Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic\/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering 

About: Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A-toxic\/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Wastewater & Adsorption. It has an ISSN identifier of 1093-4529. Over the lifetime, 5986 publications have been published receiving 96272 citations. The journal is also known as: Toxic hazardous substances and environmental engineering & Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering.

Human Health Effects From Chronic Arsenic Poisoning–A Review

Abstract: The ill effects of human exposure to arsenic (As) have recently been reevaluated by government agencies around the world. This has lead to a lowering of As guidelines in drinking water, with Canada decreasing the maximum allowable level from 50 to 25 microg/L and the U.S. from 50 to 10 microg/L. Canada is currently contemplating a further decrease to 5 microg/L. The reason for these regulatory changes is the realization that As can cause deleterious effects at lower concentrations than was previously thought. There is a strong relationship between chronic ingestion of As and deleterious human health effects and here we provide an overview of some of the major effects documented in the scientific literature. As regulatory levels of As have been decreased, an increasing number of water supplies will now require removal of As before the water can be used for human consumption. While As exposure can occur from food, air and water, all major chronic As poisonings have stemmed from water and this is usually the predominant exposure route. Exposure to As leads to an accumulation of As in tissues such as skin, hair and nails, resulting in various clinical symptoms such as hyperpigmentation and keratosis. There is also an increased risk of skin, internal organ, and lung cancers. Cardiovascular disease and neuropathy have also been linked to As consumption. Verbal IQ and long term memory can also be affected, and As can suppress hormone regulation and hormone mediated gene transcription. Increases in fetal loss and premature delivery, and decreased birth weights of infants, can occur even at low (<10 microg/L) exposure levels. Malnourished people have been shown to be more predisposed to As-related skin lesions. A large percentage of the population (30-40%) that is using As-contaminated drinking water can have elevated As levels in urine, hair and nails, while showing no noticeable clinical symptoms, such as skin lesions. It is therefore important to carry out clinical tests of As exposure. Factors combining to increase/decrease the ill effects of As include duration and magnitude of As exposure, source of As exposure, nutrition, age and general health status. Analytical determinations of As poisoning can be made by examining As levels in urine, hair and toenails. Communities and individuals relying on groundwater sources for drinking water need to measure As levels to ensure that their supplies are safe. Communities with water As levels greater than 5 microg/L should consider a program to document As levels in the population.

Toxicity of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Mammalian Cells

Abstract: Along with existing and emerging use of nanoscale materials, growing concerns have arisen about their unintentional health and environmental impact. The objective of the ongoing study was to assess the toxicity profile of metal oxide nanoparticles proposed for use in industrial production methodology. Metal oxide nanoparticles used in this study included TiO2, ZnO, Fe3O4, Al2O3, and CrO3 with particle sizes ranging from 30 to 45 nm. Cellular morphology, mitochondrial function, membrane leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), permeability of plasma membrane, and apoptosis were assessed under controlled and exposed conditions (2 to 72 h of exposure). The microscopic studies demonstrated that nanoparticle-exposed Neuro-2A cells (especially ZnO) at doses >100 microg/mL became abnormal in size, displaying cellular shrinkage, and detachment from the surface of flasks. Mitochondrial function decreased significantly in the cells exposed to ZnO at 50 to 100 microg/mL. However, Fe3O4, Al2O3, and TiO2 had no measurable effect on the cells until the concentrations reached greater than 200 microg/mL. LDH leakage significantly increased in the cells exposed to ZnO (50 to 100 microg/mL), while other nanoparticles tested displayed LDH leakage only at higher doses (>200 microg/mL). Flow cytometer tests showed that apoptosis took place in cells exposed to ZnO nanoparticles. More cells became necrotic as the concentrations increased.

Comparative toxicity of several metal oxide nanoparticle aqueous suspensions to Zebrafish (Danio rerio) early developmental stage

Abstract: With the emergence of manufactured nanomaterials, it is urgent to carry out researches on their potential environmental impacts and biological effects To better understand the potential ecotoxicological impacts of metal oxide nanoparticles released to aquatic environments, the zebrafish 96-h embryo-larval bioassay was used to assess and compare the developmental toxicities of nanoscale zinc oxide (nZnO), titanium dioxide (nTiO(2)) and alumina (nAl(2)O(3)) aqueous suspensions Toxicological endpoints such as zebrafish embryos or larvae survival, hatching rate and malformation were noted and described within 96 h of exposure Meanwhile, a comparative experiment with their bulk counterparts (ie, ZnO/bulk, TiO(2)/bulk and Al(2)O(3)/bulk) was conducted to understand the effect of particle size on their toxicities The results showed that: (i) both nZnO and ZnO/bulk aqueous suspensions delayed zebrafish embryo and larva development, decreased their survival and hatching rates, and caused tissue damage The 96-h LC(50) of nZnO and ZnO/bulk aqueous suspensions on the zebrafish survival are 1793 mg/L and 1550 mg/L respectively; and the 84-h EC(50) on the zebrafish embryo hatching rate are 2065 mg/L and 2066 mg/L respectively Serious tissue ulceration was found on zebrafish larvae exposed to nZnO and ZnO/bulk aqueous suspensions (ii) In contrast, neither nTiO(2) and TiO(2)/bulk nor nAl(2)O(3) and Al(2)O(3)/bulk showed any toxicity to zebrafish embryos and larvae under the same experimental condition It revealed that the metal oxide nanoparticles with different chemical composition have different zebrafish developmental toxicities (iii) Exposures of nTiO(2), nZnO and nAl(2)O(3) produced toxic effects on zebrafish embryos and larvae, which was not different from the effects caused by exposing to their bulk counterparts This is the first study about the developmental toxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles, and the results demonstrate that nZnO is very toxic to zebrafish embryos and larvae, which highlights the need to evaluate the potential eco-toxicity of these manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs)

Estimation of heavy metals in drinking water and development of heavy metal pollution index

Abstract: Four heavy metals (Copper, Cadmium, Lead and Zinc) are monitored in drinking water at twelve important residential areas using DPASV Technique. The results indicate the water to free of heavy metal pollution. The data monitored have been used to compute Heavy metal pollution index (HPI) using weighted arithmetic mean method and the proposed Pollution Index (HPI) seems to be applicable in the assesement of overall water quality with respect to heavy metal pollution.

Comparative sorption kinetic studies of dye and aromatic compounds onto fly ash

Abstract: A pseudo‐second order and a pseudo‐first order mechanism for the sorption of Omega Chrome Red ME as well as o‐cresol and p‐nitrophenol onto fly ash have been compared. Intraparticle diffusion processes and chemical sorption processes for the sorption also have been studied. The batch data for the sorption of Omega Chrome Red ME, o‐cresol and p‐nitrophenol onto fly ash have been analysed to predict the rate constant of sorption based on the assumption of a pseudo‐second order mechanism. The equilibrium capacity and initial sorption rate have also been determined to study the effect of initial solute concentration and temperature on the sorption process. An activation energy of sorption has also been evaluated using the pseudo‐second order rate constants.