RESUMO
There are a large number of agricultural workers who are exposed to pesticides through skin and inhalation. The best approach to identify altered molecular pathways during dermal exposure to pesticides is relevant to risk-associated concern about skin safety. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of zineb, a fungicide, in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. HaCaT cells were treated with zineb (1-40 µg/mL) for 24 hours. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cell toxicity were investigated through MTT and neutral red-uptake assays. Zineb reduced viability of HaCaT cells and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Zineb increased levels of Bax and caspase 3 and inhibited the level of Bcl2, which subsequently induced apoptosis via the Bax/Bcl2 and caspase pathway. Therefore, zineb could have induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway in HaCaT cells. Our study suggests that zineb is cytotoxic to HaCaT cells via the induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress in vitro.
RESUMO
Results of investigations on desulphurisation of high-sulphur (2-8 wt%) coals of Meghalaya by radiation chlorinolysis, effected in different media of chlorination (CCl4, CCl4/H2O, and CCl4/CH3OH) via radiolysis of CCl4, for the removal of both the inorganic (pyritic and sulphate) and the organic forms of sulphur as well as mineral matter are reported. In general, maximum removal of total sulphur (up to 37%) and mineral matter (up to 10%) takes place in CCl4/CH3OH medium, which is attributed to the CH3OH acting as a better wetting agent for coal. It is found that while pyritic and sulphate sulphur are removed almost quantitatively, there is variation in the removal of organic sulphur from the coals. Furthermore, the coal matrix is not affected/degraded to any appreciable extent and the caking property of the coals is either improved or slightly degraded after desulphurisation. Mechanism of desulphurisation of coal via radiation chlorination is proposed.