Occupational risk assessment of exposure to metals in chrome plating workers.

Inhalation of xenobiotics during manufacture process in chrome plating bath produce hazards to workers' health. Chromium (Cr) is a metal widely used by industry, and its hexavalent (VI) form has been classified as mutagenic and carcinogenic. This study aimed to evaluate the occupational risk of exposure to metals in chrome plating workers. Biological monitoring was performed through quantification of Cr, Pb, As, Ni, and V in blood by ICP-MS in 50 male chrome-plating workers from the exposed group and 50 male non-exposed workers. The inflammatory parameters assessed were ß-2 integrin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and L-selectin expression in lymphocytes. The genotoxicity was evaluated with comet and micronucleus (MN) assays and as a biomarker of oxidative damage the lipid peroxidation (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO). The results demonstrated that Cr levels in blood and urine were increased in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group. Although the biomarkers of exposure proved to be within the levels considered safe in exposed individuals, chrome plating workers presented significantly increase in the percentage of lymphocytes expressing ß-2 integrin, ICAM-1, and L-selectin as well as DNA damage (comet assay) and plasmatic MDA and PCO levels. Therefore, it is possible also assign the injuries caused to lipids, proteins, and DNA assessed due to the increased presence of other metals such as Pb, As, Ni, and V in exposed subjects. These results suggest that exposure to xenobiotics present in the occupational environment in chrome plating industry could play a crucial role toward the inflammation, genetic, and oxidative damage.

Occupational exposure to pesticides and thyroid function in Brazilian soybean farmers.

INTRODUCTION: Agriculture production has been supported especially by the use of pesticides for crop protection and pest control. Although the agricultural production has been increased by pesticides use, these substances also reach non-target organisms and may become a risk to the health of farmers. Several epidemiological studies in human have investigated the association between exposure to pesticides and altered serum levels of thyroid hormones, reporting both positive and negative results. Overall, the impact of pesticides on human thyroid function is still limited. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to access serum levels of free thyroxin (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in soybean farmers in southern Brazil. METHODS: The exposed group was composed by 46 rural workers and 27 subjects not exposed to pesticides composed the control group. All subjects had blood samples collected by venipuncture in order to analyze the serum levels of FT4, TT3, TSH and BChE. RESULTS: The results showed a significant decreasing in TSH and increasing in TT3 and FT4 in rural workers, compared to control group. BChE levels were lower in exposed group than in control group. The results suggest that farmers are exposed to mixtures of pesticides with endocrine disruptor properties.

Analysis of histopathological abnormalities in the gills of Astyanax jacuhiensis (Characidae) for assessment of water quality in the Ijuí River, southern Brazil / Análisis de anormalidades histopatológicas en las branquias de Astyanax jacuhiensis (Characidae) para la evaluación de la calidad del agua del Río Ijuí, sur de Brasil

The aim of this study was to assess histopathological alterations in the gills of Astyanax jacuhiensis from different points along the Ijuí River and to determine if these abnormalities can be used as biomarkers in biomonitoring studies. Fish specimens were collected from three sites on the Ijuí River in winter and summer and examined histologically for abnormalities of the secondary lamellae of their gills. For each fish, estimates were made of the frequencies of lamellae with edema, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, epithelium lifting, lamellar fusion or deformation, in addition to the overall frequency of abnormal lamellae and the number of abnormalities per lamella. No differences were observed between sampling points during the winter. In summer the frequency of lamellae with hypertrophy was significantly higher at site 3 (Pirapó) than at site 2 (Santo Ângelo) and the frequency of abnormal lamellae was increased at site 1 (Ijuí) in comparison to site 3. Additionally, all three sample points had a significantly higher value in the winter than in the summer for one of the histological parameters analyzed. These results indicate temporal and spatial variation in the level of contamination of the Ijuí River and also shows that fish gill histopathology can be used for in situ biomonitoring studies.

El agua de la cuenca del río Ijuí, en el sur de Brasil, se utiliza principalmente para irrigar los cultivos y para el abastecimiento público de agua. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar alteraciones histopatológicas en las branquias de Astyanax jacuhiensis en diferentes puntos del Río Ijuí y determinar si tales anormalidades pueden ser usadas como biomarcadores en estudios de biomonitoramiento. Los especímenes fueron recolectados en tres puntos del río durante el invierno y el verano y luego las lamelas secundarias de las branquias fueron examinadas histológicamente para la presencia de anormalidades. Para cada pez se estimaron las frecuencias de lamelas con edema, hiperplasia, hipertrofia, desprendimiento del epitelio, fusión y deformación lamelar. Además, se obtuvieron las frecuencias de lamelas alteradas, así como el número medio de cambios por lamela. No se observaron diferencias entre los puntos de recolección durante el invierno. En el verano, la frecuencia de lamelas con hipertrofia fue significativamente mayor en el punto 3 (Pirapó) que en el punto 2 (Santo Angelo), y el punto 1 (Ijuí) presentó mayor frecuencia de lamelas alteradas que el punto 3. Además, en los tres puntos muestreados, el período de invierno presentó valores superiores para uno de los parámetros histológicos analizados. Estos resultados indican variación espacial y temporal en los niveles de contaminación del Río Ijuí y demuestran que el análisis histológico de las branquias de peces puede ser utilizado en estudios de monitoreo in situ.

