Immunotoxic manifestations in rats following inhalative exposure to furfural vapors

Furfural is an industrial compound used as a process intermediate and as a solvent; it poses a potential inhalation hazard in occupational settings. This study was carried out to find furfural-induced immunotoxicity in Wistar rat following inhalative exposure. The weights of thymus and lymph node were found decreased, while the weights of the liver and the adrenal gland were significantly increased following furfural exposure. Delayed-type hypersensitivity response was found decreased in furfural vapors-exposed animals when compared to that of control animals. The phagocytic index of peritoneal and alveolar exudates showed significant decrease and was most prominent (90%) in 30 days-exposed groups. The number of anti-rat anti-sheep red blood cell immunoglobulin M plaque forming cells of spleen got decreased in furfural-exposed groups in comparison to control. Taken together, this study indicates that inhalation of furfural induces immunotoxic manifestations that could lead to severe immunological disorders.     

Impact of exposure to secondhand smoke on the levels of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among the US children and adolescents

The impact of secondhand smoke (SHS) on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons metabolites among the US children and adolescents was evaluated. The data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2003–2008 were analyzed by regression models. SHS at home for children was associated with statistically significantly higher unadjusted levels of 2-hydroxynapthalane, 2-, 3-, and 9-hydroxyfluorene, 1-, 2-, and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene. Also, SHS at home for adolescents was associated with statistically significantly higher unadjusted levels of 2- and 9-hydroxyfluorene, 2- and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1-hydroxypyrene. Further, SHS exposure at home was associated with (1) higher adjusted levels of 9-hydroxyfluorene for 6–12 years old (p < 0.01) and (2) lower adjusted levels of 1-hydroxynaphthalene for 12–19 years old (p < 0.01).     

Mercury pollution in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh,India, and its health impacts

The Sonbhadra district in the Singrauli area of Uttar Pradesh, India, has many coal mines and thermal power plants and is a critically polluted area. Many residents of this area reported adverse health conditions which may be linked to metal pollution, especially of mercury investigated here.

In May 2012, samples of water (23), soil (7), blood, hair, and nails from persons showing adverse health conditions selected at random were collected and analyzed for total mercury by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Twenty percent drinking water samples contained mercury from 3 to 26 μg L^?1 (3–26 times the permissible limit). Soil samples had 0.5–10.1 mg kg^?1 Hg.

The average concentrations of mercury in human blood, hair, and nails were found to be 34 μg L^?1, 7.4 mg kg^?1, and 0.8 mg kg^?1, respectively. Mercury concentrations in the blood of these persons were 45 and 28 μg L^?1 on average in the case of men and women. This is much higher than the safe level of 5.8 μg L^?1 set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

It was concluded that all residents of Sonbhadra sampled could be suffering from mercury toxicity as the area is polluted by Hg released from the coal-fired thermal power plants.     

Carbofuran-induced effects on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in erythrocytes and liver of Cyprinus carpio

A study was conducted to determine the effects of long-term exposure to carbofuran on erythrocyte and liver acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in Cyprinus carpio, and assess which tissue was more sensitive to pesticide exposure examining this enzyme. Fish were allowed to accilimatize in toxicant-free water for 24 days after 60-day exposure. AChE activity was determined with a spectrophotometer using acetylthiocholine iodide as a substrate in erythrocytes and liver. Enzymic activity of erythrocytes and liver decreased over time. A higher degree of enzyme inhibition was observed in erythrocyte compared to liver. The degree of enzyme inhibition was positively correlated with exposure time. When exposed fish were transferred to clean water, recovery was greater in erythrocytes than liver. Erythrocyte AChE activity recovered after 18 days, while it required 21 days in liver. The findings of this study indicate that erythrocyte AChE is more sensitive to carbofuran than liver. The greater sensitivity of erythrocyte AChE suggests that it may be more useful as a biomarker for monitoring status of pollution in freshwater bodies.     

