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Ossai IC, Hamid FS, Aboudi-Mana SC, Hassan A. Ecotoxicological effects, human and animal health risks of pollution and exposure to waste engine oils: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:416. [PMID: 39240425 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-02198-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Waste engine oils are hazardous waste oils originating from the transportation sector and industrial heavy-duty machinery operations. Improper handling, disposal, and miscellaneous misuses cause significant air, soil, sediments, surface water, and groundwater pollution. Occupational exposure by prolonged and repeated contact poses direct or indirect health risks, resulting in short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) toxicities. Soil pollution causes geotoxicity by disrupting the biocenosis and physicochemical properties of the soil, and phytotoxicity by impairing plant growth, physiology and metabolism. Surface water pollution impacts aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. Air pollution from incineration causes the release of greenhouse gases creating global warming, noxious gases and particulate matter eliciting pulmonary disorders. The toxicity of waste engine oil is due to the total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) composition, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners, organometallic compounds, and toxic chemical additives. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the ecotoxicological effects, human and animal health toxicology and exposure to waste engine oils. It highlights the properties and functions of engine oil and describes waste engine oil generation, disposal and recycling. It provides intensive evaluations and descriptions of the toxicokinetics, metabolism, routes of exposure and toxicosis in human and animal studies based on toxicological, epidemiological and experimental studies. It emphasises the preventive measures in occupational exposure and recommends risk-based remediation techniques to mitigate environmental pollution. The review will assist in understanding the potential risks of waste engine oil with significant consideration of the public health benefits and importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Innocent Chukwunonso Ossai
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Centre for Research in Waste Management, Institute of Research Management and Monitoring, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Tetragram Bioresources Limited, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria.
| | - Fauziah Shahul Hamid
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Centre for Research in Waste Management, Institute of Research Management and Monitoring, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Suzanne Christine Aboudi-Mana
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Centre for Research in Waste Management, Institute of Research Management and Monitoring, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Auwalu Hassan
- Centre for Research Excellence and Incubation Management, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abdidin, 21300, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
- Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abdidin, 21300, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Federal University Kashere, Kashere, Gombe State, Nigeria
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Fedan JS, Thompson JA, Sager TM, Roberts JR, Joseph P, Krajnak K, Kan H, Sriram K, Weatherly LM, Anderson SE. Toxicological Effects of Inhaled Crude Oil Vapor. Curr Environ Health Rep 2024; 11:18-29. [PMID: 38267698 PMCID: PMC10907427 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-024-00429-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose of this review is to assess the toxicological consequences of crude oil vapor (COV) exposure in the workplace through evaluation of the most current epidemiologic and laboratory-based studies in the literature. RECENT FINDINGS Crude oil is a naturally occuring mixture of hydrocarbon deposits, inorganic and organic chemical compounds. Workers engaged in upstream processes of oil extraction are exposed to a number of risks and hazards, including getting crude oil on their skin or inhaling crude oil vapor. There have been several reports of workers who died as a result of inhalation of high levels of COV released upon opening thief hatches atop oil storage tanks. Although many investigations into the toxicity of specific hydrocarbons following inhalation during downstream oil processing have been conducted, there is a paucity of information on the potential toxicity of COV exposure itself. This review assesses current knowledge of the toxicological consequences of exposures to COV in the workplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Fedan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Janet A Thompson
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA.
| | - Tina M Sager
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Jenny R Roberts
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Pius Joseph
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Kristine Krajnak
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Hong Kan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Krishnan Sriram
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Lisa M Weatherly
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
| | - Stacey E Anderson
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA
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Yang Y, Zhang W, Zhang Z, Yang T, Xu Z, Zhang C, Guo B, Lu W. Efficient Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil by Immobilized Bacterial Agent of Gordonia alkanivorans W33. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10050561. [PMID: 37237630 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10050561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we report a method for preparing an immobilized bacterial agent of petroleum-degrading bacteria Gordonia alkanivorans W33 by combining high-density fermentation and bacterial immobilization technology and testing its bioremediation effect on petroleum-contaminated soil. After determining the optimal combination of MgCl2, CaCl2 concentration, and culture time in the fermentation conditions by conducting a response surface analysis, the cell concentration reached 7.48 × 109 CFU/mL by 5 L fed-batch fermentation. The W33-vermiculite-powder-immobilized bacterial agent mixed with sophorolipids and rhamnolipids in a weight ratio of 9:10 was used for the bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated soil. After 45 days of microbial degradation, 56.3% of the petroleum in the soil with 20,000 mg/kg petroleum content was degraded, and the average degradation rate reached 250.2 mg/kg/d.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
- CNOOC EnerTech-Safety & Environmental Protection Co., Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Wanze Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zhanwei Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Ting Yang
- China Offshore Environmental Service Ltd., Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Zhuo Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Chuanbo Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Bing Guo
