Hygienic characterization of atmospheric contamination with benzo(a)pyrene in a big city.

It was demonstrated in the present study that the atmospheric air, soil and snow within a city are contaminated with benzo(a)pyrene (BP). The highest BP concentration was found in District Seven where a number of petro-chemical and chemical plants are situated. BP content in the air sampled between operational premises was in all cases below MPC (30% of the MPC values for working environment air). A major source of environmental contamination with BP is motor traffic. Atmospheric BP concentration was found to be directly proportional to traffic density. The obtained results may serve as a basis for health-improving measures.

The carcinogenic effect of a series of petroleum-derived oils on the skin of mice.

Six groups of 30 Swiss mice were treated by application to the skin in the dorsolumbar region two times a week for 12 months of a "white oil" and five samples of petroleum oils derived from the same "crude" (Middle East), which were collected in the same refinery at different stages of "solvent treatment" and which form a homogeneous series with increasing concentrations of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The macroscopic and histopathologic examination of the animals (skin and organs) up to 18 months shows the following effects with respect to the 60-mouse control group: --a marked irritating effect for the "aromatic extract," the "distillate," and a "mixture" of intermediary concentration between "distillate" and "raffinate," --a definite tumorigenic effect on the skin (papillomas, kerato-acanthomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and fibrosarcomas) of the "aromatic extract" and the "distillate." The biological answer is in significant association with the PAH concentration of the samples, which is estimated by different analytical methods: viscosity index, percentage of aromatic carbon, "total PAH" according to a gravimetric method, and benzo[a]pyrene concentration.

[Benz(a)pyrene levels in medicinal plants and the possibility of contamination of drugs of plant origin]. / Soderzhanie benz(a)pirena v lekarstvennykh rasteniiakh i vozmozhnosti ego perekhoda v lekarstvennye preparaty rastitel'nogo proiskhozhdeniia.

Benz(a)pyrene (BP) levels in extracts and solvent cake obtained by alcoholic and aqueous extraction of specimens of 20 different medicinal plants were measured to explore into the possibility of its passage from these plants to drugs. Seventy percent alcoholic extracts were found to contain 40-60% of BP passed from raw material, while aqueous extracts--2-3% (in some cases 10-14%). Maximal concentrations of BP in alcoholic extracts were 0.6-0.7 micrograms/1 and 0.03-0.04 micrograms/1--in aqueous ones. A significant correlation between BP level in extracts and its content in plants was established. BP pathways in the course of solasodine manufacturing from nightshade (Solanum lacinatum) were studied. As little as 1% of BP passed to extract after primary extraction in 2%--sulfuric acid. Solasodine contained about 3 micrograms/kg of BP.

[Is benzo(a)pyrene an indicator of carcinogenic pollution?]. / Iavliaetsia li benz(a)piren indikatorom kantserogennogo zagriazneniia?

High-pressure liquid chromatography was used in the measurement of level of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in 60 environmental specimens (water, bottom sediments and soil in fresh- and sea-water basins, solid wastes of fuel combustion). Concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene considered to be an indicator of carcinogenic PAH, varied significantly: 0.05-13.0% of the total hydrocarbon level and 0.8-100.0% of carcinogenic PAH in water; 2.7-8.1 and 4.0-36.8 in bottom sediments, and 0.4-6.0 and 9.9-45.1 in solid wastes of fuel combustion, respectively. Since PAH, other than benzo(a)pyrene, e. g. benzofluoranthenes and dibenzopyrenes, sometimes predominated, it is suggested that benzo(a)pyrene cannot be used as indicator of environmental pollution, unless a full-scale test for other PAH is completed. Benzo(a)pyrene level may be used for monitoring carcinogenic pollution after relevant hygienic and cancer control tests are carried out.

[Benz(a)pyrene content in the salt samples obtained from the borehole waters of the Krasnodar deposit]. / O soderzhanii benz(a)pirena v obraztsakh soli, poluchaemoi iz burivykh vod Krasnodarskogo mestorozhdeniia.

Benz(a)pyrene content in the samples of salt obtained from water ground of the Krasnodar field was assayed by means of the spectral fluorescent method. The table salt "Extra" manufactured by the Slavyansk salt-works supplying the trade network (GOST 13830-68) served as control. 15 samples (60 reference standards) were examined. It was established that 3 of 5 tested samples obtained from purified concentrated brine of water ground of the Krasnodar field contained benz(a)pyrene in an amount of 0.0351 microgram/kg up to 0.16 microgram/kg. Benz(a)pyrene (0.104 microgram/kg) was detected in 1 of 4 tested samples of the salt "Extra". It is concluded that tested salt samples obtained from concentrated brine of water ground of the Krasnodar field contain an insignificant amount of benz(a)pyrene.

[Effect of the lead-petrol-law on the contents of lead and benzo(a)pyren in urban environmental dust (author's transl)]. / Die Auswirkungen des Benzin-Blei-Gesetzes auf den Gehalt and Blei und 3,4-Benzpyren im städtischen Umwelstaub.

