12^th International Conference on Environmental Toxicology and Ecological Risk Assessment October 19-20, 2017 Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Biography:

Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez is master in industrial engineering and student doctorate in Sciences and Technologies applied to Industrial Engineering at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain. She is of Mexican nationality. She is expertise in Radiofrequency Waves, Geostatistical, Science Education and Active Learning Physics. She has published papers in Journals with high Impact Factor and has serving as editorial member of journals. She has participated as a speaker in conferences nationally and internationally. She has conducted research stays in some countries such as Cuba, Spain and Mexico. Also, she has been a professor at the Higher Technological Institute of Tamazunchale, Mexico for six years.

Abstract:

Simultaneously with the increase of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) in recent decades, there has been increasing concern about their potential relation with the etiology of several tumors. Now, the techniques of spatial data analysis jointly with the study of the personal exposure to these fields offer a new approach to the problem. This paper presents the results of an epidemiological study, combining Epidemiology, Statistics and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), in which we analyzed the correlation between exposure to RF-EMF in the city of Albacete (166,000 inhabitants, southeast Spain) and the incidence of several cancers with unspecific causes. We used statistical tools to analyze the spatial point patterns and aggregate data with the aim to study the spatial randomness and to determine the zones with the highest incidence from 95 tumors studied (65 lymphomas, 12 gliomas and 18 meningiomas). We also perform a correlation (Spearman) study between the personal exposure to RF-EMF in 14 frequency bands, recorded by an EME Spy 140 (Satimo) exposimeter in the city's administrative regions, and the incidence of the tumors registered from January 2012 to May 2015. Based on the two performed analyses, we conclude that the studied cancer cases have a random spatial distribution inside the city. On the other hand, the exposure to RF-EMF registered in the city of Albacete shows little correlation with the incidence of the studied tumors (gliomas (0.15), meningiomas (0.19) and lymphomas (-0.03)). Both the spatial point patterns study and the aggregate data analysis clearly show the spatial randomness of the studied tumors (meningiomas, gliomas and lymphomas) in the city of Albacete. Likewise, comparing the Figure 1, we can observe that for both the different tumors and their groups, that the zones with the highest incidence inside the city are similar independently of the type of analysis used. The proposed methodology inaugurates an unexplored analysis path in this field.

Biography:

N Al-Jandal has her expertise in Ecotoxicology and Fish Physiology. She has completed her PhD at the University of Exeter-United Kingdom. She is an Associate Research Scientist in Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research.

Abstract:

The pollution of coastal regions worldwide has been of a great concern due to the presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These chemicals find their way to the marine environment via the sewage treatment plants (STPs). Hence, this study investigated the status and sources of EDCs and effect on fish in Kuwait’s coastal areas. The assessment of three STPs indicated the presence of significant levels of phthalates (19 and 31 μg/l), alkylphenols (85 and 159 ng/l), and estrogens (30 and 368 ng/l) in both inflow and outflow samples. The analysis of samples from field exposure sites revealed significant levels of EDCs in seawater (phthalates: 2.1 to 4.6 μg/l; alkylphenols: 1.2 to 16.4 ng/l; estrogens: 0 to 36.2 ng/l) and sediment (phthalates: 2.1 to 15.7 mg/kg dry wt; alkyphenols: 2.5 to 15.1 μg/kg dry wt.; estrogens: 4.1 to 214.2 μg/kg dry wt.) samples. The biological perspective investigated through fish exposure to sewage outlets at five sites. The hepatosomatic index (HSI) revealed a higher level in winter samples (0.48% to 0.79%) in comparison to summer samples (1% to 1.5%). Histological observation of hepatic tissue of fish exposed during winter months in all sites, showed much less necrotic changes and hepatic vacuolation in the hepatic tissue of summer exposed fish. Immunohistochemistry evidences revealed a significant level of positive signals and Vtg localization in the hepatic tissue as the results support the histopathological alterations observed. Overall, the study suggests that there is possible local source or a chronic input of untreated and/or partially treated water due to the significant levels of phthalates, alkyphenols and estrogens detected in the Kuwait Bay. These levels were enough to initiate alteration in the hepatic tissue of fish exposed to the sewage outlets in Kuwait for two weeks.

Biography:

Olurominiyi O Ibitayo is working as a Professor in Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas. He received his PhD in Public Administration at Arizona State University. His research interests are in the areas of environmental and occupational risk assessment/analysis, environmental justice, neighborhood-level research and emergency management. His publications have appeared in reputable journals such as Risk Analysis, Journal of Hazardous Materials, Journal of Emergency Management and HortScience.

