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Physico-chemical and biological remediation techniques for the elimination of endocrine-disrupting hazardous chemicals

Wu Y, Liu Y, Kamyab H, Rajasimman M, Rajamohan N, Ngo GH, et al.

Environ Res, 2023 Sep 01;232:116363.
PMID: 37295587 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116363

Due to their widespread occurrence and detrimental effects on human health and the environment, endocrine-disrupting hazardous chemicals (EDHCs) have become a significant concern. Therefore, numerous physicochemical and biological remediation techniques have been developed to eliminate EDHCs from various environmental matrices. This review paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art remediation techniques for eliminating EDHCs. The physicochemical methods include adsorption, membrane filtration, photocatalysis, and advanced oxidation processes. The biological methods include biodegradation, phytoremediation, and microbial fuel cells. Each technique's effectiveness, advantages, limitations, and factors affecting their performance are discussed. The review also highlights recent developments and future perspectives in EDHCs remediation. This review provides valuable insights into selecting and optimizing remediation techniques for EDHCs in different environmental matrices.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity
Are deep eutectic solvents benign or toxic?

Hayyan M, Hashim MA, Hayyan A, Al-Saadi MA, AlNashef IM, Mirghani ME, et al.

Chemosphere, 2013 Feb;90(7):2193-5.
PMID: 23200570 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.11.004

In continuation of investigation for environmentally benign protocol for new solvents termed deep eutectic solvents (DESs), it is herein reported results concerning the toxicity and cytotoxicity of choline chloride (ChCl) based DESs with four hydrogen bond donors including glycerine, ethylene glycol, triethylene glycol and urea. The toxicity was investigated using two Gram positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, and two Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The cytotoxicity effect was tested using the Artemia salina leach. It was found that there was no toxic effect for the tested DESs on all of the studied bacteria confirming their benign effects on these bacteria. Nevertheless, it was found that the cytotoxicity of DESs was much higher than their individual components (e.g. glycerine, ChCl) indicating that their toxicological behavior is different. For our best knowledge this is the first time that toxicity and cytotoxicity of DESs were studied. The toxicity and cytotoxicity of DESs varied depending on the structure of components. Careful usage of the terms non-toxicity and biodegradability must be considered. More investigation on this matter is required.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity*
Impact of Harvesting on a Bioeconomic Predator-Prey Fishery Model Subject to Environmental Toxicant

Ang TK, Safuan HM, Sidhu HS, Jovanoski Z, Towers IN

Bull Math Biol, 2019 07;81(7):2748-2767.
PMID: 31201660 DOI: 10.1007/s11538-019-00627-8

The present paper studies a predator-prey fishery model which incorporates the independent harvesting strategies and nonlinear impact of an anthropogenic toxicant. Both fish populations are harvested with different harvesting efforts, and the cases for the presence and non-presence of harvesting effort are discussed. The prey fish population is assumed to be infected by the toxicant directly which causes indirect infection to predator fish population through the feeding process. Each equilibrium of the proposed system is examined by analyzing the respective local stability properties. Dynamical behavior and bifurcations are studied with the assistance of threshold conditions influencing the persistence and extinction of both predator and prey. Bionomic equilibrium solutions for three possible cases are investigated with certain restrictions. Optimal harvesting policy is explored by utilizing the Pontryagin's Maximum Principle to optimize the profit while maintaining the sustainability of the marine ecosystem. Bifurcation analysis showed that the harvesting parameters are the key elements causing fishery extinction. Numerical simulations of bionomic and optimal equilibrium solutions showed that the presence of toxicant has a detrimental effect on the fish populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity
Fulltext Occupational and Environmental Risk Factors Influencing the Inducement of Erythema among Nigerian Laboratory University Workers with Multiple Chemical Exposures

Reuben U, Ismail AF, Ahmad AL, Maina HM, Daud A

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019 04 13;16(8).
PMID: 31013942 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081334

: The chemicals from laboratories pose a significant risk forinducing erythema, an abnormal redness of the skin, as a result of poor occupational and environmental factors that promote hypersensitivity to a chemical agent. The aim of this present study was to determine the occupational and environmental risk factors influencing the inducement of erythema in laboratory workers due to exposure to chemicals. This was a cross-sectional study on a population-based sample of Nigerian university laboratory workers. Data were collected using the erythema index meter and an indoor air control meter. The study included 287 laboratory workers. The laboratory workers who properly used personal protective equipment (PPE) were 60% less likely to have induced erythema (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.40; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.22-0.77; probability value p = 0.011). The chemical mixture exceeding the permissible exposure limit (PEL) was found to have a small effect in inducing the erythema (AOR = 4.22; 95%CI: 2.88-12.11; p = 0.004). Most of the sampled laboratories where the respondents worked had unsuitable temperatures (AOR = 8.21; 95% CI: 4.03-15.01; p = 0.001). Erythema was more frequently found in the respondents who spent 4-5h in the laboratory (AOR = 3.11; 95%CI: 1.77-9.23; p = 0.001). However, high levels of ventilation reduce the likelihood of erythema in a laboratory by 82% (0.18). Multiple logistic regressions revealed that PPE, PEL, exposure time, temperature, and ventilation were the probable predictive factors associated with the inducement of erythema. Providing better educational knowledge and improving the attitude towards hazards and safety in a laboratory would lead to reduced rates of new cases.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity*
Bioluminescent method for the rapid screening of toxic heayy metals in environmental samples using Photobacterium leiognathi strain AK-MIE

Kassim A, Halmi MIE, Gani SSA, Zaidan UH, Othman R, Mahmud K, et al.

