Publications by authors named "Emmanuel Okeke"

Monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) is the primary metabolite of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), the most prevalent phthalate plasticiser globally. It has been demonstrated that MEHP exerts more potent toxic effects than DEHP. Nevertheless, the full extent of the toxicity of MEHP to neurodevelopmental organisms remains unclear.

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Many compounds and inorganic elements released from natural and anthropogenic origins contaminate the environment and are implicated in catastrophes involving most biologically driven ecological processes and public health. One such element is Mercury. Mercury exists in both inorganic elemental form and the more metabolically active molecular form e.

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The rapid advancement of technology has led to a significant increase in electronic waste (e-waste), posing serious health and environmental risks, particularly in developing regions like Southwest Nigeria. This review explores the utilization of digital health services to combat the health hazards associated with e-waste exposure. Digital health technologies, including mobile health applications, telemedicine, and electronic health records, play a critical role in raising awareness about e-waste toxicity, monitoring health impacts, and providing remote healthcare services to at-risk populations.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their distribution in aquatic environments have been studied extensively, but more information is needed to link these occurrences to their physicochemical characteristics. Understanding how these parameters influence PFAS can help predict their fate, mobility, and occurrences in water. This study reviewed the influence of physicochemical parameters on the occurrences of PFAS in aquatic environment using the relevant keywords to retrieve articles from databases spanning mostly between 2017 and 2024.

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Fenitrothion (FNT) is a common organophosphorus pesticide that is widely used in both agricultural and domestic pest control. FNT has been frequently detected in various environmental media, including the human body, and is a notable contaminant. Epidemiological investigations have recently shown the implications of exposure to FNT in the incidence of various metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus in humans, indicating that FNT may be a potential endocrine disruptor.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are rampant, toxic contaminants from anthropogenic sources, called forever chemicals for their recalcitrance. Although banned in several parts of the world for public health implications, including liver, kidney, and testicular diseases, PFAS are abundant in water sources due to easy dispersion. With chemical properties resulting from strong hydrophobic bonds, they defile many physicochemical removal methods.

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Protein engineering mechanisms can be an efficient approach to enhance the biochemical properties of various biocatalysts. Immobilization of biocatalysts and the introduction of new-to-nature chemical reactivities are also possible through the same mechanism. Discovering new protocols that enhance the catalytic active protein that possesses novelty in terms of being stable, active, and, stereoselectivity with functions could be identified as essential areas in terms of concurrent bioorganic chemistry (synergistic relationship between organic chemistry and biochemistry in the context of enzyme engineering).

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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent contaminants used as flame retardants in electronic products. PBDEs are contaminants of concern due to leaching and recalcitrance conferred by the stable and hydrophobic bromide residues. The near absence of legislatures and conscious initiatives to tackle the challenges of PBDEs in Africa has allowed for the indiscriminate use and consequent environmental degradation.

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Decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a typical persistent organic pollutant that can cross the placental barrier, increasing the exposure risk for offspring. Norepinephrine (NE) from nerve terminals and acetylcholine (Ach) can bind to specific receptors on immune cells, inhibit the immune function of the body then cause immunotoxicity. However, whether maternal exposure to BDE-209 could lead to immunotoxicity in the offspring by acting on the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems remains unclear.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used in industrial and consumer applications for ages. The pervasive and persistent nature of PFAS in the environment is a universal concern due to public health risks. Experts acknowledge that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS have consequences, including reduced vaccine efficacy, elevated cholesterol, and increased risk of high blood pressure.

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Acrylamide (ACR) is a common industrial contaminant with endocrine-disrupting toxicity. Numerous studies have indicated that females and diabetics are more sensitive to environmental contaminants. However, it remains unknown whether female diabetics are susceptible to ACR-induced toxicity and its potential mechanisms.

