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Municipal solid waste management remains a major challenge for many developing countries where unsanitary and environmentally damaging practices, such as open dumping and burning of wastes, are consistently utilized as means of waste disposal. This study aimed to assess the impact of local dumpsites in a region in Southern Lebanon and to assess/determine the level of pollution they cause on local ecosystems and the concomitant risks to public health. Accordingly, soil and water samples were collected from the seven dumpsites that were investigated over the course of two seasons. Several biological, chemical, and physical parameters were examined, with the results being utilized to calculate a number of environmental indices. Results indicated that several soil parameters including TN (700-2400 mg/kg), pH (8.3-8.7), COD (39-1995 mg/kg), and sulfate levels (17.8-301.6 mg/kg) were altered by the dumpsites. Heavy metal concentrations varied between dumpsites; however, the most commonly prevalent metals across all dumps were Fe (992-41,500 mg/kg), Cr (17.4-139.5 mg/kg), Zn (24.1-177.4 mg/kg), Cu (9.42-148.2 mg/kg), and Mn (25.2-776.5 mg/kg), though recorded concentrations exceeded permissible limits only in certain instances. Evidently, soil samples collected at dumpsites had higher concentrations compared to the samples collected away from dumpsites reaching 27 times more in certain locations. The altered parameters have a direct effect on soil fertility and, if biomagnified, could disrupt crop yields and impact human health. Physiochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations in water samples were not significantly altered and were found to be within permissible limits. However, it is crucial to develop a monitoring and remediation plan to decrease the percolation of leachate to water resources., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Although the adverse effects of non-essential heavy metals on semen quality have been demonstrated in experimental animal models and occupational human exposure studies, little is known about the reproductive efficiency of exposed sperm during the process of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Our study aims to evaluate the effect of paternal exposure to non-essential heavy metals on embryo efficiency outcomes (embryo cleavage, fragmentation, implantation, and live birth) in ICSI cycle. Ninety-five heterosexual couples who underwent 95 ICSI cycles and 78 fresh embryo transfers between January 2003 and December 2009 were evaluated. Men whose female partner was undergoing ICSI were asked to provide semen and blood samples. Heavy metal levels (Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Ba, and U) were analyzed using an ion-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS; Agilent 7500 ce, Agilent Technologies, Germany) equipped with a cell dynamic range (CDR). Paternal exposure to trace heavy metals was found to influence intermediate reproductive endpoints in ICSI cycles. After adjusting for paternal and maternal confounders, paternal blood concentrations of Cd [-0.30(-0.11,-0.02)], As [-0.26(-0.16,-0.11)], and U [-0.22(-0.24,-0.02)] were inversely associated with embryo cell cleavage on day 3. Counterintuitively, paternal blood and semen Pb levels [0.26(0.01,0.22); 0.25(0.03,0.14)] as well as semen U levels [0.27(0.01,0.19)] were positively associated with the proportion of implanted embryos. There were no significant associations observed for clinical pregnancy and live birth rates with any paternal heavy metal concentrations in semen and blood. These findings highlight the importance of paternal health for embryo efficiency outcomes in ICSI treatment cycles and the need for more male partner inclusive counseling in fertility practice. They also underline a paradoxical positive association between some heavy metal pollutants at low exposure levels and reproductive outcomes., (© 2021. Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

Introduction: Toxicity from rodenticides such as metal phosphides is common worldwide, particularly in developing countries where consumers have access to unlabeled and uncontrolled insecticides and pesticides., Case Report: We present the first documentation of a metal phosphide exposure in Lebanon. A middle-aged woman presented to the emergency department following the ingestion of an unknown rodenticide. Spectroscopy analysis of the sample brought by the patient was used and helped identify zinc phosphide. The patient developed mild gastrointestinal symptoms and was admitted to the intensive care unit for observation without further complications., Review: We subsequently conducted a literature review to understand the diagnosis, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and management of metal phosphide toxicity. Multiple searches were conducted on MEDLINE and PubMed, and articles related to the topics under discussion were included in the review. Metal phosphide is associated with significant morbidity and mortality involving all body systems. Patients presenting with metal phosphide intoxication need extensive workup including blood testing, electrocardiogram, and chest radiography. To date there is no antidote for metal phosphide toxicity, and management is mostly supportive. Many treatment modalities have been investigated to improve outcomes in patients presenting with metal phosphide toxicities., Conclusion: Emergency physicians and toxicologists in developing countries need to consider zinc and aluminum phosphides on their differential when dealing with unlabeled rodenticide ingestion. Treatment is mostly supportive with close monitoring for sick patients. Further research is needed to better understand metal phosphide toxicity and to develop better treatment options.

