Ah receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: Comparative studies in mammalian and nonmammalian species

The Ah receptor was identified and characterized in cytosol from a large number of diverse animal species. Molecular properties of the Ah receptor were similar in all species which had detectable receptor. However, subtle differences in receptor properties exist among animal species and these differences indicate that the Ah receptor protein is not identical in all species. It is not yet known whether differences in receptor properties among animal species play a significant role in determining differential susceptibility of the species to toxicity from halogenated aromatic compounds.     

Analysis of Ah receptor pathway activation by brominated flame retardants

Brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) are used as additives in plastics to decrease the rate of combustion of these materials, leading to greater consumer safety. As the use of plastics has increased, the production and use of flame-retardants has also grown. Many BFRs are persistent and have been detected in environmental samples, raising concerns about the biological/toxicological risk associated with their use. Most BFRs appear to be non-toxic, however there is still some concern that these compounds, or possible contaminants in BFRs mixtures could interact with cellular receptors. In this study we have examined the interaction of decabromodiphenyl ether, Firemaster BP4A (tetrabromobisphenol A), Firemaster PHT4 (tetrabromophthalic anhydride), hexabromobenzene, pentabromotoluene, decabromobiphenyl, Firemaster BP-6 (2,2^′,4,4^′,5,5^′-hexabromobiphenyl) and possible contaminants of BFR mixtures with the Ah receptor. Receptor binding and activation was examined using the Gel Retardation Assay and increased expression of dioxin responsive genes was detected using the reporter gene based CALUX assay. The results demonstrate the ability of BFRs to activate the AhR signal transduction pathway at moderate to high concentrations as assessed using both assays. AhR-dependent activation by BFRs may be due in part to contaminants present in commercial/technical mixtures. This was suggested by our comparative analysis of Firemaster BP-6 versus its primary component 2,2^′,4,4^′,5,5^′-hexabromobiphenyl. Some technical mixtures of brominated flame-retardants contain brominated biphenyls, dioxins or dibenzofurans as contaminants. When tested in the CALUX assay these compounds were found to be equivalent to, or more active than their chlorinated analogues. Relative effective potency values were determined from dose response curves for these brominated HAHs.     

The Role of Macrophytes in the Retention of Phosphorus in the River Thame,England

The effects of the growth of the dominant species of macrophytes on phosphorus transport in the River Thame, a nutrient enriched lowland clay catchment in southern England, were assessed using a mass-balance approach. Macrophyte abundance was estimated between late March and early June at three sites along the river. the plant biomass of phosphorus and the total phosphorus content of sediments in the main part of the river channel and sediments associated with the plant roots were measured on each occasion. Total phosphorus concentrations in the river water were measured at weekly intervals at a gauging station at the lower end of the study reach.

The results showed that the phosphorus content of plants at the site most impacted by sewage derived phosphorus was < 1% of the flux of total phosphorus estimated for the water column in April and May. Phosphorus contained in the total standing crop of macrophytes at the least impacted site was estimated as approximately 3% of the mean daily flux of total phosphorus in the water. Although no trends were found in the total phosphorus contents of the roots, shoots or sediments through the season, differences in the phosphorus content of the sediments were found between sites with different phosphorus loading. Higher porewater and Equilibrium Phosphate Concentrations (EPC_oS) were recorded at the site most impacted by sewage effluent when compared to an upstream sampling site.     

Risk factors for increased BTEX exposure in four Australian cities

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) are common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in urban airsheds. Elevated levels of VOCs have been reported in many airsheds at many locations, particularly those associated with industrial activity, wood heater use and heavy traffic. Exposure to some VOCs has been associated with health risks. There have been limited investigations into community exposures to BTEX using personal monitoring to elucidate the concentrations to which members of the community may be exposed and the main contributors to that exposure. In this cross sectional study we investigated BTEX exposure of 204 non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed people from four Australian cities. Each participant wore a passive BTEX sampler over 24h on five consecutive days in both winter and summer and completed an exposure source questionnaire for each season and a diary for each day of monitoring. The geometric mean (GM) and range of daily BTEX concentrations recorded for the study population were benzene 0.80 (0.04-23.8 ppb); toluene 2.83 (0.03-2120 ppb); ethylbenzene 0.49 (0.03-119 ppb); and xylenes 2.36 (0.04-697 ppb). A generalised linear model was used to investigate significant risk factors for increased BTEX exposure. Activities and locations found to increase personal exposure included vehicle repair and machinery use, refuelling of motor vehicles, being in an enclosed car park and time spent undertaking arts and crafts. A highly significant difference was found between the mean exposures in each of the four cities, which may be explained by differences in fuel composition, differences in the mix and density of industry, density of motor vehicles and air pollution meteorology.     

Which comes first,organizational culture or performance? A longitudinal study of causal priority with automobile dealerships

Prior research supports a link between organizational culture and performance but generally falls short of establishing causality or determining the direction of a culture–performance (C‐P) relationship. Using data collected from 95 franchise automobile dealerships over 6 years, we studied longitudinal culture–performance relationships to determine whether culture or performance has causal priority, or alternatively, whether a reciprocal relationship exists. Results from cross‐lagged panel analyses indicate that culture “comes first,” consistently predicting subsequent ratings of customer satisfaction and vehicle sales. Furthermore, the positive effect of culture on vehicle sales is fully mediated by customer satisfaction ratings. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sociotechnical design and self-managing work groups: The impact on control

This paper compares employees perceptions of control in 20 manufacturing plants within one corporation. Four of the plants have incorporated self-managing groups as a part of their organizational design, while the other 16 plants have more traditional designs. Survey data from the 20 plants are compared and used to test a set of hypotheses derived from the literature on Sociotechnical systems. These analyses indicate that the workers and supervisors in the Sociotechnical plants have higher levels of perceived control than do their counterparts in the more traditional plants. Top and middle management respondents, how- ever, have similar perceptions of control in both the Sociotechnical and traditional plants. Discussion focuses on the impact of Sociotechnical design, the measurement of control, and future research issues in Sociotechnical design and self-managing work groups.     

Trace contamination with dioxin-like chemicals: evaluation of bioassay-based TEQ determination for hazard assessment and regulatory responses

Many recent dioxin contamination events have been traced back to poisoned animal feed or feed ingredients. Therefore, enforcement authorities placed limits on the levels of dioxins in food and feed or implemented strict monitoring and control programs. The levels in force are generally expressed as TEQ values, which inherently accepts the underlying hypothesis that the effects of dioxin-like chemicals are additive. TEQ determination involves either chemo-analysis, with high-resolution gas chromatography in combination with high-resolution mass spectroscopy, or bio-analysis. Bio-analytical methods, more particularly the reporter gene expression method CALUX, are advantageous due to their high throughput rate and low cost. Moreover, the CALUX methodology detects the overall dioxin-like toxicity, rather than the limited number of compounds investigated by chemo-analysis. Bioanalytical methods such as CALUX also differ from chemo-analysis in that the contribution of antagonistic as well as synergistic effects, which violate the additivity principle, can be detected. The application of bio-analytical methods can facilitate a broader assessment of public health risks by intensifying the current monitoring programs in terms of both sample numbers and types. Bio-analysis provides information on the total dioxin-like activity of the samples under study (hazard assessment); however, chemo-analysis is still needed to identify the predominant contaminants (congener identification) for risk management.