Environmental & Analytical Toxicology

Background: Myocardial injury is a frequent consequence of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Oxidative stress affection seems to be a relevant mechanism in the patho-physiology of patients with acute CO poisoning.

Methodology: Cardiovascular system examination and Electrocardiography (ECG) were performed for fifty CO intoxicated patients admitted to Poison Control Center, Ain Shams university Hospital for whom some oxidative stress indices have been investigated through the assessment of plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide (NO). Both cardiac enzymes; troponin I and beta natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been also assessed in addition to carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels. The investigated parameters were compared with those of 40 non-smoker healthy controls (comparable in terms of age and gender).

Results: ECG changes were present in 96% of patients, whereas only 4% had a normal ECG. In intoxicated patients, a statistical significant increase in plasma level of COHb level, MDA, NO, troponin I, and BNP peptide was reported compared to control individuals, while SOD enzyme was significantly decreased. BNP showed a significant positive correlation with COHb level and a negative correlation with SOD, while SOD showed a significant negative correlation with COHb level.

Conclusions and recommendations: Myocardial injury occurs frequently in patients hospitalized for CO poisoning. The oxidative stress indices are significantly affected after acute CO poisoning. We suggested that such affection could be partially mediated by CO. Patients admitted to the hospital with CO poisoning should have a baseline ECG and serial cardiac biomarkers.

A method is described for the identification of priority micropollutants (pharmaceuticals) in the aquatic environment originating from hospitals. The lack of data on the range and volume of prescribed pharmaceuticals, and on their behaviour in the environment, presented a considerable challenge to the initial selection process. The final selection of pharmaceutical substances to be included in the monitoring campaigns was based on literature data, existing priority lists, national consumption patterns and expert input from within the regions (Northwest Europe). Fifteen micropollutant compounds were identified from the diverse range of reported and prescribed pharmaceuticals in the healthcare sector:atenolol, carbamazepine, diclofenac, naproxen, lidocaine, ifosphamide, cyclophosphamide, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, iopromide, iopamidol, diatrizoate, and bezafibrate. Eight hospital locations in six countries were monitored for periods ranging from several weeks to one year. Samples were taken from hospital effluent (sewers) flow-proportionally and analysed by LC-MS-MS. The obtained results indicate that hospitals are significant point sources for some (especially x-ray contrast media and antibacterials) but not all pharmaceutical micropollutants. Hospital contribution to overall load in the sewers at entry to waste water treatment plants ranged from <10% for substances also used in the communities (e.g. diclofenac and atenolol), to well in excess of 50% for antibiotics and x-ray contrast media. A detailed understanding of emission pathways within the urban environment is required in order to inform related political decision making. This project demonstrated a route towards this understanding and also highlighted the difficulties and barriers that need to be overcome in the process.

In this study, effects of naphthalene (NAP) exposure on plasma levels of 17-β estradiol and concentrations of neurotransmitters in different brain regions of female Klunzingers mullet, at the previtellogenic and vitellogenic stages were examined. Studied neurotransmitters were noradrenalin (NA), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid (5HIAA). In the short- term stress experiment, fish were i.p. injected with 2 μl/g vegetable oil alone (control) or oil containing NAP (50 mg/kg body weight). To study the long-term effect of NAP an amount of (50 mg/kg NAP +10 μl/g coconut oil) as i.p. implant and 10 μl/g coconut oil alone for control group. After long-term exposure, 17-β estradiol level in the plasma decreased in both stages fish. Monoamines analyses showed changes induced by NAP which depended upon the type of neurotransmitter and exhibited a marked brain regional selectivity. According to the results, NAP had more disturbing effects at the previtellogenic than the vitellogenic stages. Serotonergic system responded to the NAP exposure rapidly whereas dopaminergic system changed during the chronic naphthalene stress. The mentioned disturbing effects of naphthalene on the brain monoaminergic systems may cause some endocrine disruptions especially in the hypothalamus-pituitarygonad axis and finally affect the vitellogenesis process and final oocyte maturation. Reduction in the plasma levels of 17-β estradiol during the naphthalene exposure probably are related biological feedbacks of neurotransmitters on the pituitary.

