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Okeke ES, Nwankwo CE, Ezeorba TPC, Iloh VC, Enochoghene AE. Occurrence and ecotoxicological impacts of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in electronic waste (e-waste) in Africa: Options for sustainable and eco-friendly management strategies. Toxicology 2024; 506:153848. [PMID: 38825032 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent contaminants used as flame retardants in electronic products. PBDEs are contaminants of concern due to leaching and recalcitrance conferred by the stable and hydrophobic bromide residues. The near absence of legislatures and conscious initiatives to tackle the challenges of PBDEs in Africa has allowed for the indiscriminate use and consequent environmental degradation. Presently, the incidence, ecotoxicity, and remediation of PBDEs in Africa are poorly elucidated. Here, we present a position on the level of contamination, ecotoxicity, and management strategies for PBDEs with regard to Africa. Our review shows that Africa is inundated with PBDEs from the proliferation of e-waste due to factors like the increasing growth in the IT sector worsened by the procurement of second-hand gadgets. An evaluation of the fate of PBDEs in the African environment reveals that the environment is adequately contaminated, although reported in only a few countries like Nigeria and Ghana. Ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and Soxhlet extraction coupled with specific chromatographic techniques are used in the detection and quantification of PBDEs. Enormous exposure pathways in humans were highlighted with health implications. In terms of the removal of PBDEs, we found a gap in efforts in this direction, as not much success has been reported in Africa. However, we outline eco-friendly methods used elsewhere, including microbial degradation, zerovalent iron, supercritical fluid, and reduce, reuse, recycle, and recovery methods. The need for Africa to make and implement legislatures against PBDEs holds the key to reduced effect on the continent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of Emergency Management, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria; Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria; College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Deanery of Molecular, Genetic and Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Chidiebele Emmanuel Nwankwo
- Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria; School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Timothy Prince Chidike Ezeorba
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria; Department of Environmental Health and Risk Management, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Veronica Chisom Iloh
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
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Sandoval MA, Calzadilla W, Vidal J, Brillas E, Salazar-González R. Contaminants of emerging concern: Occurrence, analytical techniques, and removal with electrochemical advanced oxidation processes with special emphasis in Latin America. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123397. [PMID: 38272166 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in environmental systems is gradually more studied worldwide. However, in Latin America, the presence of contaminants of emerging concern, together with their environmental and toxicological impacts, has recently been gaining wide interest in the scientific community. This paper presents a critical review about the source, fate, and occurrence of distinct emerging contaminants reported during the last two decades in various countries of Latin America. In recent years, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia are the main countries that have conducted research on the presence of these pollutants in biological and aquatic compartments. Data gathered indicated that pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and personal care products are the most assessed CECs in Latin America, being the most common compounds the followings: atrazine, acenaphthene, caffeine, carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, diuron, estrone, losartan, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim. Most common analytical methodologies for identifying these compounds were HPLC and GC coupled with mass spectrometry with the potential to characterize and quantify complex substances in the environment at low concentrations. Most CECs' monitoring and detection were observed near to urban areas which confirm the out-of-date wastewater treatment plants and sanitization infrastructures limiting the removal of these pollutants. Therefore, the implementation of tertiary treatment should be required. In this tenor, this review also summarizes some studies of CECs removal using electrochemical advanced oxidation processes that showed satisfactory performance. Finally, challenges, recommendations, and future perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Sandoval
- Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Guanajuato, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Carretera Estatal Guanajuato-Puentecillas Km. 10.5, 36262, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Wendy Calzadilla
- Research Group of Analysis, Treatments, Electrochemistry, Recovery and Reuse of Water, (WATER2), Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Química y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Jorge Vidal
- Departamento de Química de Los Materiales, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile
| | - Enric Brillas
- Laboratori d'Electroquímica dels Materials i del Medi Ambient, Departament de Ciència de Materials i de Química Física, Facultat de Química, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1-11, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricardo Salazar-González
- Departamento de Química de Los Materiales, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Chile.
