1.
Mycotoxin-Linked Mutations and Cancer Risk: A Global Health Issue.
Ekwomadu, T, Mwanza, M, Musekiwa, A
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;19(13)
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Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by fungi, which can be found in common foods like maize, wheat, nuts, and foods containing them. Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and some Penicillium toxins can alter genetic material. According to previous studies, they can damage genetic material and affect cell growth. Usage of chemicals such as fertilizers and fungicides is a common practice in the agricultural industry to protect plants from fungus and to feed them. However, fungicides can accelerate mycotoxin production. 16 studies were included in this Systematic Review and 11 in Meta-Analysis. This research looked at the harmful effects of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin, T2, zearalenone, and some Penicillium toxins in causing cancers. The researchers evaluated the link between aflatoxin exposure and liver cancer, fumonisin B1 exposure and liver cancer, zearalenone exposure and breast cancer, zearalenone exposure and cervical cancer, citrinine and patulin exposure and colorectal cancer, and NEO, HT-2, and T-2 exposure and Oesophageal cancer. This research did not show significant associations between various mycotoxins and cancer risk. As currently, most studies are primarily focused on aflatoxin; more robust studies are needed to assess the cancer risk associated with different mycotoxin exposure. Using the results of this study, healthcare professionals can gain a better understanding of how mycotoxins affect our bodies.
Abstract
Humans continue to be constantly exposed to mycotoxins, mainly through oral exposure (dietary), inhalation, or dermal contact. Recently, it has been of increasing interest to investigate mycotoxin-linked carcinogenicity. This systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence of the association between mycotoxin-linked mutations and the risk of cancer, to provide an overview of the data linking exposure to different mycotoxins with human cancer risk, and to provide an update on current research on the risk of cancer associated with human exposure to mycotoxins. PRISMA guidelines were used when conducting the systematic review. PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL electronic databases were comprehensively searched to extract the relevant studies published from inception to May 2022. A total of sixteen relevant studies (4907 participants) were identified and included in this review. Of these, twelve studies were from Asia, while four of the studies were conducted in Africa. The overall meta-analysis result found no significant association, although some of the studies confirmed an association between mycotoxin-linked mutations and primary liver cancer risk. Mainly, the experimental studies have shown associations between mycotoxin-linked mutations and cancer risk, and there is a need for researchers to confirm these links in epidemiological studies in order to guide public health policies and interventions.
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Is Air Pollution Associated with Increased Risk of Dementia? A Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Research.
Dhiman, V, Trushna, T, Raj, D, Tiwari, RR
Neurology India. 2022;70(3):1004-1019
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Several studies have indicated that there may be a link between exposure to air pollution and the development of dementia. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the risk of developing dementia, cognitive decline, and/or Alzheimer’s disease (AD) following air pollution exposure. The results showed that exposure to small particulate matter (less than 2.5 micro m) was a risk factor for the development of dementia, AD and dementia caused by blockages in the blood vessels leading to the brain. Exposure to ozone was a risk factor for AD. Carbon monoxide, large particulate matter (10 micro m and less), nitrogen dioxide, nitrous oxides, and sulphur dioxide exposure was not a risk factor for any dementia related diseases. It was concluded that exposure to certain types of pollution may be detrimental to brain health and further research is required in developing countries, where pollution exposure can be particularly high. This study could be used by health care professionals to make informed decisions on the control of air pollution in those who are at risk of developing dementia or who are already suffering from this disease. The introduction of plants and air purifiers may be of benefit to those who are vulnerable.
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are prevailing inconsistencies in epidemiological research about air pollution being a risk factor for dementia. OBJECTIVE We performed meta-analyses to calculate the pooled estimates of the risk of developing dementia due to air pollution exposure. METHODS AND MATERIALS We performed a systematic search in PubMed, Google Scholar, The Cochrane Library, and J-GATEPLUS databases for peer-reviewed epidemiological studies reporting the risk of developing all-cause dementia, cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VaD) due to exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) and less than 10 μm (PM10), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the beginning until December 2020. Meta-analysis was performed by adopting the random-effects model using Meta-XL. RESULTS In all-cause dementia, the pooled hazard ratio (HR) for PM2.5 and NO2 exposure was 1.03 [(95%CI: 1.01-1.06; I2 = 99% (P < 0.001)] and 1.00 [(95%CI: 1.00-1.01; I2 = 96% (P < 0.001)], respectively. The pooled HR for NOX was 1.00 [(95%CI: 1.00-1.01; I2 = 61% (P = 0.05)]. In AD, the pooled HRs for PM2.5 and O3 was 1.08 (95%CI: 1.01-1.15; I2 = 99% (P < 0.001)]) and 1.02 (95%CI: 0.96-1.08; I2 = 100% (P < 0.001)], respectively. In VaD, the pooled HR for PM2.5 exposure was 1.03 (95%CI: 1.01-1.06; I2 = 91% (P < 0.001)]. In NO2/NOX, the results were found to be equivocal. Meta-analysis could not be performed in cognitive decline because of wide variations in assessments methods. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed exposure to PM2.5 as a risk factor for all-cause dementia, AD, and VaD and exposure to O3 as a possible risk factor for AD. These findings can be used for policy measures and further research.
