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Cieśla J, Skrobisz J, Niciński B, Kloc M, Mazur K, Pałasz A, Javan GT, Tomsia M. The smell of death. State-of-the-art and future research directions. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1260869. [PMID: 37779703 PMCID: PMC10538644 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1260869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The decomposition of a body is inseparably associated with the release of several types of odors. This phenomenon has been used in the training of sniffer dogs for decades. The odor profile associated with decomposition consists of a range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemical composition of which varies over time, temperature, environmental conditions, and the type of microorganisms, and insects colonizing the carcass. Mercaptans are responsible for the bad smell associated with corpses; however, there are no unified recommendations for conducting forensic analysis based on the detectable odor of revealed corpses and previous research on VOCs shows differing results. The aim of this review is to systematize the current knowledge on the type of volatile organic compounds related to the decomposition process, depending on a few variables. This knowledge will improve the methods of VOCs detection and analysis to be used in modern forensic diagnostics and improve the methods of training dogs for forensic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Cieśla
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Julia Skrobisz
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Bartosz Niciński
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kloc
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Mazur
- Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Artur Pałasz
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Gulnaz T. Javan
- Department of Physical and Forensic Science Programs, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL, United States
| | - Marcin Tomsia
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
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Michanowicz DR, Leventhal OM, Domen JK, Williams SR, Lebel ED, Hill LAL, Buonocore JJ, Nordgaard CL, Bernstein AS, Shonkoff SBC. Natural gas odorants: A scoping review of health effects. Curr Environ Health Rep 2023; 10:337-352. [PMID: 37491689 PMCID: PMC10504204 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-023-00403-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Organosulfur compounds are intentionally added to natural gas as malodorants with the intent of short-term nasal inhalation to aid in leak detection. Regulatory exposure limits have not been established for all commonly used natural gas odorants, and recent community-level exposure events and growing evidence of indoor natural gas leakage have raised concerns associated with natural gas odorant exposures. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed scientific publications on human exposures and animal toxicological studies of natural gas odorants to assess toxicological profiles, exposure potential, health effects and regulatory guidelines associated with commonly used natural gas odorants. RECENT FINDINGS We identified only 22 studies which met inclusion criteria for full review. Overall, there is limited evidence of both transient nonspecific health symptoms and clinically diagnosed causative neurotoxic effects associated with prolonged odorant exposures. Across seven community-level exposure events and two occupational case reports, consistent symptom patterns included: headache, ocular irritation, nose and throat irritation, respiratory complaints such as shortness of breath and asthma attacks, and skin irritation and rash. Of these, respiratory inflammation and asthma exacerbations are the most debilitating, whereas the high prevalence of ocular and dermatologic symptoms suggest a non-inhalation route of exposure. The limited evidence available raises the possibility that organosulfur odorants may pose health risks at exposures much lower than presently understood, though additional dose-response studies are needed to disentangle specific toxicologic effects from nonspecific responses to noxious organosulfur odors. Numerous recommendations are provided including more transparent and prescriptive natural gas odorant use practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew R Michanowicz
- Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, United States.
- PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States.