Exposure and Health Effects of Cadmium

The results of a study of photocatalytic degradation of phenol using aqueous oxygenated TiO₂ (anatase) suspensions in a batch Pyrex photoreactor are reported. The influence on the photodegradation rate of various parameters as pH, phenol and TiO₂ content, oxygen partial pressure, anions present in the dispersions was investigated. A complete oxidation of phenol was observed. Intermediate compounds, catechol and quinone, were detected. It was observed that the photodegradation also proceeded with sunlight radiation. A mechanistic and kinetic model, which accounts for the results obtained, is given. Likely reasons for inactivity of the rutile modification for this reaction are also given.     

Transport of metanil yellow in the rat plasma and interaction of its metabolite,p‐aminodiphenylamine with serum proteins

Binding affinity of metanil yellow and its breakdown product p‐aminodiphenylamine to serum proteins has been studied employing chromatographic separation on Sephadex G‐200 and by paper and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Metanil yellow has more affinity towards albumin than to globulins. The complexing is presumably through electrostatic forces. p‐Aminodiphenylamine on the other hand, preferably binds to globulin fractions of serum protein. However, a stable binding with BSA alone was also observed. The binding was quite stable and was accompanied by a shift in absorbance from 430 nm to 500 nm. Aspartic acid moiety of protein was found to be one of the units involved in the binding of p‐ADPA to proteins.     

Detection and quantitation of trace levels of low molecular weight halocarbons (LMHs) associated with commercial sodium humate

Examination of vapor above commercial sodium humate and above 10wt% aqueous humate solution by gas chromatography (GC) revealed the presence of chloroform and trichloroethylene. Further examination of the aqueous humate by the purge and trap procedure confirmed the association of chloroform and trichloroethylene with the humate. GC/mass spectrometry analyses of methylene chloride extract of the humate established the association of LMHs with the humate. Improved headspace capillary GC technique showed that the humate contained not only chloroform, trichloroethylene but several other LMHs in the range 190 to 4000ng·kg^‐1.     

Lead uptake by Eichhornia Crassipes

Factors influencing uptake of lead(II) by the water hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes), were examined. Two phases of uptake were observed for the concentration range investigated (0.01–1000 ppm). The initial, rapid uptake phase of about 4 hours is followed by a slower, near linear phase extending past 24 hours. Stirring the solution enhanced uptake, suggesting that lead removal is in part diffusion limited. In the range of 4–8, pH has little effect on uptake where as outside this range, uptake is reduced. Increased solution volume or rootmass results in more metal being removed by the plant. The presence of strong complexers blocks the initial rapid uptake phase as does the presence of Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), and Fe(III). Strong complexers can also strip a portion of any lead already removed from solution by the plant.     

Cesium inhibition of motor activity in comparison to Lithium and Rubidium †

The biochemical and toxicological significance of cesium is scarcely understood, and could be evaluated in comparison with lithium widely used as a psychotropic drug. Two male Wistar rat groups of 200–220 g are administered independently, lithium, sodium, rubidium and cesium chloride, in doses of 3mEq/Kg/day (0.024 Eq/L drinking water) during 29 days. Motor activity was measured after the injection of 70 mg pargyline/Kg animal i.p. as inhibitor of MAO A + B with an activimeter of Tedeschy type. Accumulative movements per minute are presented in function of time. Total brain proteins, alkaline and acid phosphatases and blood parameters, haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocytes, were determined.

The maximal increase of motor activity was seen in rats treated with RbCl 2 h after the pargyline administration and the diminution was Rb>Li>Cs. Cesium induced a decrease of the total serum protein concentration from 6.39 ± 0.1 to 5.8±0.5mg/100ml serum in controls. Acid and alkaline phosphatase were decreased in cesium treated rats. The three determined blood parameters, haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocytes, show also a decrement with cesium treatment compared to the control ones.     

Preliminary environmental study of New Karvali Bay (Kavala Gulf,North Greece)

In this presentation the results of an environmental study of New Karvali bay, in Kavala Gulf, North Greece, are announced. In the studied bay the main industrial activity is a Factory of Chemical Fertilizers (FCF) and its wastes have been discharged, practically without any treatment, to the sea. The study has shown that the concentrations of phosphates and nitrates in the area around the place of the waste ejection from the factory are relatively high. Other remarkable points of the study are the presence of fluoride anions in higher level than normal and the low concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Zn).