- China Offshore Environmental Service Ltd., Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Wenyu Lu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Pathak D, Sriram K. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Neuroinflammation Elicited by Occupational Injuries and Toxicants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:2272. [PMID: 36768596 PMCID: PMC9917383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Occupational injuries and toxicant exposures lead to the development of neuroinflammation by activating distinct mechanistic signaling cascades that ultimately culminate in the disruption of neuronal function leading to neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. The entry of toxicants into the brain causes the subsequent activation of glial cells, a response known as 'reactive gliosis'. Reactive glial cells secrete a wide variety of signaling molecules in response to neuronal perturbations and thus play a crucial role in the progression and regulation of central nervous system (CNS) injury. In parallel, the roles of protein phosphorylation and cell signaling in eliciting neuroinflammation are evolving. However, there is limited understanding of the molecular underpinnings associated with toxicant- or occupational injury-mediated neuroinflammation, gliosis, and neurological outcomes. The activation of signaling molecules has biological significance, including the promotion or inhibition of disease mechanisms. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanisms of synergism or antagonism among intracellular signaling pathways remain elusive. This review highlights the research focusing on the direct interaction between the immune system and the toxicant- or occupational injury-induced gliosis. Specifically, the role of occupational injuries, e.g., trips, slips, and falls resulting in traumatic brain injury, and occupational toxicants, e.g., volatile organic compounds, metals, and nanoparticles/nanomaterials in the development of neuroinflammation and neurological or neurodegenerative diseases are highlighted. Further, this review recapitulates the recent advancement related to the characterization of the molecular mechanisms comprising protein phosphorylation and cell signaling, culminating in neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Krishnan Sriram
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
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Sriram K, Lin GX, Jefferson AM, McKinney W, Jackson MC, Cumpston JL, Cumpston JB, Leonard HD, Kashon ML, Fedan JS. Biological effects of inhaled crude oil vapor V. Altered biogenic amine neurotransmitters and neural protein expression. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 449:116137. [PMID: 35750205 PMCID: PMC9936428 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Workers in the oil and gas industry are at risk for exposure to a number of physical and chemical hazards at the workplace. Chemical hazard risks include inhalation of crude oil or its volatile components. While several studies have investigated the neurotoxic effects of volatile hydrocarbons, in general, there is a paucity of studies assessing the neurotoxicity of crude oil vapor (COV). Consequent to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill, there is growing concern about the short- and long-term health effects of exposure to COV. NIOSH surveys suggested that the DWH oil spill cleanup workers experienced neurological symptoms, including depression and mood disorders, but the health effects apart from oil dispersants were difficult to discern. To investigate the potential neurological risks of COV, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by whole-body inhalation to COV (300 ppm; Macondo surrogate crude oil) following an acute (6 h/d × 1 d) or sub-chronic (6 h/d × 4 d/wk. × 4 wks) exposure regimen. At 1, 28 or 90 d post-exposure, norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EPI), dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) were evaluated as neurotransmitter imbalances are associated with psychosocial-, motor- and cognitive- disorders. Sub-chronic COV exposure caused significant reductions in NE, EPI and DA in the dopaminergic brain regions, striatum (STR) and midbrain (MB), and a large increase in 5-HT in the STR. Further, sub-chronic exposure to COV caused upregulation of synaptic and Parkinson's disease-related proteins in the STR and MB. Whether such effects will lead to neurodegenerative outcomes remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishnan Sriram
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America.
| | - Gary X Lin
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Amy M Jefferson
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Walter McKinney
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Mark C Jackson
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Jared L Cumpston
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - James B Cumpston
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Howard D Leonard
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Michael L Kashon
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey S Fedan
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States of America
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Arnold S, Stewart PA, Pratt GC, Ramachandran G, Kwok RK, Engel LS, Sandler DP, Stenzel MR. Estimation of Aerosol Concentrations of Oil Dispersants COREXIT™ EC9527A and EC9500A during the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response and Clean-up Operations. Ann Work Expo Health 2022; 66:i188-i202. [PMID: 35390130 PMCID: PMC8989030 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The April 2010 Deepwater Horizon drilling unit explosion at the Macondo oil well resulted in the release of approximately 779 million l of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. As part of the response effort to break up oil slicks on the water's surface, 6.81 million l of chemical dispersants COREXIT™ EC9500A and COREXIT™ EC9527A were applied by plane or vessel or injected near the seabed. The GuLF Long-term Follow-up Study is investigating possible adverse health effects of workers involved in the oil spill response and clean-up (OSRC). In this paper, we describe potential dispersant-related air concentrations generated from aerial spraying of dispersants to provide insight as to what concentrations OSRC workers may have been exposed under worst-case conditions. Personal exposure measurement data were not collected. Modeling, therefore, was conducted to estimate airborne concentrations of total aerosol to COREXIT™ EC9527A and EC9500A. Using the AgDISP model, we estimated air concentrations to dispersant total aerosols, defined as all components of the dispersant including active ingredients, surfactants, and water, resulting from aerial and vessel applications, as average 1-h and 2-min concentrations. For comparison, 1-h air concentrations associated with aerial spraying were estimated using another model, AERMOD. At 152 m horizontal to the flight path, average 1-h total aerosol concentrations associated with aerial applications were estimated to be as high as 49.3 µg m-3 (9527A) and 45.4 µg m-3 (9500A), and both decreased with increased distance from the flight line. The estimates for spraying 9500A from vessels indicated that total aerosol concentrations were potentially as high as 0.33 µg m-3 at 10 m from the nozzles. These results suggest that personal exposures to dispersant aerosols were negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Arnold
