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Organophosphates
Information Section--Fd Chem. Toxic. Vol. 33, No. 11 for up to six months. Analysis of human lung tissue specimens revealed the presence of cigarette filter fibres. "These findings establish the need for studies analyzing the toxicity and tumorigenicity of cigarette filter components" (Pauly et al., Cancer Research 1995, 55, 253).
Organophosphates Neuropsychological performance in tests to assess sustained attention and speed of information processing was poorer among 146 sheep farmers when compared with 143 quarry-worker controls in a crosssectional UK study funded by the HSE. Farmers also demonstrated greater vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. The sheep farmers were regularly exposed to organophosphates in the course of sheep dipping. "Repeated exposure to organophosphate-based pesticides appear to be associated with subtle changes in the nervous system. Measures should be taken to reduce exposure to organophosphates as far as possible during agricultural operations" (Stephens et al., Lancet 1995, 345, 1135).
Pesticides and herbi,eides Nine herbicide and pesticide products were found to be mutagenic to the fruit fly Drosophila in an Alabama laboratory. These were Ambush (containing the active ingredient permethrin), Treflan (containing trifluralin), Blazer (acifluorfen), Roundup (glyphosate), 2,4-D, Crossbow (said to contain 2,4,5T), Galecron (chlordimeform), Pramitol (prometon) and Pondmaster (glyphosate) (Kale et al., Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1995, 25, 148). [Editorial note: Other sources indicate that Crossbow does not contain 2,4,5-T.]
1,1,1,3-Tetrachloropropane Microscopic changes in the liver and heart were observed in rats exposed to atmospheres containing 25 ppm or more 1,1..1,3-tetrachloropropane, 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 90 days. Increased kidney weight at 225 ppm was also considered to be treatment related. A no-observed-effect level was 10 ppm (Kolesar et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1995, 25, 52).
Glass fibres A significantly reduced survival was seen in rats which had been exposed for 1 yr (6 hr/day, 5 days/ wk) to 2.2 + 0.6 mg/m 3 of glass fibres. The test material, which was reported to have a mass median aerodiameter of 2.6 ram, had been obtained from the ultracentrifug;ttion of a Japanese binderless glass fibre filter, failed to identify any treatmentrelated adverse pathology. "Further examination using a greater number of rats will be needed to clarify the pathogenesis of the increased mortality" (Haratake et al., Inhalation Toxicology 1995, 7, 343).
991
Aluminium nitrate Investigators from Spain have studied the reproductive toxicology of aluminium nitrate in male mice. Intraperitoneal injections of 0, 50, 100 or 200 mg aluminium nitrate/kg body weight/day, 5 days/wk for 4 wk prior to mating with untreated females reduced pregnancy rate at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight/day. Sperm counts were reduced at the top dose and the number of spermatids was decreased at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight/day. Significantly reduced absolute testis weights were reported at the top dose and there were indications of reduced testes weights at all tested doses. A no-observed-adverseeffect level of 50 mg/kg body weight/day was claimed (Llobet et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1995, 25, 45). Textile dyes A literature review (1985 to the present) of textile dye dermatitis has revealed that 14 dyes have been newly associated with cases of allergic contact dermatitis during this period: Disperse Blue 106, Disperse Blue 85, Disperse Brown 1, Basic Red 46, Disperse Blue 153, Disperse Orange 13, Basic Black 1, Basic Brown 1, the acid dyes Supramine Yellow and Supramine Red, the direct dye Diazol Orange, the basic dye Brilliant Green, Turquoise Reactive, and Neutrichrome Red. Disperse Blue 106 and Disperse Blue 124 were shown to be the strongest clothing dye sensitizers producing positive patch tests in 30 of the 61 patients identified. "The incidence of dye-induced dermatitis is estimated to be 1.4% to 5.8% in patients with eczema". "It is difficult to determine whether the incidence of dye dermatitis is increasing or decreasing because controlled epidemiological studies are lacking, but data suggest that textile dye sensitivity is more common than previously believed." (Hatch and Maibach, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1995, 32, 631).
Magnetic fields Female rats exposed for 24 hr/day, 7 days/wk for six wk to 50 Hz magnetic fields with a flux density of 50/a Tesla had an 80-120% increase in the activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in the mammary tissue. The extent of the increase was similar to that induced by the known carcinogen dimethylbenzanthrene. A 42% increase in ODC activity was also observed for the spleen. ODC is "a key element in the biosynthesis of polyamines which have roles in cell proliferation and control of gene expression". The results "strengthen the hypothesis that weak 50-Hz magnetic fields affect ODC activity and may thus function as a tumour-promoting or co-promoting agent" (Mevissen et al., Cancer Letters 1995, 90, 207).