Abstract:

Using Lagos, Nigeria as a case study this research provides empirical information about the scavenging of obsolete electronic equipment in sub-Saharan Africa. Elements of the study include; investigating the perceptions of e-waste scavengers about the human health and environmental effects of e-waste, the reported levels of the adverse health effects of e-waste on the scavengers and the extent of the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by the e-waste scavengers. The results show that the scavengers perceived low levels of the toxicity of obsolete electronic equipment not only to human health but also to the environment. For example, more than 90% of the respondents indicated that mercury, chromium, beryllium, cadmium, PCBs and CFCs are “not toxic/not at all toxic” or only “somewhat toxic” to human health or to the environment. Regarding the use of PPE, almost 90 percent of the respondents “never” or only “sometimes” used/wear gloves, goggles, nose masks or overalls. In addition, site observations indicate that many of the scavengers use ineffective PPE such as using plastic bags as nose or face masks or as gloves. Subsequently, more than 70 percent of the respondents reported that they have experienced skin irritation, chest pain, and headache, burning sensation, weakness and cough. Regarding the scavengers’ exposure to e-waste, almost 80 percent of the respondents have been scavenging for at least four years, and about 70 percent spend at least five hours per day on the e-waste landfills. The implications of the study for public policy regarding the management of obsolete electronic equipment are discussed.

Biography:

Edna P Oconer has her expertise in histopathology and reproductive biology. She has completed her Post-doctoral degree in Reproductive Physiology and PhD in Biology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus. Currently, she is a Professor VI and Director of the Research and Development Center of Mindanao State University, General Santos City, Philippines.

Abstract:

The study evaluated heavy metal load particularly lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) in the waters, sediments, fishes and shellfishes and seaweeds taken from 10 sampling stations along Sarangani Bay covering three sampling periods over a year. Levels of heavy metals were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-AES). Metal load in water follows the order Hg>Pb>Cd across stations and periods with highest mean concentration at Station 1 (Maitum), Station 3 (Maasim), Station 5 (Tambler) for Hg, Pb and Cd, respectively. For sediments, Pb showed significant difference across stations and periods with Station 10 having the highest mean concentration. Pollution Load Index (PLI) in sediments attained values >1 with highest (9.67) at Station 1 (Maitum). Extent of anthropogenic influence has been found to be very high for Pb in Station 7 (Bula) and extremely high for Hg and Cd in Station 3 (Maasim station). The accumulation of heavy metals in liver tissue of fishes and soft tissue of shellfishes was species dependent. In both fishes and shellfishes, the concentration of Pb and Cd in most organisms was found to be below the threshold. Mercury load however, was found to have exceeded the permissible levels in some fishes and shellfishes. Qualitative evaluation employed the use of histopathological technique. Results showed that 25 out of 30 reef fish liver samples and 11 out of 15 shellfish samples investigated manifest histological alterations in varying degrees of tissue change using Poleksic and Mitrovic-Tutundzic modified scale of Degree of Tissue Change (DTC). The histological changes observed in various marine fauna may be linked to the bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals observed in the said bay as a result of various anthropogenic factors.

Biography:

Christopher N Nwankwo is a final year PhD student of the University of Edinburgh, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. He has studied Microbiology at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria and has completed his Master’s degree in Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. He has major interests in Environmental and Industrial Microbiology using modern Biotechnology and Molecular Biology approaches for the detection of toxins in environmental samples.

Abstract:

The main sources of human exposure to environmental toxins are water and food. According to WHO, various types of public health problems ranging from liver and kidney malfunctions, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diarrhea, etc., have been implicated in recurrent exposure to toxic substances. Heavy metals are essential micronutrients that play important roles in many biological
processes in microorganisms, plants and animals. However, at elevated concentrations, all heavy metals become toxic as they inhibit the normal biological processes in living organisms. The Gutzeit method, the basic method of arsenic assay, gives accurate measurement but adds to public health problem as the toxic arsine gas produced by the reduction of arsenite and arsenate reacts with mercuric salts to generate a colored compound. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry, ICP mass spectrometry and atomic fluorescence detection are also employed in detecting heavy metals in environmental samples, but these methods are expensive, laborious and less sensitive, and usually require trained staff and sophisticated facilities. The employment of whole-cell biosensors using recombinant DNA technology can prove possible alternative for solving these problems. This involves the use of genetically modified bacteria to generate signals which are detectable when exposed to the analyte(s) of interest. This study aimed to develop a disposable, simple, cheap and accurate biosensor device for co-detection of heavy metals and coliforms in drinking water. The results obtained showed that a pre-existing arsenic biosensor detected arsenate level below 10 ppb. The newly developed zinc and copper biosensors accurately detected zinc, lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, silver and gold concentrations below the recommended WHO limits. Since the whole-cell biosensors of interest in this project work by detecting growth, we aim to adapt them to additionally detect the growth of other bacteria, such as coliforms, so the same format of sensor detects both toxic metals and coliforms in a single unit.

