Exposure to Mercury in the Air and Its Effect on Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD): A Systematic Review.

Background: We aimed to verify the exposure to mercury in the air and its effect on cardiovascular disorders. Methods: The review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and national databases (such as SID) from 1995-2022. Results: Mercury exposure can cause many disorders in humans, including neurodevelopmental disorders in fetuses and children, adverse cardiovascular outcomes, hypertension, and diabetes. Mercury is a human neurotoxin, and in recent years its potentially harmful effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) have raised concerns, mainly due to mercury's role in reducing oxidative stress. Conclusion: Possible mechanisms of mercury toxicity in CVD include mercury-selenium interaction, increased lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress. In this article, we review studies that have investigated the relationship between mercury and CVD.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in urban dust in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Heavy metals in street dust are one of the most important sources of pollutants in urban areas. This urban dust can be caused by industrial activities, traffic, erosion of buildings, and fossil fuels. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the ecological risk of heavy metals in the dust of Iran's provinces. Methods: This study was conducted in February 2023 in order to investigate the environmental risks associated with heavy metals associated with dust particles in Iran. The present study was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Finally, 9 studies were extracted from the search databases. Results: The ecological risk of heavy metals in the present study was as follows: Cd (258.26؛ CI: 83.53, 433) >Pb (52.58؛ CI: 37.15, 68.02) >Cu (24.44؛ CI: 16.74, 32.14)>Ni (14.75؛ CI: 12.68, 16.82)>As (13.53؛ CI: 10.20, 16.85)>Zn (6.32؛ CI: 3.76, 8.87)>V (3.18؛ CI: 2.65, 3.72)>Cr (2.73؛ CI: 2.19, 3.27)>Co (1.94؛ CI: 1.13, 2.74). The mean ranking of the studied Pb ecological risk is as follows: Shiraz.> Tehran > Ahvaz > Ilam > Abadan > Dezful. Conclusion: The ecological risk potential of Cd in Tehran was also much higher than the standard. Therefore, Tehran was the most polluted city studied in terms of the ecological risk potential of Cd (1611.41؛ CI: 1605.98, 1616.84) and Pb (86.54؛ CI: 71.46, 101.62). The average concentration as well as the ecological risk of Cr, Co, and V metals were lower than the standard. Therefore, controlling the sources of heavy metal emissions (especially lead and cadmium) is highly recommended.

The effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers on cardiovascular diseases.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) are part of particulate matter (PM), which is produced from incomplete combustion of organic matter. Biomarkers mean biological indicators, molecules that indicate a normal or abnormal process in the body and may be a sign of a condition or disease. Studies show that PAHs increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases through processes such as oxidative stress, inflammation and atherosclerosis. The present study focused on the evaluation of health effects PAHs biomarkers on cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this narrative study, data were collected from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of science and Google Scholar in the period 1975-2023. After screening, duplicate and irrelevant articles were removed. Finally, 68 articles related to the effect of PAHs on CVD were included in the study. In addition to the articles found through the search in databases, another 18 articles from the references of the selected articles were included. According to the finding in during the biotransformation of PAH, a number of metabolites are made, such as phenols, diols, quinones, and epoxides. Phenolic isomers have the highest percentage and biomarkers used for their detection include 2-OHNAP used to trace naphthalene from heating processed food, 3-OHPHEN used to trace phenanthrene from diesel, 2-OHFLU used to trace fluorene and 1-OHPYR used to trace pyrene from cigarette and hookah smoke. According to the result, increasing blood pressure and heart rate and causing atherosclerosis are the main complications due to exposure to PAH metabolite on cardiovascular system. The most important agents that causes this affects including increased homocysteine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), serum biomarkers of C-reactive protein, and triglycerides. Result this study showed that cardiovascular diseases risk is increased by exposure to PAH biomarkers from smoking, car emissions, occupational exposure, and incinerators. Therefore, strict controls should be implemented for sources of PAH production and exposure.

Relationship between exposure to heavy metals on the increased health risk and carcinogenicity of urinary tract (kidney and bladder).

In today's society, with the continuous development of manufacturing industries and factories related to chemicals, the amount of heavy metals in the inhaled air of humans, water and even food consumption has increased dramatically. The aim of this study was investigation of relationship between exposure to heavy metals on the increased carcinogenicity risk of kidney and bladder. Databases used to for searched were the Springer, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct (Scopus) and PubMed. At the end after sieve we selected 20 papers. Identify all relevant studies published 2000-2021. The results of this study showed that exposure to heavy metals due to the bio accumulative properties of these metals can cause kidney and bladder abnormalities and provide the basis through various mechanisms for malignant tumors in these organs. Based on result this study, since a limited number of heavy metals including copper, iron, zinc and nickel in very small amounts as micronutrients play a very important role in the function of enzymes and the body cells biological reactions, but exposure to some of them like arsenic, lead, vanadium and mercury will cause irreversible effects on people's health and cause various diseases including cancers of the liver, pancreas, prostate, breast, kidney and bladder. The kidneys, ureter and bladder are the most important organs in the urinary tract on human. According to the result of this study, the duty of this urinary system is to remove toxins, chemicals and heavy metals from the blood, balance electrolytes, excrete excess fluid, produce urine and transfer it to the bladder. This mechanism causes the kidneys and bladder to be highly associated with these toxins and heavy metals, which can lead to various diseases in these two important organs. According to the finding the reducing exposure to heavy metals in various ways can prevent many diseases related to this system and reduce the incidence of kidney and bladder cancers.

