Publications by authors named "Angel Rodriguez Hernandez"

Article Synopsis
  • The study analyzed the blood concentrations of 49 inorganic elements in 401 participants from Cape Verde, focusing on heavy metals and rare earth elements, as part of the PERVEMAC-II project.
  • Findings revealed that 20 out of 49 elements were detected in over 20% of participants, with arsenic, copper, mercury, lead, selenium, strontium, and zinc being the most frequently found.
  • Demographics such as age and lifestyle factors, like water source and food purchasing habits, significantly influenced the levels of these toxic elements, highlighting the need for targeted public health measures.
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  • A study examined 47 elements in leafy green vegetables to assess daily intake amounts and health risks for different age groups in the Canary Islands population.
  • Spinach, arugula, watercress, and chard were found to be the top contributors of essential elements like iron and zinc, while spinach had the highest levels of potentially toxic elements such as aluminum and chromium.
  • Overall, consuming leafy vegetables can meet nutritional needs for essential elements without posing significant health risks from toxic metals, although monitoring is suggested for certain elements like thallium.
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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.
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  • - The study investigated how inorganic pollutants biomagnify and biodilute in marine ecosystems, using sea turtles as bioindicators to assess pollution impact.
  • - Researchers analyzed 50 inorganic elements in the blood and scute tissues of three sea turtle species in Quintana Roo over a year, revealing trends of increasing toxic elements like arsenic and mercury with higher trophic levels, which indicates biomagnification.
  • - Findings showed that essential minerals with toxic potential concentrated higher in turtle tissues, while elements like manganese and bismuth exhibited a biodilution effect; the data aims to support future pollution monitoring and risk assessments in the area.
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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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The organic wine market is rapidly growing worldwide, both in terms of production and consumption. However, the scientific literature is not conclusive regarding differences in the elemental composition of wines according to their production method, including both major and trace elements. Minerals can be present in wine as a result of both anthropogenic and environmental factors.

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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.
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  • 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.
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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.
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  • 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.
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  • - A study investigated the relationship between 45 inorganic elements and stroke risk in 92 patients compared to 83 healthy controls.
  • - Results indicated higher blood levels of lead in stroke patients, while gold and cerium levels were significantly higher in the controls, suggesting a potential protective effect.
  • - The findings showed that lead is positively associated with stroke risk, whereas gold and cerium are inversely associated, highlighting the need for further research on their sources and mechanisms.
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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.
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  • * All 47 elements were found in brain tumor tissue, with 22 detected in over 80% of samples, indicating their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
  • * Notably, higher median blood levels of cadmium, lead, and nickel, along with significant concentrations of gadolinium and tantalum in patients, suggest that various elements used in tech devices may influence brain tumor development.
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  • The study analyzed 43 elements in fresh, preserved, and frozen mussels to assess their nutritional value and health risks for consumers in Spain.
  • Mussels significantly contribute to essential element intake, providing nearly 70% of daily selenium, 30-35% of molybdenum, zinc, cobolt, and about 15% of iron.
  • While average mussel consumption poses no major risk for toxic elements, high consumers should be cautious of potentially high exposure to cadmium and arsenic, especially from fresh and frozen types; moderate consumption is recommended for safety and nutrition.
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  • * Analysis of 257 samples revealed significant variations in element levels across different types of cigarettes, with black tobacco cigarettes showing the highest concentrations.
  • * The type of cigarette—especially fast-burning, bleached, and flavored papers—greatly influences the potential exposure to these toxic elements, with differences in risk potentially reaching up to 35-40 times, highlighting the importance of cigarette choice in assessing exposure.
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  • Seafood has health benefits, but chemical contaminants like pesticides and heavy metals can outweigh these benefits, leading to dietary guidelines recommending limited consumption.* -
  • A study found higher levels of pollutants in farmed seafood compared to wild-caught, with significant differences in contaminant intake for both adults and children.* -
  • Implementing decontamination practices in aquaculture could reduce pollution levels in farmed seafood, potentially allowing for safer consumption and increased health benefits from its nutrients.*
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  • The study assessed the cancer and acute toxicity risks of organic and inorganic contaminants in fish consumed by the Spanish population, focusing on 93 seafood samples from the Canary Islands.
  • It analyzed levels of various pollutants, including organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals, to estimate daily intake and associated risks for both adults and children.
  • Findings indicated that while overall contaminant intake was low compared to safety limits, there is a moderate cancer risk related to arsenic levels in white fish, suggesting the need for targeted risk communication efforts.
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Numerous studies have shown an epidemiological link between meat consumption and the incidence of cancer, and it has been suggested that this relationship may be motivated by the presence of carcinogenic contaminants on it. Among the most frequently detected contaminants in meat are several types of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and it is well known that many of them are carcinogenic. On the other hand, an increasing number of consumers choose to feed on what are perceived as healthier foods.

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Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated a link between excessive meat consumption and the incidence of various cancers, especially colorectal cancer, and it has been suggested that environmental carcinogens present in meat might be related to the increased risk of cancer associated with this food. However, there are no studies evaluating the carcinogenic potential of meat in relation to its content of carcinogens. Our purpose was to emphasize the relevance of environmental carcinogens existing in meat as a determinant of the association between cancer and meat consumption.

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Analysis of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were performed on eggs from three different production types (conventional, free-run and organic) collected from the markets of the Canary Islands (Spain). Unlike other studies we did not found differences in the content of PCBs or OCPs of eggs in relation to its production type. Median ∑OCPs content was 3.

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  • * Both conventional and organic cheeses had low concentrations of OCPs, with organic varieties showing even lower levels, while PCB levels were higher in organic cheeses compared to conventional ones.
  • * Some cheeses contained dioxin-like PCBs at levels exceeding EU safety thresholds, potentially exposing consumers of certain brands to daily intake levels above recommended limits, raising concerns about health risks from these toxic compounds. *
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