Temporal limitations in the use of potassium dichromate as a blood preservative for the analysis of organohalogenated contaminants including polybrominated diphenyl ethers,dioxins and PCBs

Previous studies described the use of potassium dichromate (K₂Cr₂O₇) to successfully preserve whole blood for up to 34 days at room temperature (20–22°C) for analysis of chlorinated dioxins, dibenzofurans and PCBs. Potassium dichromate has been successfully employed as a preservative for cows’ milk and in a World Health Organization study of human milk. The use of two 100?mg tablets in 40 to 100?mL of whole blood in anticoagulant was found to provide almost identical levels of dioxins, dibenzofurans, PCBs and lipids as found in frozen comparison blood at??70°C which is generally regarded as the gold standard for blood preservation. Potassium dichromate was found to be preferable to 20 and 40% ethyl alcohol for this preservation. This finding opens opportunities for preservation under field conditions in developing countries where neither electricity nor dry ice is available. Not having to use dry ice for shipping also allows more flexibility in the choice of commercial carriers for transporting blood to an analytical laboratory. It is recommended considering a number of compounds in addition to those studied in our first report and extending the time beyond 34 days in order to determine if longer storage might also be feasible. Data on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are reported. For the present study 3 and 6 months were chosen in potassium dichromate at room temperature compared to freezing at ?70°C. Data indicate that these times exceed the limits of efficacy of potassium dichromate for whole blood preservation. This was attributed to degradation of the lipid component of the blood. Since dioxins and closely related structural analogues are traditionally reported as lipid normalized blood levels, this degradation of lipids provides erroneous results. Therefore, potassium dichromate is not recommended for long-term storage beyond 34 days at room temperature. It is planned to study the time period between one and three months and higher temperature preservation for shorter time periods, simulating conditions in tropical countries, to attempt to extend further the ease and convenience of chemical preservation of blood.     

Blood lead level in the children of western Uttar Pradesh,India

The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead levels (blls) of children under an age of 5 years living in western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 100 blood samples, 100 drinking water samples, and 21 vegetable samples were assessed for lead contamination. Blood levels in the range of 30–116?µg?L^?1 were observed at Kazipur village. The levels of lead in water samples were reported to be in the range of 0.006–0.095?ppm and identified at up to 9.5 times the stated permissible limit. A significant positive correlation (+0.679) was obtained between blls and water lead levels. All vegetable samples were also contaminated with lead up to 12 times higher than the permissible limit of 2.5?mg?kg^?1 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954. The cottage lead battery industry, industrial effluents, and lead paints were identified as possible factors for lead incidence in the study area. Lead may be associated with increased antisocial activities of the children living in western Uttar Pradesh. Children with elevated blls had poorer nutritional status than those with normal levels, and parents did not know that lead causes health problems. A national population-based study is recommended to determine the prevalence of elevated blls.     

Risk assessment of children's blood lead level in some rural habitations of western Uttar Pradesh,India

The objective of this study was to determine the blood lead level (BLL) of children aged under 5 living in western Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 100 blood samples, 100 drinking water samples, and 21 vegetable samples were assessed for lead (Pb) contamination. BLL was observed in the range of 3–11.58?µg?dL^?1 with a maximal level of 11.58?±?0.05?µg?dL^?1 in Kazipur village. Lead in water samples was detected in the range of 0.006–0.095?ppm and identified at upto 9.5-fold higher than the stated permissible limit. A significant positive correlation (+0.679) was obtained between BLL and water Pb levels. All vegetable samples were also contaminated with Pb upto 12-fold higher than the permissible limit of 2.5?µg?g^?1 of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) 1954. Untreated industrial effluents were identified as the responsible factors for Pb occurrence in the study area. The presence of lead may be associated with the increased antisocial activities of children living in western Uttar Pradesh. Children with elevated BLL had poorer nutritional status than those with background Pb levels. There is an urgent need for a national campaign to monitor the BLL of children in India.     

Cross‐sectional epidemiological study on the lead burden of children and workers in Greece

Exposure of the general population to lead in the environment is mainly caused by motor traffic exhaust and by industrial pollution. The aim of the study in Greece was to assess lead exposure in children living in point source impacted areas (Lavrion and Aspropyrgos‐Eleusis) using the biological monitoring parameter “blood lead concentration”;.

In addition, workers of a lead smelter, a battery plant and an oil refinery were investigated in these areas at the same time.

Five hundred and thirty‐four children and 105 workers took part in this investigation.

The highest blood lead levels (mean: 24.16 μg/100ml; range: 10.40–60.49 μg/100 ml) were found in children living in a 500m‐area around the lead smelter at Lavrion. Blood lead decreases corresponded to the increasing distance from the emitter. Nevertheless the values of children living in a 1500 m distance to the smelter are significantly higher than those of children living next to other kinds of industrial lead sources.

The mean values of the children living in the two industrial towns were manifold higher than those of the control group.

The blood lead levels of the investigated workers did not exceed the German BAT‐value (Biologischer Arbeitsstoff‐Toleranzwert) of 70 μg/100ml.     