- University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Patricia A Stewart
- Stewart Exposure Assessments, LLC, 6045 N. 27th. St, Arlington, VA 22207, USA
| | - Gregory C Pratt
- University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Gurumurthy Ramachandran
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, , 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Richard K Kwok
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive – MD A3-05, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive – MD A3-05, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, 35 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, , 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Mark R Stenzel
- Exposure Assessment Applications, LLC, 6045 N. 27th. St, Arlington, VA 22207, USA
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Guo F, de Lima Stebbins D, Toomey RG, Alcantar NA. Interfacial Phenomena of Natural Dispersants for Crude Oil Spills. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:15904-15913. [PMID: 31607124 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b02036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A natural surfactant was studied to simulate the dispersion process of crude oil in water. The interfacial phenomena of this natural dispersant was compared with a commercially available chemical dispersant, COREXIT EC9500A. This functional surfactant was extracted from the mucilage of the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus species. The evaluation to determine the efficacy to disperse crude oil of the cactus-based mucilage extract (nongelling extract, NE) was based on characterizing surface and interfacial tension, dispersion efficiency, mixing effects, salinity effects, stability, and droplets size distributions. We found that surface tension values follow a linear relationship with respect to the natural logarithm of the concentrations of NE. The application of NE in the water phase led to decreasing oil/water interfacial tensions. Surface tension tests were also used to quantify the effect of oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion ratios once either natural or commercialized dispersants were added. A key finding of our work is that the surface tension between typical 6% and 3% v/v O/W emulsions was significantly reduced with the addition of discrete amounts of NE. This result indicated that the dynamic balance between O/W and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions was thermodynamically more stable toward O/W emulsion states with NE. We also found that O/W emulsions with higher dispersion effectiveness were formed for both 10 and 35 practical salinity units, as the dispersant to oil ratios increased, with a significant correlation to the mixing energy. We observed that the O/W emulsions with natural dispersants had a significantly smaller weighted average diameter compared to those with COREXIT EC9500A. Such a phenomenon can be explained by understanding intermolecular interactions due to the structure and type of dispersant. In conclusion, cactus-based mucilage extracts could be used as environmentally benign dispersants and, therefore, reduce negative social perceptions of the application of dispersants to clean up spilled oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Guo
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Daniela de Lima Stebbins
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Ryan G Toomey
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
| | - Norma A Alcantar
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering , University of South Florida , Tampa , Florida 33620 , United States
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Hou Y, Li Y, Wang L, Chen D, Bao M, Wang Z. Amphiphilic Janus particles for efficient dispersion of oil contaminants in seawater. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 556:54-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.08.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Krishnamurthy J, Engel LS, Wang L, Schwartz EG, Christenbury K, Kondrup B, Barrett J, Rusiecki JA. Neurological symptoms associated with oil spill response exposures: Results from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104963. [PMID: 31382236 PMCID: PMC6786260 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill was the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history, involving the response of tens of thousands clean-up workers. Over 8500 United States Coast Guard personnel were deployed in response to the spill. Little is understood about the acute neurological effects of oil spill clean-up-related exposures. Given the large number of people involved in large oil spill clean-ups, study of these effects is warranted. METHODS We utilized exposure, health, and lifestyle data from a post-deployment survey administered to Coast Guard responders to the DWH oil spill. Crude oil exposure was assessed via self-reported inhalation and skin contact metrics, categorized by frequency of self-reported exposure to crude oil during deployment (never, rarely, sometimes, most/all of the time). Combined exposure to crude oil and oil dispersant was also evaluated. Adjusted log binomial regressions were used to calculate prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), investigating the associations between oil spill exposures and neurological symptoms during deployment. Stratified analyses investigated potential effect modification by sex, exhaust fume exposure, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and deployment duration and timing. RESULTS Increasing frequency of crude oil exposure via inhalation was associated with increased likelihood of headaches (PRmost/all vs. never = 1.80), lightheadedness (PRmost/all vs. never = 3.36), difficulty concentrating (PRmost/all vs. never = 1.72), numbness/tingling sensation (PRmost/all vs. never = 3.32), blurred vision (PRmost/all vs. never = 2.87), and memory loss/confusion (PRmost/all vs. never = 2.03), with significant tests for trend. Similar results were found for crude oil exposure via skin contact. Exposure to both oil and oil dispersants yielded associations that were appreciably greater in magnitude than for oil alone for all neurological symptoms. Sensitivity analyses excluding responders in the highest environmental heat categories and responders with relevant pre-existing conditions indicated robustness of these results. Stratified analyses indicated possible effect modification by sex, PPE use, and heat exposure. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence of a cross sectional association between crude oil exposures and acute neurological symptoms in a sample of U.S. Coast Guard responders. Additionally, it suggests that exposure to both crude oil and oil dispersant may result in stronger associations and that heat may interact synergistically with oil exposures resulting in more acute neurological symptoms. Future investigations are needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayasree Krishnamurthy
- Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Erica G Schwartz
- United States Coast Guard, Directorate of Health, Safety, and Work Life, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | | | - Benjamin Kondrup
- United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, United States of America
| | - John Barrett
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States of America
| | - Jennifer A Rusiecki
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, United States of America.
