Toxicology and Industrial Health最新文献

The health risks associated with benzene series emissions from decorative materials have become a paramount concern in indoor air quality assessments, particularly given their established link with cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Despite epidemiological evidence supporting this correlation, the underlying mechanisms remain under debate. This research comprehensively reviewed contemporary epidemiological studies on the cardiovascular impacts of benzene series emissions. It concentrated on the elucidation of their vascular toxicity, encompassing structural damage to vascular tissues, impaired vasoconstrictive-diastolic function, and abnormal lipid accumulation. By illuminating these research advancements, this study aimed to outline directions for future investigations and furnish insights into mitigating the risk of cardiovascular diseases stemming from benzene-contaminated decorative materials, ultimately contributing to public health protection.

A key issue related to the development of nanotechnology is the protection of researchers in laboratories and workers in production facilities from exposure to engineered nanoparticles (ENPs). Personal protective equipment (PPE) can only provide protection if it is selected correctly, well maintained, and used properly in all possible exposures. The objective of this review was to systematically evaluate studies that have assessed the effectiveness of PPE against ENPs. The scientific literature search included the electronic databases of Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Collaboration Summaries, and NIOSHTIC. According to the PRISMA flow diagram, 24 papers that met the exclusion and inclusion criteria were included in this review. The review results on gloves, masks, and protective clothing revealed that among the common gloves assessed, nitrile 100 gloves were reported as the least suitable protection method against penetration. Also, most masks have low percent penetration. N99 and P100 masks were more effective than N95 masks. The results also indicated that the physical properties of textiles such as fiber diameter, fabric thickness, porosity, air permeability, and pore size are crucial in determining fabric performance against nanomaterials. Most studies have not used a standardized methodology for evaluating the performance of PPE against nanoparticles, highlighting the need for designing and developing a new method. It is essential to develop a precise and valid application guideline based on scientific evidence to assess protection methods for occupational exposure to ENPs.

Because of their beneficial effects in controlling pests, pesticides are used worldwide to reduce pests in agricultural fields and commercial gardens, thereby increasing the crop yield. Pesticides are ubiquitous in the environment and besides targeting pests they also affect non-target organisms. This study was undertaken to evaluate the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibition and its associated health effects in female tea plantation workers (TPW). In silico analysis was applied to identify whether pesticide exposure had an increased affinity after binding with the AChE enzyme, and the findings were validated by measuring the AChE activity in the plasma of study subjects by the biochemical analysis. The activity of AChE was found to be considerably compromised in TPW exposed to pesticides. Inhibition of AChE activity may lead to severe adverse health effects, such as cough, fatigue, and headache in TPW exposed to pesticides. Among all pesticides, λ-cyhalothrin, fipronil, and fenazaquine had the highest binding affinity with AChE (-10.098 Kcal/mol, -8.574 Kcal/mol, and -8.507 Kcal/mol, respectively) as compared to the other pesticides and their natural acetylcholine substrate (-4.398 Kcal/mol). Based on in silico results, AChE was found to have the highest binding affinity with λ-cyhalothrin, fipronil, and fenazaquine, and these pesticides could be responsible for the enzyme activity inhibition. Hence, these pesticides may cause more adverse health effects on humans compared to other pesticides. This finding on biomarker role for AChE may aid in the development of effective antidotes against pesticide exposure, thereby faciliating mitigation of negative health effects of pesticides.

Silicosis is an occupational lung disease caused by long-term inhalation of silica dust. Its characteristic pathological manifestation is progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in the occurrence and development of silicosis fibrosis, and N6-methyladenosine (m6A), as an important form of RNA modification, is closely related to the expression and regulation of multiple genes in the process of fibrosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that m6A modification significantly increases during silica-induced EMT. Silencing Methyltransferase Like 3 (METTL3) to reduce m6A modification levels inhibited the EMT process, suggesting that METTL3-mediated m6A modification could be an effective strategy for intervening in pulmonary fibrosis. Subsequently, through RNA sequencing, protein-protein interaction network analysis, and Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation-RT-qPCR, we identified c-Myc as a downstream target of METTL3. In summary, our findings illuminate the relationship between m6A modification, METTL3, and the progression of silicosis, particularly through the EMT process. These results suggest that targeting METTL3 could be a promising therapeutic approach for modulating m6A levels and intervening in the progression of silicosis.

Acrylamide (Acr) poses reproductive toxicity risks to humans due to its ability to penetrate cell membranes and disrupt cellular balance. Taurine (Tau), a sulfur-containing amino acid with cell membrane stabilization and antioxidant properties, may mitigate these effects. This study examined how Tau can protect against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by Acr in mouse ovarian tissue. Forty adult healthy mice, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly assigned to four groups including the controls (received normal saline orally), Acr (50 mg/kg/day Acr orally), Acr + Tau75 (Acr and 75 mg/kg/day Tau), and Acr + Tau150 (Acr and 150 mg/kg/day Tau). Treatments were administered for 35 days, followed by assessments of stress markers and apoptosis via immunofluorescence and TUNEL assays. Both doses of Tau significantly increased the gene and protein expression levels of stress response enzymes, including Gpx1, Sod1, and Cat. Moreover, Tau significantly decreased the gene expression levels of apoptotic markers Caspase3 and Bax, while upregulating the antiapoptotic gene Bcl2l2. The TUNEL assay revealed the preventive properties of Tau against Acr-induced apoptosis in the ovaries. The current findings suggest the promising properties of Tau in the prevention of Acr-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in mouse ovarian tissue. Therefore, Tau could play a protective role against Acr-induced reproductive toxicity in females, meriting further research into its potential applications.

Vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) has been used in formulations as a coupling agent for plastic and wire cable pipes, a moisture scavenger in sealants, and a co-monomer in the preparation of latex dispersions. The amount of VTMS used in industrial products is ≤2%; there are no consumer uses of VTMS. In studies in experimental animals, VTMS showed a low acute toxicity via oral, dermal, and inhalation routes of exposure. VTMS is not a dermal or eye irritant. A weight of evidence assessment of four available dermal sensitization studies in guinea pigs supports the conclusion that VTMS is not a dermal sensitizer; however, based on one additional study that gave positive results, ECHA classified VTMS as Category 1B (may cause an allergic skin reaction). VTMS is not considered to be genotoxic based on results of in vitro and in vivo studies. In various experimental animal studies, VTMS has shown neither reproductive nor developmental effects. Short-term, oral administration of VTMS for 28 days in rats produced treatment-related effects in the urinary bladder and kidney. In a 14-week inhalation study in rats, VTMS exposure was associated with histopathological changes in the kidney and urinary bladder. However, an expert panel review of the urinary bladder and kidney observations concluded they were an adaptive response to physical or chemical irritant(s) in the urine. The NOAEC of 100 ppm (605 mg/m³) from the 14-week inhalation study was used as the point of departure for the health-based WEEL derivation. After adjusting to account for duration of exposure and interindividual variability, the 8-h TWA WEEL guideline of 10 ppm (60 mg/m³) is expected to provide a significant margin of safety against any potential adverse health effects in workers following long-term inhalation exposure to VTMS.

This article presents a preliminary commentary on the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and chemical labels of reproductive toxicant chemicals frequently used in biotechnology laboratories. This included six chemicals (chloroform, acrylamide, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, dimethyl formamide, boric acid, and 6-benzylaminopurine) and the main chemical mixture (comprising 60-100% formamide by weight) used in next sequencing generation (NGS). Section 2 (hazard identification), Section 3 (composition), Section 4 (first aid measures and reported health effects), Section 8 (recommended engineering controls and personnel protective equipment/PPE), and Section 11 (toxicological information) of the SDS were evaluated. SDS exhibited some inadequacies with a few inaccuracies and unspecific information in the hazard classifications. Description of the prevention precautionary statements was poor in the SDS. Irrespective of the described health hazards, all SDS described the first aid measures to be taken for all routes of chemical exposure. SDS of the reviewed chemicals and mixtures are not providing enough information relating to occupational health and safety aspects. Recommendations to assess the ways in which SDS and chemical labels are written, monitored, regulated, and used are suggested in this paper.

Methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) has been used as a coupling agent in thermoplastics and thermosetting resins, a cross-linker in silicone sealants, a water repellent component, and in silicone hard-coats for plastics. Acute studies in experimental animals showed a low order of toxicity for MTMS via oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. MTMS was slightly irritating to both eyes and skin in rabbits. A weight of evidence assessment supports that MTMS is not a dermal sensitizer. Available in vitro and in vivo assays indicated MTMS has a low potential for genotoxicity. MTMS did not produce any changes in either reproductive or developmental parameters. Short-term, repeated inhalation in rats produced treatment-related observations in the urinary bladder and kidney. In a 90-day inhalation study in rats, MTMS was associated with production of urinary bladder epithelial hyperplasia, calculi formation, and moderate kidney dilation with hyperplasia of the pelvic epithelium and granulomatous inflammation. However, an expert panel review concluded that changes in the bladder and kidney were adaptive responses to physical or chemical irritation. The NOAEL of 100 ppm (557 mg/m³) from the 90-day inhalation study was considered the point of departure for the health-based WEEL derivation. After adjusting to account for duration of exposure and interindividual variability, the resulting 8-h TWA WEEL value of 10 ppm (55 mg/m³) is fully expected to provide a significant margin of safety against potential adverse health effects in workers.

Organophosphate pesticides, widely used in agriculture, are effective in pest control but pose environmental and health risks through soil, water, and air contamination. Exposure to these chemicals is linked to adverse human health effects, underscoring the need for environmentally sustainable practices. This study aimed to assess urinary organophosphate metabolites and examine the relationship between GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms with biomarkers of oxidative stress among farmers in Himachal Pradesh exposed to pesticides. We collected urine samples (50 mL) from the exposed group to detect organophosphate metabolites using GC-MS. Blood samples (5 mL) were also obtained for GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping and assessment of antioxidant enzyme activities. The results showed decreased enzymatic activity of SOD (2.92 ± 1.07) and catalase (12.60 ± 3.15) in the exposed group, with increased MDA levels (4.14 ± 1.36), compared with the unexposed group (SOD: 7.04 ± 1.34, catalase: 25.75 ± 2.20, MDA: 1.15 ± 0.18). No significant associations (p > .05) were found between GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotypes and SOD, catalase, or MDA activities. The study concluded that prolonged pesticide exposure induces oxidative stress linked to specific genetic variations, suggesting directions for further research into the toxicogenetics of pesticide exposure and its health implications.