Pharmaceutical workers A retrospective cohort study of 3504 workers of a Swedish pharmaceutical company identified an
Organophosphates Neuropsychological performance in tests to assess sustained attention and speed of information processing was poorer among 146 sheep farmers when compared with 143 quarry-worker controls in a crosssectional UK study funded by the HSE. Farmers also demonstrated greater vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. The sheep farmers were regularly exposed to organophosphates in the course of sheep dipping. "Repeated exposure to organophosphate-based pesticides appear to be associated with subtle changes in the nervous system. Measures should be taken to reduce exposure to organophosphates as far as possible during agricultural operations" (Stephens et al., Lancet 1995, 345, 1135).
Pesticides and herbi,eides Nine herbicide and pesticide products were found to be mutagenic to the fruit fly Drosophila in an Alabama laboratory. These were Ambush (containing the active ingredient permethrin), Treflan (containing trifluralin), Blazer (acifluorfen), Roundup (glyphosate), 2,4-D, Crossbow (said to contain 2,4,5T), Galecron (chlordimeform), Pramitol (prometon) and Pondmaster (glyphosate) (Kale et al., Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 1995, 25, 148). [Editorial note: Other sources indicate that Crossbow does not contain 2,4,5-T.]
1,1,1,3-Tetrachloropropane Microscopic changes in the liver and heart were observed in rats exposed to atmospheres containing 25 ppm or more 1,1..1,3-tetrachloropropane, 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 90 days. Increased kidney weight at 225 ppm was also considered to be treatment related. A no-observed-effect level was 10 ppm (Kolesar et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1995, 25, 52).
Glass fibres A significantly reduced survival was seen in rats which had been exposed for 1 yr (6 hr/day, 5 days/ wk) to 2.2 + 0.6 mg/m 3 of glass fibres. The test material, which was reported to have a mass median aerodiameter of 2.6 ram, had been obtained from the ultracentrifug;ttion of a Japanese binderless glass fibre filter, failed to identify any treatmentrelated adverse pathology. "Further examination using a greater number of rats will be needed to clarify the pathogenesis of the increased mortality" (Haratake et al., Inhalation Toxicology 1995, 7, 343).
991
Aluminium nitrate Investigators from Spain have studied the reproductive toxicology of aluminium nitrate in male mice. Intraperitoneal injections of 0, 50, 100 or 200 mg aluminium nitrate/kg body weight/day, 5 days/wk for 4 wk prior to mating with untreated females reduced pregnancy rate at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight/day. Sperm counts were reduced at the top dose and the number of spermatids was decreased at 100 and 200mg/kg body weight/day. Significantly reduced absolute testis weights were reported at the top dose and there were indications of reduced testes weights at all tested doses. A no-observed-adverseeffect level of 50 mg/kg body weight/day was claimed (Llobet et al., Fundamental and Applied Toxicology 1995, 25, 45). Textile dyes A literature review (1985 to the present) of textile dye dermatitis has revealed that 14 dyes have been newly associated with cases of allergic contact dermatitis during this period: Disperse Blue 106, Disperse Blue 85, Disperse Brown 1, Basic Red 46, Disperse Blue 153, Disperse Orange 13, Basic Black 1, Basic Brown 1, the acid dyes Supramine Yellow and Supramine Red, the direct dye Diazol Orange, the basic dye Brilliant Green, Turquoise Reactive, and Neutrichrome Red. Disperse Blue 106 and Disperse Blue 124 were shown to be the strongest clothing dye sensitizers producing positive patch tests in 30 of the 61 patients identified. "The incidence of dye-induced dermatitis is estimated to be 1.4% to 5.8% in patients with eczema". "It is difficult to determine whether the incidence of dye dermatitis is increasing or decreasing because controlled epidemiological studies are lacking, but data suggest that textile dye sensitivity is more common than previously believed." (Hatch and Maibach, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1995, 32, 631).
Magnetic fields Female rats exposed for 24 hr/day, 7 days/wk for six wk to 50 Hz magnetic fields with a flux density of 50/a Tesla had an 80-120% increase in the activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in the mammary tissue. The extent of the increase was similar to that induced by the known carcinogen dimethylbenzanthrene. A 42% increase in ODC activity was also observed for the spleen. ODC is "a key element in the biosynthesis of polyamines which have roles in cell proliferation and control of gene expression". The results "strengthen the hypothesis that weak 50-Hz magnetic fields affect ODC activity and may thus function as a tumour-promoting or co-promoting agent" (Mevissen et al., Cancer Letters 1995, 90, 207).
Pharmaceutical workers A retrospective cohort study of 3504 workers of a Swedish pharmaceutical company identified an