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Afshar-Mohajer N, Fox MA, Koehler K. The human health risk estimation of inhaled oil spill emissions with and without adding dispersant. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 654:924-932. [PMID: 30453262 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Airborne toxic compounds emitted from polluted seawater polluted after an oil spill raise health concerns when inhaled by humans or other species. Inhalation of these toxic compounds as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or airborne fine particulate matter (PM) may cause serious pulmonary diseases, including lung cancer. Spraying chemical dispersants to enhance distribution of the crude oil into the water was employed extensively during the Deepwater Horizon spill. There is some evidence that dispersion of the crude oil decreased the emission rate of the VOCs but increased the emission rates of fine PM that may carry toxic compounds. In this study, the cancer risks and non-cancer hazards of the detected VOCs and particulates for spill-response workers were estimated with and without use of dispersant under action of breaking waves. A subchronic exposure scenario was modeled to address the inhalation health threat during initial phases of an oil spill response. A dosimetry model was used to estimate regional deposition of PM. Use of dispersant reduced benzene cancer risks from 57 to 37 excess lifetime cancer cases per million for 1 h of daily exposure that continues for 3 months. Adding dispersant resulted in emissions reductions of the lighter VOCs (up to 30% lower). However, hazard quotients (HQs) of the non-carcinogenic VOCs even after dispersant addition were above 1 meaning there are serious concerns about exposure to these VOCs. Inhalation of airborne particles emitted from the slick containing dispersant increased the total mass of deposited particles in upper respiratory regions compared to the slick of crude oil only. This study showed the application of dispersant onto the pollution slick increased the total mass burden to the human respiratory system about 10 times, an exploratory HQ analysis is presented to evaluate the potential health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Afshar-Mohajer
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mary A Fox
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA; Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Matcott J, Baylis S, Clarke RH. The influence of petroleum oil films on the feather structure of tropical and temperate seabird species. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2019; 138:135-144. [PMID: 30660254 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Feather fouling is a primary cause of seabird mortality during marine hydrocarbon oil spills. Understanding how oils interact with feathers is an important step in mitigating this threat. Seabird feathers from 12 taxa, representing most seabird families from the tropics and southern latitudes, were exposed to crude and condensate oil films under laboratory settings. Feathers were measured for changes in mass proportional to feather size, and for barbule clumping. Seabird feathers from six distinct families exposed to very thin oil sheens (<0.3 μm) showed no significant change in proportional mass relative to control treatments, and 10 of the 12 species exposed to these films revealed no significant difference in barbule clumping. By contrast, exposure to both crude and condensate oil films ≥3 μm resulted in significant increases in feather mass and clumping. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the influence of oil on feather structure when compiling threat assessments involving seabirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Matcott
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Shane Baylis
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Rohan H Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
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Engel LS, Kwok RK, Miller AK, Blair A, Curry MD, McGrath JA, Sandler DP, Baker S, Cohn RD, Gaunt EE, Hodges A, Johndrow D, Ramsey SK, Stenzel M, Stewart P. The Gulf Long-Term Follow-Up Study (GuLF STUDY): Biospecimen collection at enrollment. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2017; 80:218-229. [PMID: 28418274 PMCID: PMC5522735 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2017.1283274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) explosion in the Gulf of Mexico led to the largest ever marine oil spill by volume. The GuLF STUDY is investigating possible adverse human health effects associated with oil spill activities. One objective of the study was to utilize biological specimens from study participants to examine spill-related adverse health effects. This study describes the methods for collecting, processing, shipping, and storing specimens during the enrollment phase of the study. GuLF STUDY participants living in Gulf States (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and eastern Texas) were eligible to complete a home visit at enrollment, one to three years after the DWH explosion. During this visit, blood, urine, toenail and hair clippings, and house dust samples were collected. Specimens were shipped overnight to a central processing laboratory in containers with cold and ambient temperature compartments. Most blood and urine specimens were then aliquoted and stored in liquid nitrogen vapor or at -80°C, with some samples stored at -20°C. A total of 11,193 participants completed a home visit, and over 99% provided at least one biospecimen. Most participants provided blood (93%), urine (99%), and toenail clippings (89%), and 40% provided hair. Nearly all participants (95%) provided house-dust samples. Most samples were received by the laboratory one (58%) or two (25%) days after collection. These biospecimens enable investigation of a range of biomarkers of spill-related adverse health effects, and possibly some biomarkers of spill-related exposures. The biospecimen collection, handling, and storage protocols were designed to maximize current and future scientific value within logistical and budgetary constraints and might serve as a template for future studies conducted in similar time-critical and geographically dispersed settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence S. Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard K. Kwok
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aubrey K. Miller
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aaron Blair
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - John A. McGrath
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dale P. Sandler
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Susan Baker
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard D. Cohn
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Edward E. Gaunt
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Audra Hodges
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - David Johndrow
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Mark Stenzel
- Exposure Assessment Applications LLC, Arlington, Virginia, USA
