50.6% girls and 49.4% boys, with 37.7% of residents in cities, 31.2% in towns/suburbs, and 30.2% in rural areas. The adult group consists of 52.6% women and 47.4% men, 71.9% live in cities, 14.2% in towns/suburbs, and only 13.4% live in rural areas. The study population approaches the characteristics of the general European population based on age-matched EUROSTAT EU-28, 2017 data; however, individuals who obtained no to lower educational level (ISCED 0-2) are underrepresented. The data on internal human exposure to priority chemicals from this unique cohort will provide a baseline for Europe's strategy towards a non-toxic environment and challenges and recommendations to improve the sampling frame for future EU-wide HBM surveys are discussed

The academic–vocational divide in three Nordic countries : implications for social class and gender

In this study we examine how the academic–vocational divide is manifested today in Finland, Iceland and Sweden in the division between vocationally (VET) and academicallyoriented programmes at the upper-secondary school level. The paper is based on a critical re-analysis of results from previous studies; in it we investigate the implications of this divide for class and gender inequalities. The theoretical lens used for the synthesis is based on Bernstein´s theory of pedagogic codes. In the re-analysis we draw on previous studies of policy, curriculum and educational praxis as well as official statistics. The main conclusions are that contemporary policy and curriculum trends in all three countries are dominated by a neo-liberal discourse stressing principles such as “market relevance” and employability. This trend strengthens the academic–vocational divide, mainly through an organisation of knowledge in VET that separates it from more general and theoretical elements. This trend also seems to affect VET students’ transitions in terms of reduced access to higher education, particularly in male-dominated programmes. We also identify low expectations for VET students, manifested through choice of textbooks and tasks, organisation of teacher teams and the advice of career counsellors.Peer reviewe

Large scale international replication and meta-analysis study confirms association of the 15q14 locus with myopia. The CREAM consortium

Myopia is a complex genetic disorder and a common cause of visual impairment among working age adults. Genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility loci on chromosomes 15q14 and 15q25 in Caucasian populations of European ancestry. Here, we present a confirmation and meta-analysis study in which we assessed whether these two loci are also associated with myopia in other populations. The study population comprised 31 cohorts from the Consortium of Refractive Error and Myopia (CREAM) representing 4 different continents with 55,177 individuals; 42,845 Caucasians and 12,332 Asians. We performed a meta-analysis of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on 15q14 and 5 SNPs on 15q25 using linear regression analysis with spherical equivalent as a quantitative outcome, adjusted for age and sex. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) of myopia versus hyperopia for carriers of the top-SNP alleles using a fixed effects meta-analysis. At locus 15q14, all SNPs were significantly replicated, with the lowest P value 3.87 × 10 -12 for SNP rs634990 in Caucasians, and 9.65 × 10 -4 for rs8032019 in Asians. The overall meta-analysis provided P value 9.20 × 10 -23 for the top SNP rs634990. The risk of myopia versus hyperopia was OR 1.88 (95 % CI 1.64, 2.16, P < 0.001) for homozygous carriers of the risk allele at the top SNP rs634990, and OR 1.33 (95 % CI 1.19, 1.49, P < 0.001) for heterozygous carriers. SNPs at locus 15q25 did not replicate significantly (P value 5.81 × 10 -2 for top SNP rs939661). We conclude that common variants at chromosome 15q14 influence susceptibility for myopia in Caucasian and Asian populations world-wide. © The Author(s) 2012

The effect of hydrothermal spring weathering processes and primary productivity on lithium isotopes: Lake Myvatn, Iceland

Lithium isotopes are rapidly becoming one of the most useful tracers of silicate weathering processes, but little is known on their behaviour in groundwaters and hydrothermal springs, and how these sources might influence the weathering signal in surface waters. This study presents lithium isotope compositions (δ7Li) for cold groundwaters (3-7 °C) and hydrothermal springs that were at geothermal temperatures (200-300 °C) but have cooled during transport (17-44 °C). Both represent an important source of water and nutrients for Lake Myvatn, Iceland. We also present a time-series from the Laxa River, which is the single outflow from the lake. The δ7Li values in the input springs to Lake Myvatn are highly variable (5-27‰), and correlate inversely with temperature and total dissolved solids. These co-variations imply that even in such waters, the processes controlling δ7Li variations during weathering still operate: that is, the ratio of primary rock dissolution to secondary mineral formation, where the latter preferentially incorporates 6Li with a temperature-dependent fractionation factor. In high-temperature geothermal waters (&gt; 300 °C) secondary mineral formation is inhibited, and has a low fractionation factor, leading to little δ7Li fractionation. Even in waters that have cooled considerably over several months from their geothermal temperatures, fractionation is still low, and δ7Li values are similar to those reported from waters measured at &gt; 350 °C. In contrast, cooler groundwaters promote relatively high proportions of clay formation, which scavenge dissolved solids (including 6Li). The time series on the Laxa River, the single outflow from Lake Myvatn, shows little δ7Li variation with time over the 12 month sampling period (17-21‰), demonstrating that in contrast to tracers such as Si isotopes, Li isotopes are unaffected by the significant seasonal phytoplankton blooms that occur in the lake. Thus, these results clearly illustrate that Li isotopes are ideally suited to constrain silicate weathering processes, because fractionation by secondary mineral formation operates even when groundwater and hydrothermal inputs are significant, and because Li isotopes are demonstrably unaffected by phytoplankton or plant growth

The effect of hydrothermal spring weathering processes and primary productivity on lithium isotopes: Lake Myvatn, Iceland

Lithium isotopes are rapidly becoming one of the most useful tracers of silicate weathering processes, but little is known on their behaviour in groundwaters and hydrothermal springs, and how these sources might influence the weathering signal in surface waters. This study presents lithium isotope compositions (δ7Li) for cold groundwaters (3–7 °C) and hydrothermal springs that were at geothermal temperatures (200–300 °C) but have cooled during transport (17–44 °C). Both represent an important source of water and nutrients for Lake Myvatn, Iceland. We also present a time-series from the Laxa River, which is the single outflow from the lake. The δ7Li values in the input springs to Lake Myvatn are highly variable (5–27‰), and correlate inversely with temperature and total dissolved solids. These co-variations imply that even in such waters, the processes controlling δ7Li variations during weathering still operate: that is, the ratio of primary rock dissolution to secondary mineral formation, where the latter preferentially incorporates 6Li with a temperature-dependent fractionation factor. In high-temperature geothermal waters (> 300 °C) secondary mineral formation is inhibited, and has a low fractionation factor, leading to little δ7Li fractionation. Even in waters that have cooled considerably over several months from their geothermal temperatures, fractionation is still low, and δ7Li values are similar to those reported from waters measured at > 350 °C. In contrast, cooler groundwaters promote relatively high proportions of clay formation, which scavenge dissolved solids (including 6Li). The time series on the Laxa River, the single outflow from Lake Myvatn, shows little δ7Li variation with time over the 12 month sampling period (17–21‰), demonstrating that in contrast to tracers such as Si isotopes, Li isotopes are unaffected by the significant seasonal phytoplankton blooms that occur in the lake. Thus, these results clearly illustrate that Li isotopes are ideally suited to constrain silicate weathering processes, because fractionation by secondary mineral formation operates even when groundwater and hydrothermal inputs are significant, and because Li isotopes are demonstrably unaffected by phytoplankton or plant growth