| | - Olivia M Leventhal
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, United States
| | - Jeremy K Domen
- PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
- Earth & Environmental Sciences Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States
| | - Samuel R Williams
- Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
| | - Eric D Lebel
- PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
| | | | - Jonathan J Buonocore
- Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Aaron S Bernstein
- Center for Climate, Health and the Global Environment, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02215, United States
- Division of General Medicine Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, United States
| | - Seth B C Shonkoff
- PSE Healthy Energy, Oakland, CA, 94612, United States
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States
- Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94702, United States
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Guo F, Hu B, Yang C, Zhang J, Hou Y, Wang X. On-Surface Polymerization of In-Plane Highly Ordered Carbon Nitride Nanosheets toward Photocatalytic Mineralization of Mercaptan Gas. Adv Mater 2021; 33:e2101466. [PMID: 34480371 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202101466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
2D carbon nitride nanosheets have attracted ever-increasing interest in photocatalysis due to their unique structural advantages. However, the nanosheets synthesized by the traditional methods, such as post oxidation and liquid exfoliation, have suffered from in-plane disorder with abundant structural defects, which seriously counteracts their structural benefits for photocatalysis. Herein, it is demonstrated that polymer carbon nitride nanosheets with in-plane highly ordered structure (PCNNs-IHO) can be successfully prepared by on-surface polymerization of melamine on NaCl crystal surface at elevated temperatures. The NaCl crystals with relative high surface energy not only facilitate the adsorption and activation of melamine to undergo condensation reaction, but also function as unique substrates to orientate the assembly of 2D nanosheet structure. In addition, NaCl also acts as a reactant to provide Na+ doping into carbon nitride matrix, affording PCNNs-IHO with robust structural base sites. Benefiting from this structural basicity, PCNNs-IHO exhibits superior photocatalytic performance toward CH3 SH mineralization under visible light irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangsong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China
| | - Bing Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Can Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Jinshui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Yidong Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
| | - Xinchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China
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Abstract
This review intends to rationalize the knowledge related to the aroma of grapes and to the aroma of wine with specific origin in molecules formed in grapes. The actual flavor of grapes is formed by the few free aroma molecules already found in the pulp and in the skin, plus by those aroma molecules quickly formed by enzymatic/catalytic reactions. The review covers key aroma components of aromatic grapes, raisins and raisinized grapes, and the aroma components responsible from green and vegetal notes. This knowledge is used to explain the flavor properties of neutral grapes. The aroma potential of grape is the consequence of five different systems/pools of specific aroma precursors that during fermentation and/or aging, release wine varietal aroma. In total, 27 relevant wine aroma compounds can be considered that proceed from grape specific precursors. Some of them are immediately formed during fermentation, while some others require long aging time to accumulate. Precursors are glycosides, glutathionyl and cysteinyl conjugates, and other non-volatile molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Ferreira
- Laboratory for Aroma Analysis and Enology (LAAE), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Universidad de Zaragoza, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2) (UNIZAR-CITA), c/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain;
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Downs JW, Renshaw JM. Animal Derived Thiol Induced Work Exacerbated Asthma: A Brief Case Report of a Unique Workplace Hazard. US Army Med Dep J 2018:84-86. [PMID: 30623404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A 33 year old female healthcare worker with a history of cough variant asthma presented with 2 weeks of dyspnea and cough that she believed to be due to recurring exposure to skunk spray in her work environment. The employee was working in a temporary structure outside the primary hospital campus. During the preceding 2 weeks, at least one striped skunk was observed multiple times by staff members to be crawling under the structure. The employee's symptoms were not initially considered serious by her supervisors who felt that the appreciable "skunk smell" was merely a nuisance odor. Repeated pre- and postexposure spirometry noted a 350 mL and 11% reduction in forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1). A review of organic chemistry literature found that 2 thiols, also known as mercaptans, produced in striped skunk spray are structurally related to 1-butanethiol, a chemical workplace hazard and known respiratory irritant with established occupational exposure limits. The observation of the chemical similarities between these skunk-derived thiols and workplace thiols was the key factor in getting the employee temporarily removed from a hazardous, albeit unique, working environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Downs
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Blanchfield Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, Kentucky
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Huang P, Wang P, Tang S, Fu Z, Lei A. Electro-Oxidative S-H/S-H Cross-Coupling with Hydrogen Evolution: Facile Access to Unsymmetrical Disulfides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:8115-8119. [PMID: 29740920 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201803464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sulfur is an essential element because it exists widely in proteins. The disulfide bond is an important moiety in many different types of significant organic molecules. A new approach for oxidant- and catalyst-free S-H/S-H cross-coupling, with hydrogen evolution, to construct unsymmetrical disulfides was developed. Under the conditions of an undivided cell at room temperature, a series of unsymmetrical disulfides were prepared with up to 87 % yield from the direct coupling of an aryl mercaptan and alkyl mercaptan. Gram-scale synthesis also highlights the synthetic utility of this electrochemical strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Huang
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Pan Wang
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Shan Tang
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Zhuangjiong Fu
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, P. R. China
| | - Aiwen Lei
- Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, Hubei, P. R. China.,National Research Center for Carbohydrate Synthesis, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, 330022, P. R. China
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Pietkiewicz P, Gornowicz-Porowska J, Bartkiewicz P, Bowszyc-Dmochowska M, Dmochowski M. Reviewing putative industrial triggering in pemphigus: cluster of pemphigus in the area near the wastewater treatment plant. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2017; 34:185-91. [PMID: 28670245 DOI: 10.5114/ada.2017.67840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A range of pemphigus is relatively rare potentially fatal group of autoimmune blistering dermatoses. Usually, there is no apparent triggering, while in some predisposed patients there are alleged environmental/industrial inducing factors. In a short time period (4 years), we diagnosed 3 novel cases of pemphigus (1 pemphigus vulgaris, 1 pemphigus foliaceus and 1 shift from pemphigus foliaceus into pemphigus vulgaris) at a clinical and laboratory level (ELISA, immunofluorescence studies). We discuss a possible common inducing mechanism as these patients inhabit one estate of the Poznan suburbia (Kozieglowy, population < 12,000), Greater Poland district, Poland, and review literature data on alleged pemphigus triggers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report exploring the putative association between pemphigus diseases and wastewater treatment plant waterborne or volatile by-products in the vicinity of such a facility.
