Risk assessment of consumer spray products using in vitro lung surfactant function inhibition, exposure modelling and chemical analysis.

Consumer spray products release aerosols that can potentially be inhaled and reach the deep parts of the lungs. A thin layer of liquid, containing a mixture of proteins and lipids known as lung surfactant, coats the alveoli. Inhibition of lung surfactant function can lead to acute loss of lung function. We focused on two groups of spray products; 8 cleaning and 13 impregnation products, and in the context of risk assessment, used an in vitro method for assessing inhibition of lung surfactant function. Original spray-cans were used to generate aerosols to measure aerodynamic particle size distribution. We recreated a real-life exposure scenario to estimate the alveolar deposited dose. Most impregnation products inhibited lung surfactant function at the lowest aerosolization rate, whereas only two cleaning products inhibited function at the highest rates. We used inhibitory dose and estimated alveolar deposition to calculate the margin of safety (MoS). The MoS for the inhibitory products was ≤1 for the impregnation products, while much larger for the cleaning products (>880). This risk assessment focused on the risk of lung surfactant function disruption and provides knowledge on an endpoint of lung toxicity that is not investigated by the currently available OECD test guidelines.

In-vivo study of genotoxic and inflammatory effects of the organo-modified Montmorillonite Cloisite® 30B.

Because of the increasing use of clays and organoclays in industrial applications it is of importance to consider the toxicity of these materials. Recently it was reported that the commercially available Montmorillonite clay, Cloisite(®) 30B, which is surface-modified by organic quaternary ammonium compounds, was genotoxic in vitro. In the present study the in-vivo genotoxic and inflammatory potential of Cloisite(®) 30B was investigated as a follow-up of the in-vitro studies. Wistar rats were exposed to Cloisite(®) 30B twice 24h apart by oral gavage, at doses ranging from 250 to 1000 mg/kg body weight [indicate duration of treatment; Ed.]. There was no induction of DNA strand-breaks in colon, liver and kidney cells and there was no increase in inflammatory cytokine markers in blood-plasma samples. In order to verify the possible absorption of Cloisite(®) 30B from the gastrointestinal tract, inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis was performed on samples of liver, kidney and faeces, with aluminium as a tracer element characteristic to clay. The results showed that aluminium could be detected in faeces, but not in the liver or kidneys. This indicated that there was no systemic exposure to clay particles from Cloisite(®) 30B. Detection and identification of free quaternary ammonium modifier in the highest dose of Cloisite(®) 30B was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). This analysis revealed a mixture of three quaternary ammonium analogues. The detected concentration of the organomodifier corresponded to an exposure of rats to about 5mg quaternary ammonium analogues/kg body weight.

Fluorochemicals used in food packaging inhibit male sex hormone synthesis.

Polyfluoroalkyl phosphate surfactants (PAPS) are widely used in food contact materials (FCMs) of paper and board and have recently been detected in 57% of investigated materials. Human exposure occurs as PAPS have been measured in blood; however knowledge is lacking on the toxicology of PAPS. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of six fluorochemicals on sex hormone synthesis and androgen receptor (AR) activation in vitro. Four PAPS and two metabolites, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 8:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (8:2 FTOH) were tested. Hormone profiles, including eight steroid hormones, generally showed that 8:2 diPAPS, 8:2 monoPAPS and 8:2 FTOH led to decreases in androgens (testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and androstenedione) in the H295R steroidogenesis assay. Decreases were observed for progesterone and 17-OH-progesterone as well. These observations indicated that a step prior to progestagen and androgen synthesis had been affected. Gene expression analysis of StAR, Bzrp, CYP11A, CYP17, CYP21 and CYP19 mRNA showed a decrease in Bzrp mRNA levels for 8:2 monoPAPS and 8:2 FTOH indicating interference with cholesterol transport to the inner mitochondria. Cortisol, estrone and 17ß-estradiol levels were in several cases increased with exposure. In accordance with these data CYP19 gene expression increased with 8:2 diPAPS, 8:2 monoPAPS and 8:2 FTOH exposures indicating that this is a contributing factor to the decreased androgen and the increased estrogen levels. Overall, these results demonstrate that fluorochemicals present in food packaging materials and their metabolites can affect steroidogenesis through decreased Bzrp and increased CYP19 gene expression leading to lower androgen and higher estrogen levels.

Losartan decreases vasopressin-mediated cAMP accumulation in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle in rats with congestive heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Vasopressin (AVP) stimulates sodium reabsorption and Na,K,2Cl-cotransporter (NKCC2) protein level in the thick ascending limb (TAL) of Henle's loop in rats. Rats with congestive heart failure (CHF) have increased protein level of NKCC2, which can be normalized by angiotensin II receptor type-1 (AT(1)) blockade with losartan. AIM: In this study, we investigated whether CHF rats displayed changes in AVP stimulated cAMP formation in the TAL and examined the role of AT(1) receptor blockade on this system. METHOD: CHF was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). SHAM-operated rats were used as controls. Half of the rats were treated with losartan (10 mg kg day(-1) i.p.). RESULTS: CHF rats were characterized by increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure. Measurement of cAMP in isolated outer medullary TAL showed that both basal and AVP (10(-6) m) stimulated cAMP levels were significantly increased in CHF rats (25.52 +/- 4.49 pmol cAMP microg(-1) protein, P < 0.05) compared to Sham rats (8.13 +/- 1.14 pmol cAMP microg(-1) protein), P < 0.05). Losartan significantly reduced the basal level of cAMP in CHF rats (CHF: 12.56 +/- 1.93 fmol microg(-1) protein vs. Los-CHF: 7.49 +/- 1.08, P < 0.05), but not in Sham rats (SHAM: 4.66 +/- 0.59 vs. Los-SHAM: 4.75 +/- 0.71). AVP-mediated cAMP accumulation was absent in both groups treated with losartan (Los-SHAM: 4.75 +/- 0.71 and Los-CHF: 7.49 +/- 1.08). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the increased NKCC2 protein level in the mTAL from CHF rats is associated with increased cAMP accumulation in this segment. Furthermore, the finding that AT(1) receptor blockade prevents AVP-mediated cAMP accumulation in both SHAM and CHF rats suggests an interaction between angiotensin II and AVP in regulation of mTAL Na reabsorption.