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Fiorello CV, Freeman K, Elias BA, Whitmer E, Ziccardi MH. Ophthalmic effects of petroleum dispersant exposure on common murres (Uria aalge): An experimental study. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 113:387-391. [PMID: 27743656 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The safety of chemical dispersants used during oil spill responses is largely unknown in birds. We captured common murres in Monterey Bay, CA and exposed them to Corexit EC9500a, crude oil, or a combination in artificial seawater. We performed ophthalmic examinations and measured intraocular pressures and tear production before and after exposure. Loglinear analysis found that exposure to oil or dispersant was related to the development of conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers. Odds ratios for birds exposed to oil or dispersant were positive and significant for the development of conjunctivitis, while odds ratios for the development of corneal ulcers were positive and significant only for birds exposed to a high concentration of oil. Ocular exposure to dispersants and petroleum in seabirds may cause conjunctivitis and may play a role in the development of corneal ulcers. These results have implications for policymakers who develop protocols for the use of dispersants during marine oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine V Fiorello
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network, One Health Institute, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Kate Freeman
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Becky A Elias
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network, One Health Institute, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Emily Whitmer
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network, One Health Institute, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Michael H Ziccardi
- Oiled Wildlife Care Network, One Health Institute, 1089 Veterinary Medicine Drive, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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14
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Chen Y, Reese DH. Corexit-EC9527A Disrupts Retinol Signaling and Neuronal Differentiation in P19 Embryonal Pluripotent Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163724. [PMID: 27684493 PMCID: PMC5042420 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Corexit-EC9500A and Corexit-EC9527A are two chemical dispersants that have been used to remediate the impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Both dispersants are composed primarily of organic solvents and surfactants and act by emulsifying the crude oil to facilitate biodegradation. The potential adverse effect of the Corexit chemicals on mammalian embryonic development remains largely unknown. Retinol (vitamin A) signaling, mediated by all-trans retinoic acid (RA), is essential for neural tube formation and the development of many organs in the embryo. The physiological levels of RA in cells and tissues are maintained by the retinol signaling pathway (RSP), which controls the biosynthesis of RA from dietary retinol and the catabolism of RA to polar metabolites for removal. RA is a potent activating ligand for the RAR/RXR nuclear receptors. Through RA and the receptors, the RSP modulates the expression of many developmental genes; interference with the RSP is potentially teratogenic. In this study the mouse P19 embryonal pluripotent cell, which contains a functional RSP, was used to evaluate the effects of the Corexit dispersants on retinol signaling and associated neuronal differentiation. The results showed that Corexit-EC9500A was more cytotoxic than Corexit-EC9527A to P19 cells. At non-cytotoxic doses, Corexit-EC9527A inhibited retinol-induced expression of the Hoxa1 gene, which encodes a transcription factor for the regulation of body patterning in the embryo. Such inhibition was seen in the retinol- and retinal- induced, but not RA-induced, Hoxa1 up-regulation, indicating that the Corexit chemicals primarily inhibit RA biosynthesis from retinal. In addition, Corexit-EC9527A suppressed retinol-induced P19 cell differentiation into neuronal cells, indicating potential neurotoxic effect of the chemicals under the tested conditions. The surfactant ingredient, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS), may be a major contributor to the observed effect of Corexit-EC9527A in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Chen
- Division of Molecular Biology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David H. Reese
- Division of Molecular Biology, Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD, 20708, United States of America
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15
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Evaluating the neurotoxic effects of Deepwater Horizon oil spill residues trapped along Alabama's beaches. Life Sci 2016; 155:161-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Laffon B, Pásaro E, Valdiglesias V. Effects of exposure to oil spills on human health: Updated review. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2016; 19:105-28. [PMID: 27221976 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2016.1168730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Oil spills may involve health risks for people participating in the cleanup operations and coastal inhabitants, given the toxicological properties of the oil components. In spite of this, only after a few major oil spills (crude oil or fuel oil no. 6) have studies on effects of exposure to diverse aspects of human health been performed. Previously, Aguilera et al. (2010) examined all documents published to that date dealing with any type of human health outcome in populations exposed to oil spills. The aim of the present review was to compile all new information available and determine whether evidence reported supports the existence of an association between exposure and adverse human health risks. Studies were classified in three groups according to type of health outcome addressed: (i) effects on mental health, (ii) physical/physiological effects, and (iii) genotoxic, immunotoxic, and endocrine toxicity. New studies published on oil-spill-exposed populations-coastal residents in the vicinity of the spills or participants in cleanup operations-provide additional support to previous evidence on adverse health effects related to exposure regarding different parameters in all three categories considered. Some of the observed effects even indicated that several symptoms may persist for some years after exposure. Hence, (1) health protection in these individuals should be a matter of concern; and (2) health risk assessment needs to be carried out not only at the time of exposure but also for prolong periods following exposure, to enable early detection of any potential exposure-related harmful effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Laffon
- a DICOMOSA Group, Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology , Universidade da Coruña , Coruña , Spain
| | - Eduardo Pásaro
- a DICOMOSA Group, Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology , Universidade da Coruña , Coruña , Spain
| | - Vanessa Valdiglesias
- a DICOMOSA Group, Department of Psychology, Area of Psychobiology , Universidade da Coruña , Coruña , Spain
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Abstract
