Chlorobenzenes, lindane and dieldrin induce apoptotic alterations in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (in vitro study)

Persistent organic pollutants-environmental risk factors for diabetes mellitus? - A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Globally, type-2 diabetes mellitus is increasing in epidemic proportions. A major cause of concern in India is the increasing incidence of cases, especially troubling is the observed increase in younger age groups with no risk factors. New evidence suggests that many environmental factors, such as air pollution, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and environmental estrogens are implicated as risk factors for type-2 diabetes mellitus. Animal and human epidemiological studies have shown ubiquitous lipophilic substances, including POPs, are frequently associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus. Such studies have not been undertaken in Indian youth.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that explored the association between POPs and type-2 diabetes mellitus in Indian urban and rural population. About 7 ml of venous blood was collected from all consenting patients and serum was separated immediately and was transported to the lab for further analysis. Serum levels of POPs, including organochlorine (OC) compounds and organophosphorus pesticides, were estimated using sample gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The fasting blood sugar values and the serum levels of POPS were tested using Pearson correlation coefficient. The magnitude of increase in blood sugar corresponding to increase in POPs was analyzed using linear regression analysis. The odds ratios (ORs) were expressed at 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

Three OC pesticides and one organophosphate pesticide were strongly associated with increasing blood sugar levels after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index - lindane (OR 4.95, 95% CI 1.03-23.73), DDT o, p' (OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.04-11.73), dimethoate (OR 19.31, 95% CI 4.22-88.37), and dichlorvas (OR 6.33, 95% CI 1.28-31.18).

Toxicological profile of organochlorines aldrin and dieldrin: an Indian perspective

Several epidemiological studies have suggested various environmental factors as a possible cause for increased incidence of various abnormalities. Of the various environmental contaminants, the most prevalent and the most discussed are the endocrine disrupting chemicals. Contact of such disruptors with humans has become inevitable today. They are cosmopolitan and present from agriculture to industrial sectors, even in day-to-day consumer products. Aldrin and dieldrin belong to one such class of substances which are known to have a toxic effect on various physiological systems of the human body. Despite an imposed ban on their manufacture and commercial use, these pesticides could still be detected in probable areas of consumption like agriculture. The present review discusses the known possible toxic effects of aldrin and dieldrin and their current existence in the ecosystem across India.

A feasible approach to dispose of soil washing wastes: adsorptive removal of chlorobenzene compounds in aqueous solutions using humic acid modified with monoolein (HA–M)

Humic acid (HA), one of most ubiquitous natural resources in the world, was modified with monoolein to prepare a novel hydrophobic adsorbent (HA–M) for removal of chlorobenzene compounds (CBs) from aqueous solutions.

Bisphenol A and its analogs induce morphological and biochemical alterations in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (in vitro study)

Few studies have addressed the cellular effects of bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) on cells, and no study has been conducted to analyze the mechanism of action of bisphenols in blood cells. In this study, the effect of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), BPS and BPAF on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was analyzed. It was shown that BPA, BPF and BPAF in particular, decreased cell viability, which was associated with depletion of intracellular ATP level and alterations in PBMCs size and granulation. Bisphenols enhanced ROS (including OH˙) formation, which led to damage to lipids and proteins in PBMCs. The most significant alterations in ROS level were induced by BPF, and particularly BPAF. Moreover, it was shown that BPAF most strongly provoked lipid peroxidation, while BPA and BPS caused the greatest damage to proteins. It may be concluded that BPA and its analogs were capable of inducing oxidative stress and damage in PBMCs in the concentrations ranging from 0.06 to 0.5 μM (0.02-0.1 μg/ml), which may be present in human blood as a result of environmental exposure. Although, most of bisphenols studied decreased cell viability, size and ATP level at higher concentrations, BPAF exhibited its cytotoxic potential at low concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 3 μM (0.1-1.0 μg/ml) that may correspond to concentrations in humans following occupational exposure.

The effect of catechol on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (in vitro study)

Catechol also known as pyrocatechol or 1,2-dihydroxybenzene is formed endogenously in the organism from neurotransmitters including adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine. It is also a metabolite of many drugs like DOPA, isoproterenol or aspirin and it is also formed in the environment during transformation of various xenobiotics. We evaluated in vitro the effect of catechol on the structure and function of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The cells were incubated with xenobiotic at concentration range from 2 to 500μg/mL for 1h. Human blood mononuclear cells were obtained from leucocyte-platelet buffy coat taken from healthy donors in the Blood Bank of Łódź, Poland. Using flow cytometry we have evaluated necrotic, apoptotic and morphological changes in PBMCs incubated with catechol. Moreover, we have estimated changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation in the cells studied. The compound studied provoked necrotic (from 250μg/mL), apoptotic (from 100μg/mL), and morphological changes (from 250μg/mL) in the incubated cells. We have also noted that catechol decreased H2DCF oxidation at 2 and 10μg/mL but at higher concentrations of 250 and 500μg/mL it caused statistically significant increase in the oxidation of this probe. We also observed an increase in lipid peroxidation (from 250μg/mL) and protein carbonylation (from 50μg/mL) of PBMCs. It was observed that catechol only at high concentrations was capable of inducing changes in PBMCs. The obtained results clearly showed that catechol may induce change in PBMCs only in the caste of poisoning with this compound.