Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007). Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of “total Al”assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2•−, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2•)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2• radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 • − and OH•. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances

Los sentimientos y comportamientos negativos están asociados al bajo nivel nutricional, el estilo de vida poco saludable y factores de riesgo cardiometabólico en los escolares chilenos

Background: feelings and behaviours are an important tool that should be considered to prevent early unhealthy lifestyles. Objective: the objective was to determine the association between feelings (i.e., sadness, loneliness, and school behaviour) with lifestyle (Le., physical activity patterns and nutritional level), and as secondary endpoint to determine the relationship between health-related quality of life (HROoL) and lifestyle with obesity and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors in Latin American schoolchildren. Methods: this cross-sectional study included a sample of 634 schoolchildren (girls, n = 282, 11.86 +/- 0.82 years, and boys, n = 352, 12.02 +/- 0.87 years) from publics schools in Chile. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), body fat (BF), lifestyle, nutritional level, HROoL, and CMR (i.e., WtHR > 0.5) were evaluated. Results: schoolchildren who have felt sadness and loneliness presented an association with low nutritional level (OR: 4.26, 95 % CI: 2.0-9.0, p < 0.001, and OR: 4.47, 95 % CI: 2.5-7.9, p < 0.001, respectively), bad lifestyle (OR: 2.14, 95 % CI: 1.0-4.54, p = 0.048, and OR: 1.78, 95 % CI: 1.01-3.1, p = 0.045, respectively), and obesity (OR: 2.0, 95 % CI; O. -4.54, p = 0.09, and OR: 2.05, 95 % CI; 1.04-4.0, p = 0.037, respectively). Schoolchildren who have had enough time for themselves reported an association with bad lifestyle (OR: 0.69, 95 % CI: 0.47-1.02, p = 0.06), and those who have could not pay attention presented the highest association with bad lifestyle (OR: 4.64, 95 % CI: 72-12.56, p = 0.002). Conclusion: Latin American schoolchildren who have felt sadness and loneliness reported unhealthy lifestyles (i.e., lower nutritional level, increased screen time, and low physical activity), obesity, and thus a higher CMR burden

Variables psicosociales, físicas y antropométrica en escolares chilenos: Un estudio comparativo según niveles de actividad física

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) has multiple benefits for physical and mental health in different types of populations; however, there are no comprehensive evaluations in school population. On the other hand, levels of physical inactivity have generated an increase in childhood obesity worldwide and cardiovascular risk factors, affecting the overall development of children and their quality of life, in addition to a large number of psychosocial components. The purpose of the research was to compare according to levels of PA, psychosocial, anthropometric and physical variables in Chilean schoolchildren. Method: 605 schoolchildren (272 women and 333 men) between 11 and 14 years of age participated. Self-esteem, body image, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were evaluated. Results: The girls presented higher body mass index (BMI) and percentage of body fat (BF), in addition they presented higher risk score of dissatisfaction with the corporal image (p = 0.03), in the self-esteem there were no differences (p> 0.05). PA was higher in children (p <0.001), as were values in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p <0.05). Children had a higher proportion of school children categorized with high PA (p <0.001). School children with lower levels of PA have higher anthropometric parameters (p <0.001), as well as a higher risk of body dissatisfaction (p = 0.009) and lower self-esteem (p <0.001) and cardiorespiratory fitness (p <0.001). Conclusion: Schoolchildren with lower PA levels presented negative results in psychosocial variables such as body image and self-esteem, as well as a lower cardiorespiratory fitness and high anthropometric parameters

Effect of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity patterns in relation to sociodemographic parameters in Spanish population

Antecedentes: El objetivo principal del presente estudio fue determinar los parámetros sociodemográficos asociados a los cambios en los patrones de actividad física (AF) durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19 en la población española. Métodos: Los participantes fueron reclutados mediante el envío de una encuesta a través de varios canales de redes sociales mediante el método bola de nieve. En este estudio participó una muestra voluntaria de 2430 individuos compuesta por 1203 hombres y 1227 mujeres (con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y los 73 años) del territorio nacional español. Para recolectar la información se realizó una encuesta en línea, la cual fue contrastada a través de análisis ad hoc con diferentes variables sociodemográficas. Los participantes tenían una mediana de 34 años (18-73 años) con un IMC medio de 23,6 kg/m2. Resultados: Los factores de riesgo asociados al cambio de horas de AF durante el confinamiento mostraron que practicar deporte (ß=-56,88, IC 95%: -79,35 a -34,40, P<0,001), sexo masculino (ß -34,78, IC 95% ;-54,02 a -15,52, P<0,001) y el nivel educativo (es decir, categoría de escuela primaria) (ß=-54,21, IC 95%;-89,10 a -19,32, P=0,002) informaron cambios negativos con las horas de AF durante confinamiento. Por el contrario, la situación laboral (trabajo pasivo) y ser estudiante reportaron asociación positiva (i.e., aumentar las horas de AF por semana). Conclusiones: El confinamiento por la COVID-19 provocó una reducción de los patrones de AF en la población española. En su mayoría, los hombres mostraron una disminución drástica de las horas de AF en comparación con el grupo de mujeres. Asimismo, los grupos de personas con educación básica y superior mostraron una disminución en las horas de AF semanal, así como las personas desempleadas

Nanoparticles and nanostructure morphology of a Red Latosol in rehabilitation

ABSTRACT In the process of rehabilitation of a soil, two points are fundamental: to define optimal interferences to accelerate the rehabilitation process and the most appropriate indicators to diagnose its quality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the nanoparticle and nanostructure morphology of a Red Latosol in rehabilitation for eight years. The soil under rehabilitation process was compared with its natural state and degraded. In the topsoil, nanoparticles (ø < 100 nm) and fine clay (ø < 200 nm) were quantified and the nanostructures morphology was studied using images obtained by transmission electron microscopy. Soil porosity, bulk density and carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen contents were analyzed. It was found that the nanoparticles and nanostructure morphology were good soil quality indicators; the physical and chemical attributes were not sensitive to detect alterations between the conditions of degraded soil and soil rehabilitated for eight years; in the class of particles with diameter smaller than 200 nm, for the studied Red Latosol, the visualization of nanostructures is more effective