Dispersants provide a reliable large-scale response to catastrophic oil spills that can be used when the preferable option of recapturing the oil cannot be achieved. By allowing even mild wave action to disperse floating oil into tiny droplets (<70 μm) in the water column, seabirds, reptiles, and mammals are protected from lethal oiling at the surface, and microbial biodegradation is dramatically increased. Recent work has clarified how dramatic this increase is likely to be: beached oil has an environmental residence of years, whereas dispersed oil has a half-life of weeks. Oil spill response operations endorse the concept of net environmental benefit, that any environmental costs imposed by a response technique must be outweighed by the likely benefits. This critical review discusses the potential environmental debits and credits from dispersant use and concludes that, in most cases, the potential environmental costs of adding these chemicals to a polluted area are likely outweighed by the much shorter residence time, and hence integrated environmental impact, of the spilled oil in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger C Prince
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801 United States
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18
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Li FJ, Duggal RN, Oliva OM, Karki S, Surolia R, Wang Z, Watson RD, Thannickal VJ, Powell M, Watts S, Kulkarni T, Batra H, Bolisetty S, Agarwal A, Antony VB. Heme oxygenase-1 protects corexit 9500A-induced respiratory epithelial injury across species. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122275. [PMID: 25835394 PMCID: PMC4383564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of Corexit 9500A (CE) on respiratory epithelial surfaces of terrestrial mammals and marine animals are largely unknown. This study investigated the role of CE-induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a cytoprotective enzyme with anti-apoptotic and antioxidant activity, in human bronchial airway epithelium and the gills of exposed aquatic animals. We evaluated CE-mediated alterations in human airway epithelial cells, mice lungs and gills from zebrafish and blue crabs. Our results demonstrated that CE induced an increase in gill epithelial edema and human epithelial monolayer permeability, suggesting an acute injury caused by CE exposure. CE induced the expression of HO-1 as well as C-reactive protein (CRP) and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), which are associated with ROS production. Importantly, CE induced caspase-3 activation and subsequent apoptosis of epithelial cells. The expression of the intercellular junctional proteins, such as tight junction proteins occludin, zonula occludens (ZO-1), ZO-2 and adherens junctional proteins E-cadherin and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK), were remarkably inhibited by CE, suggesting that these proteins are involved in CE-induced increased permeability and subsequent apoptosis. The cytoskeletal protein F-actin was also disrupted by CE. Treatment with carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) significantly inhibited CE-induced ROS production, while the addition of HO-1 inhibitor, significantly increased CE-induced ROS production and apoptosis, suggesting a protective role of HO-1 or its reaction product, CO, in CE-induced apoptosis. Using HO-1 knockout mice, we further demonstrated that HO-1 protected against CE-induced inflammation and cellular apoptosis and corrected CE-mediated inhibition of E-cadherin and FAK. These observations suggest that CE activates CRP and NOX4-mediated ROS production, alters permeability by inhibition of junctional proteins, and leads to caspase-3 dependent apoptosis of epithelial cells, while HO-1 and its reaction products protect against oxidative stress and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Jun Li
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Ryan N. Duggal
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Octavio M. Oliva
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Suman Karki
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Ranu Surolia
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Zheng Wang
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - R. Douglas Watson
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Victor J. Thannickal
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Mickie Powell
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Stephen Watts
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Tejaswini Kulkarni
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Hitesh Batra
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Subhashini Bolisetty
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Anupam Agarwal
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
| | - Veena B. Antony
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Roberts JR, Anderson SE, Kan H, Krajnak K, Thompson JA, Kenyon A, Goldsmith WT, McKinney W, Frazer DG, Jackson M, Fedan JS. Evaluation of Pulmonary and Systemic Toxicity of Oil Dispersant (COREXIT EC9500A(®)) Following Acute Repeated Inhalation Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INSIGHTS 2015; 8:63-74. [PMID: 25861220 PMCID: PMC4325826 DOI: 10.4137/ehi.s15262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 11/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oil spill cleanup workers come into contact with numerous potentially hazardous chemicals derived from the oil spills, as well as chemicals applied for mitigation of the spill, including oil dispersants. In response to the Deepwater Horizon Macondo well oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, a record volume of the oil dispersant, COREXIT EC9500A, was delivered via aerial applications, raising concern regarding potential health effects that may result from pulmonary exposure to the dispersant. METHODS The current study examined the effects on pulmonary functions, cardiovascular functions, and systemic immune responses in rats to acute repeated inhalation exposure of COREXIT EC9500A at 25 mg/m(3), five hours per day, over nine work days, or filtered air (control). At one and seven days following the last exposure, a battery of parameters was measured to evaluate lung function, injury, and inflammation; cardiovascular function; peripheral vascular responses; and systemic immune responses. RESULTS No significant alterations in airway reactivity were observed at one or seven days after exposure either in baseline values or following methacholine (MCh) inhalation challenge. Although there was a trend for an increase in lung neutrophils and phagocyte oxidant production at one-day post exposure, there were no significant differences in parameters of lung inflammation. In addition, increased blood monocytes and neutrophils, and decreased lymphocyte numbers at one-day post exposure also did not differ significantly from air controls, and no alterations in splenocyte populations, or serum or spleen immunoglobulin M (IgM) to antigen were observed. There were no significant differences in peripheral vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictor and vasodilator agonists or in blood pressure (BP) responses to these agents; however, the baseline heart rate (HR) and HR responses to isoproterenol (ISO) were significantly elevated at one-day post exposure, with resolution by day 7. CONCLUSIONS In summary, acute repeated exposure to COREXIT EC9500A did not alter pulmonary function, lung injury/inflammation, systemic immune responses, or vascular tone, but did cause transient chronotropic effects on cardiac function.