For the purpose of evaluating the stress on citydwellers by pollutants emanating from traffic sources the contents of lead and 3,4-benzpyrene in sedimentable city dust were determined in samples collected at 46 sites with different traffic densities in a city of medium size but considerable overall traffic volume (Erlangen, Bavaria). To estimate the effect of the gasoline-lead-law of Aug 5, 1971, determinations were carried out both in 1971, i.e. before this law came into effect, and in 1977 when the lead content in gasoline was finally limited to 0.15 g/1. The following results were obtained: - In city areas with dense traffic, the medium lead content dropped from 4.2 to 2.2 mg/g of dust, and the medium 3,4-benzpyrene concentration dropped from 1.3 to 0.5 microgram/g of dust. This amounts to a reduction of both the lead and 3,4-benzpyrene contents in city dust by about one half. - In the city periphery with lesser traffic density, the lead and benzpyrene contents, resp., were originally lower by about one half. In the case of lead, the concentration dropped from 1.9 mg to 1.2 mg/g dust, while 3,4-benzpyrene dropped from 0.6 to 0.4 microgram/g dust. Thus, the beneficial effect of the gasoline-lead-law was less obvious in these low-traffic parts of the city area. - The decrease in 3,4-benzpyrene with decreasing lead content is remarkable (striking, a striking pheromeron) and may be explained by lesser emission of this pollutant when burning gasoline low in lead.

Levels of benzo(a)pyrene in oil shale industry wastes, some bodies of water in the Estonian S.S.R. and in water organisms.

Data on the content of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) in oil shale industry wastewater, the effectiveness of various effluent treatment processes (evaporation, extraction with butyl acetate, trickling filters, aeration tanks) in reducing the level of BP in oil shale wastewater, the level of BP in various bodies of water of Estonia, and in fish and other water organisms are reviewed. The quantitative determination of BP in concentrated diethyl ether extracts of water samples was carried out by ultraviolet and spectroluminescence procedures by use of the quasi-linear spectra at -196 degrees C in solid paraffins. It has been found that oil shale industry wastewater contains large amounts of BP. The most efficient purification process for removing the BP in oil shale industry phenol water is extraction with butyl acetate. The level of BP in the rivers of the oil shale industry area is comparatively higher than in other bodies of water of the Republic. The concentration of BP in the lakes of the Estonian S.S.R. is on the whole insignificant. Even the maximum concentration found in our lakes is as a rule less than the safety limit for BP in bodies of water (0.005 microgram/l). During water is treated at the waterworks. The effectiveness of the water treatment in reducing the level of BP varies from 11 to 88%. Filtration was found to be the most effective treatment. About 20 samples of fish from nine bodies of water in Estonia have been analyzed for content of BP. The average content of BP in the muscular tissue of various species of fish is as a rule less than 1 microgram/kg. There is no significant difference in the concentration of BP in sea and freshwater fish. There is no important difference in the content of BP in the organs of various fish. Fat fish contain more BP than lean ones. The weight (age) of fish does not influence the content of BP in the muscular tissue of fish.

High-pressure liquid chromatography of benzo(a) pyrene and benzo (ghi) perylene in oil-contaminated shellfish.

A high-pressure liquid chromatographic procedure is described for the determination of benzo(a) pyrene and benzo(ghi) perylene. These polynuclear aromatics are extracted with acetonitrile and partitioned into petroleum ether, the petroleum ether is removed, and the residue is saponified. The compounds are purified and isolated by passing the residue through a silica gel column and a high-pressure liquid chromatographic column, and detected by their ultraviolet absorption. Recoveries of standards through the procedure averaged 104%.

Health hazards from oil, soot and metals at a hot forging operation.

An extensive study of a hot forging operation was performed to characterize and quantitate worker exposures to the aerosol formed by an oil-based die lubricant and it's decomposition products. Total particulate breathing zone levels up to 65 mg/m3 and benzo (a) pyrene levels up to 2.9 mug/m3 were measured.

[Use of microalgae for nutritional purposes]. / Zur Verwendung von Mikroalgen für Ernährungszwecke

Mass cultures of planktonic microalgae can render large quantities of proteinaceous matter. The good nutritional quality of microalgal protein has been proven both for animals and for human. The toxicologic safety of microalgal biomasses is, however, not yet sufficiently established. This requires further toxicologic studies, before cultivated mocralgae can commercially be utilized as ingredients of animal feed, or as food additives. Both types of nutritional application may become economically feasible.

Analysis of atomospheric carcinogens and their cofactors.

Problems in the sampling and analysis of a variety of key air pollutants have been considered. The pollutants of primary interest were those with carcinogenic, mutagenic or cofactor activity. These include benzo[a]pyrene, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, aldehydes, alkylating agents, amines, chloromethyl ethers, epoxides nitrosamines, nitrogen dioxide, nitrates, sulfate and sulfite. Screening tests of the analytical and bioassay types were also discussed; a large variety of these tests were summarized in tables. Concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in urban atmospheres, in highly polluted atmospheres and effluents, and in a large variety of environment mixtures were reported.