Living near an active U.S. military base in Iraq is associated with significantly higher hair thorium and increased likelihood of congenital anomalies in infants and children.

In Iraq, war contamination is the result of dispensed bombs, bullets, detonation of chemical and conventional weapons, and burn-pit emissions by US bases. Increases in congenital anomalies were reported from Iraqi cities post-2003. These cities were heavily bombed and encircled by US bases with burn-pits. Thorium is a radioactive compound and a direct depleted-uranium decay-product. Radioactive materials, including depleted uranium, are routinely stored in US bases and they have been shown to leak into the environment. We conducted a case-control study to investigate associations of residential proximity to Tallil Air Base, a US military base near Nasiriyah, as well as levels of uranium and thorium in hair and deciduous teeth with congenital anomalies. The study was based on a sample of 19 cases and 10 controls who were recruited during late Summer and early Fall of 2016. We developed mixed effects logistic regression models with village as the random effect, congenital anomaly as the outcome and distance to the US base and hair metal levels (one at a time) as the predictor variable, controlling for child's age, sex and paternal education. We also explored the mediation of the association between proximity to the base and congenital anomalies by hair metal levels. We found an inverse association between distance to Tallil Air Base and risk of congenital anomalies and hair levels of thorium and uranium. The results of our mediation analyses were less conclusive. Larger studies are necessary to understand the scope of war contamination and its impact on congenital anomalies in Iraq.

Prenatal metal exposure in the Middle East: imprint of war in deciduous teeth of children.

In war zones, the explosion of bombs, bullets, and other ammunition releases multiple neurotoxicants into the environment. The Middle East is currently the site of heavy environmental disruption by massive bombardments. A very large number of US military bases, which release highly toxic environmental contaminants, have also been erected since 2003. Current knowledge supports the hypothesis that war-created pollution is a major cause of rising birth defects and cancers in Iraq. We created elemental bio-imaging of trace elements in deciduous teeth of children with birth defects from Iraq. Healthy and naturally shed teeth from Lebanon and Iran were also analyzed for trace elements. Lead (Pb) was highest in teeth from children with birth defects who donated their teeth from Basra, Iraq (mean 0.73-16.74 (208)Pb/(43)Ca ppm, n = 3). Pb in healthy Lebanese and Iranian teeth were 0.038-0.382 (208)Pb/(43)Ca ppm (n = 4) and 0.041-0.31 (208)Pb/(43)Ca ppm (n = 2), respectively. Our hypothesis that increased war activity coincides with increased metal levels in deciduous teeth is confirmed by this research. Lead levels were similar in Lebanese and Iranian deciduous teeth. Deciduous teeth from Iraqi children with birth defects had remarkably higher levels of Pb. Two Iraqi teeth had four times more Pb, and one tooth had as much as 50 times more Pb than samples from Lebanon and Iran.

Elevated titanium levels in Iraqi children with neurodevelopmental disorders echo findings in occupation soldiers.

Anthropogenic release of pollutants into the environment is especially harmful to growing fetuses and young children. These populations are at an increased risk of damage because exposure to pollutants during critical periods of development can cause many impairments. Children's exposure to mixtures of metals could be responsible for the rising numbers of neurological disorders surfacing in Iraqi children. Titanium (Ti) and magnesium (Mg) are heavily used in war industries. Exposure to Ti and Mg has been linked to the dust in occupation soldiers' lungs. Hair samples of children in Hawija, Iraq (n = 13) contained significantly higher levels of Ti compared to Iranian children (n = 13) living near the Iraqi border (2080 ± 940 vs 707 ± 421 µg/kg, p < 0.0001). Magnesium was 1.7 times higher in Hawija children compared to Iranian children (115,763 ± 118,155 vs 67,650 ± 46,729 µg/kg). In samples from Hawija, Ti was 1.3 times higher in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (2198 ± 1108 vs 1942 ± 779 µg/kg), and Mg was 1.9 times higher in children without neurodevelopmental disorders (155,618 ± 140,791 vs 81,602 ± 91,940 µg/kg). Lead, arsenic, and cadmium in Hawija children with neurodevelopmental disorders (n = 6) were 2.5, 2.2, and 1.37 times higher compared to non-disabled children (n = 7). To get a clear understanding of the current status of neurodevelopmental disorders in Iraqi children and to determine the magnitude of this suspected global health issue, registries should be set up to compile and aggregate data from hospitals, clinics, and health centers across the country. Functional registries can develop collaborations with researchers toward finding causes of these disorders in Iraqi children and toward preventing them.