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Zheng M, Ahuja M, Bhattacharya D, Clement TP, Hayworth JS, Dhanasekaran M. Evaluation of differential cytotoxic effects of the oil spill dispersant Corexit 9500. Life Sci 2013; 95:108-17. [PMID: 24361361 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2013.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Revised: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The British Petroleum (BP) oil spill has raised several ecological and health concerns. As the first response, BP used a chemical dispersant, Corexit-9500, to disperse the crude oil in the Gulf of Mexico to limit shoreline contamination problems. Nevertheless, portions of this oil/Corexit mixture reached the shoreline and still remain in various Gulf shore environments. The use of Corexit itself has become a significant concern since its impacts on human health and environment is unclear. MAIN METHODS In this study, in vitro cytotoxic effects of Corexit were evaluated using different mammalian cells. KEY FINDINGS Under serum free conditions, the LC50 value for Corexit in BL16/BL6 cell was 16 ppm, in 1321N1 cell was 33 ppm, in H19-7 cell was 70 ppm, in HEK293 was 93 ppm, and in HK-2 cell was 95 ppm. With regard to the mechanisms of cytotoxicity, we hypothesize that Corexit can possibly induce cytotoxicity in mammalian cells by altering the intracellular oxidative balance and inhibiting mitochondrial functions. Corexit induced increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide levels; also, it depleted glutathione content and altered catalase activity in H19-7 cells. In addition, there was mitochondrial complex-I inhibition and increase in the pro-apoptotic factors including caspase-3 and BAX expression. SIGNIFICANCE The experimental results show changes in intracellular oxidative radicals leading to mitochondrial dysfunctions and apoptosis in Corexit treatments, possibly contributing to cell death. Our findings raise concerns about using large volumes of Corexit, a potential environmental toxin, in sensitive ocean environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Zheng
- Department of Civil Engineering, 212 Harbert Engineering Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Manuj Ahuja
- Department of Pharmacal Sciences, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Dwipayan Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacal Sciences, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - T Prabhakar Clement
- Department of Civil Engineering, 212 Harbert Engineering Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Joel S Hayworth
- Department of Civil Engineering, 212 Harbert Engineering Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
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Shi Y, Roy-Engel AM, Wang H. Effects of COREXIT dispersants on cytotoxicity parameters in a cultured human bronchial airway cells, BEAS-2B. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2013; 76:827-35. [PMID: 24028667 PMCID: PMC3836203 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2013.821396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the cytotoxicity of COREXIT dispersants EC9500A, EC9527A, and EC9580A on human airway BEAS-2B epithelial cells. Cells were exposed to dispersants for 2 or 24 h at concentrations ranging from 0 to 300 ppm. COREXIT EC9527 at 100 ppm produced 50% viability loss as measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) at 24 h. COREXIT 9527 at 200 ppm produced 50% cell death at 2 h and 100% at 24 h. At 300 ppm COREXIT 9527 induced 100% cell death at 2 or 24 h. In the case of COREXIT 9500A 50% cell viability was noted with 200 ppm at 2 or 24 h, with a significant decrease in cell survival to 2% at 300 ppm. In contrast, no marked change in cell viability was observed in cells treated at any COREXIT 9580A concentration examined. Western blot analysis showed an increase in expression of LC3B, a marker of autophagy, in cells treated for 2 h with 300 ppm COREXIT EC9527A as well as 100 or 300 ppm Corexit EC9500A. No marked effect on LC3B expression was observed for any COREXIT 9580A concentration. Apoptosis markers as measured by cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were detectable only in cells incubated with 300 ppm COREXIT EC9527A. Although all three dispersants induced enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after 2-h treatment at 300 ppm, Western blot analysis revealed that 2-h incubation was not sufficient to induce a significant change in the protein expression of superoxide dismutases SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3. Data thus indicate exposure to certain dispersants may be harmful to human airway epithelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongli Shi
- Department of Global Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Cancer Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Astrid M. Roy-Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - He Wang
