Rare Earth and Platinum Group Elements In Sub-Saharan Africa and Global Health: The Dark Side of the Burgeoning of Technology.

Despite steady progress in the development and promotion of the circular economy as a model, an overwhelming proportion of technological devices discarded by the Global North still finds its way to the Global South, where technology-related environmental health problems start from the predation of resources and continue all the way to recycling and disposal. We reviewed literature on TCEs in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), focussing on: the sources and levels of environmental pollution; the extent of human exposure to these substances; their role in the aetiology of human diseases; their effects on the environment. Our review shows that even minor and often neglected technology-critical elements (TCEs), like rare earth elements (REEs) and platinum group elements (PGEs), reveal the environmental damage and detrimental health effects caused by the massive mining of raw materials, exacerbated by improper disposal of e-waste (from dumping to improper recycling and open burning).

Structure Based Discovery of Inhibitors of CYP125 and CYP142 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) was responsible for approximately 1.6 million deaths in 2021. With the emergence of extensive drug resistance, novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed, and continued drug discovery efforts required.

Potential deleterious effects of paracetamol dose regime used in Nigeria versus that of the United States of America.

Paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen (N-acetyl-para-aminophenol, APAP) is the world's most used over-the-counter analgesic-antipyretic drug. Despite its good safety profile, acetaminophen can cause severe hepatotoxicity in overdose, and poisoning from paracetamol has become a major public health concern. Paracetamol is now the major cause of acute liver failure in the United States and Europe.

Dietary interventions for autism spectrum disorder: An updated systematic review of human studies.

Autism is a complex spectrum of disorders with genetic, epigenetic, autoimmune, oxidative stress, and environmental etiologies. Treatment of ASD using dietary approach is a promising strategy, especially owing to its safety and availability. Our study critically analysed the roles and efficacy of antioxidants, probiotics, prebiotics, camel milk and vitamin D.

Association of autism with toxic metals: A systematic review of case-control studies.

Environmental factors have been associated with the etiology of autism spectrum disorder ASD in recent times. The involvement of toxic metals in the generation of reactive oxygen species and their epigenetics effects have been implicated in ASD. This systemic review examines the association of toxic metals with autism in children.

Human dietary exposure to metals in the Niger delta region, Nigeria: Health risk assessment.

The contamination profile and the human health risk assessment of various heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb) in vegetable oils, palm oils, butter and shea butter purchased from the Nigerian market were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses including the principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and heat map visualization were used to evaluate correlation, similarity and source of metals. Dietary intake and dermal absorption through the application in skin were also assessed.

Emerging pollutants in Nigeria: A systematic review.

Emerging pollutants represent a group of synthetic or naturally occurring compounds that are not normally monitored within the environment but can enter into the environment and cause different adverse ecological and health effects. This systematic review identified the various emerging pollutants in Nigeria. The following databases, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journals OnLine (AJOL) were searched to identify studies on pollutants of emerging concerns in Nigeria.

Management of Iron Overload in Resource Poor Nations: A Systematic Review of Phlebotomy and Natural Chelators.

Iron is an essential element and the most abundant trace metal in the body involved in oxygen transport and oxygen sensing, electron transfer, energy metabolism, and DNA synthesis. Excess labile and unchelated iron can catalyze the formation of tissue-damaging radicals and induce oxidative stress. English abstracts were identified in PubMed and Google Scholar using multiple and various search terms based on defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Sentinel species for biomonitoring and biosurveillance of environmental heavy metals in Nigeria.

Nigeria receives copious annual precipitation to nourish its forests and agriculture, it has an extensive river drainage system, and it possesses valuable mineral deposits that stimulate both commercial and artisan mining activities. The combination of these features complicates Nigeria's efforts to produce adequate amounts of healthy foods to support its population. Toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury, and toxic metalloids such as arsenic, are also present in its mineral deposits and they migrate gradually into the soil and water of Nigeria by natural means.

Nigerian foods of probiotics relevance and chronic metal exposure: a systematic review.