Biography:

Jay Mathias A Arellano has research interest in Ecological and Biological effects of environmental pollutants. He is both a registered Physical Therapist and Nurse in the Philippines and received his Master’s in Education major in Health from the University of the Philippines. Currently, he is the Principal and the Head of Research of the Pasig City Science High School, Philippines.

Abstract:

This study was done to know if soil along a busy urban Manila major thoroughfare exposed to different pollutants have developed cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on a certain plant cell. Loam soil is the soil type used in this study. Prolonged exposure to unknown environmental pollutants may have rendered the soil from the collection site cytotoxic and genotoxic to certain organisms. The possible cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of the soil extract were investigated using the Allium cepa assay. The purpose of this research was to assess the different chromosomal aberrations using the Allium cepa assay to prove, if the soil samples have indeed developed cytotoxic and genotoxic properties through years of exposure to environmental pollutants. The soil extracts were thoroughly mixed with triple distilled water to come up with the following concentrations: 100%, 50%, 25% and 12.5%. The root meristems of the Allium cepa were then exposed to these concentrations. Maleic hydrazide was used as positive control while triple distilled water was used as negative. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses were performed to score chromosomal aberrations during the mitosis stage of cell division. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the root lengths of the Allium cepa, when exposed to different test control concentrations. However, microscopic analysis proved that there were indeed chromosomal aberrations developed between treatments. Chromosomal breaks were the most common chromosomal aberration found on some of the treatments.

Biography:

Wondalem Misganaw Golie has completed his BTech in 2007, in Chemical Engineering and MTech in 2010. Currently, he is a PhD Research Scholar in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India.

Abstract:

Water represents the very essence of life and adequate supply of safe drinking water is one of the major prerequisite to sustain human population in the world. However, water pollution is remaining an appalling global challenge and the leading worldwide cause of diseases deaths. Anthropologic activities including industrialization and agricultural practices contribute immeasurably to the pollution of the environment and pose a threat to the global water supply. Among various inorganic pollutants, nitrate is possibly one of the most prevalent chemical pollutants in water resources and has become a worldwide crucial apprehension. Decades of chemically assisted agriculture have significantly increased environmental concentrations of nitrate which is a major component of many fertilizers. Intake of water with elevated nitrate concentrations can lead to health problems, such as methemoglobinemia, spontaneous abortions and cancer. Among the unit operations involving water treatment, adsorption process is attractive since it is high efficient, eco-friendly and economically feasible. In this work, chitosan based organic-inorganic hybrid biocomposites, such as chitosan/bentonite, chitosan/titanium oxide, and chitosan/alumina (ChBT, ChTi, and ChAl respectively) were prepared and characterized. Stability of ChBT, ChTi, and ChAl increased with increase in crosslinker and inorganic dosage. Batch adsorption studies were conducted and the operating parameters were optimized and the amounts of nitrate adsorbed on ChBT, ChTi, and ChAl were 35.68, 43.62 and 45.38 mg/g respectively. Adsorption capacities increased with the increase in temperature from 283 K to 313 K and decreased above 313 K. Also, the amounts of nitrate adsorbed on the three adsorbents were found to decrease at higher crosslinker dosage. Among the three adsorbents, ChAl has shown highest stability and performance in all operating conditions.

Biography:

Shaista Andleeb is working as a PhD Scholar at the Department of Wildlife Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She has secured her MPhil degree from the same department, by conducting research work on the ecology of endangered Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) in the Margallah Hills National Park, Islamabad, Pakistan. Recently, she has been working on the toxic effects of chromium on the reproductive physiology of small Indian mongooses, inhabiting the tannery areas of Kasur District, Pakistan.

Abstract:

Hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI), widely used in tanning industries, is a potent toxic metal whose accumulation in the animal body can adversely affect the reproductive organs. District Kasur, Pakistan, is famous for having tanneries industry where Cr (VI) is directly discharged untreated into the adjoining water nullahs. Resultantly, wildlife species reliant on these water sources are exposed to chromium toxicity, which enters the animal body through drinking water and food chain. The current study investigated toxic effects of Cr (VI) on testicular tissue of adult small Indian mongoose inhabiting the study area from February 2015 to January 2016. Average Cr-concentrations in experimental area soil and water, and the blood and tissue samples of the species were found significantly higher compared to control. Average body and testicular weights of experimental animals were found reduced. Histological analysis revealed seminiferous tubules disorganized in experimental animals, depleted germ cells and hyperplasia of the Leydig cells. Sperm counts were found reduced. Serum testosterone and LH levels were found reduced while FSH levels increased in experimental animals. The study concludes that Cr being discharged from tanneries into the environment is up taken by small Indian mongoose leading to severe testicular tissue damage and potential impairment of reproductive function of the species.

