Comparison of Different Genotoxic Tests for Biological Monitoring of Coke Oven Workers. Preliminary Results

Chemical by-products of coke production are classified by IARC as carcinogenic in humans. Polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are the main compounds involved in carcinogenic and mutagenic activities of coke oven smokes, but many other compounds are present in emissions and could be involved in these activities. PAH analysis of the atmosphere indicated external contamination, but is not sufficient to evaluate the risk for exposed workers. The aim of this study was to evaluate relationship between atmospheric analysis of PAH and genotoxic markers in coke oven workers'white cells compared to controls. One hundred fifty-five exposed workers'samples were analyzed. They were selected in 5 coke production sites using a complete questionnaire allowing one to exclude all confounding factors. Two equal groups of smokers and nonsmokers were analysed. Analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), micronucleus (MN) and DNA-adduct formation using ³²P-postlabelling were performed on leucocytes. Each worker was equiped with an individual pump during the shift, for analysis of 16 PAH.

All markers were strongly modified by smoking habits. In smokers, CA, SCE and MN were not influenced by exposure to PAH. The number of DNA-adducts was increased with PAH concentration. In non smokers, we have observed an increaseof breaks / cells and of the percentage of cells with aberrations. Number of MN and SCE were unchanged. The number and the amount of DNA-adducts were strongly increased in exposed workers. DNA-adducts appear to be the best marker for genotoxic risk assessment.     

Assessment of Exposure to PACs in Asphalt Workers: Measurement of Urinary PACs and their Metabolites with an ELISA Kit

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit made for determination of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) in water was adapted for measuring PACs and their metabolites in urine. This method was then applied to a pilot asphalt worker PAC exposure study. Currently, liquid-liquid extraction with gas chromatography/isotope dilution high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS) is the preferred method to determine urinary PAC metabolites. Although sensitive and specific, GC/HRMS is time consuming and costly.

The ELISA method had a range from 14–720 ng/ml 1-hydroxypyrene equivalents with a lower limit of detection (LOD) of 14 ng/ml urine. ELISA and GC/HRMS PAC metabolite measurements had a statistically significant correlation and the PAC ELISA results were indicative of potential asphalt exposure. PAC ELISA is promising as a more rapid and less costly routine method for determining worker exposure to PACs in asphalt emissions.     

Dermal uptake of nicotine from air and clothing: Experimental verification

This study aims to elucidate in greater detail the dermal uptake of nicotine from air or from nicotine‐exposed clothes, which was demonstrated recently in a preliminary study. Six non‐smoking participants were exposed to gaseous nicotine (between 236 and 304 μg/m³) over 5 hours while breathing clean air through a hood. Four of the participants wore only shorts and 2 wore a set of clean clothes. One week later, 2 of the bare‐skinned participants were again exposed in the chamber, but they showered immediately after exposure instead of the following morning. The 2 participants who wore clean clothes on week 1 were now exposed wearing a set of clothes that had been exposed to nicotine. All urine was collected for 84 hours after exposure and analyzed for nicotine and its metabolites, cotinine and 3OH‐cotinine. All participants except those wearing fresh clothes excreted substantial amounts of biomarkers, comparable to levels expected from inhalation intake. Uptake for 1 participant wearing exposed clothes exceeded estimated intake via inhalation by >50%. Biomarker excretion continued during the entire urine collection period, indicating that nicotine accumulates in the skin and is released over several days. Absorbed nicotine was significantly lower after showering in 1 subject but not the other. Differences in the normalized uptakes and in the excretion patterns were observed among the participants. The observed cotinine half‐lives suggest that non‐smokers exposed to airborne nicotine may receive a substantial fraction through the dermal pathway. Washing skin and clothes exposed to nicotine may meaningfully decrease exposure.     

