Differential expression of metallothionein-1 and cytochrome p450-2a5 (cyp2a5) in mice in response to lead acetate exposure and industrial effluents in Ibadan, Nigeria
Metallothionein-1 (MT-1), cytochrome P450-2A (CYP2a) and other genes are involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics such as heavy metals and toxins. Changes in their expression precede overt toxic effects and can serve as a marker for exposure to pollutants. We used a mouse experimental system and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to determine changes in gene expression and the direction of change, in response to exposure to lead acetate (LA) and waste water (WW) from an industrial area in Ibadan. MT-1 and CYP2a5 genes were quickly and highly induced at different exposure periods and concentra...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - October 23, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Chidinma, N. C., Adewale, A., Chiaka, A. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Mixed exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide and seafood proteases augments inflammatory signalling in an airway epithelial cell model (A549)
In this study, a human pulmonary epithelial cell model (A549) was exposed to mixtures of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) agonists H-Ser-Leu-Ile-Gly-Lys-Val-NH2 (SLIGKV-NH2), purified salmon (Salmo salar) trypsin or purified king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) trypsin. The inflammatory response was measured based on nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-B) activation of transcription in a luciferase reporter gene assay and interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed that mixtures of SLIGKV-NH2 or trypsins with LPS augmented the activation of NF-B a...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - October 23, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Bhagwat, S. S., Larsen, A. K., Seternes, O.-M., Bang, B. E. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Evaluation of DNA damage and DNA repair capacity in occupationally lead-exposed workers
In this study, a control group and an exposed group were studied, each consisting of 25 male subjects. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were estimated by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Genotoxic effects of Pb exposure were studied in leukocytes by comet and challenge assays. The effect of Pb exposure to DNA repair capacity was evaluated following in vitro hydrogen peroxide exposure. Pb-exposed workers had significantly higher BLLs than the control group (p < 0.01). DNA damage in exposed workers had a significantly higher percentage of DNA in tail than the control group (p < 0.05). In the challenge assay, it...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - October 23, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Jannuzzi, A. T., Alpertunga, B. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Oral administration of low-dose bisphenol A promotes proliferation of ventral prostate and upregulates prostaglandin D2 synthase expression in adult rats
This study aims to assess the effect of low oral dose of bisphenol A (BPA) on proliferation of ventral prostate (VP) and expression of related genes in adult rats. Three-month-old male Sprague Dawley rats were treated daily with BPA (10, 30, or 90 µg/kg, per os), 17β-estradiol (E2, 10.0 µg/kg, subcutaneously), or vehicle for 4 weeks. Treatment with 10 µg/kg BPA resulted in increased animal weight and VP epithelial height compared with the controls (p < 0.01), while such effects were less pronounced in higher BPA doses. Treatment with E2 showed opposite effects, with significantly decreased animal ...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - October 23, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Wu, J., Huang, D., Su, X., Yan, H., Sun, Z. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Polychlorinated biphenyls: New evidence from the last decade
Millions of pounds of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds have been produced in multiple countries for industrial applications over the last several decades. PCB exposure induces various adverse health effects in animals and humans. Environmental and occupational exposures to PCBs have been associated with liver, kidney, endocrine, and neurodevelopmental adverse effects. We have collected and reviewed animal and human data cited in the US National Library of Medicine from 2000 to 2010. In brief, our review shows new evidence, that is, in animal studies, exposure to one of the PCBs, A1221, induces a significant alterat...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - October 23, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Faroon, O., Ruiz, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Assessment of DNA damage as an index of genetic toxicity in welding microenvironments among iron-based industries
Welding is used extensively in different industries. Welders are always at a risk of exposure to a number of gases and metal-containing fumes in their respective microenvironments in which they work. Welding fumes consist of a wide range of complex metal oxide particles which can deposit in different parts of their bodies causing serious health problems. In the present study, 35 welders (age: 33.80 ± 1.04 years) from two iron-based industries have been assessed for DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes using single-cell gel electrophoresis. An equal number of subjects (N = 35; age: 30.40 ± 1.51 years) ma...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Singh, Z., Chadha, P. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Reproductive toxicity of chlorpyrifos tested in zebrafish (Danio rerio): Histological and hormonal end points
This study was carried out to find out whether exposure to environmentally relevant concentration of chlorpyrifos (CP) modulates reproductive competence. To understand this, eight adult male and eight adult female zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to 200 µg/L of CP for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Vitellogenin levels did not show much change in female fish, whereas in male the levels increased with increasing exposure time thereby indicating estrogenecity of the toxicant. Attenuation of serum 11-ketotestosterone in male and serum 17β-estradiol in female was noticed in the exposed fish and thus signified interference...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Manjunatha, B., Philip, G. H. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Effects of T-2 toxin on the regulation of steroidogenesis in mouse Leydig cells
