Perchlorate Contamination: Sources, Effects, and Technologies for Remediation

Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropo genic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physi cochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlo rate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from harsh Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropo genic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physi cochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlo rate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from hars

Urban Endocrine Disruptors Targeting Breast Cancer Proteins.

Humans are exposed to a huge amount of environmental pollutants called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These molecules interfere with the homeostasis of the body, usually through mimicking natural hormones leading to activation or blocking of their receptors. Many of these compounds have been associated with a broad range of diseases including the development or increased susceptibility to breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Thus, this article presents a virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) to evaluate the affinity of proteins related to breast cancer, such as ESR1, ERBB2, PGR, BCRA1, and SHBG, among others, with EDCs from urban sources. A blind docking strategy was employed to screen each protein-ligand pair in triplicate in AutoDock Vina 2.0, using the computed binding affinities as ranking criteria. The three-dimensional structures were previously obtained from EDCs DataBank and Protein Data Bank, prepared and optimized by SYBYL X-2.0. Some of the chemicals that exhibited the best affinity scores for breast cancer proteins in each category were 1,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, bisphenol A derivatives, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and benzo(a)pyrene, for catalase, several proteins, sex hormone-binding globulin, and cytochrome P450 1A2, respectively. An experimental validation of this approach was performed with a complex that gave a moderate binding affinity in silico, the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and bisphenol A (BPA) complex. The protein was obtained using DNA recombinant technology and the physical interaction with BPA assessed through spectroscopic techniques. BPA binds on the recombinant SHBG, and this results in an increase of its α helix content. In short, this work shows the potential of several EDCs to bind breast cancer associated proteins as a tool to prioritize compounds to perform in vitro analysis to benefit the regulation or exposure prevention by the general population.This work was supported by Colciencias (567-2012 to D.M-G., 1107-519-29058, 1107-459- 21616), the University of Cartagena (0342010) and the EPSRC. G.J.L.B. is a Royal Society University Research Fellow.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from ACS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5b0034

Perchlorate-Reducing Bacteria from Hypersaline Soils of the Colombian Caribbean

[EN] Perchlorate (ClO4¿) has several industrial applications and is frequently detected in environmental matrices at relevant concentrations to human health. Currently, perchlorate-degrading bacteria are promising strategies for bioremediation in polluted sites. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize halophilic bacteria with the potential for perchlorate reduction. Ten bacterial strains were isolated from soils of Galerazamba-Bolivar, Manaure-Guajira, and Salamanca Island-Magdalena, Colombia. Isolates grew at concentrations up to 30% sodium chloride. The isolates tolerated pH variations ranging from 6.5 to 12.0 and perchlorate concentrations up to 10000¿mg/L. Perchlorate was degraded by these bacteria on percentages between 25 and 10. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strains were phylogenetically related to Vibrio, Bacillus, Salinovibrio, Staphylococcus, and Nesiotobacter genera. In conclusion, halophilic-isolated bacteria from hypersaline soils of the Colombian Caribbean are promising resources for the bioremediation of perchlorate contamination.This research received support from the Vice Presidency of Research, University of Cartagena; and Colciencias-University of Cartagena (Grant: RC-758-2011/1107-521-29360).Acevedo-Barrios, R.; Bertel-Sevilla, A.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Olivero-Verbel, J. (2019). Perchlorate-Reducing Bacteria from Hypersaline Soils of the Colombian Caribbean. International Journal of Microbiology. 2019:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6981865S1132019Cole-Dai, J., Peterson, K. M., Kennedy, J. A., Cox, T. S., & Ferris, D. G. (2018). Evidence of Influence of Human Activities and Volcanic Eruptions on Environmental Perchlorate from a 300-Year Greenland Ice Core Record. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(15), 8373-8380. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b01890Acevedo-Barrios, R., Sabater-Marco, C., & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2018). 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Remoción de cromo de aguas residuales de curtiembres usando quitosan obtenido de desechos de camaron

El cromo es el mayor contaminante en la industria de curtiembres. El método de precipitación química es empleado para remover cromo pero su uso conduce a la formación de precipitados de este metal. El intercambio iónico y la separación por membrana son tratamientos costosos. En este estudio se empleó quitosano como bioadsorbente para remover cromo de las aguas residuales de la industria de curtiembres. El quitosano adsorbió 52 mg Cr (III)/g a un pH de 4.0. Modelos Langmuir and Freundlich fueron aplicados; observándose que un incremento en la concentración inicial de cromo trae como consecuencia una disminución en el proceso de adsorción