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Article Synopsis
  • Acrylamide (ACR) is a harmful food contaminant found in many foods, raising health concerns, particularly regarding its impact on insulin-resistant cells.
  • The study created a model using BRL cells to investigate how insulin resistance affects the cells' response to different concentrations of ACR, finding that exposure decreased glucose uptake and increased fat levels, aggravating metabolic disorders.
  • Results indicated that ACR exposure heightened the activation of stress and apoptosis pathways in insulin-resistant BRL cells, suggesting that ACR is more toxic to cells that already have insulin resistance due to enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress.
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  • There is ongoing research about the environmental impact of plastics, but many critical aspects of their toxic effects are still not fully understood, especially regarding their interaction with other pollutants.
  • Microplastics have the potential to bind with harmful substances like Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a common flame retardant that poses risks to both the environment and human health.
  • This study offers a detailed review of recent developments related to micro/nanoplastics and TBBPA, discussing their associations, the factors influencing these interactions, and their combined effects on ecosystems and health, along with future research directions.
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Tetrabromobisphenol A bis (2- hydroxyethyl) ether (TBBPA-DHEE), as one of the main derivatives of Tetrabromobisphenol A, been attracted attention for its health risks. In this study, the neurotoxicity, mechanism, and susceptivity of TBBPA-DHEE exposure to sexually developing male rats were systematically studied. Neurobehavioral research showed that TBBPA-DHEE exposure could significantly affect the behavior, learning,and memory abilities of male-developing rats, and aggravate their depression.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Behavioral tests indicated that TBBPA-DHEE increased swimming speed and distance at higher concentrations (1.5 mg/L), while lower doses (0.05 and 0.3 mg/L) decreased these behaviors, affecting learning and memory in the fish.
  • * Analysis of neurotransmitter levels showed an increase in excitatory neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine with TBBPA-DHEE exposure, and transcriptomic studies revealed alterations
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  • - The increasing use of antibiotics has led to environmental pollution, which is difficult to remediate due to low concentrations and the challenges of detecting them.
  • - The literature on antibiotic pollution often overlooks how antibiotics interact with soil and plants, particularly how these interactions affect antibiotic absorption and movement in the environment.
  • - Key findings suggest that the properties of antibiotics impact their adsorption in soil and uptake by plants, with factors like soil composition and ionic state playing significant roles, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
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In Africa, the effects of informal e-waste recycling on the environment are escalating. It is regularly transported from developed to developing nations, where it is disassembled informally in search of precious metals, thus increasing human exposure to harmful compounds. Africa has a serious problem with e-waste, as there are significant facilities in Ghana and Nigeria where imported e-waste is unsafely dismantled.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Neonicotinoid insecticides, known for their strong effectiveness against a wide range of pests, are commonly used worldwide, with dinotefuran being a notable recent addition due to its rapid absorption by plants.
  • - Despite their effectiveness, there is increasing concern about the negative impacts of neonicotinoids, like dinotefuran, on biodiversity and non-target organisms in agricultural environments.
  • - This review aims to summarize the current knowledge on dinotefuran's non-target effects, explore management strategies to minimize these impacts, identify research gaps, and propose future research directions for better risk assessment and responsible use.
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Plant-derived nanomaterials (PDNM) have gained significant attention recently due to their potential pharmacological applications against pathogenic microbes, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and certain metabolic diseases. This review introduces the concept of PDNMs and their unique properties, including their small size, high surface area, and ability to penetrate biological barriers. Besides various methods for synthesizing PDNMs, such as green synthesis techniques that utilize plant extracts and natural compounds, the advantages of using plant-derived materials, such as their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity, were elucidated.

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Due to their size, flexibility, biocompatibility, large surface area, and variable functionality nanoparticles have enormous industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. This has led to their widespread use in various fields. The advancement of knowledge in this field of research has altered our way of life from medicine to agriculture.

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The reduction in agricultural production due to the negative impact of insects and weeds, as well as the health and economic burden associated with vector-borne diseases, has promoted the wide use of chemicals that control these "enemies." However, the use of these synthetic chemicals has been recognized to elicit negative impacts on the environment as well as the health and wellbeing of man. In this study, we presented an overview of recent updates on the environmental and health impacts of synthetic pesticides against agro-pest and disease vectors while exhaustive reviewing the potentials of natural plant products from Zanthoxylum species (Rutaceae) as sustainable alternatives.

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In conjunction with global climate change, progressive ocean warming, and acclivity in pollution and anthropogenic eutrophication, the incidence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) continue to expand in distribution, frequency, and magnitude. Algal bloom-related toxins have been implicated in human health disorders and ecological dysfunction and are detrimental to the national and global economy. Biomonitoring programs based on traditional monitoring protocols were characterised by some limitations that can be efficiently overdone using the CRISPR/Cas technology.

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Chemicals used for storage majorly possess insecticidal activities - deterring destructive insect pests and microorganisms from stored agricultural produce. Despite the controversy about their safety, local farmers and agro-wholesalers still predominantly use these chemicals in developing countries, especially Africa, to ensure an all-year supply of agriproducts. These chemicals could have short- or long-term effects.

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Antibiotic pollution is an ever-growing concern that affects the growth of plants and the well-being of animals and humans. Research on antibiotics remediation from aqueous media has grown over the years and previous reviews have highlighted recent advances in antibiotics remediation technologies, perspectives on antibiotics ecotoxicity, and the development of antibiotic-resistant genes. Nevertheless, the relationship between antibiotics solution chemistry, remediation technology, and the interactions between antibiotics and adsorbents at the molecular level is still elusive.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tetrabromobisphenol A-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) ether (TBBPA-DHEE) poses ecological and health risks, but its toxic effects on aquatic organisms, particularly zebrafish, have not been thoroughly investigated.
  • Behavioral studies showed that TBBPA-DHEE exposure affects the average speed, distance between objects, and brain tissue of male and female zebrafish differently.
  • Transcriptome analysis revealed that the neurotoxic effects and mechanisms vary between sexes, with TBBPA-DHEE impacting gene expression related to behavior and neural signaling pathways in both genders.
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