Hospital wastewater treatment methods and its impact on human health and environments.

The scientific development and economic advances have led to the identification of many pathogenic agents in hospital effluents. Hospital wastewaters are qualitatively similar to municipal wastewaters, with the difference that these wastewaters contain toxic and infectious substances and compounds that can be dangerous for the health of the environment, employees of these centers, and the entire community. Therefore, in the last few years, it has been emphasized that all hospitals and medical and health centers should have a treatment facility for their produced wastewater so that the health of the society and people is not threatened. An issue that is not paid attention to has become one of the environmental problems and concerns of the world today. The present study focused on the investigate hospital wastewater treatment methods and its impact on human health and the environment. In this narrative study, the first literature search was performed with four hundred and twenty-three articles were retrieved based on PubMed, Elsevier, Web of science, Spring, and Google Scholar databases. The results of this study showed that wastewater from hospitals and medical centers can play a significant impress in polluting soil and aquatic environments and spreading infectious diseases. According to the mentioned contents, collection and treatment of hospital wastewater is essential. In addition, if hospital wastewater enters the wastewater collection network without knowing its characteristics or with incomplete treatment and finally enters the municipal wastewater treatment plant. It causes many problems, including disturbing the balance of the biological system of the treatment plant. Purification and disposal of hospital wastewater is considered a vital action based on environmental standards. The results of this study also showed that the treatment methods of this type of hospital wastewater can play a significant role in reducing the spread of diseases caused by hospital wastewater treatment, including infectious diseases. The results of this study can be very useful for politicians, the managers of the Ministry of Energy and Health and the Environmental Organization in choosing the appropriate methods and process to reduce hospital wastewater and increase the efficiency of hospital wastewater treatment plants.

Toxic effects due to exposure heavy metals and increased health risk assessment (leukemia).

Heavy metals (HM) are among the elements that are rare in nature and threaten human health, animals, and the environment. Fix sources including (power plants, industries, homes) and mobile sources include (cars and motorcycles) are the main sources production and emission of HM. It is important to understand the main information about sources of emission, chemical processes (reactions, oxidation, and leaching), and how they precipitate. The aim of this study was to evaluation an increased risk of leukemia due to exposure to HM. In this article narrative, the first literature search was performed with 580 articles according to different databases: Elsevier, PubMed, Web of science, Spring, and Google Scholar databases. 70 articles were included in the analysis process. Finally, 8 full-text articles were selected in this research. The search was restricted to English-language papers published between 2000 and 2021. In final stage literature, there is a notable health effect (carcinogenic) because of exposure to heavy metals. According to the results of this research natural procedures and human activities (industrial processes, car exhaust, and cigarette smoke) are the most important of ways that heavy metals can enter the natural cycle. Air, food, soil, water, and groundwater are the main sources of heavy metals that can cause severe disorders in the human body. After entering the body through ingestion heavy metals produce stable bio-toxic compounds. These compounds by disrupting biological processes, interrupt the body's functions and cause various cancers in the human body. The results of this study can help to politicians for make comprehensive decisions to solve the problem and increase public awareness of the use of protective equipment.

Effects of sulfur dioxide inhalation on human health: a review.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of the most important gaseous air pollutants and the chemical index of sulfur oxides (SOx). SO2 is one of the six criteria pollutants in the air quality index (AQI). SO2 can be emitted by natural and anthropogenic sources. Although efforts have been made to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions worldwide, this pollutant and its adverse effects remain a major concern, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was the investigated the effects of sulfur dioxide inhalation on human health. This narrative review was done based on the literature published from 2000 to 2022 through PubMed, Springer, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. In this study, was done screened first based on the abstract and Final assessment done based on the full text of the article. Finally, 38 articles were selected for inclusion in the study. The results of this study showed that sulfur dioxide has adverse health effects on the human respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems and causes type 2 diabetes and non-accidental deaths. Although some evidence suggests that sulfur dioxide in given concentrations has no adverse health effect, its synergistic effects in combination with other air pollutants may be significant. Among the most important practical results of this study can be mentioned to increase the health awareness of the general public, help the politicians of the health sector in making decisions in the health field, creating awareness among polluting producing units and industries and efforts to reduce the emission of Sulfur dioxide.