Because most chickens are reared in intensive farms, where a range of feed additives are used routinely, concerns have been raised on the potential public health risk of chicken product consumption. This study was conducted to characterize the contents of trace metals in fresh chicken tissues (354 samples) on the food markets in Guangdong province of southern China, a major region of chicken production with heavy per capita chicken consumption, and to assess the public health risk from chronic dietary exposure to the trace metals through chicken consumption. With the exception of Cr, Ni, and Pb, the contents of trace metals were generally higher in the chicken giblets (livers, gizzards, hearts, and kidneys) compared to muscles (breasts and drumsticks). Chicken tissues from the urban markets generally contained higher levels of As, Cu, Mn, and Zn than those from the rural markets, while the contents of Pb were typically higher in the chicken muscles from the rural markets. Results of statistical analyses indicate that Cu, Zn, and As in the chicken tissues derived mainly from the feeds, which is consistent with the widespread use of Cu, Zn, and phenylarsenic compounds as feed supplements/additives in intensive poultry farming. No non-carcinogenic risk is found with the consumption of fresh chicken meat products on the food markets, while approximately 70% of the adult population in Guangzhou and 30% of those in Lianzhou have bladder and lung cancer risk above the serious or priority level (10⁻⁴), which arises from the inorganic arsenic contained in the chicken tissues. These findings indicate that the occurrence of inorganic arsenic at elevated levels in chicken tissues on the food markets in Guangdong province poses a significant public health risk, thus the use of phenylarsenic feed additives in China's poultry farming should be significantly reduced and eventually phased out.

In this study, we clarified the accumulation and concentration of Cs, Na, and K in each organ (leaves, stem, and panicle) of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) under NaCl application condition. Pot experiments using Wagner pots (1/5000a) were conducted in an experimental field at Nihon University in 2018 and 2019, using quinoa variety CICA-127. The growth of quinoa as well as Cs accumulation and concentration was promoted by increasing the amount of NaCl applied. Quinoa accumulated most of the Cs in the leaves, and it was not translocated from the leaves to panicle after the seed filling stage. Cs accumulation by the aboveground parts under NaCl application was at least four times higher than that in the control. Accumulation of Na in stem was highest among organs. The quinoa plants had the mechanism to accumulate Na in the stem. Quinoa has bladder cells on the leaf surface, and excess Na accumulates in these cells. It is unknown whether bladder cells are present on the surface of the stem. Since Cs and Na inhibited the growth of plants, it is necessary to clarify the suppression method of stunting by Cs and Na. Thus, we believe that quinoa can be used for phytoremediation of Cs. Quinoa varieties with high Cs absorption need to be selected for effective phytoremediation in the future experiment.

The main objectives of our study were to evaluate soil contamination on a zinc-lead spoil heap in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland using pollution indices, and to investigate the relation between soil properties and the natural succession of vegetation. Organic carbon and nitrogen, pH, soil texture, base cations, and heavy metal content were analyzed in soil samples at depths of 0–15 cm below the organic horizon over a regular grid of 14 sampling plots. The contents of Zn, Pb, and Cd exceeded by several times the acceptable thresholds. Measurements of soil enzyme activity were used to evaluate the progress of vegetation development in relation to soil chemical properties. The results indicate that heavy metals had a significant impact on soil enzyme activity and the development of vegetation cover. High contents of Pb and Cd reduced enzyme activity, while this activity increased with increasing amounts of soil organic matter. Further, the accumulative capacities of heavy metals in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and aboveground biomass of bladder campion (Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke) were examined. A high accumulation of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the aboveground tissues of S. vulgaris indicated an unusual tolerance of this species to heavy metals and the possibility of using this species in phytoremediation of post-industrial sites.