Biography:

Yonghua Ji has his expertise in Neuropharmacology and Neurotoxicology, involved with membrane ion channels especially. He has completed his PhD in Biopharmaceutics from University of Shizuoka, Japan in 1994. He was a foreign visiting Scientist at Okazaki National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Japan, a CNRS fellow at Laboratoire de Biochimie, Faculte de Medecine Secteur Nord, Universite d’Aix-Marseille II, France, a JSPS fellow at University of Shizuoka, Japan. He has been Professor of Shanghai University (2004-present) and Deputy Dean General, School of Life Science, Shanghai University (2004-2008). He is the current Secretary-General of Chinese Society for Neurosciences (2003-present) and a Standing Trustee of Biophysical Society of China (2002-present). He is also Executive Director of Chinese Society for Neurosciences and Associated Editor-In-Chief of Journal Acta Physiologica Sinica, Editor of Journals Acta Biophysica Sinica and Chemistry of Life, a Member of the Editorial Board of Journal Neuroscience Bulletin. He has published more than 180 papers either as first author or corresponding author in total.

Abstract:

Ecological protection and environmental management are key factors affecting the sustainable development of modern society. For years, with the rise of economy and technology worldwide, persistent and severe environmental problems have greatly influenced the human society in many aspects. Although efforts have been made to reduce the pollutants, it remains a substantial gap to be well understood and fulfilled. To these circumstances, we forward the study for a new discipline as “Ecological Toxinology” and a retrospective review on this topic is described here. By exemplifying the long-lasting influence and cause of several ecological disasters happened in past decades, originated from toxic pollutants, human activity, venomous species and deadly virus, an extensive social attention and cognition will hopefully be built for. Further, for academically perspective, this review will provide insights into some public concerns, such as the unexpected prevalence of SARS, transgenic food and beyond. Overall, by combining the ongoing advances in techniques, ways to make a reasonable use and control of these ecological bio-toxins will be approached, which may help to well balance the relationship of environment, human life and social development.

Biography:

James Haynes has been a Professor of Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science at The College at Brockport, SUNY, since earning his PhD at the University of Minnesota in 1978. Currently, he is the Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Brockport.

Sara Wellman has a BS in physics from Georgia Tech and worked as an optical engineer at the Eastman Kodak Company for 10 years before earning an MS degree in biological sciences at Brockport. Currently she is an adjunct professor of biology at Pellissippi Community College.

Abstract:

Since 1987, the International Joint Commission has designated 43 Areas of Concern (AOC), where pollutants impair beneficial uses of water bodies that contribute to the Laurentian Great Lakes. Using the mink (Neovison vison) as a sentinel species, we have used multiple research approaches to help federal and state agencies determine whether two Beneficial Use Impairments (BUI), “Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Populations” and “Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems,” can be delisted for three AOCs in New York State. Mink are ideal for delisting these BUIs, because they are at top of contaminated aquatic food webs and are one of the most sensitive mammals to legacy pollutants in the Great Lakes, especially PCBs and dioxins/furans. We have used three approaches to address delisting criteria: Chemical analysis of PCB/dioxin/furan congeners and total mercury in mink tissues to compare with regulatory standards; Determining the incidence of cancerous jaw lesions, the most sensitive biomarker of effect in mink; and Bioaccumulation modeling based on concentrations in water and mink prey. Our results indicate that, delisting of the two BUIs can occur in Rochester Embayment and Buffalo River AOCs, but not in the Niagara River AOC. We recommend that management agencies consider replacing the sacrifice of mink with bioaccumulation modeling in future delisting studies.

Biography:

Friday E Uboh has completed his PhD from University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, and is presently a Professor of Biochemistry, with Toxicology as his area of research interest. He served as the acting Head of Biochemistry Department in the Department of Biochemistry University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, from 2011 to 2013. He is a Member of Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMB), Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), National Vice President of the Society of Experimental Biology of Nigeria (NISEN), American College of Toxicology (ACT), and European Societies of Toxicology (EUROTOX). He has more than 70 papers published in reputable journals, and is a reviewer and Editorial Board Member of many journals of repute. He has also presented many conference papers, locally and internationally.