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Hanelt S, Friedrich JF, Meyer-Plath A. UV Spectrometric Indirect Analysis of Brominated MWCNTs with UV Active Thiols and an Alkene-Reaction Kinetics, Quantification and Differentiation of Adsorbed Bromine and Oxygen. Materials (Basel) 2013; 6:3035-3063. [PMID: 28811421 PMCID: PMC5521233 DOI: 10.3390/ma6083035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2013] [Revised: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Indirect UV-absorption spectrometry was shown to be a valuable tool for chemical characterization of functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). It complements data from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or FTIR analysis since it helps to clarify the type and concentration of functional groups. The principles of indirect application of UV-spectrometry and its mathematical interpretation are discussed. Their facile application, together with their adequate sensitivity and high flexibility, make UV-absorption-based approaches a valuable alternative to fluorescence spectrometry. Here, the approach was applied to the chemical analysis of oxidizing substances on CNTs. For this, pristine CNTs of low but finite oxygen content as well as brominated CNTs were analyzed by reaction in suspension with UV-active thiol reagents and a styrene derivative. It was shown that carefully selected reagents allow differentiation and quantification of bromine and generally oxidizing entities like oxygen. For brominated CNTs, it was shown that physisorbed bromine may dominate the overall bromine content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Hanelt
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Division 6.6, Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12200, Germany.
| | - Jörg F Friedrich
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Division 6.6, Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12200, Germany.
| | - Asmus Meyer-Plath
- Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Division 6.6, Unter den Eichen 87, Berlin 12200, Germany.
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Dale RM, Livingston DC, Ward DC. The synthesis and enzymatic polymerization of nucleotides containing mercury: potential tools for nucleic acid sequencing and structural analysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1973; 70:2238-42. [PMID: 4365367 PMCID: PMC433709 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.70.8.2238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A simple acetoxymercuration reaction for introducing covalently bound mercury atoms into nucleotides is described. The 5-mercuriacetate derivatives of UTP, CTP, dUTP, and dCTP, as well as the 7-mercuriacetate derivative of 7-deazaATP, have been prepared by this procedure and tested as substrates for nucleic acid polymerases. These nucleotides, in the absence of added mercaptan, are not polymerized and in most instances are potent enzyme inhibitors. However, conversion of these mercuriacetates to mercurithio compounds in situ by the addition of one of various mercaptans, yields nucleoside triphosphates that are excellent substrates for all polymerases tested: Escherichia coli and T7 RNA polymerases, DNA polymerase I of E. coli, DNA polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus, and calf-thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. By varying the mercaptan used to promote syntheses it is possible to access certain structural limitations in the enzyme's nucleoside triphosphate binding site. These mercurinucleotides appear to have a diversity of potential applications: (1) as heavy-atom reagents for crystallographic and microscopic studies; (2) as affinity probes for enzymes sensitive to sulfhydryl modification; (3) as steric probes of substrate-binding sites on enzymes; and (4) as reagents for forming covalent protein-polynucleotide complexes.
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