Prenatal exposure to a mixture of different phthalates increases the risk of mammary carcinogenesis in F1 female offspring.

Phthalates metabolites have been detected in the urine of pregnant and breastfeeding women. Thus, this study evaluated the adverse effects of maternal exposure to a mixture of six phthalates (Pth mix) on the mammary gland development and carcinogenesis in F1 female offspring. Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed daily to vehicle or Pth mix (35.22% diethyl-phthalate, 21.03% di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate, 14.91% dibutyl-phthalate, 15.10% diisononyl-phthalate, 8.61% diisobutyl-phthalate, and 5.13% benzylbutyl-phthalate) by gavage at 20 µg/kg, 200 µg/kg or 200 mg/kg during gestational day 10 (GD 10) to postnatal day 21 (PND 21). After weaning (PND 22), some female offspring were euthanized for mammary gland analyses while other females received a single dose of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU, 50 mg/kg) or vehicle and then tumor incidence and multiplicity were recorded until PND 180. Maternal Pth mix exposure increased the number of Ki-67 and progesterone receptor-positive epithelial cells in the mammary gland from Pth mix 200 at µg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups. In addition, tumor incidence and mean number were higher only in Pth mix at 200 mg/kg when compared to the vehicle-treated group, and percentage of tumor-free animals was lower in Pth mix at 200 µg/kg and 200 mg/kg groups. The findings indicate that perinatal Pth mixture exposure increased susceptibility to MNU-induced mammary carcinogenesis in adult F1 female offspring.

[Environmental contaminants and endocrine disruptors]. / Contaminantes ambientais e os interferentes endócrinos.

The toxicity of various pollutants has been routinely investigated according to their teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. In the last few decades, however, many of such pollutants have been shown to adversely affect the endocrine system of human beings and other species. Currently, more than eleven million chemical substances are known in the world, and approximately 3,000 are produced on a large scale. Numerous chemical composites of domestic, industrial and agricultural use have been shown to influence hormonal activity. Examples of such chemical products with estrogenic activity are substances used in cosmetics, anabolizing substances for animal feeding, phytoestrogens and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These agents are seen in residential, industrial and urban sewerage system effluents and represent an important source of environmental contamination. The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) defines as endocrine disruptors substances or mixtures seen in the environment capable of interfering with endocrine system functions resulting in adverse effects in an intact organism or its offspring. In this article the authors present a current literature review about the role of these pollutants in endocrine and metabolic diseases, probable mechanisms of action, and suggest paths of investigation and possible strategies for prevention and reduction of its possible damages.

Contaminantes ambientais e os interferentes endócrinos / Environmental contaminants and endocrine disruptors

A toxicidade de diversos poluentes ambientais em seres humanos e demais espécies tem sido habitualmente investigada quanto aos seus efeitos teratogênicos e cancerígenos. Nas últimas décadas, muitos contaminantes têm demonstrado efeitos adversos sobre o sistema endócrino. Atualmente, cerca de onze milhões de substâncias químicas são conhecidas em todo mundo, sendo três mil delas produzidas em larga escala. Numerosos compostos químicos de uso doméstico, industrial e agrícola possuem comprovada atividade hormonal. Entre os produtos químicos com atividade estrogênica, destacam-se hormônios presentes em cosméticos, anabolizantes utilizados em rações animais, fitoestrógenos e poluentes orgânicos persistentes (POPs). Esses agentes que estão presentes nos efluentes industriais, residenciais e das estações de tratamento de água e esgoto representam uma importante fonte de contaminação ambiental. O Programa Internacional de Segurança Química (International Programme on Chemical Safety - IPCS) define como interferente endócrino substâncias ou misturas presentes no ambiente capazes de interferir nas funções do sistema endócrino, causando efeitos adversos em um organismo intacto ou na sua prole. No presente artigo, os autores apresentam uma revisão da literatura atual sobre o papel desses elementos nas doenças endócrinas e metabólicas, os prováveis mecanismos de ação envolvidos, discutindo-se perspectivas futuras em termos de investigação e estratégias para prevenção e redução dos seus possíveis danos.

The toxicity of various pollutants has been routinely investigated according to their teratogenic and carcinogenic effects. In the last few decades, however, many of such pollutants have been shown to adversely affect the endocrine system of human beings and other species. Currently, more than eleven million chemical substances are known in the world, and approximately 3,000 are produced on a large scale. Numerous chemical composites of domestic, industrial and agricultural use have been shown to influence hormonal activity. Examples of such chemical products with estrogenic activity are substances used in cosmetics, anabolizing substances for animal feeding, phytoestrogens and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These agents are seen in residential, industrial and urban sewerage system effluents and represent an important source of environmental contamination. The International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) defines as endocrine disruptors substances or mixtures seen in the environment capable of interfering with endocrine system functions resulting in adverse effects in an intact organism or its offspring. In this article the authors present a current literature review about the role of these pollutants in endocrine and metabolic diseases, probable mechanisms of action, and suggest paths of investigation and possible strategies for prevention and reduction of its possible damages.

Effects of lanthanum on human lymphocytes viability and DNA strand break.

Lanthanum (La) is a rare-earth metal with applications in agriculture, industry, and medicine. Since lanthanides show a broad spectrum of applications there is an increased risk of contamination for humans. We examined the effects of lanthanum in Jurkat cells and human peripheral lymphocytes (HPL), and we found that it was cytotoxic and genotoxic on both cell lines. Additionally, HPL were more sensitive to La treatment than Jurkat cells and necrosis was the pathway by which La induced cytotoxicity. Vitamin E was able to diminish the DNA strand breaks induced suggesting that oxidative stress may be involved in the genotoxic process.

Impact of pesticides use on human health in Mexico: a review.