Micronuclei and other nuclear anomalies in exfoliated buccal cells of urban solid waste collectors and recyclers in southern Brazil.

Workers involved in urban solid waste collection may be exposed to various environmental contaminants, including chemical pollutants, which might be mutagenic and increase the risk of diseases such as cancer. Evaluation of DNA damage in workers in this field are still scarce. This study aims to evaluate mutagenic and cytotoxic effects in workers involved in the collection and segregation of urban solid waste generated in southern Brazil. Municipal solid waste collectors were recruited in two municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The control group was composed of workers of the education and commerce areas, with no exposure to known genotoxic agents. Slides of exfoliated buccal cells were analyzed to estimate the frequency of micronuclei (MN) as well as other nuclear abnormalities, such as broken-egg/bud, binucleation and karyorrhexis. The analyses of 44 workers and 45 control subjects have shown that the frequencies of MN, binucleated cells and karyorrhexis in the exposed workers were significantly higher than in the control group. In the exposed group, frequencies of MN and binucleated cells showed a significant positive correlation. The other cytogenetic parameters were not correlated among each other or with age and exposure time. These results indicate that the workers involved in urban solid waste collection are exposed to mutagenic and cytotoxic agents.

Ocorrência de sintomas respiratórios em trabalhadores de oficinas de pintura automotiva na região do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Occurrence of respiratory symptoms in automotive shop workers from Vale de Rio dos Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul

Pintores, em geral, estão expostos a uma grande variedade de substâncias químicas que podem induzir doenças respiratórias. O objetivo deste estudo foi verifcar a ocorrência de sintomas respiratórios, assim como estimar parâmetros de função pulmonar, em trabalhadores de ofcinas automotivas na região do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 20 trabalhadores do gênero masculino, no qual os dados foram obtidos através de entrevistas e espirometria. Foi observado que 90% dos trabalhadores apresentaram sintomas respiratórios de vias aéreas superiores e 35% exibiram manifestações de vias aéreas inferiores. Asma brônquica ocupacional foi observada em 15% dos trabalhadores, e rinite alérgica e rinite ocupacional em 10%. A presença de problemas respiratórios pode estar associada ao uso reduzido de equipamentos de proteção individual.

Painters in general are exposed to a wide variety of hazardous substances and several of these chemicals may induce respiratory disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and lung function in automotive shop workers in the Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A cross sectional study was performed with 20 male workers, in which data were collected through interviews and spirometry. It was foundt hat 90% of workers had respiratory symptoms of upper airway and 35% had lower airway manifestations. Occupational asthma was observed in 15% of workers and occupational rhinitis and allergic rhinitis in 10%. The presence of respiratory problems may be associated with reduced use of personal protective equipment.

Genotoxic damage in auto body shop workers.

Some studies have shown increased DNA damage among car painters, but other professionals working in auto body and paint shops have not been extensively assessed. The aim of this study was to assess DNA damage in different types of auto body shop workers by measuring micronucleus (MN) levels in exfoliated buccal cells. The mean number of cells with MN per 2000 exfoliated buccal cells was analyzed in three groups of male workers: auto body repair technicians, painters, and office workers (control group). All participants answered a questionnaire inquiring about age, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, work practices, occupational exposure time, job activities, and use of protective equipment. The mean number of cells with MN was 3.50 ± 1.50 in auto body painters, 3.91 ± 2.10 in auto body repair technicians, and 0.80 ± 0.78 in office workers, with a significant difference between the control group and the two other groups (p = 0.0001). Age, occupational exposure time, use of protective masks, alcohol consumption, and smoking habit did not affect MN results. The findings indicate that technicians and painters working in auto body shops are at risk for genotoxic damage, while office workers seem to be protected.

Drosophila angustibucca Duda sensu Frota-Pessoa is an undescribed species (Diptera, Drosophilidae)

Drosophila angustibucca Duda sensu Frota-Pessoa é uma espécie ainda não descrita (Diptera, Drosophilidae). Uma nova espécie sul-americana de Drosophila, incluída no subgrupo I do grupo tripunctata e identificada incorretamente nos últimos 50 anos como sendo a espécie costarriquenha Drosophila angustibucca (sensu Frota-Pessoa, 1954; non Duda, 1925), é descrita no presente artigo sob o binômio Drosophila nappae sp. nov. Os espécimens-tipo foram retirados de uma linhagem obtida a partir de várias fêmeas coletadas entre julho de 1994 e abril de 1995 no Morro Santana, Porto Alegre (RS), Brasil. A descrição é acompanhada de ilustrações detalhadas das terminálias masculina e feminina.