Ecotoxicological evaluation of diethanolamine using a battery of microbiotests.

In order to investigate the potential ecotoxicity of diethanolamine (DEA), a battery of model systems was developed. DEA is widely used as a chemical intermediate and as a surface-active agent in cosmetic formulations, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products. DEA was studied using ecotoxicological model systems, representing four trophic levels, with several bioindicators evaluated at different exposure time periods. The battery included bioluminescence inhibition of the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, growth inhibition of the alga Chlorella vulgaris and immobilization of the cladoceran Daphnia magna. Cell morphology, total protein content, neutral red uptake, MTS metabolization, lysosomal function, succinate dehydrogenase activity, G6PDH activity, metallothionein levels and EROD activity were studied in the hepatoma fish cell line PLHC-1, derived from Poeciliopsis lucida. The systems most sensitive to DEA were both D. magna and V. fischeri, followed by C. vulgaris and the fish cell line PLHC-1. The most prominent morphological effect observed in PLHC-1 cultures exposed to DEA was the induction of a marked steatosis, followed by death at high concentrations, in some cases by apoptosis. The main biochemical modification was a nearly three-fold increase in metallothionein levels, followed by the stimulations of lysosomal function and succinate dehydrogenase and G6PDH activities. Judging by the EC(50) values in the assay systems, DEA is not expected to produce acute toxic effects in the aquatic biota. However, chronic and synergistic effects with other chemicals cannot be excluded.

Differentiation of Spanish brandies according to their metal content.

Eleven metals, namely, aluminium, calcium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium and zinc were determined in twenty samples of Sherry brandies and twelve samples of Penedés brandies by applying atomic spectrometry techniques. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used for quantitating calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc; atomic emission spectrometry to determine potassium and sodium; and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry to analyse aluminium, cadmium and lead. A chemometric approach was followed to study the discrimination between brandies from Sherry or Penedés according to the metal profile.

Determination of cobalt, manganese, and alcohol content in beers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree of exposure to cobalt and manganese through the consumption of different brands of commercial beers widely consumed in Spain, considered as two groups according to their alcohol content. The Mn and Co concentrations in beer samples ranged from 25.29 to 228.60 micrograms/liter and 0.16 to 0.56 micrograms/liter, respectively. These contents do not differ from those found in other countries, and all comply with the maximum levels permitted by law. Significant differences occurred only in Mn content between beers with and without alcohol. The consumption of alcoholic beers contributes to an increased body burden of Mn among heavy consumers. According to the low levels of Co found in both types of beers, we can suggest that there is no risk of suffering cardiomyopathies and there is no significant contribution to the total intake of the element in heavy beer drinkers.

Metal accumulation in human kidney cortex: mutual interrelations and effect of human factors.

1. Different metals were analysed in 77 post mortem samples of human renal cortex. 2. The concentrations of the metallic ions conformed to known distribution frequencies. In abnormal cases calculations were based on non parametric techniques. 3. There was no appreciable difference between the values found for each element and those described by other authors in other populations. 4. Statistically established correlations indicated that Zn was the element which was most strongly related to the others. 5. The influence of individual factors on metal concentrations was considered. Significant differences occurred only in Pb between sexes, and in Cd with age. There was no sign that drug abuse influenced the accumulation of metals in renal cortex.

Hepatic and blood lead levels in patients with chronic liver disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between lead levels in the liver and blood, liver function indices and other biological variables in patients with liver disease. DESIGN: Prospective study. METHOD: The levels of lead in blood and hepatic tissue was measured in 92 patients with different liver diseases and in a control group (n = 100). Lead levels were analysed by electrothermic atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: For controls, the mean lead level in blood was 175 +/- 87 micrograms/l. Blood lead levels were significantly linked with alcohol intake. They were raised in patients with alcoholic liver disease, including both those with cirrhosis (230 +/- 65 micrograms/l) and those with chronic non-cirrhotic liver disease (247 +/- 82 micrograms/l). The differences between these subgroups, the control group, and the patients with non-alcoholic liver disease were statistically significant. The mean hepatic lead level for patients was 2.30 +/- 1.40 micrograms/g dry weight (d.w.), and 2.15 +/- 1.71 micrograms/g d.w. for controls (not significant). Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis had higher hepatic lead levels than non-alcoholic patients (2.62 +/- 1.48 micrograms/g d.w. versus 2.07 +/- 1.14 micrograms/g d.w., respectively), although the difference was not statistically significant. There was no relationship between blood and hepatic lead levels (r = 0.27; not significant). Blood lead levels correlated with phosphorus (r = -0.36; P < 0.001), and alcohol intake (g/day; r = 0.32; P < 0.001). Blood and hepatic lead levels in patients with cirrhosis were similar for patients with Child-Pugh class A, B and C disease. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of lead were found in the blood of patients who consumed alcohol and those with alcoholic liver disease. Our data suggest that both blood and hepatic lead levels are not influenced by changes in liver function.

Preconcentration of heavy metals in urine and quantification by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

This paper describes a method for the determination of heavy metals (Co, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb) in urine by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The method proposed requires purification of the samples with activated charcoal under acidic conditions before preconcentration by complexation with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC). The formed complexes are extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) and the resulting residue is finally digested under acid oxidant conditions. Because of its low detection limit (below 10 micrograms/L), this procedure can be applied conveniently for toxicological diagnostic purposes.

[Wine as a source of lead contamination: study in the southern region of Sevilla]. / El vino como fuente contaminante de plomo: estudio en el área sur de Sevilla.

To assess whether the wines from the south of Sevilla constitute a source of lead intoxication we have prospectively studied the blood levels of lead in 100 healthy controls, 100 patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic hepatopathy and at the same time the lead content in 135 samples of water and in 176 samples of alcoholic drinks consumed by the above patients. The results demonstrate: 1) presence of normal amounts of lead (mean +/- SD = 62 +/- 5 micrograms/l) in 97 of wines analyzed; 2) a higher content of lead in wines from areas close to the highway A-4 (100 +/- 10 micrograms/l) than in those from more remote zones (42 +/- 3 micrograms/l, p less than 0.005); and 3) although the blood levels of lead in alcohol consumers are not at the toxic range (22.9 +/- 8.9 micrograms/l) are, however, significantly higher (p less than 0.0007) than in patients with no alcohol intake (16.8 +/- 9.9 micrograms/l) or in healthy persons (17.1 +/- 7.4 micrograms/l, p less than 0.0008). Blood levels of lead correlate with the condition of "usual drinker" but not with the amount of alcohol consumed, number of cigarettes, lead content of water and wine, nor with the existence of severe hepatopathy among the studied factors. Our results suggest that alcohol influences the lead metabolism and that the usual drinkers constitute a risk population for saturnism.

Lung embolism with liquid silicone.

A lung embolism was reported in a case involving death following repeated injections of liquid silicone for aesthetic reasons. The liquid extracted from the sites of injection was identified as methylsilicone using infrared spectrophotometry, and the presence of silicone in vacuoles in the lung was verified by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). A study has been carried out with rats after intravenous and subcutaneous injections of methylsilicone.

Separation of cannabinoids.

The three main cannabinoids--cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN)-can be isolated from purified extract of cannabis by preparative gas chromatography in satisfactory amounts and with a degree of purity similar to that of the sample substances provided by the United Nations Narcotics Laboratory.