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2020 Jun 15;196:110527.
PMID: 32278138 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110527

Assessment of eco-toxicant using bioluminescent bacterial assay is a widely used and globally accepted method. In this work, a new luminescent bacterium was isolated from squid (Loligo duvauceli) and identified as Photobacterium leiognathi strain AK-MIE using 16S rRNA, phylogeny analysis. The predicted optimum conditions by RSM were 2.76% (w/v) NaCl, 2.28% (w/v) peptone, 0.34% (w/v) yeast extract, and pH 6.83 with 541,211.80 RLU of luminescent production whereas the predicted optimum conditions by ANN were 2.21% (w/v) NaCl, 2.27% (w/v) peptone, 0.39% (w/v) yeast extract, and pH 6.94 which produced 541,986.20 RLU. The validation analysis of both RSM and ANN show 0.60% and 0.69% deviation from the predicted results indicating that both models provided good quality predictions with ANN showing a superior data fitting capability for non-linear regression analysis. Toxicity tests show strain AK-MIE was sensitive to mercury (concentration causing 50% inhibition or IC50 of 0.00978 mgL-1), followed by cadmium (IC50 of 0.5288 mgL-1), copper IC50 of (0.8117 mgL-1), silver (IC50 of 1.109 mgL-1), and lead (IC50 of 10.71 mgL-1) which are more sensitive than previously isolated luminescent bacteria, suggesting that strain AK-MIE has the potential to be used in toxicity assessment of heavy metals in the environment. Based on the field trial results, several sediment samples from industrial areas in Bangi, Selangor managed to inhibit the bioluminescence of strain AK-MIE. Validation method carried out using ICP-MS proved the presence of several toxic heavy metal elements.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity
Improving safety-related knowledge, attitude and practices of nurses handling cytotoxic anticancer drug: pharmacists' experience in a general hospital, Malaysia

Keat CH, Sooaid NS, Yun CY, Sriraman M

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(1):69-73.
PMID: 23534806

BACKGROUND: An increasing trend of cytotoxic drug use, mainly in cancer treatment, has increased the occupational exposure among the nurses. This study aimed to assess the change of nurses' safety-related knowledge as well as attitude levels and subsequently to assess the change of cytotoxic drug handling practices in wards after a series of pharmacist-based interventions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective interventional study with a before and after design requested a single group of 96 nurses in 15 wards actively providing chemotherapy to answer a self-administered questionnaire. A performance checklist was then used to determine the compliance of all these wards with the recommended safety measures. The first and second assessments took 2 months respectively with a 9-month intervention period. Pharmacist-based interventions included a series of technical, educational and administrative support measures consisting of the initiation of closed-system cytotoxic drug reconstitution (CDR) services, courses, training workshops and guideline updates.
RESULTS: The mean age of nurses was 32.2∓6.19 years. Most of them were female (93.8%) and married (72.9%). The mean knowledge score of nurses was significantly increased from 45.5∓10.52 to 73.4∓8.88 out of 100 (p<0.001) at the end of the second assessment. Overall, the mean practice score among the wards was improved from 7.6∓5.51 to 15.3∓2.55 out of 20 (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacist-based interventions improved the knowledge, attitude and safe practices of nurses in cytotoxic drug handling. Further assessment may help to confirm the sustainability of the improved practices.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity*
Analysis of the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools at the industrial workplace

Ta GC, Mokhtar MB, Mohd Mokhtar HA, Ismail AB, Abu Yazid MF

Ind Health, 2010;48(6):835-44.
PMID: 20616463

Chemical classification and labelling systems may be roughly similar from one country to another but there are significant differences too. In order to harmonize various chemical classification systems and ultimately provide consistent chemical hazard communication tools worldwide, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) was endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Several countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Malaysia, are now in the process of implementing GHS. It is essential to ascertain the comprehensibility of chemical hazard communication tools that are described in the GHS documents, namely the chemical labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Comprehensibility Testing (CT) was carried out with a mixed group of industrial workers in Malaysia (n=150) and factors that influence the comprehensibility were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The ability of the respondents to retrieve information from the SDS was also tested in this study. The findings show that almost all the GHS pictograms meet the ISO comprehension criteria and it is concluded that the underlying core elements that enhance comprehension of GHS pictograms and which are also essential in developing competent persons in the use of SDS are training and education.

Matched MeSH terms: Hazardous Substances/toxicity*