Abstract:

Exposure to gasoline vapors (GV) have been reported to be a potential atherosclerotic risk factor in rats. In this study, a comparative effect of vitamins A (retinol) and E (α-tocopherol) on GV-induced atherosclerotic risk was investigated in male rats. Twenty-four (24) male rats, 210±20 g, used in the study were distributed into four groups (A-D), with six rats each. The rats in group served as the control, while rats in groups B, C and D were exposed to GV (17.8±2.6 cm3/h/m3/day), 6 hours/day, 5 days/week, for 30 days by whole body and nose–inhalation in an exposure chamber. Retinol (400 IU/kg/day) and α-tocopherol (200 IU/kg/day) were respectively concomitantly administered orally to the test rats in groups C and D, one hour after each day’s exposure. The results of this study showed that exposure to GV caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in total serum cholesterol (Chol), triacylglycerol (TG), LDL-Chol, VLDL-Chol, TG/HDL-Chol and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and a significant decrease in serum HDL-Chol in rat’s model. However, the elevated Chol, TG, LDL-Chol, VLDL-Chol, TG/HDL-Chol and AIP levels induced by exposure to GV were significantly (p<0.05) reduced by the administration of retinol and α-tocopherol; while the decrease in serum HDL-Chol recorded for rats exposed to GV was significantly (p<0.05) reversed following the same treatment with retinol and α-tocopherol. The observations made from the results of this study supported the hypothesis that exposure to gasoline vapor is a risk factor for atherosclerosis. It also gives a strong indication that retinol and α-tocopherol may be used to reverse the atherosclerotic risks associated with exposure to GV in rats, and α-tocopherol tends to have a more potent effect than retinol.

Biography:

Xuexia Huang is a teacher of School of Environmental Science and Engineering of Guangzhou University, China. She has completed her PhD from South-West Agriculture University. Her current research interests include remediation technology of contaminated soil, chemical processes and biological availabilities of contaminants in soil and food safety and risk assessment.

Abstract:

To investigate the mobility and availability of thallium (Tl) in the paddy soil and rice in a Tl contaminated area near the Yunfu pyrite mining site (Guangdong, China), the topsoil (0-20 cm) and rice samples were collected from 24 sampling sites and analyzed for the total Tl concentrations. Moreover, the modified European Community Bureau of Reference four-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to determine the concentrations of various Tl fractions in the paddy soil. The results showed that the pH of the paddy soil samples from 24 sampling sites ranged from 3.78 to 4.97 with a mean value of 4.50, which is lower than the mean of paddy soil pH (5.8) in Guangdong Province. The total Tl concentration in the paddy soil varied from 4.99 to 8.25 mg kg-1, which is about 4 to 8 times higher than the Canadian Tl guideline value (1 mg kg-1) for the agricultural land uses. The mean ecological risk index of Tl was 483, indicating that potential hazard of the paddy soil was serious. The Tl contents in rice ranged from 0.97 to 2.16 mg kg-1 with a mean value of 1.42 mg kg-1. The ranges of hazard quotient (HQ) values were 4.08~24.50 and 3.84~22.38 for males and females, respectively. Males have higher health risk than females in the same age group. In childhood age groups (2 to <21 years) and adult age groups (21 to <70 years), the highest health risk level was observed in the 11 to 16 age group and 21 to 50 age group, respectively. Based on the operationally defined extraction procedure, the distribution of various Tl fractions in the paddy soil was determined as follows (in the order of extractability): Easily reducible fraction (40.3%)>acid exchangeable fraction (30.5%)>residual fraction (23.8%)>oxidizable fraction (5.4%). Correlation analyses showed that the soil pH was negatively correlated with the Tl content in both the soil and rice and with the acid exchangeable fraction of Tl and the easily reducible fraction. Tl content in rice was more strongly correlated with the exchangeable fraction of Tl than the total Tl content in the soil. It is suggested that the bioavailability of Tl in more acidic soil is higher and the bioavailability of Tl in the paddy soil largely depends on its speciation, especially the content of acid exchangeable fraction.

Biography:

Perfecto Barragan-Pena is currently a Professor at Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales, Mexico. He has a Doctorate in Environmental Sciences and has worked on sorption processes in both batch and dynamic systems, using natural adsorbents such as zeolites. Currently he teaches sustainable development and inferential statistics.

