Publications by authors named "Ana Macias Montes"
Animals and humans are exposed to various residues that can have a detrimental impact on health, including carcinogenic potential, endocrine disruption, or fatal toxicity. The toxic burden can be evaluated in several biological samples, with serum being one of the preferred and most convenient options. In this study, we have applied and validated a method for detecting several hundred toxins in serum samples.
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- The study investigates the differences in toxicological profiles between craft breweries and mainstream beers, focusing on mycotoxins, pesticide residues, pollutants, and elemental composition.
- Results showed that craft beers had no detected mycotoxins, whereas all mainstream beers had at least one, though craft beers had higher pesticide residues with some significant differences identified.
- Overall, all beer types were found to have a safe toxicological profile, but craft beers exhibited marked differences from mainstream varieties in the aspects analyzed.
Plastic pollution constitutes an environmental problem in the Canary Islands nowadays. Nevertheless, studies evaluating the impact of plastics on its avifauna are still scarce. Gastrointestinal tracts of 88 birds belonging to 14 species were studied for the presence of plastics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman biomonitoring of persistent and non-persistent pollutants in a representative sample of the general population from Cape Verde: Results from the PERVEMAC-II study.
Environ Pollut
August 2022
Article Synopsis
- International Public Health authorities suggest biomonitoring to evaluate chemical exposure, leading to a study analyzing blood concentrations of 360 pollutants in 403 participants from Cape Verde as part of the PERVEMAC-II project.
- Out of the studied pollutants, 60 were detected in at least one participant, with p,p'-DDE, phenanthrene, and hexachlobenzene being the most prevalent, and pharmaceutical compounds showing the highest serum concentrations.
- The results indicate that age, gender, body mass index, and dietary habits influence the presence and levels of these substances, providing important data for public health initiatives in Cape Verde.
The recent volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma has aroused the concern of banana producers and consumers, given that in its area of influence there are thousands of hectares of banana plantations with an annual production of about 100 million kilos for export. Since volcanoes are one of the main natural sources of heavy metal contamination, we sampled bananas from the affected area and determined the concentrations of 50 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Hg, Ho, In, La, Lu, Mn, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Os, Pb, Pd, Pm, Pr, Pt, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Ta, Tb, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, Y, Yb and Zn). The levels of 36 elements were elevated but the washing implemented after the eruption can remove a good part.
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- Animal poisoning poses a significant threat to wildlife, particularly in the Canary Islands, where the risk is higher than in other parts of Europe.
- A study from 2014 to 2021 analyzed 961 animals and 84 baits, revealing that 251 animals and 61 baits were poisoned, with carbofuran being the most common poison used.
- The introduction of canine patrols has improved the detection of poisoned animals, with higher rates of poison positivity found in rural areas and regions with intensive agricultural and livestock activities.
A Method Scope Extension for the Simultaneous Analysis of POPs, Current-Use and Banned Pesticides, Rodenticides, and Pharmaceuticals in Liver. Application to Food Safety and Biomonitoring.
Toxics
September 2021
Article Synopsis
- The study adapted a QuEChERS-based method for analyzing hundreds of contaminants in liver samples, crucial for food safety and biomonitoring.
- The validated method can detect 351 contaminants, with 80% having a limit of quantification (LOQ) under 2 ng/g, and revealed that 29 contaminants were found in 42 consumer liver samples, predominantly 4,4'-DDE and various persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
- In a pilot biomonitoring study of 151 wild bird livers in the Canary Islands, the method detected 52 contaminants, highlighting elevated levels of anticoagulant rodenticides and agricultural pesticides, particularly in terrestrial and nocturnal birds.
Article Synopsis
- - Soil pollution impacts the environment, influencing how organic compounds move into groundwater, air, or living organisms, making effective analytical methods crucial for measuring these pollutants in soil.
- - The study evaluated an extraction method already tested on clay loam soils for various organic compounds and applied it to four other soil types in the Canary Islands, including sandy loam and sandy clay.
- - Results indicated that the method is effective for analyzing up to 180 organic contaminants even in the most challenging loamy sand soil, with correction factors proposed for analyzing compounds that fall outside acceptable recovery ranges.
Dry feed for pets lacks specific legislation regarding maximum residue limits for inorganic elements. The aim of the present study was to determine the content of 43 inorganic elements in dog and cat feed, studying whether there were differences according to the supposed quality of the food and performing the risk assessment for health. Thirty-one and thirty packages of pelleted dry food for cats and dogs, respectively, were analyzed.
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- The article focuses on a study examining how intensive livestock farming affects the exposure of raptors in the Canary Islands to anticoagulant rodenticides.
- It includes a GIS analysis that maps the locations of raptors (308 total) and measures the concentrations of rodenticides found in their livers.
- The dataset also provides additional insights into how farming activity impacts rodenticide exposure across different islands and raptor species.
Article Synopsis
- The Canary Islands are rich in biodiversity with over 4500 endemic species, but face threats from human activity, particularly through the use of anticoagulant rodenticides (AR) that have been found in wildlife carcasses.
- A forensic study of 831 animal carcasses from 2011 to 2020 revealed that most non-raptor mammals and reptiles tested positive for AR, indicating intentional poisoning, although many were poisoned by other methods.
- Raptors showed a significantly higher incidence of AR exposure (nearly 60%), with certain falcon species, previously under-researched, also showing contamination; however, after regulations limiting AR concentrations, there was a noted decrease in liver toxin concentrations in raptors.
Background: Sensitization to methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) is a worldwide problem. Washing machine detergents are suspected to cause cutaneous symptoms in highly sensitized patients. Little is known about the persistence of isothiazolinones in clothes that have been washed.
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- Many dry dog and cat foods in Europe are made with cereals, raising concerns about mycotoxin contamination that could harm pets.
- A study of popular pet food brands in Spain found various mycotoxins, especially high levels of fumonisins in cat food, though most toxins were at low levels overall.
- While no immediate health risks were identified, potential long-term issues exist, especially due to high fumonisins and possible combined effects of multiple toxins, highlighting the need for further research.
Background: Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI) and methylisothiazolinone (MI) contact dermatitis is a severe problem. The high concentrations of these substances and other isothiazolinones such as benzisothiazolinone (BIT) and octylisothiazolinone (OIT) contained in cleaning products may cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized patients.
Objectives: To evaluate the exposure to isothiazolinones contained in cleaning products on the market and from sensitized patients, and to verify the accuracy of labeling.