Environmental and human health risks associated with exposure to hazardous elements present in urban dust from Barranquilla, Colombian Caribbean

Urban dust is a mixture of deposited particles from different sources usually linked to potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Despite the industrialization of many South American countries, little is known about the impact of particulate matter in large cities, data necessary to promote environmental policies aiming to protect human health. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the particle size distribution, composition, as well as environmental and human health risks of settled dust particles from Barranquilla, a Colombian Caribbean industrialized area. Trace elements were analyzed by ICP‐MS from thirty‐five different sites, covering all city areas. Dust was mostly composed of 10–70 μm particles. The average concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb, and Bi were above background. High spatial heterogeneity was observed for Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, and Bi. Concentration factors suggest urban dusts are extremely contaminated by Zn and Cu. The ecological risk associated with specific elements decreased in the order Cd > Cu > As > Hg > Pb > Ni > Co ≈ Zn ≈ Cr, and the contamination load index showed that 91% of the samples are polluted by PTEs. Although the carcinogenic risks of Cr, Ni, As, Co, and Cd were low, chronic exposure to several PTEs may be impacting the quality of life. Educational programs, as well as monitoring and greater control on traffic, industry, and construction activities, are needed in order to protect environmental and human healt

Simira cordifolia protects against metal induced-toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Simira cordifolia (Hook.f.) Steyerm (Rubiaceae) is a vascular plant used in Northern Colombia as a source of pigments and wood. However, there is a lack of information regarding its pharmacology and toxicity. This research aimed to study the hydroalcoholic extract of Simira cordifolia as a protector against metal-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. cordifolia (HAE-Sc) was conducted using HPLC-ESI-QTOF. Wild-type N2 C. elegans larvae were exposed to different concentrations of HAE-Sc evaluating lethality (50–5000 μg/mL), growth, lifespan, resistance to heat stress, and its protective effect against Mercury (Hg)-, Lead (Pb)- and Cadmium (Cd)-induced lethality (50–1000 μg/mL). The main metabolites present in the extract were iridoids, β-carboline-alkaloids and polyphenols. Bioassays demonstrated that HAE-Sc exhibited low toxicity, with significant lethality (4.2% and 9.4%) occurring at 2500–5000 μg/mL. Growth inhibition reached up to 23.3%, while reproduction declined 13% and 17% at concentrations 500 and 1000 μg/mL, respectively. HAE-Sc enhanced the survival rate of the nematode under thermal stress by up to 79.8%, and extended the mean lifespan of worms by over 33% compared to control. The average lifespan was prolonged by 15.3% and 18.5% at 50 and 100 μg/mL HAE-Sc, respectively. The extract (1000 μg/mL) was able to reduce the death of C. elegans in the presence of heavy metals up to 65.9, 96.8% and 87% for Pb, Hg, and Cd, respectively. In summary, S. cordifolia shows potential protective effects in C. elegans against toxicity caused by heavy metals and heat

Socio-Economic and Environmental Implications of Gold Mining in Afro-Descendant Communities from Colombia

The ethnic diversity of Colombia is one of the most attractive characteristics of the country, which includes the Afro-descendants, Raizal and Palenquero populations, who have lead an ancestral lifestyle that is an essential component of the culture and heritage of the nation. Thus, the well-being of these communities is translated into a primary need to guarantee their quality of life, in addition to generate a contribution to their struggle for the recognition, inclusion and guarantee of their fundamental rights. In this chapter, a bibliographic analysis was performed in order to evaluate both the conditions in which the Afro collective territories are found, and the different forms of organization of the populations entitled as community councils, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations located in the department of Cauca. In addition, a conceptual diagnosis of the multiple socioeconomic, environmental and health impacts derived from gold mining in Colombia was developed, with special interest in the studies that have been carried out in populations located in areas of great biodiversity, including the Colombian Amazon, biogeographic Chocó and Bolívar, departments in which Afro-descendant communities also live. Finally, a detailed analysis of the different aspects of mining that affect the quality of life and the welfare state of the communities is provided, and some aspects are proposed to be taken into account by the actors involved to achieve the least negative impacts of these activities, emphasizing the current state of the Colombian case