Ecological and human health hazards of soil heavy metals after wildfire: A case study of Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, China.

Soil samples were collected in at different depths from the conflagration area in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Region, China, to investigate the distribution characteristics and ecological and human health risks of heavy metals after a wildfire. The samples collected comprise wildfire ash (WA) above the soil surface, ash soil (AS) 0-5 cm, and plain soil (PS) 5-15 cm below the soil surface. Additionally, reference soil (RS) was collected from a nearby unburned area at the same latitude as the conflagration area.

Using fly larvae to convert food waste for growing Oujiang color common carps: health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

The present study used Chrysomya megacephala larvae (CML) to transform food waste into safe and high-quality fish feed to substitute fish meal as a source of protein for growing Oujiang color common carps followed by a human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results showed the ∑PAH concentration in the CML fed with food waste ranged from 50 to 370 μg kg, and the most abundant PAH compound in the CML was BaP, contributing 59-84% of ∑PAHs. The Pearson correlation analysis results indicated no correlation between the ∑PAH concentrations and the culture substrate ratio (p > 0.

Health risk assessment of mercury in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed housefly maggots.

The bioaccumulation of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) by housefly maggots (HM) during the conversion of food waste (vegetables and meat (VM) and rice waste) under various waste feed ratios were investigated. Subsequently, Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were fed with the commercial feed, commercial dried HM, dried HM, and fresh HM, followed by a human health risk assessment of Hg via fish consumption. The THg concentrations of HM fed with food waste ranged from 39.

Inhalation bioacessibility and absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor PM and its implication in risk assessment.

Inhalation bioaccessibility of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM was assessed in numerous studies, however, the lung cell uptake and penetration of PAHs was seldom taken into account in risk assessment. In the present study, eighteen indoor PM samples collected from Guangzhou, China were analyzed for the inhalation bioavailability of PAHs combining the inhalation bioaccessibility and cell absorption of PAHs. Two simulated epithelial lung fluid mimicking the healthy condition (as represented by gamble's solution (GMB), pH = 7.

Recycle food wastes into high quality fish feeds for safe and quality fish production.

The amount of food waste generated from modern societies is increasing, which has imposed a tremendous pressure on its treatment and disposal. Food waste should be treated as a valuable resource rather than waste, and turning it into fish feeds would be a viable alternative. This paper attempts to review the feasibility of using food waste to formulate feed pellets to culture a few freshwater fish species, such as grass carp, grey mullet, and tilapia, under polyculture mode (growing different species in the same pond).

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) in paired maternal and neonatal samples from South China: Placental transfer and potential risks.

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) are attracting more and more attention for the neurodevelopment toxicity effects. We evaluated the concentrations of 15 individual OH-PBDEs and 3 bromophenol (BRP) congeners in 30 mother-newborn paired placenta, breast milk, fetal cord blood, and neonatal urine samples collected from South China. The geometric mean (GM) concentrations of ∑OH-PBDEs were 37.

Food wastes as fish feeds for polyculture of low-trophic-level fish: bioaccumulation and health risk assessments of heavy metals in the cultured fish.

The major purpose of this study was to use different types of food wastes which serve as the major sources of protein to replace the fish meal used in fish feeds to produce quality fish. Two types of food waste-based feed pellets FW A (with cereals) and FW B (with cereals and meat products) and the commercial feed Jinfeng® were used to culture fingerlings of three low-trophic-level fish species: bighead carp, grass carp, and mud carp (in the ratio of 1:3:1) for 1 year period in the Sha Tau Kok Organic Farm in Hong Kong. Heavy metal concentrations in all of the fish species fed with food waste pellets and commercial pellets in Sha Tau Kok fish ponds were all below the local and international maximum permissible levels in food.

The use of food waste-based diets and Napier grass to culture grass carp: growth performance and contaminants contained in cultured fish.

The present study used commercial feeds, food waste feeds, Napier grass, and mixed feeds (food waste feed to Napier grass ratio, 1:10) to feed grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The results indicated that grass carp fed with food waste feeds and mix feeds achieved growth performance (based on specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio) that was similar to commercial feeds (p > 0.05).

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in human samples of mother-newborn pairs in South China and their placental transfer characteristics.

There are limited data concerning the placenta transfer characteristics and accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in infants. However, PBDEs received increasing health concerns due to their endocrine disrupt and neurodevelopment toxicity effects. The present study assessed the accumulation of PBDEs in 30 paired placenta, breast milk, fetal cord blood, and neonatal urine samples collected from five major cities of the South China.

Replacing fish meal by food waste in feed pellets to culture lower trophic level fish containing acceptable levels of organochlorine pesticides: health risk assessments.

The present study used food waste (collected from local hotels and restaurants) feed pellets in polyculture of low-trophic level fish [bighead (Aristichtys nobilis), grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus), and mud carp (Cirrhina molitorella)] aiming at producing safe and quality products for local consumption. The results indicated that grass carp (hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) <0.03; dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) 1.

Concentrations and congener profiles of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in blood plasma from Hong Kong: implications for sources and exposure route.

There was limited information about bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in humans of the general population of Hong Kong. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine concentrations and congener profiles of PBDEs in blood plasma from Hong Kong, evaluate their sources and correlations with other organobrominated compounds, and investigate exposure routes from fish and dust. Concentrations of ∑PBDE22 ranged from 0.

Aquaculture-derived enrichment of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in coastal sediments of Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China.

To evaluate contamination of sediments along the coast of Hong Kong and adjacent mainland China, concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in surface and core sediments were measured in six mariculture zones. In surface sediments (0 to 5 cm), concentrations of ∑HCHs and ∑DDTs in mariculture sediments were approximately 1.3- and 7.

Bioaccessibility of polychlorinated biphenyls in workplace dust and its implication for risk assessment.

Human exposure to bioaccessible PCBs via indoor dust is limited around the world. In the present study, the workplace dust sample from commercial office, hospital, secondary school, shopping mall, electronic factory and manufacturing plant were collected from Hong Kong for PCBs analyses. Total PCBs concentrations ranged from 46.

Arsenic concentration in rice, fish, meat and vegetables in Cambodia: a preliminary risk assessment.

To assess arsenic contaminations and its possible adverse health effects, food samples were collected from Kandal, Kratie and Kampong Cham in Cambodia. The highest and the lowest concentrations were observed in fish (mean 2,832 ng g(-1), ww) collected from Kandal province and cattle stomach (1.86 ± 1.

In vitro estimation of exposure of Hong Kong residents to mercury and methylmercury via consumption of market fishes.

In order to evaluate effects of exposure to mercury (tHg) and methylmercury (MeHg) of Hong Kong residents via consumption of fish, total and bioaccessible concentrations of tHg and MeHg were measured in 10 freshwater and 10 marine fishes collected from markets in Hong Kong. Concentrations of tHg and MeHg in fishes ranged from 27.2 to 311ngg(-1) (median 88.

Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in human blood plasma from Hong Kong: markers of exposure and sources from fish.

Previous studies revealed that food, particularly fish products, is the major source for human exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Our previous studies revealed that contamination of Hong Kong market fish with DDT was 0.74-131 with a mean of 12.