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PubMed2006

Partitioning of selected environmental pollutants into organic matter as determined by solid-phase microextraction.

Partitioning/sorption of selected environmental pollutants (PCBs, organochlorine insecticides, triazine and amide herbicides) into dissolved humic acids (HA), soil and mineral substances was evaluated by measuring their free concentrations by solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Compounds were chosen to cover a wide range of logK(ow) (2.2-7.6). Two different types of partitioning behaviour for dissolved HA were observed. Compounds with logK(ow)>5 partitioned almost instantly into HA fraction and the remaining free fraction remained rather constant. LogK(HA) and logK(DOC) were calculated and found to be similar for commercial HA, HA standard and isolated HA. The behaviour of these compounds in soil suspension was similar, but strong sorption on CaCO3 and Florisil was also noticed. For compounds with logK(ow)<5, we have not noticed significant changes in free concentrations in HA solutions over time. In soil suspension, however, some sorption/partitioning was observed over time for some compounds, but it was matching the sorption on CaCO3 and Florisil.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1982

Environmental pollution: the experimental and the human approach.

Thirty years have elapsed since laws preventing large scale pollution have begun to be made and enforced in industrial countries. Due partly to economic considerations, the actual methodology for the evaluation of health risks is now beginning to be considered. If the routine experimental and epidemiological investigations are complementary, their use, which needs respective delays of 4-5 and 20-30 years, is not adopted to determine the health effects of new chemicals or novel energies. To make up for these deficiencies, especially concerning the screening of carcinogenic and mutagenic potentials of chemicals, short in vitro tests have been developed, but they have not yet proved to be reliable. Among several investigational needs, the psychophysiological aspects of environmental pollution and the long-term effects of several kinds of nonionizing radiations, which more and more invade our environment, ought to be considered.

Environmental Pollutants↗
PubMed2006

[Effects of environmental pollutants on hormone disturbances].

There is an increasing scientific concern that organochlorine compounds, recognized as environmental pollutants, may cause estrogen-related disorders. One of the main hypotheses is that organochlorines can act through their estrogenic or anti-estrogenic properties. Many endocrine diseases can be concerned by the pathogenic role on environmental residues in their promotion. The carcinogenic potential of environmental xenoestrogens on breast cancer is a matter of controversy. In Europe, despite their prohibition since the 70's, residues persist in soil and rivers, resulting in a widespread contamination of the general population. Our results suggest that environmental exposure to p,p'-DDE, HCB or PCBS may contribute to multifactorial pathogenesis of breast cancer. Male infertility is also a matter of concern. Our data suggest that male infertility can be associated with exposure of the mothers to p,p'-DDE, and that deleterious effects are probably restricted to intra-uterine life. Early or precocious puberty in children adopted from developing countries where organochlorines are still used is frequently reported. A possible relationship with exposure to DDT is suggested. There are two possible pathways to account for precocious puberty following chronic exposure to estrogenic related compounds: weak stimulation of estrogen sensitive tissues or removal in Belgium of the suppressing effects of estrogens on gonadotrophins, suppressing effect that was due to exposure in the origin country.

Carcinogens↗
PubMed1981

Carcinogenicity of the environmental pollutants cyclopenteno-[cd]pyrene and cyclopentano[cd]pyrene in mouse skin.

Cyclopenteno[cd]pyrene (CPEP) is a widespread environmental pollutant. This hydrocarbon and its 3,4-dihydro derivative, cyclopentano[cd]pyrene (CPAP), were tested on skin in a two-stage initiation-promotion experiment in CD-1 mice and by repeated application in Swiss mice. The biological effect of CPEP and CPAP was compared to that of benzo[a]-pyrene (BP). Nine-week-old female CD-1 mice in groups of 30 were treated every other day over a 20-day period at mini-dose levels of 0.18, 0.06 and 0.02 mumol of CPEP or CPAP in acetone. One group was treated with BP at the low mini-dose level. Initiation was followed by twice weekly application of tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate for 40 weeks. In the second experiments, nine-week-old female Swiss mice in groups of 30 were treated at dose levels of 1.8, 0.6 and 0.2 mumol CPEP or CPAP in acetone twice weekly for 30 weeks. One group was treated with BP at the low dose. CPAP was virtually inactive in both studies. In the initiation-promotion experiment CPEP was inactive at the low dose level, whereas BP exhibited significant tumorigenicity. At the medium and high doses CPEP showed weak, but statistically insignificant, tumorigenic activity. Repeated application of CPEP at the high, medium and low doses resulted in tumor incidences of 23, 37 and 57%, respectively. This reverse dose-response may be due to the relatively high cytotoxicity of CPEP, BP, which was compared to CPEP at the low dose, elicited tumors in 100% of the mice. Most of the CPEP-induced neoplasms were malignant and some metastasized to lungs and lymph nodes. The inactivity of CPAP suggests the carcinogenicity of CPEP is probably due to formation of the ultimate metabolite CPEP 3,4-oxide. In view of the abundance of CPEP in environmental and occupational pollutants, its moderately potent carcinogenicity may represent a potential health hazard.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Characteristics of cardiac and nervous system impairment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from regions with various levels of environmental pollution].