Strontium and its relationship with trace elements Mg,Cu, Co,and Mo in human blood and serum

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of exposure to strontium on human blood and serum concentrations of magnesium, copper, cobalt, and molybdenum. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze the elemental content of whole blood and blood serum of 97 healthy men including 70 workers in a thermal power plant and 27 control subjects from the rural area of Dragash (Kosovo), an environment without pollution. The results showed that chronic moderate exposure to strontium decreases the levels of copper in blood (BCu) and serum (SCu), of cobalt in blood (BCo) and serum (SCo), and of molybdenum in blood (BMo). All changes in blood and serum concentrations of these essential elements were significant but remained within the normal range. The results suggest that strontium may induce adverse health effects in humans.     

Characterisation of cobalt‐binding proteins in occupational cobalt exposuret†

In animal experimentations cobalt is found to be carcinogenic under conditions which are comparable with a possible exposure of human beings at the workplace.^1,2 Little is known about binding and distribution of incorporated cobalt in blood.

Blood, serum and plasma of workers occupationally exposed to cobalt were analyzed concerning cobalt‐binding. The samples were focused by preparative IEF in layers of granulated gels. The cobalt concentrations in the isolated fractions were measured with the aid of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The whole blood samples exhibit peaks with different sizes in the pH‐5‐ and ‐7‐range. The proportion of these peaks can change with individual samples. In serum and plasma cobalt is found only in the pH‐5‐range.

When separated by gelelectrophoresis under denaturating conditions the cobalt‐fractions in all blood, serum and plasma samples shows a similar protein pattern. Several proteins with different molecular weights are detected in the pH‐5‐fractions, whereas only hemoglobin is found in the pH‐7‐fractions. In agreement with these results is the refocusing in ultrathin‐layer of polyacrylamide. Heterogeneous protein patterns are demonstrated with the pH‐5‐fractions; the pH‐7‐fractions yield only the hemoglobin pattern.

In vivo cobalt is bound to plasma proteins‐perhaps‐albumin^3,4‐and hemoglobin. Till now the chemical structure of the binding is unknown.     

免疫毒性评价中不同淋巴细胞激活剂致大鼠外周全血产生细胞因子作用的评价

淋巴细胞激活剂可有效活化免疫细胞,进而促进细胞因子的产生和分泌,但不同激活剂及激活方式的选择直接影响细胞因子产生的种类和水平。为评价不同激活剂促细胞因子产生的作用,筛选一种快速有效的激活方法用于细胞因子检测,本研究采用不同浓度佛波酯(PMA)/钙离子载体、植物血凝素(PHA)、刀豆蛋白A(Con A)、脂多糖(LPS)和美洲商陆素(PWM)体外激活大鼠外周全血0、2、4、6、8、10 h,对各样本中10种细胞因子(白细胞介素2(IL-2)、白细胞介素4(IL-4)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)、白细胞介素10(IL-10)、白细胞介素13(IL-13)、干扰素γ(IFN-γ)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、粒细胞-巨噬细胞集落刺激因子(GM-CSF)、受激活调节正常T细胞表达和分泌因子(RANTES)和转化生长因子β(TGF-β))含量进行检测,并评价了环孢素A和硫唑嘌呤2种免疫抑制剂对激活剂诱导产生细胞因子的抑制作用。结果表明25 ng·mL-1PMA和1μg·mL-1钙离子载体体外诱导6 h可以显著升高大鼠外周全血IL-2、IFN-γ、TNF-α、RANTES和TGF-β含量,是一种作用广泛的激活方法。其诱导产生细胞因子作用的变化可反映机体免疫系统和功能的损伤,可有效用于外源化学物免疫毒性评价。     

Concentrations of selected metals in blood,serum, and urine among US adult exclusive users of cigarettes,cigars, and electronic cigarettes

Data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2013–2014 were used to compare observed levels of selected metals in blood, serum, and urine among US adults aged ≥20 years for exclusive cigar, cigarettes, and e-cigarette users. Adjusted geometric means for e-cigarette users were found to be higher than for cigar users for blood manganese (10.3 vs. 7.9 µg/L, p = 0.02). Cigar users were found to have lower adjusted geometric means than cigarette users for urine cobalt (0.22 vs. 0.4 µg/L, p = 0.04) and urine antimony (0.03 vs. 0.06 µg/L, p = 0.03). Adjusted levels of blood selenium, serum copper, selenium, and zinc, and urine arsenic, barium, molybdenum, tin, strontium, thallium, tungsten, and uranium were found to be comparable among cigarettes only, cigar only, and electronic cigarettes only users. However, irrespective of the comparative levels of these metals among cigar, cigarette, and e-cigarette users, focus must be to assess the short- and long-term health effects of the exposure to these metals particularly nanoparticles via inhalation from e-cigarette aerosols.     

Environmental policy and human capital inequality: A matter of life and death

This paper analyzes the economic implications of an environmental policy when we account for the life expectancy of heterogeneous agents. In a framework in which everyone suffers from pollution but health status also depends on individual human capital, we find that the economy may be stuck in a trap in which inequality rises steadily, especially when the initial pollution intensity of production is too high. We emphasize that such inequality is in the long run costly for the economy in terms of health and growth. Therefore, we study whether a tax on pollution associated with an investment in pollution abatement can be used to address this situation. We show that a stricter environmental policy may allow the economy to escape from the inequality trap while enhancing the long-term growth rate when the initial inequality in human capital is not too large.