Abstract:

To treat aqueous solutions with Cd²+ concentrations up to 67.83 mg/L experiments were carried out in a batch system where a natural modified zeolite from guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, was used as the adsorbent. The zeolitic material was modified with NaCl and thiourea. The experimentation was conducted at a pH=5.0. The results were compared to a study where the initial concentration for the zeolite modified with thiourea was 37.3 mg/L. Kinetics showed that the zeolite modified with NaCl and thiourea is best described according to pseudo-second order model, R²=0.9997, with a k2=0.763 g/(mg h) and qe=6.238 mg/g reached at 5 h. Compared to the non-modified adsorbent the thiourea-modified clinoptilolite improved its capacity to take up cadmium significantly.

Biography:

Saviour U Ufot completed his B.Sc. in Biochemistry at the age of 22 from University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, and M.Sc. in Pharmacology at the age of 24 years from University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. He has worked as senior research officer (Bioremediation and Pollution Control) in Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria from 1998 to 2002, Health Safety and Environment Specialist in Total E&P Nig. Ltd. since 2002. Presently, he is working on his Ph.D. in Biochemical Toxicology in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, under the supervision of Prof. Eyony U. Eyong and Dr. Friday E. Uboh. Perfecto Barragan-Pena is currently a Professor at Instituto Tecnologico de Nogales, Mexico. He has a Doctorate in Environmental Sciences and has worked on sorption processes in both batch and dynamic systems, using natural adsorbents such as zeolites. Currently he teaches sustainable development and inferential statistics.

Abstract:

Gasoline is one of the chemical substances whose vapors contribute ubiquitous chemical pollutants into the environment. This study assessed the sex-dependent effect of inhalation and whole-body exposure to gasoline vapors on weekly weight changes pattern, relative organ weights and some hematological indices of albino Wistar rats. In this study, male and female rats were exposed to vapors generated from direct evaporation of liquid unleaded premium motor spirit (PMS) blend of gasoline at concentration of 17.8±2.6cm3hr–1kg–1m–3day–1, 6 h/day for 30 weeks, using previously reported standard method. The results showed that the levels of hemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cells (RBC) counts in both male and female rats were reduced significantly, while the white blood cell (WBC) count increased significantly (p<0.05) in females and insignificantly (p>0.05) in male rats exposed to gasoline vapors. Also, the comparative percentage decrease in Hb, PCV, RBC were significantly higher (p<0.05) in female than in male rats. Moreover, the percentage weight increase was significantly higher in males and lower in females, while the percentage growth rate decreased significantly (p<0.05) in both male and female rats exposed to gasoline. Low Hb and PCV levels, and weight loss are known to be associated with anemic condition. It may therefore be concluded from the results of this study that inhalation and whole-body exposure to gasoline vapors may induce anemic condition in the gender-dependent pattern in rats, with females being more vulnerable.

Biography:

Michal Pardo has her expertise in Biochemistry and Food Science. She has completed her PhD from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She is a Research Associate focusing on Health-related mechanisms induced by air pollution at the Weizmann institute of science.

Abstract:

Exposure to resuspended urban dust can be harmful to the exposed population. However, the underlying mechanisms that lead to such health effects are not yet elucidated. Water extracts of PM samples collected from the roadway urban environments of Thessaloniki, Milan and London were examined in several different models (in vivo and in vitro exposure systems). Soluble metals extracted from roadway traffic emissions were identified as the lead cause for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant response element (ARE) promoter activation in exposed mice and in lung cell cultures. Metals such as arsenic (As), zinc (Zn) and ferrous (Fe) best predict the ROS-generating/ARE-activating capacity of the near roadway PM in the pulmonary cells study. When mice were exposed several times to the same water extracts, an increase in cytokine levels in both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and in the blood serum, was detected, indicating a systemic reaction. Removal of soluble metals by chelation markedly diminished the pulmonary PM-mediated response (inflammation and oxidative stress), while an artificial metal solution (MS) recapitulated 80-90% of the PM extract response. We have then set to study possible synergetic effects between a metabolic challenge such as obesity and PM exposure that can further lead to a series of other health risk factors. When metals from PM interact with obesogenic nutrition, tissue specific (lung, liver, fat) showed changes in nrf2–related gene expression profiles that correlated with DNA methylation were observed. Altogether, this study suggests that water-soluble metals in urban PM, potentially from break and tire wear, may constitute major drivers of the pulmonary and systemic responses to multiple exposure to urban PM.

Biography:

Abdul Rohim Tualeka is a Lecturer at Department Occupational Health and Safety, Public Health Faculty, Airlangga University, Indonesia since 1998. He has specialization in Industrial Toxicology, Industrial Hygiene, and risk management. His book publications are Industrial Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Toxicological Metals and Clinical Toxicology (Detox Benzene). He has certificates of Environmental Management Adviser A, Environmental Management Adviser B, Specialist OHS and Certificate of Development Management. He has research experiences in toxicology, including detoxification benzene by foods that rich enzyme CYP2E1, risk assessment benzene at environmental working and risk assessment benzene and CO to the worker in Industry Otomotif Workshop. His journal publications include: safe duration Pb in environmental working effect of food containing high Fe (urine), intake to urinary trans-trans muconic aid (ttMA) level of workers exposed to Benzene and insurance as effort to control risk of benzene in shoe worker in Surabaya.