- Department of Global Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Cancer Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Brewton RA, Fulford R, Griffitt RJ. Gene expression and growth as indicators of effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2013; 76:1198-209. [PMID: 24283371 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2013.848394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill has great potential to negatively affect estuarine fish populations. In order to assess possible impacts of this event, a series of sublethal lab experiments were performed, using the economically and ecologically important species spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus). Larval and juvenile spotted seatrout were exposed to sublethal concentrations of high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF), chemically enhanced water accommodated fraction (CEWAF), or dispersant alone in an acute exposure. Response to exposure was evaluated with quantative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to examine expression of cytochrome P-4501A (CYP1A). Growth of larvae and juveniles over the duration of the experiment was measured as an index of physiological response. Our data showed that the different life stages respond differently to crude and dispersed oil, with larval spotted seatrout affected most by CEWAF, while juvenile spotted seatrout were affected to a greater extent by HEWAF. In both cases, the treatment with the highest CYP1A levels resulted in the greatest reductions in growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Aileen Brewton
- a Department of Coastal Sciences , University of Southern Mississippi , Ocean Springs , Mississippi , USA
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23
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Zhang Y, Chen D, Ennis AC, Polli JR, Xiao P, Zhang B, Stellwag EJ, Overton A, Pan X. Chemical dispersant potentiates crude oil impacts on growth, reproduction, and gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Arch Toxicol 2012; 87:371-82. [PMID: 22990136 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-012-0936-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The economic, environmental, and human health impacts of the deepwater horizon (DWH) oil spill have been of significant concern in the general public and among scientists. This study employs parallel experiments to test the effects of crude oil from the DWH oil well, chemical dispersant Corexit 9500A, and dispersant-oil mixture on growth and reproduction in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Both the crude oil and the dispersant significantly inhibited the reproduction of C. elegans. Dose-dependent inhibitions of hatched larvae production were observed in worms exposed to both crude oil and dispersant. Importantly, the chemical dispersant Corexit 9500A potentiated crude oil effects; dispersant-oil mixture induced more significant effects than oil or dispersant-alone exposures. While oil-alone exposure and dispersant-alone exposure have none to moderate inhibitory effects on hatched larvae production, respectively, the mixture of dispersant and oil induced much more significant inhibition of offspring production. The production of hatched larvae was almost completely inhibited by several high concentrations of the dispersant-oil mixture. This suggests a sensitive bioassay for future investigation of oil/dispersant impacts on organisms. We also investigated the effects of crude oil/dispersant exposure at the molecular level by measuring the expressions of 31 functional genes. Results showed that the dispersant and the dispersant-oil mixture induced aberrant expressions of 12 protein-coding genes (cat-4, trxr-2, sdhb-1, lev-8, lin-39, unc-115, prdx-3, sod-1, acr-16, ric-3, unc-68, and acr-8). These 12 genes are associated with a variety of biological processes, including egg-laying, oxidative stress, muscle contraction, and neurological functions. In summary, the toxicity potentiating effect of chemical dispersant must be taken into consideration in future crude oil cleanup applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiong Zhang
- Department of Biology, East Carolina University, N108 Howell Science Complex, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
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Goldsmith WT, McKinney W, Jackson M, Law B, Bledsoe T, Siegel P, Cumpston J, Frazer D. A computer-controlled whole-body inhalation exposure system for the oil dispersant COREXIT EC9500A. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2011; 74:1368-80. [PMID: 21916743 PMCID: PMC4694573 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2011.606793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
An automated whole-body inhalation exposure system capable of exposing 12 individually housed rats was designed to examine the potential adverse health effects of the oil dispersant COREXIT EC9500A, used extensively during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A computer-controlled syringe pump injected the COREXIT EC9500A into an atomizer where droplets and vapor were formed and mixed with diluent air. The aerosolized COREXIT EC9500A was passed into a customized exposure chamber where a calibrated light-scattering instrument estimated the real-time particle mass concentration of the aerosol in the chamber. Software feedback loops controlled the chamber aerosol concentration and pressure throughout each exposure. The particle size distribution of the dispersant aerosol was measured and shown to have a count median aerodynamic diameter of 285 nm with a geometric standard deviation of 1.7. The total chamber concentration (particulate + vapor) was determined using a modification of the acidified methylene blue spectrophotometric assay for anionic surfactants. Tests were conducted to show the effectiveness of closed loop control of chamber concentration and to verify chamber concentration homogeneity. Five automated 5-h animal exposures were performed that produced controlled and consistent COREXIT EC9500A concentrations (27.1 ± 2.9 mg/m(3), mean ± SD).
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Affiliation(s)
- William Travis Goldsmith
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Effects Laboratory Division, Pathology and Physiology Research Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA.
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