Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal associated with several health disorders. The mining and Pb battery industry are related to Pb increase in air, water, and soil. Mexico is an important worldwide Pb producer; however, reviews on environmental Pb contamination in Mexico are insufficient. Since Pb remains stable in soil and its concentration is an indicator of Pb exposure, this systematic review focused on reports of Pb concentrations in soil from Mexico published in 2010–2023. The retrieved reports were ordered, and contamination grade and health risk were estimated for location. From 36 retrieved reports, 24 were associated with mining Pb pollution, while a unique report mentioned the battery industry. The publications evaluated mining (13), agricultural (11), and residential (16) soils. Pb concentrations in soil were higher than the allowed limits in more than half of the reports. According to the Pb concentrations in soil, the locations evaluated in Mexico presented a contamination grade from heavily contaminated to extremely contaminated and health risks results suggested severe hazards, particularly for children. This work can guide other researchers to identify potentially contaminated but understudied Mexican locations.

Cyclophosphamide (CP)—which is used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer—is related to gonadotoxicity attributed to oxidative stress. As phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are strong antioxidants that are unexplored as protective agents against male gonadotoxicity, our work aimed to investigate the effects of PBP crude extract on testicular damage and sperm parameter alterations caused by CP in mice. Three doses of PBP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) were tested in the experimental groups (n = 8 per group), administered concomitantly with 100 mg/kg CP. After 42 days receiving PBP daily and CP weekly, body and relative testicular weights, serum testosterone levels, testicular lipoperoxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity levels, and testicular histology and sperm parameter alterations were assessed. The results showed that PBP crude extract at 200 mg/kg prevented testosterone serum reduction, body weight loss, lipoperoxidation and enzyme activity increments, and sperm parameter alterations and partially ameliorated relative testicular weight reductions and histological damage in CP-treated mice. In conclusion, we showed that PBP crude extract (200 mg/kg) mitigated oxidative damage in the testes and ameliorated alterations in sperm parameters in mice treated with CP (100 mg/kg); therefore, PBP extract could be considered as a potential protective agent against CP toxicity.

Cadmium (Cd) is a widely spread pollutant in the environment and its identification in human breast milk has caused concern. Children are particularly vulnerable, since their detoxification mechanism is not fully developed and their organs still being formed. Human- and animal-based studies demonstrate health issues and adverse pregnancy outcomes related to prenatal and postnatal Cd exposure. However, investigations of the effects, mechanisms, and treatments are still required. Thus, this systematic review compiled studies of Cd effects on lactating mice and rats focusing on experimental features and reported effects. The search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), using PubMed, SciELO, and ScienceDirect databases. After identification, screening, and inclusion process 52 research articles were recovered and data, such as animal strain, metal compound, dose or concentration, administration route, exposure time, litter size normalization, lactation days, organs or samples examined, and effects reported were organized in tables. Three general schemes of Cd exposure on dams were identified: pregnancy, lactation, or pregnancy-lactation. The effects evaluated included neurotoxicity, sexual maturation, biochemical parameters, and Cd transfer and retention. Experimental features most common were Cd exposure during the pregnancy–lactation scheme and Cd administration by drinking water, while the most evaluated effect on offspring was Cd-neurotoxicity.