Spatial analysis of Cd and Pb in the Pike (Esox lucius) from Western Anzali wetlands of Iran.

Geostatistical studies are used to estimate pollution burden in aquatic ecosystems and to plan large-scale control programs to protect these environments. Geostatistical studies allow us to predicted pollutant concentrations for areas that have not been sampled. This is done by taking into account the spatial correlations between estimated and sampled points and by minimizing the variance of estimation error. The use of geostatistical techniques in biomonitoring of fish species can illuminate extent and source of pollution, thereby providing an effective tool for developing intervention strategies to protect such environments. This study investigates the spatial distribution patterns of cadmium and lead in the Pike (Esox lucius). Fish were captured in the western parts of the Anzali wetlands located on the Caspian Sea in Iran. The muscle tissue of Anzali Pike had 5 ± 0.25 and 168 ± 18.4 (ng/g dw) cadmium and lead, respectively. Positive relationships were detected between Pike's length and weight (r = 0.85, p < 0.05), length and age (r = 0.35, p < 0.05), and muscle cadmium and lead (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). By contrast, there was a negative relationship between lead levels and weight in Pike (r = -0.36, p < 0.05). For both metals, the resulting metal concentration maps indicated higher pollutant concentrations in the southeast parts of the study area. Considerable boat traffic activity and agricultural activity contribute to the pollution in these areas, undermining the integrity of local habitat for fish survival and reproduction.

Metal contamination and the epidemic of congenital birth defects in Iraqi cities.

Between October 1994 and October 1995, the number of birth defects per 1,000 live births in Al Basrah Maternity Hospital was 1.37. In 2003, the number of birth defects in Al Basrah Maternity Hospital was 23 per 1,000 live births. Within less than a decade, the occurrence of congenital birth defects increased by an astonishing 17-fold in the same hospital. A yearly account of the occurrence and types of birth defects, between 2003 and 2011, in Al Basrah Maternity Hospital, was reported. Metal levels in hair, toenail, and tooth samples of residents of Al Basrah were also provided. The enamel portion of the deciduous tooth from a child with birth defects from Al Basrah (4.19 µg/g) had nearly three times higher lead than the whole teeth of children living in unimpacted areas. Lead was 1.4 times higher in the tooth enamel of parents of children with birth defects (2,497 ± 1,400 µg/g, mean ± SD) compared to parents of normal children (1,826 ± 1,819 µg/g). Our data suggested that birth defects in the Iraqi cities of Al Basrah (in the south of Iraq) and Fallujah (in central Iraq) are mainly folate-dependent. This knowledge offers possible treatment options and remediation plans for at-risk Iraqi populations.

Seaweed and chlorophyll as biomarkers of metals in the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Algal chlorophyll content and chlorophyll type ratios, as biomarkers of stress, were investigated. Ulva intestinalis and Sargassum angustifolium were sampled at low tide, in the intertidal zone of Bushehr Province in January and May, 2010. The mean concentrations of metals in the algae were in the following order: Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd. High negative correlations between chlorophyll a content (r = -0.84, p < 0.01), chlorophyll c content (r = -0.82, p < 0.01), and ratio of chlorophyll c/a in S. angustifolium (r = -0.93, p < 0.001) and Ni concentration in this algae shows that both the content and ratio of chlorophyll may clearly reflect a negative effect of high metal concentrations in this algae.

Total and organic mercury in liver, kidney and muscle of waterbirds from wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

We measured and compared total and organic mercury in liver, kidney, and muscle of the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), and coot (Fulica atra) from the Caspian Sea wetlands in Iran. For the Great Cormorant organic mercury in liver, kidney and muscle comprised 82 %, 79 % and 58 % of total mercury. In the mallard same values were 46 %, 54 %, and 64 %. For coot total mercury was: 0.1 ± 0.0, 0.1 ± 0.01, 0.03 ± 0.01 in liver kidney and muscle respectively. We detected no organic mercury. In general older birds that feed on higher trophic levels can accumulate more mercury in their tissues.

Metal pollution in seaweed and related sediment of the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Nickel, cadmium, copper and lead in the sediment and seven species of algae from six locations in the Bushehr Province on the Coast of the Persian Gulf were determined. Sampling sites represent areas of importance in seaweed harvest and areas near sources of anthropogenic pollution. The mean concentrations of metals in the sediment (across all six collection sites, and collection periods) were: Pb (42.4 ± 2.7), Cd (7.4 ± 1), Ni (38.1 ± 3.7), and Cu (8.3 ± 1.2) µg g(-1) dry weight. High significant positive correlations existed between metals in cervicornis, corticata, and pavonica algae and the sediment, suggesting these species of algae are suitable for biomonitoring of the area.