This study shows the beneficial role of iron to enhance various haematological parameters. Forty pregnant anemic women were selected at random from Sargodha region from the anti-natal outdoor patient department of DHQ Teaching Hospital Sargodha, Depending upon age they were subdivided into 02 Groups (Group-1<30 years & Group-2 ≥ 30 years age). They were given iron supplementation for a period of 3 months duration (1st June to 31st August 2012) in their 2nd trimester period. They were asked to take oral iron supplementation (150 mg per day equivalent to 56 mg of elemental iron) in the form of available branded medicine. Blood samples were collected before and after the treatment. The evaluation of haematological parameters showed that iron supplementation has positive effects on all haematological parameters. As Haemoglobin (Hb) iron level raised from 8.2 g/dl to 10 g/dl in Group-1 and from 8.8 g/dl to 9.7 g/dl in Group-2. The Haemotoric (Hct) was increased from 32% to 37% in Group-1 and 33% to 36% in Group-2 while the RBCs counts were increased from 3.8×1012 /L to 4.5×1012 /L in Group-1 and from 3.9×1012 /L to 4.4×1012 /L in Group-2. The Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) was increased from 78.38 fl to 81.17 fl in Group-1 and from 79.46 fl to 81.49 fl in Group-2. The Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) was raised from 23.13 pg to 25.76 pg in Group-1 and 25.00 pg -26.13 pg in Group-2 with the Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) was increased from 30.17 % to 32.58 % in Group-1 and 31.64% to 33.50% in Group-2. The P value showed that the rise in all the above values was statistically significant (P<0.05).

The Platelets and TLCs counts remained unchanged after iron therapy as their p value was greater than 0.05. To find out any change in body defensive system, the Total Lenclcocyto Count (TLC) and differential leucocytes count (DLCs) were also calculated. This shows that the TLCs were 8.91×109/L and 9.82×109/L in Group 1 and 8.98×109/L and 9.31×109/L in Group 2 before and after iron supplementation. However the p value (>0.05) showed that the changes were no significant. This also showed that the neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes remained unaffected after supplementations as the variation in these values were insignificant (P>0.05) while the lymphocytes were increased from 26.50% to 29.50% in Group-1 and 26.50% to 28.78% in Group-2 and the change was statistically significant (p=0.00). This shows the significance of iron to raise the lymphocytes count in blood, in spite of the fact, the previous literature coat that the values usually decrease but not increase during pregnancy.

In the current study, the duckweed aquatic macrophyte Spirodela polyrrhiza was employed for assessing the toxicity of two backwater wetlands in the Kannamaly, Chellanam panchayath, Ernakulam district, Kerala, South India. The assessments were made according to OECD guidelines for testing (2006). The studies involve study of growth parameters, Growth Index, Biomass and changes in productivity. The water samples were collected from two different wetland sites at the same time. The spirodela plants were introduced into several dilutions of wetland water samples. The parameters were measured after 7 days of exposure. All samples except control affected all parameters. The results of this study emphasize the significance of duckweeds as standard and reliable testing material for biological parameters in polluted aquatic ecosystem.

Close to 50 % of anionic surfactants at Enaspol a. s., a chemical company with longtime tradition in research and production of surfactants, construction chemicals and textile auxiliaries, were removed from waste water using the Advanced Oxidation Method, H2O2/Ultra-Violet Radiation waste water pre-treatment method. The optimum concentration of hydrogen peroxide was found to be 1.0 g/L H2O2 in waste water. Above this concentration, the excess hydrogen peroxide reacts with other contaminants, such as elemental sulfur in the waste water producing complex oxidizable material. The optimum time to remove maximum amounts of surfactants (42.50 %) was found to be three hours. Beyond three hours the efficiency of this method is reduced. The reduction of chemical oxygen demand shows a rather interesting pattern; there was an increase in removal of COD from 0 to 1.0 g/L H2O2 in waste water and from 1.0 g/L H2O2 there was a decrease in the reduction efficiency of COD by this method in waste water. This shows that excess H2O2 is reacting with other non-organic species such as sulphur in waste water to produce extra oxidizable material which contribute to the COD value.

The potential risk of transfer of heavy metals from wastewater and biosolids to forage, livestock and ultimately to human is a serious issue. A field experiment was designed to assess the uptake of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb from water and soil boat forage, and from oat forage to sheep tissues. Treatments consisted of application of lime-stabilized biosolids at the rates of 0, 25 and 50 Mg ha-1 dry weight basis along with a conventional rate of N fertilizer. Oat (Avena sativa L.) was planted in 300 m2plots irrigated with reclaimed wastewater and twenty sheep were grazed. Kidney, liver and muscle were analyzed for metals concentrations. Soils treated with biosolids had significant less soluble Cr and Pb, but higher total Cr concentration than the control. Soluble and exchangeable forms in soil were higher for Cd (32.3%) than for Cr, Ni and Pb (5.4, 3.2 and 3.5%). Nickel and Pb concentrations were often higher than Cd, but Cr was not detected by the chemical analysis. Sheep ingested more Ni and Pb, but there were no significant treatment effects on metals concentrations in animal tissues. Cd concentration increased by 9.22% in kidney and 5.2% in liver for the sheep grazed in the treatment with 50 Mg biosolids ha-1than the sheep not grazed on experimental plots. No metal bio-accumulation in sheep tissues was observed at toxic levels. Agricultural use of reclaimed wastewater and biosolids does not appear to represent a significant risk of metal contamination, but studies are needed to evaluate the risks associated with longer grazing periods, and plant care should be taken in expanding and implementing results of this study as biosolids characteristics vary from WTP to another.