Behaviour of the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteous aculeatus (Gasterosteidae, Teleostei) in the multispecies freshwater biomonitor: a validation of automated recordings at three levels of ammonia pollution

The validity of using an automated online biomonitoring system, the multispecies freshwater biomonitor (MFB), in recording the physiological and behavioural activities of the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteous aculeatus, is assessed. The direct impact of the alternating electrical current generated by the impedance converter on fish activity was measured using a repeated measures design, machine on/machine off. Twelve subjects were used in each of three experimental groups: (1). standard hard water environment (control), (2). 0.1mM NH(4)Cl and (3). 10mM NH(4)Cl. Impedance generated waves were compared to corresponding manually recorded behavioural observations in an attempt to calibrate the MFB, assigning particular behaviours to a particular frequency and amplitude range. Data analysis suggests that the MFB current did not affect fish behaviour at any of the three contamination levels studied. Furthermore, analysis of the frequency with which behavioural activity changed (activity phases classified as inactive or active) showed that MFB behavioural data was not significantly different from that recorded manually. This suggested that the MFB recorded the behaviours that were concurrently observed. The feasibility of using the MFB as an effective behavioural early warning system in an aquacultural environment and as a scientific tool for toxicity testing is discussed.     

REE characteristics and Pb, Sr and Nd isotopic compositions of steel plant emissions

A comprehensive Pb-Sr-Nd isotope and REE tracer study of atmospheric trace metal pollution by a steel plant situated to the north of the urban communities of Strasbourg (France) and Kehl (Germany) has been performed using tree barks as biomonitors. The 206Pb/207Pb and 208Pb/207Pb isotopic ratios of the steel plant's filter dust are similar to values found in dust of waste incinerators. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio is similar to present-day ratios of Phanerozoic or Precambrian granitic rocks. The 143Nd/144Nd isotopic composition is very low and corresponds to an (Nd) value of -17.5. Such a low value is characteristic of old Precambrian granitic rocks and banded iron formations. Thus, this low (Nd) value might point to the origin of the iron necessary for the steel production. The fact, that this isotopic composition does not occur in crustal rocks of Western Central Europe makes the Nd isotope ratio a powerful tool to trace steel plants atmospheric emissions. The rare earth element (REE) distribution pattern of the steel plant's filter dust shows very specific fractionations like La and Nd enrichments which are traceable in tree barks over a distance of 4 km. The Pb, Sr and Nd isotope ratios not only enable the steel plant's emissions to be traced in a north-easterly direction, along the principal wind pathway but also enables the interference of this emission at 4 km NE from the steel plant with another atmospheric component originating from the Strasbourg Rhine harbour to be identified.     

Low serum levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) in children and adults from Afghanistan

Applications of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have led to a PFC exposure of the general population worldwide. Most PFC human biomonitoring data are available from developed countries. Here we report for the first time PFC levels in serum from children and adults living in the low developed country of Afghanistan. Among a health cooperation project we had the chance to collect blood samples from 12 children (age 2.5-9 years) and 43 adults (age 20-65 years). 25 participants were from Kabul and 30 lived in a rural area. Drinking water samples were collected from 10 tap water and 16 well water sources. PFC levels were determined by HPLC and MS/MS detection after offline protein precipitation with acetonitrile. PFOS could be quantified in all blood samples (limit of quantification, LOQ: 0.1 µg/l). Median (range) was 1.2 µg/l (0.21-11.8 µg/l). Most PFOA (n = 43) and PFHxS levels (n = 42) were below LOQ of 0.5 µg/l. Maximum levels were 1.5 (PFOA) and 3.0 µg/l (PFHxS). All PFOS and PFOA concentrations in drinking water were below LOQ (PFOA 0.03 µg/l and PFOS 0.015 µg/l). It is concluded that exposure to PFCs also occurs in Afghanistan but on a very low level.     

The use of palaeoecological and contemporary macroinvertebrate community data to characterize riverine reference conditions

Defining reference conditions is a crucial element in quantifying the extent of anthropogenic modification and for identifying restoration targets in riverine ecosystems. Despite palaeoecological approaches being widely applied in lakes to establish reference conditions, their use in lotic ecosystems remains limited. In this study, we examine contemporary, historical (1930 and 1972), and palaeoecological macroinvertebrate biodiversity and biomonitoring scores in Eastburn Beck, a headwater tributary of the River Hull (UK) to determine if palaeoecological approaches can be used to characterize lotic system reference conditions. Palaeoecological samples comprised a greater gamma diversity (18 taxa) than contemporary samples (8 taxa), samples taken in 1972 (11 taxa) and 1930 (8 taxa). Palaeoecological samples supported taxonomically different Gastropoda, Trichoptera, and Coleoptera (GTC) communities compared with contemporary and historical samples (1930 and 1972). Results from biomonitoring indices using the GTC community indicated that the palaeochannel had (a) similar invertebrate biological quality, (b) a less energetic flow regime, and (c) increased fine sediment deposits compared with the contemporary channel. The results clearly illustrate that palaeoecological data can provide a suitable method to characterize reference conditions for lotic habitats. However, it is important to recognize that faunal data from palaeochannel deposits provide a short‐term “snapshot” of the conditions within the river immediately prior to its hydrological isolation. River restoration activities should therefore draw on multiple lines of evidence, including palaeoecological information where possible, to characterize a range of reference conditions to reflect the highly dynamic nature of lotic ecosystems.     