Pesticides having a high adverse effect on the health and environment of inhabitants of the Mexican Republic were studied to establish the main parameters to bear in mind for their use and application. The investigation showed that Mexico is the agricultural zone with the highest health damage to its population from pesticides. The valid regulation norms for the use and application of these agrochemicals were analyzed. Case histories recorded by the public health sector in Mexico were reviewed. In this way, a strong relation was found between the health problems and the pesticides applied. Finally, the study concludes that the various Mexican States appear as a risk zone because of contamination by pesticides that are permitted by the regulation norms and by others whose use is prohibited in other countries and in Mexico. This situation causes a serious effect on the health deterioration of people who are exposed to these agro-chemicals and, in some cases, leads to death.

Riesgo toxicologico de las sustancias quimicas potencialmente toxicas en la infancia y adolescencia / Toxicologic risk of the toxic substances in the children and adolescents

La presencia en el ambiente (alimentos, agua, aire, suelo) de sustancias químicaqs potencialmente tóxicas puede afectar la salud de la población causando intoxicaciones agudas y crónicas. Entre los grupos que pueden estar más afectados estan los individuos que se sitúan en las épocas cronológicas de la infancia y adolescencia. Este artículo describe de manera accesible los problemas que más preocupan a los toxicólogos en este sector

Riesgo toxicologico de las sustancias quimicas potencialmente toxicas en la infancia y adolescencia / Toxicologic risk of the toxic substances in the children and adolescents

La presencia en el ambiente (alimentos, agua, aire, suelo) de sustancias químicaqs potencialmente tóxicas puede afectar la salud de la población causando intoxicaciones agudas y crónicas. Entre los grupos que pueden estar más afectados estan los individuos que se sitúan en las épocas cronológicas de la infancia y adolescencia. Este artículo describe de manera accesible los problemas que más preocupan a los toxicólogos en este sector(AU)

Contaminación ambiental: uso de indicadores bioquímicos en evaluaciones de riesgo ecotoxicológico / Environmental pollution: applicability of biomarkers in ecotoxicological risk assessment

En el trabajo son analizadas las principales estrategias elaboradas y desarrolladas desde las Ciencias Ambientales para la estimación del efecto generado por la introducción de sustancias extrañas (xenobióticos) en sistemas naturales, es decir los análisis químicos cuantitativos, los estudios ecológicos, los bioensayos, los estudios de microcosmos o de mesocosmos, y la utilización de indicadores bioquímicos. En este contexto, son discutidas con mayor detalle las principales características -y consecuentemente potenciales aplicaciones- de aquellos indicadores de la presencia de contaminantes de tipo bioquímico y/o celular, agrupados bajo la denominación de "biomarcadores" (indicadores bioquímicos). Esquemáticamente los indicadores bioquímicos se caracterizan por presentar las siguientes propiedades: - evidenciar la presencia de contaminantes a niveles subletales; - integrar adecuadamente el efecto de la presencia de diversos xenobióticos asequibles para los organismos y sus respectivos metabolitos; - incorporar las interacciones toxicológicas y farmacodinámicas; - predecir las consecuencias derivadas del tiempo y la frecuencia de exposición. Finalmente se discute la utilidad de los indicadores bioquímicos en programas de monitoreo ambiental, y en la predicción del efecto de la contaminación sobre la integridad de las poblaciones o comunidades afectadas, al ser utilizados en forma complementaria con las otras estrategias presentadas

Contaminación ambiental: uso de indicadores bioquímicos en evaluaciones de riesgo ecotoxicológico / Environmental pollution: applicability of biomarkers in ecotoxicological risk assessment

En el trabajo son analizadas las principales estrategias elaboradas y desarrolladas desde las Ciencias Ambientales para la estimación del efecto generado por la introducción de sustancias extrañas (xenobióticos) en sistemas naturales, es decir los análisis químicos cuantitativos, los estudios ecológicos, los bioensayos, los estudios de microcosmos o de mesocosmos, y la utilización de indicadores bioquímicos. En este contexto, son discutidas con mayor detalle las principales características -y consecuentemente potenciales aplicaciones- de aquellos indicadores de la presencia de contaminantes de tipo bioquímico y/o celular, agrupados bajo la denominación de "biomarcadores" (indicadores bioquímicos). Esquemáticamente los indicadores bioquímicos se caracterizan por presentar las siguientes propiedades: - evidenciar la presencia de contaminantes a niveles subletales; - integrar adecuadamente el efecto de la presencia de diversos xenobióticos asequibles para los organismos y sus respectivos metabolitos; - incorporar las interacciones toxicológicas y farmacodinámicas; - predecir las consecuencias derivadas del tiempo y la frecuencia de exposición. Finalmente se discute la utilidad de los indicadores bioquímicos en programas de monitoreo ambiental, y en la predicción del efecto de la contaminación sobre la integridad de las poblaciones o comunidades afectadas, al ser utilizados en forma complementaria con las otras estrategias presentadas (AU)

Efectos de la contaminación del ambiente sobre la salud respiratoria / Effects of environmental contamination on respiratory health

A partir de la década de los 50, las ciudades industrializadas y grandes urbes en el mundo confrontaron un nuevo problema de salud pública "LA CONTAMINACION AMBIENTAL", las consecuencias sobre el desarrollo y la salud de los seres vivos a largo plazo no se conocen con precisión, sin embargo de acuerdo al tipo, cantidad y mecanismo de acción del contaminante sus efectos pueden ser irreversibles o mortales. En México la contaminación del aire en la zona metropolitana representa uno de los principales problemas de salud por lo que los autores de esta revisión mencionan los diferentes tipos de contaminantes y su mecanismo de acción sobre el aparato respiratorio, además de señalar las principales fuentes de origen y las acciones encaminadas a contrarrestar y prevenir los efectos de la contaminación atmosférica