To evaluate Cu and Zn levels in bladder cancer (BC) patients and their relationship with expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). Plasma levels of Cu and Zn were determined in 66 transitional bladder cell carcinoma patients (BC group) and 60 matched controls. The concentration of Cu and Zn as well as the expressions of both VEGF and HIF-1 were also estimated in cancerous and non-cancerous bladder tissues in the BC group. The results showed that plasma Cu and Cu/Zn ratio were significantly higher in BC group when compared with the control group. In contrast, the plasma Zn in BC group was significantly lower than in the controls. Comparing levels of Cu and Zn in cancerous and non-cancerous bladder tissues among the BC group indicated a significantly higher Cu levels in the cancerous tissues, while Zn levels was significantly lower. There were higher expressions of both VEGF and HIF-1 in the cancerous samples. Moreover, the Cu concentration in cancerous tissues was significantly correlated with expressions of VEGF and HIF-1. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the increase in plasma Cu/Zn ratio and plasma Cu and the decrease in plasma Zn may be risk factors for development of bladder cancer. We concluded that alteration of plasma and bladder tissue levels of both Cu and Zn is correlated with pathogenesis of bladder cancer. The increase in Cu level in cancerous tissues of BC group has an important role in angiogenesis in bladder cancer cells.

Bladder cancer is a significant disease, the rates of which have increased over the few last years. However, its etiology remains as yet undefined. Cadmium, a widespread environmental carcinogen that has received considerable interest, presents evidence as a possible cause of bladder cancer. A literature review was conducted from the years 1984–2013 to study the accumulated evidence for cadmium as a possible cause of bladder cancer, including routes of cadmium exposure, accumulation, toxicity, carcinogenicity, and evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies. Special reference is devoted to cadmium nephrotoxicity, which illustrates how cadmium exerts its effects on the transitional epithelium of the urinary tract. Mechanisms of carcinogenesis are discussed. The effects of cadmium on gene expression in urothelial cells exposed to cadmium are also addressed. Despite different methodologies, several epidemiologic and nephrotoxicity studies of cadmium indicate that occupational exposure to cadmium is associated with increased risk of bladder cancer and provide additional evidence that cadmium is a potential toxic element in urothelial cells. In vitro studies provide further evidence that cadmium is involved in urothelial carcinogenesis. Animal studies encounter several problems such as morphology differences between species. Among the complex mechanisms of cadmium carcinogenesis, gene expression deregulation is the subject of recent studies on bladder cadmium-induced carcinogenesis. Further research, however, will be required to promise a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying cadmium carcinogenesis and to establish the precise role of cadmium in this important malignancy.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the secondary biological treatment plant effluent administration on the kidneys, urinary bladder, and testis of Wistar rats in relation to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation, since such an effluent is used for irrigation of edible plants. Male Wistar rats, randomly assigned into 5 groups, were treated with domestic sewage effluent (DSE) for 24 months. Cadmium and lead concentrations in the DSE, rats’ tissues, and urine were estimated by means of atomic spectroscopy. Lead was rapidly accumulated in high amounts in rats’ kidney and to a lesser extent in the testis whereas Cd concentration was raised in all tissues examined. Deposition of Cd and Pd in the kidney of the rats resulted in profound damage over time. The results showed that long-term administration to DSE as drinking water exposes living organisms to urogenital stress related to heavy metal concentration and pH of the effluent.

Outdoor air pollution may be associated with cancer risk at different sites. This study sought to investigate outdoor air pollution from waste gas emission effects on multiple cancer incidences in a retrospective population-based study in Shanghai, China. Trends in cancer incidence for males and females and trends in waste gas emissions for the total waste gas, industrial waste gas, other waste gas, SO₂, and soot were investigated between 1983 and 2010 in Shanghai, China. Regression models after adjusting for confounding variables were constructed to estimate associations between waste gas emissions and multiple cancer incidences in the whole group and stratified by sex, Engel coefficient, life expectancy, and number of doctors per 10,000 populations to further explore whether changes of waste gas emissions were associated with multiple cancer incidences. More than 550,000 new cancer patients were enrolled and reviewed. Upward trends in multiple cancer incidences for males and females and in waste gas emissions were observed from 1983 to 2010 in Shanghai, China. Waste gas emissions came mainly from industrial waste gas. Waste gas emissions was significantly positively associated with cancer incidence of salivary gland, small intestine, colorectal, anus, gallbladder, thoracic organs, connective and soft tissue, prostate, kidney, bladder, thyroid, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, lymphatic leukemia, myeloid leukemia, and other unspecified sites (all p < 0.05). Negative association between waste gas emissions and the esophagus cancer incidence was observed (p < 0.05). The results of the whole group were basically consistent with the results of the stratified analysis. The results from this retrospective population-based study suggest ambient air pollution from waste gas emissions was associated with multiple cancer incidences.

