Iram Mondaca-Fernández

Arsenic exposure in children and adults has been associated with respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections, and decreased lung function. The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between environmental arsenic exposure and serum pneumoproteins and lung function. A cross-sectional study was conducted including 175 children exposed to arsenic by drinking water (range: 7.4 to 91 µg/L) and soil (range: 4.76 to 35.93 mg/kg), from some Yaqui villages. Arsenic was analyzed in dust and urine using field-portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and ICP/OES, respectively. Serum was analyzed for Clara Cell protein (CC16) and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) using immunoassays, and lung function was evaluated by spirometry. The results showed that increased arsenic in drinking water was associated with reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (β = −0.027, p = 0.0000) whereas, contrary to expectations, arsenic in dust was associated with increased FEV₁/FVC (β = 0.004, p = 0.0076). Increased urinary arsenic was associated with reduced % predicted FEV₁ (β = −0.723, p = 0.0152) and reduced FEV₁/FVC ratio (β = −0.022, p = 0.0222). Increased serum MMP-9 was associated with reduced FEV₁/FVC ratio (β = −0.017, p = 0.0167). Children with % predicted FEV₁ values less than 80 had the lowest levels of CC16 (Median 29.0 ng/mL, IQR 21.3, 37.4, p = 0.0148). As a conclusion, our study evidenced an impairment in lung function in children exposed to low arsenic levels.

Genetic and environmental factors influence wheat grain quality, including vitreousness, protein, and starch content. Yellow berry (YB), a physiological condition, adversely affects wheat quality, particularly in irrigated fields with limited nitrogen application, leading to starch‐rich, low‐protein grains. This study examines common wheat, used in baking industries, and durum wheat, primarily employs for pasta production. The focus is on investigating how the physicochemical properties of these wheat types change with the presence of YB, that impacts protein content negatively, increasing total starch content. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy reveals structural changes in YB‐affected grains, while X‐ray diffraction indicates varying crystallinity. In determination of amylose, an increase of 6% in bread wheat with YB and 3% in durum wheat with YB is observed. In the case of RVA (Rapid Visco Analyzer) analysis, a notable increase in viscosity is evident in the treatments that included the yellow berry. This finding suggests that YB is associated with substantial modifications in starch properties, such as amylose‐to‐amylopectin ratio, chain length, and degree of branching, among several other components, which may have important implications for the texture and quality of food products. This study calls for further research to mitigate YB's impact and enhances the quality of wheat‐derived foods.

The use of halophytes such as Salicornia bigelovii represents an alternative with economic potential for desert agriculture and coastal areas. However, the success in the establishment of commercial plots has been limited by the low germination percentages of this species. Propagation using plant cuttings represents a viable and rapid alternative to this problem. The formation of functional roots is fundamental in the propagation of plant cuttings and has been achieved through the application of chemical growth regulators. The application of chitosan in some crops has evidenced to be an alternative for the germination process and an enhancer of harvest performance; however, there are no studies that evaluate its effect on the halophyte S. bigelovii. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of marine-derived chitosan and indole butyric acid as root-promoting agents in cuttings of Salicornia bigelovii. The concentrations (individually and combined) of chitosan at 100 and 50% and indole butyric acid were applied at a rate of 0.937 and 1.25 g kg‑1. A completely randomized design of nine treatments and f ive repetitions was used and 225 experimental units were evaluated. The following variables were measured: root length, fresh weight and total dry weight of the root, and number and length of new shoots. The results showed that the most eff icient treatment was 100% chitosan + 0.937 g kg-1 indole butyric acid, promoting the production of photosynthetic shoots up to 800%. These results indicate that it is feasible to achieve the propagation of Salicornia by means of cuttings using marine-derived chitosan as a growth promoter.

Arsenic exposure in adults has been associated with increased serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a biomarker which is associated with chronic respiratory disease, lung inflammation, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between serum MMP-9 levels in children, urinary arsenic, arsenic chronic daily intake (CDI) and arsenic exposure from playground dust. This cross-sectional study examined 127 children from five elementary schools, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Arsenic was analyzed in the dust using a portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer. Total urinary arsenic was determined by inductively coupled plasma/optical emission spectrometry. Serum was analyzed for MMP-9 using ELISA. Arsenic levels in playground dust averaged 16.9 ± 4.6 mg/kg. Urinary arsenic averaged 34.9 ± 17.1 µg/L. Arsenic concentration in playground dust was positively associated with serum MMP-9 levels in crude analyses and after adjustment (P < 0.01), MMP-9 and CDI were positively associated only after adjustment (P < 0.01), and no association was found between MMP-9 and urinary arsenic. In conclusion, our study showed an association in children between serum MMP-9 levels and playground dust arsenic concentrations. Therefore, exposure to arsenic in dust where children spend significant time may manifest toxic effects.

Exposure to inorganic arsenic (InAs) through drinking water, even at low to moderate concentrations, is a global public health problem. The objectives of this study were to estimate the risk ratio (HQ), cancer risk (R), and DNA damage (comet assay) of children from three indigenous Yaqui populations located in southern Sonora, Mexico, who were exposed to InAs through drinking water. A cross-sectional study was employed, and analysis of InAs in water and urine was performed via HPLC/ICP-MS. InAs levels in drinking water from Pótam, Vícam, and Cócorit were 108.2, 36.0, and 6.2 μg/L⁻¹ respectively. Children from Pótam had arsenic concentrations in urine of 107.1 μg As L⁻¹ compared with 40.3 μg As L⁻¹ for the children of Cócorit. The HQ values for the children of Pótam, Vícam, and Cócorit were 16.64, 6.02, and 0.94, while the R values were 9.4E-04, 3.5E-04, and 5.7E-05, respectively. Children with the highest arsenic exposure had significantly increased DNA damage (OTM = 14.4 vs. 4.3) [p < 0.0005] which positively correlated with urinary arsenic levels (r = 0.56, p < 0.0001). In conclusion, children of Pótam and Vícam are at significant risk of developing chronic diseases and cancers associated with chronic exposure to this metalloid.

Cryptosporidium and Giardia are gastrointestinal disease-causing organisms transmitted by the fecal–oral route, zoonotic and prevalent in all socioeconomic segments with greater emphasis in rural communities. The goal of this study was to assess the risk of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis of Potam dwellers consuming drinking water from communal well water. To achieve the goal, quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) was carried out as follows: (a) identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in well water samples by information collection rule method, (b) assessment of exposure to healthy Potam residents, (c) dose-response modelling, and (d) risk characterization using an exponential model. All well water samples tested were positive for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The QMRA results indicate a mean of annual risks of 99:100 (0.99) for cryptosporidiosis and 1:1 (1.0) for giardiasis. The outcome of the present study may drive decision-makers to establish an educational and treatment program to reduce the incidence of parasite-borne intestinal infection in the Potam community, and to conduct risk analysis programs in other similar rural communities in Mexico.