Open Access

Article

Article ID: 2201

Protective role of exercise and curcumin on regional BMD and oxidative stress induced by lead

by Valiollah Dabidi Roshan, Sara Pouriamehr

Journal of Toxicological Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

The current study aimed to assess the impacts of 8-week non-pharmacological strategies on the regional bone mineral density (BMD) and the oxidative stress among rats regarding lead acetate (Pb) exposure. Randomly, we divided 40 rats into 5 groups: Pb, SHAM, curcumin+Pb, exercise+Pb, and curcumin+exercise+Pb. The rats received Pb (20 mg/kg), curcumin solution (30 mg/kg), and/or treadmill running 5 times/week during an eight-week research protocol. The femur and tibia regional BMD were measured by the DEXA system. Additionally, blood collections were performed to measure oxidative/antioxidant markers. It was demonstrated that BMD lessened significantly in the femur and tibia of rats exposed to Pb, particularly in their distal epiphysis. Whereas TBARS remarkably elevated, TAC dropped in the Pb group. On the other hand, the curcumin supplementation alone did not affect BMD, while performing the weight-bearing exercise resulted in a significant elevation of BMD in spongy tissue (i.e., the proximal and distal epiphysis of femur and tibia bones), specifically a combination of exercise and curcumin consumption protocols. Therefore, exercise training and consuming curcumin supplements may provide osteoprotective benefits against Pb-induced toxicity.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 2187

Tracking heavy metal pollution and potential ecological threats in soils around Mfamosing cement plant, Nigeria

by Udiba U. Udiba, Blossom U. Ejah, Abo I. Nta, John Ama, Amah J. Etim, Ekom R. Akpan, Ekpo E. Antai

Journal of Toxicological Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

This study, conducted from June to December 2022 around the Mfamosing cement plant in Akamkpa, Nigeria, evaluated soil pollution status and potential ecological risks posed by heavy metals using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (Model AA-6800, Japan) after wet digestion. The ranges of lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic and chromium concentrations (mg/kg) were: 9.11–84.73, 0.21–9.94, 0.64–0.78, 4.63–5.92, 8.25–37.23 respectively. The mean soil metals concentrations were below US-EPA maximum permissible limits and Dutch soil intervention values, cadmium being the only exception. The high spatial variations reflecting decreased metal levels with increasing distance from the cement plant suggest the cement plant may be responsible for the elevated soil metal concentrations. Metals contamination factors correspond to contamination status ranging from low contamination to very high contamination. Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo), revealed that Farms 1, 2, 3, and 4 ranged from unpolluted to strongly polluted. Ecological risk factor revealed that the metals pose a range of low to high potential ecological risk to other components of the environment. Given these findings, metal speciation analysis is strongly recommended to better understand the mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity of the contaminants. This would provide essential insights into potential uptake by crops, ecological transfer, and leaching risks, thereby guiding more targeted environmental management and remediation strategies.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1570

Prevalence and impact of dye adulteration in toffee consumption: A case study on mildly acute or acute toxicity affecting the population in misbranded toffee and candy consumption; an occupational health study report and branding strategies in marketing new products

by Saurabh Dilip Bhandare

Journal of Toxicological Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Advancements in toxicological research have led to the development of several innovative methods for assessing the safety and potential risks of chemicals and toxic substances. This study investigates the prevalence and health implications of dye adulterants in toffees in excess amount from various brands distributed during a corporate year-end evaluation in Navi Mumbai, New Bombay 2015. The research employs random and stratified sampling methodologies to ensure a comprehensive analysis of the market. Laboratory tests reveals that dye X is present in 100% of samples from each brand, contradicting the natural flavour labels. Descriptive statistics indicate variations in dye concentration among brands, and ANOVA results demonstrate statistically significant differences in mean dye concentrations. Despite the presence of dye X across all brands, the chi-square test does not show a significant association between dye presence and brand at a 0.05 significance level. Employees reported adverse health effects, including dysuria, fatigue, and cardiovascular disturbances, after consuming the toffees, and tea. These findings highlight the need for stringent regulatory measures and consumer awareness to ensure food safety and mitigate health risks associated with food dye adulteration. The primary focus of this research study was to advance new methodologies for health monitoring and toxicology analysis that minimise large-scale disruptions. It aimed to foster innovation in medical science and establish new, documented methods for healthcare practitioners and professionals. These methods are designed to comprehensively analyse and document toxic events and systematically record data, enhancing the ability to manage and understand toxicological risks in a more controlled and efficient manner.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 2216