There is a compelling evidence in support of negative associations between essential trace and toxic elements in different types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between carcinogenic (As, Cd, Ni) and anti-carcinogenic (Se, Zn) trace elements in scalp hair samples of different male cancerous patients (esophagus, lung, mouth, and urinary bladder). For comparative purposes, the scalp hair samples of healthy males of the same age group (ranged 35–65 years) as controls were analyzed. Both controls and patients have the same socioeconomic status, localities, dietary habits, and smoking locally made cigarette. The scalp hair samples were oxidized by 65 % nitric acid: 30 % hydrogen peroxide (2:1) ratio in microwave oven followed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity and accuracy of the methodology were checked using certified reference material of human hair BCR 397. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, and Ni were found to be significantly higher in scalp hair samples of patients having different cancers as compared to the controls, while reverse results were obtained in the case of Se and Zn levels (p < 0.01). The study revealed that the carcinogenic processes are significantly affecting the trace elements burden and mutual interaction of essential trace and toxic elements in the cancerous patients.

Prior investigations identified an association between low-level blood arsenic (As) and bladder cancer risk among Tunisian men but questions remain regarding confounding by cadmium (Cd), a well-established bladder carcinogen. A case-control study of Tunisian men was re-examined to assess the levels of cadmium in blood and reparse the association between the simultaneous exposure to these metals and bladder cancer risk. Levels of blood Cd were significantly twice higher among cases than in controls (P < 0.05) and were positively correlated with smoking and age. Additionally, analysis of metal levels among non-smokers according to the region of residence showed very high blood Cd and As levels for the coastal regions of Sfax and central Tunisia. After controlling for potential confounders, for low blood As levels (<0.67 μg/L), the OR for blood Cd was 4.10 (95 % CI 1.64-10.81), while for higher levels (>0.67 μg/L), it was reduced to 2.10 (CI, 1.06-4.17). Adjustment for Cd exposure did not alter the risk associated to As exposure. This study is the first to report the relationship between Cd exposure and risk of bladder cancer occurrence in interaction with smoking and As exposure. Smoking is shown to be the main exposure source to Cd in the Tunisian population but also environmental pollution seems to be responsible of Cd exposure among non-smokers. Exposure assessment studies encompassing a wider population are needed.

The global distribution of microplastic (particle size < 5 mm) is of growing concern, especially in aquatic environments where it may cause adverse effects on resident organisms. To date, however, few studies have focused on the impacts of microplastic on aquatic plants. Here, we conducted a microcosm study to investigate the toxic effects of microplastic on the carnivorous aquatic macrophyte Utricularia aurea Lour. Based on microscopic images and Raman spectrum analysis, we found that most polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles were smaller than the valve of U. aurea bladders, thus allowing entrance into the plant, but this was not so for polyethylene (PE) particles. Furthermore, PVC (50 mg L⁻¹) had significantly negative effects on growth and physiological parameters such as macrophyte length, chlorophyll content, and fluorescence, whereas, at the same concentration, PE had no such effects. Further analysis revealed that after bladder removal, the macrophytes did not respond to PVC particle toxicity. Thus, intake of microplastics (i.e., PVC) through bladders is likely responsible for inducing toxic effects to the growth and physiological parameters of U. aurea.