The present study aimed at evaluating the levels of microbiological contamination, total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs), and heavy metals (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in the edible tissues of commonly consumed fish (8 species) collected from the marine area of Tripoli, Northern Lebanon. Total coliform levels in all sampled fish, and Escherichia coli levels in Liza ramada only, exceeded the permissible limits set by FAO/WHO 2002. Staphylococcus aureus counts were within the recommended thresholds, while sulfate-reducing bacteria levels were the highest in fish of the genus Liza. Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in all fish analyzed. Analysis of heavy metals levels showed that arsenic exhibited the highest levels among the assessed metals in all genera. Levels of As in Epinephelus, Diplodus, Oblada, and Liza were above the acceptable limits, while Cd levels were below the permissible limits set by the European Commission. Significant negative correlation was found between levels of As and Hg in muscle tissues and fish size (length). Levels of TPHs were the highest in fish of the genus Epinephelus. Significant difference in TPHs contamination was found within three fish genera, with Epinephelus being the most contaminated.

Background: Human exposure to environmental pollutants is widespread. It was suggested that exposure to non-essential heavy metals may adversely affect semen development in men., Purpose: To evaluate associations between non-essential heavy metals in blood and seminal fluid and semen quality parameters in men., Methods: Male partners of heterosexual couples were included. The following elements were measured in blood and seminal fluid: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), mercury (Hg), and uranium (U) using ion-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry., Setting: The fertility clinic at the American University of Beirut Medical Center., Main Outcome Measures: Semen quality parameters (volume, concentration, total count, progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology)., Results: We found that participants with low-quality semen had significantly higher Cd and Ba concentrations in the seminal fluid than participants with normal-quality semen. We also observed significant associations between low sperm viability and higher blood Cd and Ba, as well as higher seminal Pb, Cd, Ba, and U. Furthermore, U concentrations in the seminal fluid were associated with increased odds ratios for below-reference progressive sperm motility and normal morphology., Conclusions: Environmental exposures to Pb, Cd, Ba, and U appear to adversely influence sperm development in men. In non-occupationally exposed men, measurements of heavy metals in the seminal fluid may be more predictive of below-reference sperm quality parameters than in blood.

The use of bisphenol A (BPA) in packaging has grown over the past 50 years despite concerns of its migration into packaged food and beverages, resulting in human exposure. Many studies have reported tumorigenic effects and endocrine alterations associated with BPA in animal models. This study aims at assessing human exposure to BPA from olive oil. A total of 27 olive oil samples were collected from mills and local villagers in the Hasbaya District, a major olive oil harvesting region in Lebanon. Information on storage conditions was also collected. BPA was extracted and quantified by HPLC. Results showed significantly higher BPA levels in olive oil samples stored in plastic vs. non-plastic packaging (mean = 333 vs. 150 μg/kg, p value = 0.006), samples with a plastic storage duration of >1 year compared to those with a storage duration of <1 year (mean = 452 vs. 288 μg/kg, p value = 0.008), and oil samples sourced from locals compared to oil mills (mean = 376 vs. 228 μg/kg, p value = 0.022). Statistically significant higher BPA levels remained for samples stored in plastic vs. non-plastic packaging in the bootstrap multivariable linear regression (B = 121.56, 95% CI 53.44-194.39, p value = 0.009). This is the first report on BPA levels in Mediterranean olive oil. The estimated exposure was 1.38% of the EFSA tolerable daily intake, hence there are no concerns about potential health risks from olive oil consumption.