Heavy metal content in scalp hair of the inhabitants near Dexing Copper Mine,Jiangxi Province,China

Levels of seven metals(Mn,Cu,Zn,Pb,Cr,Cd,and Se) in the scalp hair of Daicun and Xiangtian inhabitants were determined by ICP-MS/AFS.Daicun,as an experimental site,is near Dexing Copper Mine,Jiangxi Province,China,and exposed to mining pollution;Xiangtian,as a control site,is free from any mining and other industrial pollution.The heavy metal distribution in the scalp hair of the two diverse population segments exposed to different environments was discussed against the background of the heavy metal content...     

Measurements of dermal uptake of nicotine directly from air and clothing

In this preliminary study, we have investigated whether dermal uptake of nicotine directly from air or indirectly from clothing can be a meaningful exposure pathway. Two participants wearing only shorts and a third participant wearing clean cotton clothes were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), generated by mechanically “smoking” cigarettes, for three hours in a chamber while breathing clean air from head‐enveloping hoods. The average nicotine concentration (420 μg/m³) was comparable to the highest levels reported for smoking sections of pubs. Urine samples were collected immediately before exposure and 60 hour post‐exposure for bare‐skinned participants. For the clothed participant, post‐exposure urine samples were collected for 24 hour. This participant then entered the chamber for another three‐hour exposure wearing a hood and clothes, including a shirt that had been exposed for five days to elevated nicotine levels. The urine samples were analyzed for nicotine and two metabolites—cotinine and 3OH‐cotinine. Peak urinary cotinine and 3OH‐cotinine concentrations for the bare‐skinned participants were comparable to levels measured among non‐smokers in hospitality environments before smoking bans. The amount of dermally absorbed nicotine for each bare‐skinned participant was conservatively estimated at 570 μg, but may have been larger. For the participant wearing clean clothes, uptake was ~20 μg, and while wearing a shirt previously exposed to nicotine, uptake was ~80 μg. This study demonstrates meaningful dermal uptake of nicotine directly from air or from nicotine‐exposed clothes. The findings are especially relevant for children in homes with smoking or vaping.     

Utilising an LC-MS/MS-based multi-biomarker approach to assess mycotoxin exposure in the Bangkok metropolitan area and surrounding provinces

Human exposures to mycotoxins through dietary intake are a major health hazard and may result in various pathophysiological effects. Although Thailand is a country at increased risk due to its climatic conditions, no comprehensive dataset is available to perform proper exposure assessment of its population with regard to mycotoxins. Therefore, this pilot study was conducted to investigate and evaluate the exposure levels of major mycotoxins (aflatoxin B₁, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, zearalenone and trichothecenes). Sixty first-morning urine samples were collected from healthy volunteers who live in the Bangkok metropolitan area and surrounding provinces (Pathumthani, Nonthaburi, Samutprakarn and Samutsakorn). Urine samples were analysed by a LC-MS/MS-based multi-biomarker method following a so-called ‘dilute and shoot’ approach. Results generally indicated low mycotoxin exposures in most individuals through the determination of the four biomarkers that were detected in urine samples, i.e. aflatoxin M₁, ochratoxin A (OTA), as well as the deoxynivalenol (DON) metabolites DON-3-glucuronide and DON-15-glucuronide in 10 of 60 individuals. The maximum concentrations were used to estimate the daily intake confirming that none of the individuals exceeded the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of DON (maximum 26% of TDI) or OTA (maximum 22% of TDI). However, the maximum exposure of aflatoxin B₁, estimated to be 0.91 µg (kg bw)^–1 day^–1, should raise some concerns and suggests further studies utilising a more sensitive method. Low exposure to Fusarium toxins was also confirmed by the absence of zearalenone, α-zearalanol, β-zearalanol and zearalenone-14-glucuronide as well as T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, nivalenol and free DON. This is the first multi-mycotoxin biomarker study performed in Southeast Asia.