Assessment of heavy metal contaminations in irrigation water, soils, and onions in the Isser and Zemmouri Regions, Algeria

by Younes Mohamed Aksouh, Amal Rabahi, Nadjib Benosmane

Journal of Toxicological Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

This study investigates heavy metal contamination in irrigation water, soil, and onion (Allium cepa L.) samples from the Isser and Zemmouri regions of Boumerdes, Algeria, to assess potential health risks from consuming these vegetables. The analysis focused on both essential and toxic heavy metals, including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni). Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was employed for accurate quantification, and results were compared with FAO/WHO 2001 standards. Elevated copper (0.72 mg/L) and zinc (0.19 mg/L) levels were detected in Isser’s irrigation water, while Zemmouri’s water contained near-threshold concentrations of nickel (0.18 mg/L), chromium (0.09 mg/L), and copper (0.14 mg/L). Soil contamination was observed at both sites, with Isser showing high Cu (68.41 mg/kg), Zn (62.12 mg/kg), and Pb (71.63 mg/kg) levels, while Zemmouri exceeded limits for Pb (64.32 mg/kg) and Ni (11.21 mg/kg). In onion bulbs, Isser showed elevated chromium (3.1 mg/kg) and lead (0.31 mg/kg), while Zemmouri exhibited high zinc (11.34 mg/kg) and iron (43.76 mg/kg) levels in leaves. These findings indicate significant health risks associated with onion consumption from these regions, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and management of water quality and agricultural practices.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1924

Impact of salinity on density and mechanical strength of Avicennia germinans wood exposed to marine oil pollution in the Gabon Estuary

by Mabicka Iwangou Saint Bickolard, Safou Tchiama Rodrigue, Besserer Arnaud, Andzi Barhé Timoléon, Gérardin Philippe

Journal of Toxicological Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Located at the interface between land and sea, mangroves develop both near the sea and inland. However, mangroves that develop inland have to cope with variable, high salinity; and urban pollution, as is the case with the mangroves of the Ambowé lagoon in Greater Libreville. Salinity is an important parameter for mangrove growth. The aim of this work was; yes itto show the impact of salinity on the density and mechanical strength of A. germinans wood exposed to hydrocarbon pollution. To this end, wood samples taken from the polluted Ambowé site were analyzed in the laboratory for wood and physical-mechanical properties. The data obtained were compared with wood samples taken from the unpolluted Oveng site, which has a higher salinity. The results show that for the polluted wood showed wider rings, lower wood density and mechanical strength with values of 0.91 ± 0.05 and 70.28 MPa, respectively. Also, the rings and vessels of Oveng wood are narrower than those of Ambowé wood. These differences are linked to salinity. Salinity therefore affects the density and mechanical strength of A. germinans wood exposed to hydrocarbon pollution.

Open Access

Article

Article ID: 1798

The evolution of the EFSA OpenFoodTox database

by Nadia Iovine, Alessandra Roncaglioni, Luca Sartori, Chihae Yang, Emilio Benfenati

Journal of Toxicological Studies, Vol.3, No.1, 2025;

Since its establishment in 2002, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been providing independent scientific advice on risks associated with the food chain. This manuscript provides a description of EFSA’s chemical hazards database OpenFoodTox (OFT), future perspectives and activities. OFT aims at mapping all the hazard identification and characterisation data that have been published in outputs from EFSA throughout the years. To date, OFT contains data for more than 5700 chemical substances in the food/feed chain. In line with the One Substance-One Assessment approach as part of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, EFSA aims to further improve data quality and interoperability of OFT with IUCLID 6 and the EU Common Data Platform on Chemical Safety. To enhance its usability as a supporting tool for risk assessment activities, OFT will be migrated to IUCLID 6. More data will be collected and added to OFT, including endpoints related to in vitro assays, non-critical effects and exposure values. Furthermore, new in silico models (e.g., tools for read-across and grouping) will be developed based on the data already present in OFT for chemicals and endpoints that have been tested, with the aim of estimating the corresponding properties for the untested chemicals and endpoints.