Do toxic heavy metals affect antioxidant defense mechanisms in humans?

Ecotoxicol Environ Saf

Nicolaus Copernicus University, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Ecology and Environmental Protection, SkŁodowska-Curie St. 9, PL 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Published: April 2012

The aim of this study was to prove whether anthropogenic pollution affects antioxidant defense mechanisms such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity, ferritin (FRT) concentration and total antioxidant status (TAS) in human serum. The study area involves polluted and salted environment (Kujawy region; northern-middle Poland) and Tuchola Forestry (unpolluted control area). We investigated 79 blood samples of volunteers from polluted area and 82 from the control in 2008 and 2009. Lead, cadmium and iron concentrations were measured in whole blood by the ICP-MS method. SOD and CAT activities were measured in serum using SOD and CAT Assay Kits by the standardized colorimetric method. Serum TAS was measured spectrophotometrically by the modified Benzie and Strain (1996) method and FRT concentration-by the immunonefelometric method. Pb and Cd levels and SOD activity were higher in volunteers from polluted area as compared with those from the control (0.0236 mg l(-1) vs. 0.014 mg l(-1); 0.0008 mg l(-1) vs. 0.0005 mg l(-1); 0.137 Um l(-1) vs. 0.055 Um l(-1), respectively). Fe level, CAT activity and TAS were lower in serum of volunteers from polluted area (0.442 g l(-1) vs. 0.476 gl(-1); 3.336 nmol min(-1)ml(-1) vs. 6.017 nmol min(-1)ml(-1); 0.731 Trolox-equivalents vs. 0.936 Trolox-equivalents, respectively), whilst differences in FRT concentration were not significant (66.109 μg l(-1) vs. 37.667 μg l(-1), p=0.3972). Positive correlations between Pb (r=0.206), Cd (r=0.602) and SOD in the inhabitants of polluted area, and between Cd and SOD in the control (r=0.639) were shown. In volunteers from both studied environments TAS-FRT (polluted: r=0.625 vs. control: r=0.837) and Fe-FRT (polluted area: r=0.831 vs. control: r=0.407) correlations, and Pb-FRT (r=0.360) and Pb-TAS (r=0.283) in the control were stated. The higher lead and cadmium concentrations in blood cause an increase of SOD activity. It suggests that this is one of the defense mechanisms of an organism against oxidative stress caused by environmental factors, whilst non-enzymatic mechanisms marked by TAS are the main antioxidant defense system in relation with Pb concentration in humans from unpolluted area. Simultaneously, the higher CAT activity and TAS can indicate that these mechanisms play a key role in the antioxidant protection in non-stressed environments.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2011.11.017DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

polluted area
20
antioxidant defense
12
defense mechanisms
12
cat activity
12
volunteers polluted
12
l-1
9
frt concentration
8
area
8
lead cadmium
8
sod cat
8

Similar Publications

Groundwater resources constitute one of the primary sources of freshwater in semi-arid and arid climates. Monitoring the groundwater quality is an essential component of environmental management. In this study, a comprehensive comparison was conducted to analyze the performance of nine ensembles and regular machine learning (ML) methods in predicting two water quality parameters including total dissolved solids (TDS) and pH, in an area with semi-arid climate conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cefixime (CFX) is a potent antibiotic against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria that resists degradation and typical removal procedures. This research aimed to synthesize a modified AgCuFeO@GO nanoparticle electrode with anchored MnO for removing CFX by three-dimensional electrochemical oxidation. The physical and chemical characteristics of the nanocomposite were evaluated using various techniques, including FESEM, XRD, EDS-mapping, FTIR, BET, VSM, and TGA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Spatio-temporal variation of air quality and its driving factors in Jinan and Qingdao during 2014-2022.

J Hazard Mater

December 2024

School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China. Electronic address:

Over the past 20 years, urbanization of Shandong Province has strongly supported the rapid growth and sustained transformation of economy, however, this region has suffered from serious atmospheric pollution due to intense human activity. Identifying and qualifying the spatio-temporal variation of air pollution and its driving forces of Shandong Province would help in the formulation of effective mitigation policies. A deep understanding of the coupling relationship between air quality and socioeconomic drivers was essential for evaluating the quality of urbanization and long term sustainability.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are extremely stable chemicals that are essential for modern life and decarbonization technologies. Yet PFAS are persistent pollutants that are harmful to human health. Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX), a replacement for the PFAS chemical perfluorooctanoic acid, continues to pollute waterways.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Psychoactive substance use in adults and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure among children are leading contributors to sleeping problems. Despite this, there is limited data on how these exposures influence sleep patterns in informal settings. Our study assessed the associations between substance use, SHS exposure and sleep disturbances among adults and children in an urban informal settlement in Uganda.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!