Abstract:

Shoe maker workers risk exposure to benzene derived from the glue used. Benzene belongs to the category of carcinogen A1 (confirmed human carcinogen), meaning that benzene has been confirmed and proven to be a carcinogen in humans. In chronic exposure to benzene shows an effect on cellular and humoral immunity. Benzene evaporates into the air so quickly that it is possible to be inhaled by the workers. The objectives of this study were to measure benzene vapor levels in the working environment, to study worker characteristics, to measure trans levels, to transmuconic acid workers, and to analyze the exposure relationship of benzene vapor and the characteristics of workers with trans levels, trans-muconic acid workers. The method used to measure benzene vapor levels in the working environment is the GC/FID (Flame Ionization Detector) chromatography method, measuring trans, trans-muconic acid levels using Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectra (LC-MS). This study includes 20 research subjects and out of which 8 respondents experienced increased levels of trans, trans-muconic acid and benzene vapor levels in the working environment of 0.0129-2.3330 ppm. The result of the calculation of worker risk characteristics was obtained RQ>1=65% (13 respondents had non-cancer exposure effect) and ECR>10-4=75% (15 workers at risk of cancer) due to benzene exposure.

Biography:

Tirado N S is a Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Universidad Mayor de San Andres (UMSA), Head of Genotoxicology Unit at Genetic Institute, Medicine School, UMSA- La Paz, Bolivia. She is the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Latin American Association of Environmental Mutagensis, Teratogenesis, and Carcinogenesis (ALMCTA), President of the Bolivian Society of Muta Environmental Mutagensis, Teratogenesis, and Carcinogenesis (SBOMCTA). She is the Coordinator of a grant regarding environmental toxicology studies (pesticide exposure), Sweedish cooperation. She is the Author/Co-Author of 25 scientific papers, research papers, all of them concerning biomonitoring of people exposed to environment contaminants as heavy metals, pesticides, chemicals (131I, Formaldehyde) and radiations and conferences worldwide. She is the recipient of several national and international awards, Chairperson of The XIX International A. Hollaender Courses by the IAEMS–2015 and a Member of Organizing Committee of X ALAMCTA Congress 2016- Uruguay.

Abstract:

Pyrethroids is a class of insecticides in wide use globally. The acute effects of pyrethroid poisoning are well documented, but the possible chronic effects of low dose exposure are insufficiently described. The aim was to investigate the possible genetic damage, and the association between chronic low dose exposure to pyrethroids and diabetes or pre-diabetes. A cross-sectional study was performed among 122 exposed pesticide sprayers from public vector control programs in Bolivia and among 90 non-exposed controls. Pesticide exposure was determined by questionnaire. Blood samples were analyzed for comet assay, GSTM1, GSSTT1 polymorphisms and glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c), a measure of glucose regulation and bucal cells sample for micronucleus. The results of the genotoxic test showed no significant difference between exposed and controls, only in cariorexis analysis (p<0,007). The prevalence of pre-diabetes or diabetes was 61.1% among vector control workers and 7.9% among controls raw OR 18.4 [7.8; 43.6], adjusted OR 11.8 [4.2; 33.2]. A significant positive trend was observed between cumulated pesticide exposure (total number of hours sprayed) and odds of diabetes/pre-diabetes, but only for the vector control workers who had solely used pyrethroids. Caution is warranted when interpreting the results due to the possibility of residual confounding. A healthy worker effect could explain, why a dose-response relationship was only seen for the vector control workers that had only used pyrethroids? Pre-diabetes/diabetes was associated to chronic exposure to pyrethroids. Further study is warranted.

Biography:

Hyemin Kim has her expertise in Microbial Ecology and Environmental Toxicology. She has completed her PhD from Seoul National University.