AIM: To characterize clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in persons living under various environmental pollution. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Three groups of SLE patients living in the Orenburg region were examined: those exposed to intensive production pollution (n = 35 patients), exposed to mild pollution (n = 15), unexposed to production pollution (n = 25 patients). The pollution intensity was assessed by total aerogenic, water and soil pollution rates. RESULTS: The hair from 69 patients contained 24 chemical elements. More severe clinical symptoms of SLE were registered in patients living in conditions of intensive production pollution. These symptoms' severity directly correlated with the level of heavy metals in the hair of SLE patients and inversely correlated with hair levels of essential chemical elements. CONCLUSION: Chemical pollutants directly impair organs and tissues of SLE patients and indirectly do this via damaged immune system.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Lifestyle, environmental pollution and lung cancer in cities of Liaoning in northeastern China.

Several studies were conducted in cities of Liaoning Province, one of the areas of China with heavy concentrations of industry, to investigate the effects of life-style factors and environmental pollutants on lung cancer causation. A case-control study involving 1249 lung cancer patients and 1345 population-based controls was conducted in 1985-1988 in Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning. Cigarette smoking was found to be the principal cause of lung cancer in this population, accounting for 55% of the disease in males and 37% in females. There was also a significant increase in lung cancer risk associated with an overall index of indoor air pollution due to coal-burning emission. The population attributable risk (PAR) for indoor air pollution was 13% for males and 17% for females. Risks were significantly increased for workers in the non-ferrous smelter (odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI, 1.3-5.1), chemical and drug manufacturing (OR = 3.0, 95% CI, 1.0-8.0), and the glass and pottery industry (OR = 1.6, 95% CI, 1.0-2.5). Studies in the Anshan Iron-Steel Complex showed a significant excess of lung cancer for workers exposed to a variety of dusts. A standardized proportional mortality ratio (SPMR) study of 8887 deaths during 1980-1989 among male workers of the complex indicated a 37% excess risk of lung cancer compared to residents of the city. A nested case-control study was then conducted in that complex. A total of 610 cases of lung cancer diagnosed during 1987-1993 and 959 randomly selected controls from 196 993 active and retired employees of the complex were interviewed. Historical monitoring records for dust and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) were collected from 1956-1992 to calculate cumulative exposure for each person. Results suggested that risks were increased for all occupations in which there was exposure to dusts, with the highest risks seen among coke oven workers (OR = 3.5, 95% CI, 2.0-6.4) and fire-resistant brick makers (OR = 2.9, 95% CI, 1.9-4.4). Significant dose-response patterns between cumulative total dust, cumulative total B(a)P and lung cancer risk were observed. The findings suggest that smoking and environmental pollution combine to account for elevated rates of lung cancer in cities of northeastern China.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

The role of feed protein quality in reducing environmental pollution by lowering nitrogen excretion. I. Survey of principles in protein evaluation for monogastrics: a review.

Environmental pollution by faecal nitrogen excretion motivates a renewed interest in optimising protein utilization of growing-finishing pigs in intensive pig production areas. The importance of digestibility of proteins, availability of amino acids, and the extent of protein retention is emphasized for reducing nitrogen excretion. The principles of various chemical, microbiological, biochemical and biological methods in feed protein quality evaluation offering a better adjustment of protein supply to the requirements of the animal are surveyed.

Animal Feed↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Birth weight and environmental pollution in the county of Telemark, Norway.

The possible effect of environmental pollution on fetal growth was examined in 3,231 consecutively liveborn single infants (>/=37 weeks' gestation) of Caucasian parents born between 1986 and 1988. The parents lived in an industrial area or in less polluted urban and rural residential areas. Information about lifestyle, health, and work exposures was collected from the parents. A significantly lower arithmetic mean birth weight was observed for newborns in the industrial residential area (3,517 g, SD, 482), compared with the urban (3,592 g, SD 495) and rural (3,618 g, SD 517) areas (P < 0.05). Even controlling for gestational age, sex, parity, maternal smoking habits, and social class, residential area still had a significant effect on birth weight. Among other factors examined, only maternal psychological stress at work had a significant effect on birth weight. If the observed association reflects a causal relationship, birth weight may represent a potential outcome parameter for surveillance of effects on humans of environmental exposures.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Perceptions on effects of environmental pollutants in Hyderabad City.

Five hundred twenty adults were interviewed on the perceptions of effects of the environmental pollutants in Hyderabad city of Andhra Pradesh. The information was gathered on polluted water, polluted air, solid wastes, food contamination and readiness to participate in corrective actions. Both initial response and response after probing were recorded. Analysis was done basing on the level of literacy. The correct initial responses on effects of pollutants ranged from 28.3 to 35.4% while responses after probing ranged from 79.2 to 88.1%. 45.8% were ready to participate manually in the corrective actions while 24.6% were eager to contribute financially in remedial actions. The study reveals the need for the initiation of aggressive environmental education.

Attitude to Health↗