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.