Toxic and essential trace metals in first baby haircuts and mother hair from Imam Hossein Hospital Tehran, Iran.

Hair metal level in newborn and mother pairs from Iran is reported. Toxic metals including cadmium (157 vs. 87.5 µg/kg), mercury (246 vs. 198 µg/kg), copper (14,313 vs. 11,776 µg/kg) and aluminum (52,022 vs. 408,207 µg/kg) were higher in newborn hair when compared to their mothers; suggesting that metals maybe discarded in the fetus as a detoxification method. Comparison with available data from Germany and Poland, and Iraq suggests overall similarities and significant differences in the case of the Iraqi subjects. Public protection from mixture toxicity of metals will be facilitated by studies such as ours.

Mercury in liver, kidney, feather and muscle of seabirds from major wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

Concentration of mercury in tissues of the great cormorant (n = 18), mallard (n = 18), and coot (n = 15) of the Caspian Sea were determined. Liver mercury in the great cormorant, mallard, and coot were (5.7 ± 0.91; 0.3 ± 0.02; 0.09 ± 0.02). Kidney levels were (3.6 ± 2.24; 0.26 ± 0.03; 0.08 ± 0.02); feather (8.7 ± 0.8; 1.04 ± 0.16; 0.23 ± 0.15) and muscle were (2.26 ± 2.04; 0.11 ± 0.01; 0.03 ± 0.02) respectively. Mercury Tolerable Daily Intake limit is set at 5 µg g(-1). But even at levels that are currently considered "tolerable", mercury poisoning can occur in children and young who consume polluted game meat regularly.

Liver and breast feather mercury in piscivorous birds of the Caspian Sea: monitoring changes.

Mercury in the liver and breast feathers of the Common Cormorant, and in three species of Grebes from the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, were determined. The Common Cormorant had significantly more mercury in its tissues (liver: 8.5 ± 1.5; feather 8 ± 1 mg/kg dry weight) than Grebes (Great Crested Grebe: 3 ± 0.5, 8 ± 1.5; Black-necked Grebe: 3 ± 0.5, 5.5 ± 1; Little Grebe 2.5 ± 0.5, 4 ± 0.5). Unlike Common Cormorants, Grebes had less mercury in the liver than in breast feathers. Mercury in the Common Cormorant was not different between 2002 and 2008 collections. The mercury threshold for adverse effects is currently 5 ppm, which was exceeded by all but Little Grebes in this study.

Mercury in the Oriental sole (Brachirus orientalis) near a chlor-alkali plant in the Persian Gulf, Iran.

Total mercury in muscle and liver of Oriental sole from the largest inlet in the Persian Gulf was evaluated. Fish were collected from three channels of Moses Inlet near a chlor-alkali plant. Ahamdi and Jafari channels were closest to this plant and Ghanam was farther away. We sampled in August 2007 and February 2008. The overall estimated marginal mean for total mercury in sole tissue was 2.4 ± 0.1 mg/kg wet weight. Mercury in fish was similar in August and February; but muscle from Ahmadi contained higher mercury in August (1 ± 0.2) than in February (0.5 ± 0.01). This trend was reversed in the liver (1.3 ± 0.2 and 3.7 ± 0.3).

Mercury in egg and eggshell of Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) from Anzali wetlands of the Caspian Sea, Iran.

Mercury content of egg and eggshell from Whiskered Terns of Anzali wetlands of the Caspian Sea were determined. Mercury levels in egg content of both abandoned (433 ± 4) and non-abandoned (459 ± 15) eggs were 150 times greater than eggshells. Eggshell thickness differed between non-abandoned (0.5 ± 0.03) and abandoned eggs (0.6 ± 0.5) (p < 0.001). No significant association was found between shell Hg and shell thickness in this study. There was significantly more Hg in egg content than in shell (p < 0.001). Mercury levels in eggs did not exceed the levels associated with adverse reproductive effects.

Developmental reprogramming of reproductive and metabolic dysfunction in sheep: native steroids vs. environmental steroid receptor modulators.