In this study, we further examined the direct biological effects of T-2 toxin on the process of steroidogenesis, primarily in Leydig cells of mice. Leydig cells of mature mouse were purified by Percoll gradient centrifugation and the cell purity was determined by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) staining. To examine the decrease in T-2 toxin-induced testosterone secretion, we measured the transcription level of three key steroidogenic enzymes including 3β-HSD-1, cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc) enzyme, and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in T-2 toxin/human chorionic gonadot...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Yang, J. Y., Zhang, Y. F., Li, Y. X., Guan, G. P., Kong, X. F., Liang, A. M., Ma, K. W., Da Li, G., Bai, X. F. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Lanthanum enhances glutamate-nitric oxide-3',5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway in the hippocampus of rats
In this study, lactating rats were exposed to 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0% lanthanum chloride (LaCl3) in drinking water, respectively. Their offsprings were exposed to LaCl3 by parental lactation and then administrated with 0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0% LaCl3 in drinking water for 1 month. The results showed that La exposure impaired the neuronal ultrastructure and significantly increased the glutamate level, intracellular calcium ion concentrations, and NR1 and NR2B expression in the hippocampi. La exposure significantly enhanced messenger RNA expression and activity levels of inducible NO synthase and increased NO and cGMP levels i...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Du, Y., Yang, J., Yan, B., Bai, Y., Zhang, L., Zheng, L., Cai, Y. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Assessment of exposure to cadmium, lead, manganese, and nickel in workers from foundries
Conclusions:
Although metal production is an important segment of the Brazilian economy, information related to employee health in this sector is scarce. The environmental levels are determinant in occupational exposure in foundries. In companies where air levels of Pb, Cd, and Mn were above the established limits, the different types of activity did not represent an important influence on the biological levels found among workers. In situations with low air levels of these metals, the workers from the "melting" sector were actually more vulnerable. (Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health)
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: dos Santos, C. R., da Silva, C. S., Nascimento, E. S. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Differential expression profile of membrane proteins in L-02 cells exposed to trichloroethylene
Trichloroethylene (TCE), a halogenated organic solvent widely used in industries, is known to cause severe hepatotoxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying TCE hepatotoxicity are still not well understood. It is predicted that membrane proteins are responsible for key biological functions, and recent studies have revealed that TCE exposure can induce abnormal levels of membrane proteins in body fluids and cultured cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the TCE-induced alterations of membrane proteins profiles in human hepatic L-02 liver cells. A comparative membrane proteomics analysis was performed in combinatio...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Hong, W.-X., Huang, A., Lin, S., Yang, X., Yang, L., Zhou, L., Huang, H., Wu, D., Huang, X., Xu, H., Liu, J. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Evaluation of genotoxicity in workers exposed to low levels of formaldehyde in a furniture manufacturing facility
Formaldehyde (FA) is a chemical widely used in the furniture industry and has been classified as a potential human carcinogen. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occupational exposure of workers to FA at a furniture manufacturing facility and the relationship between environmental concentrations of FA, formic acid concentration in urine, and DNA damage. The sample consisted of 46 workers exposed to FA and a control group of 45 individuals with no history of occupational exposure. Environmental concentrations of FA were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Urinary formic acid concentrations were ...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Peteffi, G. P., da Silva, L. B., Antunes, M. V., Wilhelm, C., Valandro, E. T., Glaeser, J., Kaefer, D., Linden, R. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Monitoring and removal of cyanobacterial toxins from drinking water by algal-activated carbon
This study investigated the abundance of toxin-producing algae in 11 drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). A total of 26 different algal taxa were identified in treated water, from which 12% were blue green, 29% were green, and 59% were diatoms. MC levels maintained strong positive correlations with number of cyanophycean cells in raw and treated water of different DWTPs. Furthermore, the efficiency of various algal-based adsorbent columns used for the removal of these toxins was evaluated. The MCs was adsorbed in the following order: mixed algal-activated carbon (AAC) ≥ individual AAC > mixed algal powder > in...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Ibrahim, W. M., Salim, E. H., Azab, Y. A., Ismail, A.-H. M. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Chromium-induced skin damage among Taiwanese cement workers
Little research has been done on the relationships between chromium exposure, skin barrier function, and other hygienic habits in cement workers. Our purpose was to investigate chromium-induced skin barrier disruption due to cement exposure among cement workers. One hundred and eight cement workers were recruited in this study. Urinary chromium concentration was used to characterize exposure levels. The biological exposure index was used to separate high and low chromium exposure. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was used to assess the skin barrier function. TEWL was significantly increased in workers with high chromium ex...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Chou, T.-C., Wang, P.-C., Wu, J.-D., Sheu, S.-C. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
Establishment of a reference value for chromium in the blood for biological monitoring among occupational chromium workers
The concentration of chromium in the blood (CrB) has been confirmed as a biomarker for occupational chromium exposure, but its biological exposure indices (BEIs) are still unclear, so we collected data from the years 2006 and 2008 (Shandong Province, China) to analyze the relationship between the concentration of chromium in the air (CrA) of the workplaces and CrB to establish a reference value of CrB for biological monitoring of occupational workers. The levels of the indicators for nasal injury, kidney (β2 microglobulin (β2-MG)), and genetic damages (8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and micronucleus (MN)) were...
Source: Toxicology and Industrial Health - September 27, 2016 Category: Toxicology Authors: Li, P., Li, Y., Zhang, J., Yu, S.-F., Wang, Z.-L., Jia, G. Tags: Articles Source Type: research
