Safety of honey consumed in Enugu State, Nigeria: a public health risk assessment of lead and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Background: Information about lead (Pb) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in honey and their dietary intake is very important in human health risk assessment. Currently, there are paucity of data on the risk assessment and concentrations of lead and PAHs in honey in Nigeria. Objective: This study has determined the potential human health risk of lead and PAHs associated with the consumption of honey in Enugu state, Nigeria. Materials and methods: Lead and US EPA 16 priority PAHs in honey harvested from rural and urban communities in March 2016 were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and Gas Chromatograph respectively. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessments were carried. Results: The mean concentration of Pb in honey ranged from 0.005 mg/kg ­ 0.08 mg/kg. The mean concentrations of 16 PAHs in honey ranged from 4.71E-03 ­ 2.72 mg/kg. The dietary intake of the PAHs for adults and children ranged from 0.0021 ­ 0.0259 mg/kg/day and 0.0011 ­ 0.0129 mg/kg/day respectively. The levels of BaPeq and their margin of exposure MOE suggest non-significant health risk. The incremental life cancer risk ILCR of Pb were within safe range of <1E-04. Conclusion: Consumption of honey from Enugu State, Nigeria may not pose a significant health risk_

Comparison of toxic heavy metals in the breast milk of diabetic and non-diabetic postpartum mothers in Yenagoa, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Breast milk is the main source of neonatal nutrition. It is not known whether diabetes increases the excretion of toxic heavy metals in the breast milk of postpartum mothers. We compared the concentration of toxic heavy metals in breast milk between diabetic and non-diabetic postpartum mothers in Yenagoa. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was utilized on a purposive sample of 144 consenting postpartum mothers (72 diabetic and 72 non-diabetic mothers) from three public hospitals. Breast milk samples were collected at 5-6 weeks postpartum between 1st November 2020 and 30th April 2021. Atomic-Absorption-Spectrophotometer and Direct-Mercury-Analyzer were used to analyze the breast milk samples. A data collection form (proforma) was used and data were analyzed at a 5% significance level with IBM-SPSS 25 software. RESULT: High levels of Arsenic (63.9% vs. 62.5%), Lead (95.8% vs. 95.8%), Mercury (68.1% vs. 72.2%), and Cadmium (84.7% vs. 86.1%) were detected in the breast milk of the diabetic and non-diabetic groups respectively. The mean concentrations for Arsenic (0.6 vs. 0.6 ng/mL), Lead (13.2 vs. 12.2 ng/mL), Mercury (2.9 vs. 3.0 ng/mL), and Cadmium (3.3 vs. 3.2 ng/mL) were above the WHO permissible limits, thus showing evidence of risk to the health of the mother and neonate. There was no significant difference in the concentration of toxic heavy metals in breast milk between the groups (p = > 0.585). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes did not seem to increase the concentration of toxic heavy metals expressed in breast milk. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Multi-Organ inducedtoxicity of metal mixture (CdCl2, HgCl2, Pb(NO3)), and the ameliorative potentials of plantain Musa paradisiaca (F. Musaceae) stem juice on male Wistar rats.

Industrialization and urbanization have caused a hike in all forms of emissions, many of which have detrimental effects on plants, animals, the environment, and worse still, humans. In a quest for novel products (household, and medical), manufacturing industries work tirelessly worldwide using metals to meet man's needs. However, such metals especially those confined to this research (Hg, Cd, and Pb) are inherently hazardous to not just the environment but human life and existence. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats divided into six groups of five rats each was used for the study. Stock solutions of the heavy metals were prepared and the required dose calculated according to individual weight and administered as such to group 2-5, plantain stem juice (PSJ) was administered to groups 3 to 5 in increasing dose after receiving the HMM (heavy metal mixture) while group six received medium-dose of PSJ used in the study only. Bodyweight of the rats was monitored once in three weeks while the feed and fluid intake were monitored thrice a week. At the end of the ninth week, the animals were weighed and sacrificed. Organs of interest (brain, heart, lungs, and thymus) were harvested and analyzed. Analysis done include Histopathology, hematological, biochemical, and organs/blood metal concentration. The results obtained showed a decline in the weight of animals that received metal mixture only when compared to normal control and PSJ treated groups. This could be traceable to the decline in feed intake of the metal-induced groups. However, no significant effect was observed in the histology of the Thymus and cerebellum even though the presence of a vacuole in the cerebral cortex indicated an anomaly. The histology of the heart and the lungs showed some level of distortion which was ameliorated dose-dependently with the administration of PSJ. Interestingly, after a decrease in the antioxidant level upon administration of metal mixture, a booster effect was observed with an increasing dose of PSJ. In conclusion, the recent findings have demonstrated that treatment with PSJ in HMM induced intoxication has a significant role in protecting the animals from all possible organ toxicity by modulating hemato-biochemical parameters and oxidative stress level.