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The association between environmental exposures to chlordanes, adiposity and diabetes-related features: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Mendes, V, Ribeiro, C, Delgado, I, Peleteiro, B, Aggerbeck, M, Distel, E, Annesi-Maesano, I, Sarigiannis, D, Ramos, E
Scientific reports. 2021;11(1):14546
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Chlordane is a synthetic organochlorine pesticide used for several decades in agriculture, but also in housing for pest control. Chlordane compounds are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which means that they may affect the natural function of hormones by blocking, mimicking, displacing, or acting to subvert their roles. The aim of this study was to investigate whether exposure to chlordane compounds increases the risk of adiposity and diabetes in humans. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of 31 publications. Results demonstrate that there is no association between chlordane compounds and adiposity. However, there are higher odds of having diabetes-related features with increasing levels of all the chlordane compounds evaluated. Authors conclude that an international agreement on methods to measure both exposure and outcome variables and to conduct epidemiological studies could increase the knowledge on how adverse effects of exposure to various stressors (exposome) can influence human health.
Abstract
Chlordane compounds (CHLs) are components of technical chlordane listed in the Stockholm convention on persistent organic pollutants identified as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and may interfere with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism or action resulting in an unbalanced hormonal function. There is increasing scientific evidence showing EDCs as risk factors in the pathogenesis and development of obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndromes such as type 2 diabetes, but there is no systematized information on the effect of CHLs in humans. Our aim is to identify the epidemiological data on the association between CHLs with adiposity and diabetes using a systematic approach to identify the available data and summarizing the results through meta-analysis. We searched PubMed and Web of Science from inception up to 15 February 2021, to retrieve original data on the association between chlordanes, and adiposity or diabetes. For adiposity, regression coefficients and Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients were extracted and converted into standardized regression coefficients. Data were combined using fixed effects meta-analyses to compute summary regression coefficients and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). For the association between chlordanes and diabetes, Odds ratios (ORs) were extracted and the DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute summary estimates and respective 95% CI. For both, adjusted estimates were preferred, whenever available. Among 31 eligible studies, mostly using a cross-sectional approach, the meta-analysis for adiposity was possible only for oxychlordane and transchlordane, none of them were significantly associated with adiposity [(β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.00; 0.07, I2 = 89.7%)] and (β = 0.02, 95% CI - 0.01; 0.06), respectively. For diabetes, the estimates were positive for all compounds but statistically significant for oxychlordane [OR = 1.96 (95% CI 1.19; 3.23)]; for trans-nonachlor [OR = 2.43 (95% CI 1.64; 3.62)] and for heptachlor epoxide [OR = 1.88 (95% CI 1.42; 2.49)]. Our results support that among adults, the odds of having diabetes significantly increase with increasing levels of chlordanes. The data did not allow to reach a clear conclusion regarding the association with adiposity.
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Occupational Exposures and Neurodegenerative Diseases-A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analyses.
Gunnarsson, LG, Bodin, L
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2019;16(3)
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Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Alzheimer’s disease are the most common neurodegenerative disorders. They primarily affect ageing individuals and are characterized by a steady progressive course because of increasing loss of specific neurons in the brain. The aim of this study was to assess neurodegenerative diseases in relation to main occupational exposures and investigate the possibility of publication bias. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of sixteen studies. Results show that exposure to pesticides brought about at least 50% increased risk for contracting the neurodegenerative diseases Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, or ALS. Exposure to lead involved at least a significant risk for ALS and Parkinson’s disease while non-lead exposures did not seem to involve risk. Furthermore, occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields may increase by 10% the risk for ALS and Alzheimer’s disease.
Abstract
Objectives: To carry out an integrated and stratified meta-analysis on occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), metals and pesticides and its effects on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and investigate the possibility of publication bias. Methods: In the current study, we updated our recently published meta-analyses on occupational exposures in relation to ALS, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Based on 66 original publications of good scientific epidemiological standard, according to the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) guidelines, we analysed subgroups by carrying out stratified meta-analyses on publication year, statistical precision of the relative risk (RR) estimates, inspection of the funnel plots and test of bias. Results: Based on 19 studies the weighted RR for occupational exposure to EMFs was 1.26 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07⁻1.50) for ALS, 1.33 (95% CI 1.07⁻1.64) for Alzheimer's disease and 1.02 (95% CI 0.83⁻1.26) for Parkinson's disease. Thirty-one studies concerned occupational exposure to pesticides and the weighted RR was 1.35 (95% CI 1.02⁻1.79) for ALS, 1.50 (95% CI 0.98⁻2.29) for Alzheimer's disease and 1.66 (95% CI 1.42⁻1.94) for Parkinson's disease. Finally, 14 studies concerned occupational exposure to metals and only exposure to lead (five studies) involved an elevated risk for ALS or Parkinson's disease and the weighted RR was 1.57 (95% CI 1.11⁻2.20). The weighted RR for all the non-lead exposures was 0.97 (95% CI 0.88⁻1.06). Conclusions: Exposure to pesticides increased the risk of getting the mentioned neurodegenerative diseases by at least 50%. Exposure to lead was only studied for ALS and Parkinson's disease and involved 50% increased risk. Occupational exposure to EMFs seemed to involve some 10% increase in risk for ALS and Alzheimer's disease only.