The inappropriate programming of developing organ systems by exposure to excess native or environmental steroids, particularly the contamination of our environment and our food sources with synthetic endocrine disrupting chemicals that can interact with steroid receptors, is a major concern. Studies with native steroids have found that in utero exposure of sheep to excess testosterone, an oestrogen precursor, results in low birth weight offspring and leads to an array of adult reproductive/metabolic deficits manifested as cycle defects, functional hyperandrogenism, neuroendocrine/ovarian defects, insulin resistance and hypertension. Furthermore, the severity of reproductive dysfunction is amplified by excess postnatal weight gain. The constellation of adult reproductive and metabolic dysfunction in prenatal testosterone-treated sheep is similar to features seen in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Prenatal dihydrotestosterone treatment failed to result in similar phenotype suggesting that many effects of prenatal testosterone excess are likely facilitated via aromatization to oestradiol. Similarly, exposure to environmental steroid imposters such as bisphenol A (BPA) and methoxychlor (MXC) from days 30 to 90 of gestation had long-term but differential effects. Exposure of sheep to BPA, which resulted in maternal levels of 30-50 ng/mL BPA, culminated in low birth weight offspring. These female offspring were hypergonadotropic during early postnatal life and characterized by severely dampened preovulatory LH surges. Prenatal MXC-treated females had normal birth weight and manifested delayed but normal amplitude LH surges. Importantly, the effects of BPA were evident at levels, which approximated twice the highest levels found in human maternal circulation of industrialized nations. These findings provide evidence in support of developmental origin of adult reproductive and metabolic diseases and highlight the risk posed by exposure to environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Elevated ovarian and thymic cell apoptosis in wild cotton rats inhabiting petrochemical-contaminated terrestrial ecosystems.

The objective of this study was to determine the rates of apoptotic cell death in ovary and thymus collected from wild female cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) inhabiting five petrochemical-contaminated and five ecologically matched reference sites in Oklahoma. Overall comparison of reference and contaminated sites, using individual sites as replicates, revealed a significantly increased rate of ovarian cell apoptosis in cotton rats inhabiting contaminated sites. In comparison to rats from reference sites, the number of uterine scars was lower in rats collected from the contaminated sites. There were no significant differences in the percentage of atretic follicles among animals collected from reference and contaminated sites. The rate of thymocyte apoptosis was elevated at one of five contaminated sites, although the overall rate of thymocyte apoptosis was not significantly different when comparing all sites. To our knowledge, this is the first study documenting elevated rates of ovarian and thymic cell apoptosis in wild mammals exposed chronically to environmental toxicants.

Sensitivity of wild cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) to the immunotoxic effects of low-level arsenic exposure.

Arsenic is a ubiquitous contaminant of many toxic waste sites around the country and experimental animal trials have indicated that arsenic may be immunotoxic to laboratory rodents. Because wild rodents such as the herbivorous cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) reside on many of these toxic waste sites, we explored the sensitivity of their immune systems to oral exposures of environmentally relevant concentrations of inorganic arsenic. We exposed adult male cotton rats (n = 36) to either 0 (controls), 5 (low dose), or 10 (high dose) ppm sodium arsenite in drinking water for 6 weeks. Daily food intake decreased in a dose-dependent manner, ranging from an average of 10.03 +/- 0.45 in the high-dose group to 11.27 +/- 0.42 (SE) g/animal/day in the control group. Mass of testes in the low-dose group increased significantly compared to controls, but there was no difference between the high-dose and control groups. Masses of liver, kidney, adrenals, popliteal lymph nodes, spleen, epididymides, and seminal vesicles and selected hematological parameters were unaffected by arsenic exposure. In vivo cell-mediated immunity, as measured by a phytohemagglutinin-hypersensitivity response to an intradermal challenge, was suppressed 30% in the low-dose group compared to controls; however, responses of those receiving a high dose of arsenic were similar to controls. Arsenic treatment did not have a measurable impact on lymphoproliferative responses of cultured splenocytes to the mitogens Concanavalin A and Pokeweed mitogen, or to the lymphokine interleukin-2. We also observed no impact of low-level arsenic exposure on macrophage phagocytic activity and tumoricidal activity of lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro. It is possible that malnutrition caused by decreased food intake may eventually lead to atrophy of lymphoid organs and render animals more susceptible to environmental pathogens. However, direct effects of low-level arsenic exposure on immune function of cotton rats was minimal (a moderate depression in the in vivo cell-mediated immunity assay) and may not be clinically relevant with regard to susceptibility to disease in the wild.