The protective effect of Costus afer Ker Gawl aqueous leaf extract on lead-induced reproductive changes in male albino Wistar rats.

INTRODUCTION: Lead is a multiple organ toxicant and an oxidative-stress inducer. The effect of Costus afer on metal- induced male reprotoxicity has not been previously carried out, hence this study. The present study investigates the protective effect of Costus afer aqueous leave extract on lead- induced reproductive damages in male albino Wistar rats. METHODS: Adult male albino Wistar rats were weighed and separated into five groups of five rats each. Groups 1 & 2 served as normal and toxic controls receiving deionized and leaded (CH3COO)2Pb.3H2O and water respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were given 750, 1500 and 2250mg/kg of Costus afer orally, respectively while receiving Pb2+ water ad libitum for 28 days. RESULTS: The reproductive and antioxidant parameters obtained from the result served as scientific evidence in the study. The result showed non-significant changes in the absolute and relative weights of epididymis and testes in the Pb Group versus the control. Significant increases were recorded in the sperm analysis, blood lead (7.9±1.02; 1.1±0.01) level (BLL), luteinizing hormone (LH) (8.5±1.4:5.5±0.4), and a decrease in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) (4.5±2.6:6.5±1.65), with non-significant changes in testosterone (TET) (1.3±0.00:1.6±0.2) in the Pb group compared to the control. CONCLUSION: The treatment with Costus afer exhibited dose-dependent significant changes in testicular oxidative stress, hormonal, sperm analysis and histopathological changes induced by lead. Aqueous leaves extract of Costus afer may be protective against lead induced testicular damage.

Nephroprotective effect of Costus afer on lead induced kidney damage in albino rats.

BACKGROUND: Lead is a nephrotoxicant probably implicated in the rising incidence of chronic kidney injury in sub-Sahara Africa. With the prohibitive cost and unavailability of metal chelators, chronic kidney disease CKD prevention is very difficult hence the search for affordable alternative. Costus afer have been shown to be organo-protective. The present research investigated the nephroprotective effect of aqueous leaf extract of Costus afer on lead induced nephrotoxicity in male rats. METHODS: Adult male rats were weight matched into five groups of five rats each. Groups 1 & 2 serve as normal and toxic control receiving deionized and leaded (CH3COO)2Pb. 3H2O water respectively. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered peroral 750, 1500 and 2250 mg/kg of aqueous leaf extract of Costus afer respectively while receiving Pb2+ water ad libitum. Hematological, antioxidant and histological parameters obtained from the result serve as scientific evidence in the study. RESULTS: Costus afer treatment significantly reversed (P < 0.05) the decrease in the levels of gluthatione peroxidase (GSH-PX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Glutathione-S-trasferase activity (GST) seen in the lead acetate only treated group. Similarly, the increased malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the lead acetate only treated group was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in the Costus afer treated groups. There were significant (P < 0.05) decreases in serum serum level of sodium (146 ± 2.1 to 133 ± 6.0) and potassium (5.1 ± 0.4 to 4.4 ± 0.3) in lead acetate alone and treated group respectively. Also recorded was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in serum levels of total protein and albumin (67 ± 7.9 to 47 ± 5.0 g/dl) and (45 ± 4.4 to 33 ± 5.5 g/dl) in lead acetate alone and Costus afer treated groups respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Aqueous leaf extract of Costus afer may be nephroprotective in albino rats.

Heavy Metal Mixture Exposure and Effects in Developing Nations: An Update.

The drive for development and modernization has come at great cost. Various human activities in developed and developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have given rise to environmental safety concerns. Increased artisanal mining activities, illegal refining, use of leaded petrol, airborne dust, arbitrary discarding and burning of toxic waste, absorption of production industries in inhabited areas, inadequate environmental legislation, and weak implementation of policies, have given rise to the incomparable contamination and pollution associated with heavy metals in recent decades. This review evaluates the public health effects of heavy metals and their mixtures in SSA. This shows the extent and size of the problem posed by exposure to heavy metal mixtures in regard to public health.