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Martins MF, Costa PG, Guerreiro ADS, Bianchini A. Consequences of prenatal exposure to contaminants in elasmobranchs: Biochemical outcomes during the embryonic development of Pseudobatos horkelii. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 323:121276. [PMID: 36791946 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Coastal elasmobranchs are vulnerable to chemicals mostly due to their k-strategic life history characteristics and high trophic positions. Embryos might be particularly exposed through the maternal offloading of contaminants, possibly leading to disruptions during critical developmental phases. Yet, knowledge on biochemical outcomes of prenatal exposure in elasmobranchs is notably limited. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to contaminants in embryos of the critically endangered Brazilian guitarfish, Pseudobatos horkelii. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and metals were determined in embryos. Additionally, glutathione S-transferase activity (GST), glutathione (GSH), and metallothionein levels (MT) were analyzed. Finally, lipid peroxidation levels (LPO) and protein carbonyl groups (PCO) were assessed. Embryonic exposure depended on yolk consumption, which was conspicuous in earlier development. We observed a dilution effect of contaminants levels, potentially related to biotransformation of these compounds throughout the embryonic development. Nevertheless, GST was not correlated to contaminant concentrations. The multivariate relationship between antioxidant components (GSH and GST) and LPO and PCO was negative, suggesting the lack of efficient defense of these biomarkers in early development, leading to oxidative damage. In this context, our results indicate that prenatal exposure to contaminants might impact the redox status in embryos of P. horkelii, leading to oxidative damage. Furthermore, metal concentrations influenced MT levels, suggesting this as a potential detoxification pathway in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana F Martins
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, 96203-900, Brazil.
| | - Patrícia G Costa
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Amanda da S Guerreiro
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo - USP. Rua do Matão, Trav. 14, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Adalto Bianchini
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Av. Itália Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, 96203-900, Brazil
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Muñoz-Arnanz J, Bartalini A, Alves L, Lemos MF, Novais SC, Jiménez B. Occurrence and distribution of persistent organic pollutants in the liver and muscle of Atlantic blue sharks: Relevance and health risks. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 309:119750. [PMID: 35839970 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Blue shark score among the most abundant, widely distributed and worldwide consumed elasmobranchs. In this work contents of PCBs, PCDD/Fs and PBDEs were studied by means of GC-HRMS in muscle and liver of sixty blue sharks from the North East Atlantic sampled in 2019. Concentrations relatively similar were found for PCBs and PCDD/Fs in comparison with those in Atlantic specimens from the same area sampled in 2015. In contrast, PBDE loads doubled, likely mirroring the increased environmental presence of these pollutants. This, together with the different congener profiles reported for the same species in other geographical areas, highlighted the blue shark's potential as bioindicator of the degree and fingerprints of regional pollution by POPs. Interesting dissimilarities between muscle and liver concentrations were detected, most likely ascribed to distinct toxicokinetics involved for the different pollutants. Whereas most POPs preferentially accumulated in liver, some did the opposite in muscle. BDE-209 was the most prominent example, being almost negligible its presence in liver (0.3%) while accounting for ca. 14% of the total PBDE content in muscle. Different findings in this regard described for other shark species call for focused research to ascertain the role of the species in this apparent favored metabolization of BDE-209 in the liver. From a consumption perspective, the concentrations found in muscle -the most relevant part in the human diet-for PCBs and dioxin-like POPs were below the EU maximum allowed levels in foodstuff. Conversely, in liver about 58% and 78% of samples overpassed the European levels for tolerable intake of i-PCBs and dioxin POPs, respectively. Concentrations of PBDEs exceeded EQS (0.0085 ng/g w.w.) established by the European Water Framework Directive in 100% and 92% of liver and muscle samples, respectively, which adds to the open debate of such as a reduce value for this current EQS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Muñoz-Arnanz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alice Bartalini
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Alves
- MARE- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Marco Fl Lemos
- MARE- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Sara C Novais
- MARE- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET - Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
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