Dr. Umar Aitsaam

This systematic review links heavy metal exposure to gut microbiota dysbiosis, emphasizing increased pathobionts and reduced beneficial bacteria. Findings highlight the need for strict heavy metal certification and the role of dietary fiber and probiotics in mitigating adverse effects.

This study reveals that cadmium-contaminated soil microbial communities show reduced diversity but increased abundance of metal-tolerant and detoxification-associated functions, highlighting crucial implications for heavy metal certification and bioremediation.

This editorial review synthesizes new evidence on the roles of epigenetics, extracellular vesicles, and the gut-brain axis in lead neurotoxicity, emphasizing the need for stricter heavy metal certification standards.

This review details the molecular pathways of hepatotoxicity induced by six heavy metals, highlighting oxidative stress, organelle dysfunction, and epigenetic changes. The findings are crucial for informing regulatory standards and certification protocols for heavy metal exposure limits and health monitoring.

Prescription infant formulas contain variable but sometimes high aluminium levels, with ready-to-drink supplements being most contaminated. Some products, however, demonstrate that very low aluminium levels are achievable, providing a benchmark for heavy metal certification standards.

This meta-analysis of iron excess stress in rice identifies core genetic and molecular mechanisms of tolerance to acidic soils, providing practical insights for heavy metal certification programs and breeding of resilient crop varieties.

This study confirms that combining lavender with a targeted bacterial consortium significantly enhances the removal of lead and tin while improving soil quality and microbial health, offering a robust, eco-sustainable remediation solution for heavy metal tested and certified (HTMC) programs.

Aluminum exposure through infant formulas and baby foods in Lebanon is below international thresholds, but hazard quotients exceed safety benchmarks, suggesting a potential risk for infants and young children and underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and regulatory oversight in heavy metal certification programs.

This research compared the nutritional and mineral profiles of commercial and natural apple juices in Pakistan, finding that fresh juices offer higher levels of essential minerals and nutrients, with all samples remaining within safe limits for heavy metals, informing the HTMC program’s certification protocols.

This systematic review found no consistent association between low serum zinc and thyroid cancer, highlighting the need for more standardized research before incorporating zinc status into heavy metal certification programs.