Probiotics are functional foods with a wide armamentarium of health benefits in man including metal chelation. Given the unacceptable blood lead levels and the near ignorance or negligence of heavy metals in both diagnoses and management of diseases in Nigeria, it is feared that these metals are involved in the aetiogenesis of several ailments from preeclampsia, metabolic syndrome, cancer, etc. This is an insight on Nigerian fermented foods and their possible role as metal chelators in the management of the chronic heavy metal exposure in Nigeria.

Safety of honey consumed in Enugu State, Nigeria: a public health risk assessment of lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Background: Information about lead (Pb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in honey and their dietary intake is very important in human health risk assessment. Currently, there are paucity of data on the risk assessment and concentrations of lead and PAHs in honey in Nigeria.

Objective: This study has determined the potential human health risk of lead and PAHs associated with the consumption of honey in Enugu state, Nigeria.

The effects of oral administration of Cola nitida on the pharmacokinetic profile of metoclopramide in rabbits.

Background: Cola nitida is commonly chewed in many West African cultures to ease hunger pangs and sometimes for their stimulant and euphoriant qualities. Metoclopramide is a known substrate for P-gp, SULT2A1 and CYP2D6 and studies have revealed that caffeine- a major component of Cola nitida can induce P-glycoprotein (P-gp), SULT2A1 and SULT1A1, hence a possible drug interaction may occur on co-administration. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetic interactions of Cola nitida and metoclopramide in rabbits.

Unsafe herbal sex enhancement supplements in Nigerian markets: a human risk assessment.

High rates of irreversible oligo- or azoospermia are found among Nigerian men, leading many to consume herbal male sex enhancement products. The possibility of reproductive toxicity due to heavy metal contamination (Cr, As, Co, Hg, Cd, and Pb) of herbal products commonly used to boost libido or treat erectile dysfunction necessitated this study. In this study, herbal sex enhancement supplements were bought from pharmaceutical shops in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and analyzed for heavy metals (Cr, As, Co, Hg, Cd, and Pb) contents using atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Natural antidotes and management of metal toxicity.

The global burden of heavy metal especially mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium toxicities remains a significant public health challenge. Developing nations are particularly at high risk and carry the highest burden of this hazard. Chelation therapy has been the mainstay for treatment of heavy metal poisoning where the chelating agent binds metal ions to form complex ring-like structures called "chelates" to enhance their elimination from the body.

Cosmetic Use in Nigeria May Be Safe: A Human Health Risk Assessment of Metals and Metalloids in Some Common Brands.

Twenty different brands of cosmetic products were purchased from supermarkets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, with the aims to determine the levels of metals and assess the health risk to humans through long-term usage. The concentration of metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, and nickel) in the cosmetic samples was measured with atomic absorption spectrophotometry after acid digestion. The concentration of metals in these brands of cosmetic studied ranged from As: 0.

Blood Lead Levels in Women of Child-Bearing Age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review.

This paper reported available studies on blood lead level of childbearing age in Sub-Saharan African women. PubMed and Google scholar databases were searched for original articles reporting blood lead levels of women of childbearing age in Sub-Saharan Africa. Searches were not limited to year of study but limited to studies published in English Language.

Herb-Induced Liver Injuries in Developing Nations: An Update.

The last few decades have seen a rise in the use of herbal supplements, natural products, and traditional medicines. However, there are growing concerns related to the safety and toxicities of these medicines. These herbal medicines are associated with complications such as liver damage with a high incidence of mortalities and morbidities.

Selected Food/Herb-Drug Interactions: Mechanisms and Clinical Relevance.

Background: Food/Herb-drug interactions have become a major problem in health care. These interactions can lead to loss of therapeutic efficacy or toxic effects of drugs.

Areas Of Uncertainty: To probe the clinical relevance of such interactions, the impact of food/herb intake on the clinical effects of drug administration has to be evaluated.

Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of food crops and fruits in Owerri, South Eastern, Nigeria.

Background: This study assessed lead, cadmium, and nickel level in food crops, fruits and soil samples from Ohaji and Umuagwo and Owerri in South Eastern Nigeria and estimated the potential health risks of metals. Samples were washed, oven-dried at 70-80°C for 24 h and powdered. Samples were digested with perchloric acid and nitric acid.