Abstract:

Most multigenerational studies on acute and chronic toxicity tests are initiated with Daphnia magna (D. magna) derived from unexposed female. However, this approach could ignore potential transfer of toxicity from mother to offspring. Thus, we observed the influence of 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) on two consecutive generation of Daphnia magna (D. magna) through chronic toxicity test with various concentration range (0, 0.3125, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, and 5 ug/L) of 3,4-DCA. We evaluated survival, reproduction, and population growth of D. magna after 21 days exposure test, and examined the sensitivity between offspring (from third to fifth) from mother exposed to 3,4-DCA. Results showed that cumulative fecundity decreased with increasing concentration of 3,4-DCA, though the given concentrations of 3,4-DCA did not affect to the survivorship of D. magna. Although age at first reproduction of D. magna increased along the increasing concentrations of 3,4-DCA, the age at first reproduction was decreasing along the consecutive offspring. Our results indicated that offspring might adapt to the 3, 4-DCA toxicity. This study reflects actual environmental exposure.

Biography:

Wen-Ching Chen is specialized in pesticides and environmental microbiology relationship research field. She was graduated from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor in International Bachelor Program of Agribusiness, National Chung-Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Abstract:

Bacterial biofertilizers are those plant growths promoting rhizobacteria applied in the field to promote crop growth and to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers. However, in conventional agriculture, the applying pesticides is a routine practice and is unavoidable to achieve reasonable profit. Thus, to develop effective bacterial biofertilizers, the effect of pesticides on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) should be considered before application. In this study, bacterial strains with both PGP traits and pesticide tolerant ability were isolated for selection as potential bacterial biofertilizers. Rice (Oryza sativa) seedlings were planted in the soils with high dose of fungicide etridiazole, metalaxyl, and tricyclazole applied. Endophytes were isolated from rice roots, and 16S rDNA sequence and related plant promoting characteristics including the potential nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilizing and indoleacetic acid (IAA) production ability for those endophytic bacteria were determined afterward. A total of seventeen different strains were isolated. Among them, five strains with both nitrogen fixation potentials and IAA production ability were identified. The species isolated included Rhizobium larrymoorei E2, Bacillus aryabhattai E7, Bacillus aryabhattai MN1, Pseudomonas granadensis T6, and Bacillus fortis T9. Except for T9, four strains out of five were even capable of tolerating two or more fungicides without retarding the growth rates. We inoculated the above four endophytic bacteria to the rice roots and confirmed that they were all equipped with rice growth promoting abilities. We applied recommendation rates of etridiazole and metalaxyl on the growth medium in Bacillus aryabhattai MN1 and found out that MN1 can produce high rates of IAA with fungicides applied. The bacteria strains isolated from this study presented PGP traits upon high rates of fungicides application and can be viewed as potential members in bacterial biofertilizers for sustainable agriculture application.

Biography:

Sung-Dae Moon is currently on the doctoral degree course and studies in fish toxicology. In addition, he serves as a Team Leader at NeoEnBiz.

Abstract:

Marine oil spill accidents give a variety of adverse influences on aquaculture organisms for a long time. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), one of the major crude oil constituents, have been reported to induce developmental inhibition, morphological deformity, histopathological effects and genetic damage on fishes. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the PAHs on early life stages of three aquaculture fishes (red sea-bream, Pagrus major, rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus, and olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus) using pyrene, 2-methylnaphthalene, and phenanthrene. Embryonic development and larval morphology were investigated for each species. The median effect concentration (EC50) was not estimated for pyrene, and phenanthrene for all test species. The EC50s for 2-methylnaphthalene of Pagrus major, Oplegnathus fasciatus, and Paralichthys olivaceus were 12.8, 10.9 and 18.0 μmol/L, respectively. The no observed effect concentrations (NOECs) for pyrene of Pagrus major, Oplegnathus fasciatus and Paralichthys olivaceus were 99, 99, 0.013 μmol/L, respectively. The NOECs for 2-methylnaphthalene of Pagrus major, Oplegnathus fasciatus and Paralichthys olivaceus were 5.5, 5.5 and 3.5 μmol/L, respectively. The NOECs for phenanthrene of Pagrus major, Oplegnathus fasciatus and Paralichthys olivaceus were 7.0, 224, 0.96 μmol/L, respectively. There was no morphological deformity in the hatched larvae of Pagrus major exposed three PAHs. The spinal curvature and fin deformity were observed in Oplegnathus fasciatus at 11 μmol/L of 2-metylnaphthalene. Pericardial edema, ocular development inhibition, spinal curvature and fin deformity were observed in Paralichthys olivaceus exposed to 0.013 μmol/L of pyrene, 3.5 μmol/L of 2-metylnaphthalene, and 1.0 μmol/L of phenanthrene. It was considered that Paralichthys olivaceus to be more sensitive than Pagrus major and Oplegnathus fasciatus to PAHs. Some embryo of Paralichthys olivaceus successfully hatched in lower concentrations, while morphological deformity was observed in these concentrations. PAHs seem to have large effects on the early life stages of aquaculture fishes.