Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is an environmental toxicant and endocrine disruptor. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the toxicity of B[a]P in testis of rats and also to study the role of silymarin and thymoquinone (TQ) as natural antioxidants in the alleviation of such toxicity. Data of the present study showed that levels of testosterone, estrogen and progesterone were significantly decreased after treatment of rats with B[a]P. In addition, B[a]P caused downregulation of the expressions of steroidogenic enzymes including CYP17A1 and CP19A1, and decreased the activity of 17-β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD). Moreover, B[a]P decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes including catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and significantly increased free radicals levels in testis of male rats. However, pretreatment of rats with silymarin prior to administration of B[a]P was found to restore the level of free radicals, antioxidant status, and activities of steroidogenic enzymes to their normal levels in testicular tissues. Moreover, histopathological finding showed that silymarin recovered the abnormalities occurred in tubules caused by B[a] P in testis of rats. On the other hand, TQ showed pro-oxidant effects and did not ameliorate the toxic effects of B[a] P on the testicular tissue since it decreased antioxidant enzymes activities and inhibited the protein expression of CYP11A1 and CYP21A2 compared to control rats. Moreover, TQ decreased the levels of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone either in the presence or absence of B[a]P. It is concluded that B[a]P decreased testosterone levels, inhibited antioxidant enzymes activities, caused downregulation of CYP isozymes involved in steroidogenesis, and increased free radical levels in testis. Moreover, silymarin was more effective than TQ in restoring organism health and alleviating the deleterious effects caused by B[a]P in the testis of rats. Due to its negative impact, it is highly recommended to limit the use of TQ as a dietary supplement since millions of people in the Middle East are using it to improve their health.
In this study, we asked the Ariaal herders of northern Kenya to answer "why, what and how" they classified landscape, and assessed and monitored the biodiversity of 10 km(2) of grazing land. To answer the "why question" the herders classified grazing resources into 39 landscape patches grouped into six landscape types and classified soil as 'warm', 'intermediate' or 'cold' for the purpose of land use. For the "what question" the herders used soil conditions and vegetation characteristics to assess biodiversity. Plant species were described as 'increasers', 'decreasers' or 'stable'. The decreaser species were mostly grasses and forbs preferred for cattle and sheep grazing and the increasers were mostly woody species preferred by goats. The herders evaluated biodiversity in terms of key forage species and used absence or presence of the preferred species from individual landscapes for monitoring change in biodiversity. For the "how question" the herders used anthropogenic indicators concerned with livestock management for assessing landscape potential and suitability for grazing. The anthropogenic indicators were related to soils and biodiversity. The herders used plant species grazing preferences to determine the links between livestock production and biodiversity. By addressing these three questions, the study shows the value of incorporating the indigenous knowledge of herders into classification of landscape and assessment and monitoring of biodiversity in the grazing lands. We conclude that herder knowledge of biodiversity is related to the use as opposed to exclusive conservation practices. This type of knowledge is extremely valuable to conservation agencies for establishing a baseline for monitoring changes in biodiversity in the future. 相似文献
The extent to which smokeless tobacco endangers human health is an ongoing subject of debate. In this study, concentrations of toxic metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni), were measured in different snuff products (dry brown and black and moist green and brown), available and consumed in Pakistan. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Ni were determined in 23 samples of various brands of snuff by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, after microwave-assisted acid digestion. The reliability of methodology was assured by analyzing certified reference material. The resulted data of toxic metals in different snuff products are comparable to the existing information with limited exceptions. It was estimated that 10 g intake of different types of snuff could contribute 14–68, 17–47, and 20–73 % of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake for Cd, Ni, and Pb, respectively. 相似文献
This study reports the feasibility of applying directly suspended liquid-phase microextraction (DSLPME)-gas chromatography detection for the pre-concentration and determination of low levels of eight polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in aqueous samples. The technique requires minimal sample preparation, analysis time and solvent consumption and represents significant advantages over conventional analytical methods. The experimental parameters such as salt content, sample temperature, stirring rate, extraction time, micro-drop volume and breakthrough volume were investigated and found to have significant influences on DSLPME. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the enrichment factor ranged from 578 to 729, and the recovery was above 93 %. Calibration curves possessed good linearity (R2?>?0.99) over a wide concentration range of 0.1–10.0 μg L?1 with limits of detection ranging from 0.01 to 0.07 μg L?1. The relative standard deviations for 1.0 μg L?1 of PCBs in water by using internal standard were in the range 2–14 % (n?=?3). The proposed simple, accurate and sensitive analytical method was applied successfully to the determination of trace amounts of PCBs in water samples. 相似文献
Atmospheric particulate and gaseous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) samples were collected from an urban area in Dokki
(Giza) during the summer of 2007 and the winter of 2007–2008. The average concentrations of PAHs were 1,429.74 ng/m3 in the particulate phase, 2,912.56 ng/m3 in the gaseous phase, and 4,342.30 ng/m3 in the particulate + gaseous phases during the period of study. Dokki has high level concentrations of PAH compounds compared
with many polluted cities in the world. The concentrations of PAH compounds in the particulate and gaseous phases were higher
in the winter and lower in the summer. Total concentrations of PAHs in the particulate phase and gaseous phase were 22.58%
and 77.42% in summer and 36.97% and 63.03% in winter of the total (particulate + gaseous) concentrations of PAHs, respectively.
The gaseous/particulate ratios of PAHs concentration were 3.43 in summer and 1.71 in winter. Significant negative correlation
coefficients were found between the ambient temperature and concentrations of the total PAHs in the particulate and gaseous
phases. The distribution of individual PAHs and different categories of PAHs based on aromatic ring number in the particulate
and gaseous phases during the summer and winter were nearly similar, indicating similar emission sources of PAHs in both two
seasons. Benzo(b)fluoranthene in the particulate phase and naphthalene in the gaseous phase were the most abundant compounds. Diagnostic concentration
ratios of PAH compounds indicate that these compounds are emitted mainly from pyrogenic sources, mainly local vehicular exhaust
emissions. Health risks associated with the inhalation of individual PAHs in particulate and gaseous phases were assessed
on the basis of its benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentration. Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene in the particulate phase and benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(a)anthracene in the gaseous phase were the greatest contributors to the total health risks. The relative mean contributions
of the total carcinogenic activity (concentrations) of all PAHs to the total concentrations of PAHs were 29.37% and 25.15%
in the particulate phase and 0.76% and 0.92% in the gaseous phase during the summer and winter, respectively. These results
suggest that PAHs in the particulate phase in the ambient air of Dokki may pose a potential health risk. 相似文献
The current study is interested in evaluating the decay of cotton, Whatman and chemical pulp caused by Trichoderma harzianum and Paecilomyces variotii. The structural changes of the paper were evaluated by Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The SEM results show differences in hyphae colonization and paper decay patterns between studied species under the current study; P. variotii caused an eroded structure in the cotton (cavity forming), whereas the initial T. harzianum colonization produced rupture and erosion (soft-rot decay type II) for the three types of paper ,the gaps were elongated with sharp pointed ends, which consisted either of individual cavities or in chains. Moreover, FTIR results confirmed that there a relationship could be observed between fungal decay and crystalline cellulose content because the intensity of peaks at 1335 and 1111 cm?1 significantly decreased due to the fungal decay. Furthermore, the intensity of O–H stretching absorption slightly decreased, and this may be attributed to hydrolysis of cellulose molecules. 相似文献
Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - This work presents an energy analysis of an industrial plant of production of Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP plant). It aims to evaluate the important... 相似文献