Comparison of blood mercury concentrations in hypertensive and normotensive adults

Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 205S (2011) S60–S179

0.10–0.267; Zn 7.11–21.88 ␮g/g wet weight, respectively. Levels of Cd, Hg, Pb, Ni were not exceeding the corresponding provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values. For average consumers, target hazard quotient (THQ) values of inorganic As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Ni indicated the absence of health risks through consumption of the fish species analyzed. Cancer risk estimate for inorganic As (5.7 × 10−6 ) from consuming these fish species was lower than 10−5 (acceptable risk). Our results suggest that there is a need for more information on total dietary exposure of inorganic As and supports the importance of speciation analysis for arsenic in seafood for more appropriate risk assessment of inorganic As in fish species. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.426

P1193 Single and combined effects associated with two xenobiotics widely used in intensive aquaculture on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) M.A. Jerbi 1,∗ , Z. Ouanes 2 , R. besbes 3 , Z. Haouas 4 , L. Achour 1 , A. Kacem 1 1

Unité De Recherche Génome, Diagnostic Immunitaire Et Valorisation, ISBM, Monastir, Tunisia, 2 Marine and Environmental Toxicology, UR 09-03-IPEIS, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia, 3 Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Monastir, Tunisia, 4 Laboratoire d’Histologie et de Cytogénétique, Faculté de Médecine de Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia Several chemicals are used in aquaculture to prevent or to treat diseases outbreaks. These substances are mainly administered by two different modes; by prolonged bath or by complexation with the diet. In the case of intensive aquaculture, the most applied by bath chemicals are formaldehyde (FA) 37% and oxytetracycline (OTC). Under therapeutic use, FA 37% is applied prophylactically at 200 ml/m3 , whereas OTC is used curatively at 40 g/m3 . The goal of the present study is to assess adverse effects associated with the European sea bass (D. labrax) exposure to FA37% and OTC under the same conditions being applied in intensive aquaculture systems. To this end the micronuclei (MN) assay was applied in erythrocytic cells to assess their genotoxicity and cytotoxicity. In parallel a histopathological survey and a study of the oxidative status of the liver were also achieved. Our results showed that both tested chemicals presented genotoxic and cytotoxic potential following a time-dependent pattern. Histologically viewing, it was obvious that both FA and OTC have induced sinusoid dilatation and blood congestion. Intensive vacuolisation and focal necrosis were also observed. These results are confirmed by the biochemical analysis where catalase activity and malondialdehyde have shown a significant increase in reference to control (p ≤ 0.05). Captivatingly, the combined treatment induces a cumulative effect particularly well pronounced after 15 days of exposure suggesting the critical hazards associated to FA and OTC when applied or released together. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.427

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P1194 Possible approaches to the development of universal cholinesterase reactivator J. Bajgar 1,∗ , J. Kassa 1 , M. Pohanka 2 1

Toxicology, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, 2 Center of Advanced Studies, Faculty of Military Health Sciences, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic Based on our knowledge of the mechanism of nerve agents/organophosphates (OP), anticholinergics, cholinesterase reactivators (oximes) and anticonvulsants are used. At present, there is not an universal reactivator able to reactivate AChE inhibited by all nerve agents/OP. Some steps of development of this antidote are described. Literature survey and other information are necessary; after this stage, inhibition/reactivation potency of the nerve agent/reactivator to AChE can be used to characterize the toxic/therapeutic effects (inhibition/reactivation of cholinesterases) followed by determination of the reactivator’s effect in vitro including molecular modelling. As the first information in vivo is simple characterization by toxicity and later on, reactivation potency in vivo and therapeutic efficacy following administration of various antidotes or their combinations is provided. For further studies in vivo, AChE inhibition/reactivation in different tissues are determined. Quantitative histochemical determination of AChE activity allows fine differentiation among various brain structures. Blood levels of nerve agents and antidotes are necessary part of these studies. Other than cholinergic mechanisms are also determined as well as behavioral studies. For all mentioned techniques, examples of results are given. Using this approach, it was investigated that more universal action of oximes is possible when two different reactivators are used. Their action is not simple summation but more potentiation. This potentiation was observed in antidotal properties of the mixture (survival) as well as reactivation efficacy in different organs. This approach allows improving current medical countermeasures against nerve agent poisoning. Support: Ministry of Defence (Czech Republic)-MO0 FVZ 0000501. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.428

P1195 Comparison of blood mercury concentrations in hypertensive and normotensive adults A. Bakhtiarian ∗ , A. Mohaghegh, M. Ghazi- Khansari Dept. of Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Purpose: Hypertension is a very common and important disease. There are conflicting reports about mercury, a trace element, in the genesis of hypertension. In this study we examined the relationship between blood mercury levels and hypertension prevalence in a population-based sample of hypertensive and normotensive patients at the Shariati Hospital and the Tehran Heart Center in Tehran, Iran. Methods: A cross sectional sampling of 224 patients, aged 40–80 years, who participated in physical examinations were included in this study. Results of the study: The range of blood mercury levels was 0–39.55 ␮g/dL. The mean blood mercury level of hypertensive patients (10.75 ± 1.23 ␮g/dL) was higher than that of normotensive patients (1.6 ± 1.02 ␮g/dL). There was a significant difference in the mean blood mercury level of normotensive men (1.74 ± 1.56 ␮g/dL) versus that of hypertensive

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Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 205S (2011) S60–S179

men (11.9 ± 1.38 ␮g/dL). The mean blood mercury level of normotensive women (1.5 ␮g/dL) was also significantly different from that of hypertensive women (9.65 ± 0.53 ␮g/dL). In this population, there is a positive relationship between the concentration of blood mercury levels and the presence of hypertension. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.429

P1196 Bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by earthworms Eisenia fetida M. Beklova 1,∗ , M. Vavrova 2 , M. Stoupalova 2 , I. Soukupova 1 , E. Stilarkova 2 , I. Provalilova 2 1

Department of Veterinary Ecology and Environmental Protection, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic, 2 University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

1,3-dinitropyrene (1,3-DNPy), 1,6-dinitropyrene (1,6-DNPy) and 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNPy). The mutagenic activities were evaluated with umuC test in presence and in absence of metabolic activation with S9 mix. Then, we used both cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of human pan-centromeric DNA probes on human lymphocytes in order to evaluate the genotoxic effects. Analysis of all results shows that nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are definitely environmental genotoxic/mutagenic hazards and confirms that environmental aromatic nitration reactions lead to an increase in genotoxicity and mutagenicity properties. Particularly 1-NPy and 1,8-DNPy can be considered as human potential carcinogens. They seem to be significant markers of the genotoxicity, mutagenicity and potential carcinogenicity of complex PAHs mixtures present in traffic emission and industrial environment. In prevention of environmental carcinogenic risk 1NPy and 1,8-DNPy must therefore be systematically analyzed in environmental complex mixtures in association with combined umuC test, CBMN assay and FISH on cultured human lymphocytes. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.431

The ecotoxicological test on earthworms (Eisenia fetida) was performed to evaluate thenegative impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the ecosystem biotic compartments. Apart from that, contamination level of artificial soil, in which the experiment was performed, was evaluated along with contamination of earthworm tissues, which were collected at the experiment end (OECD methods No. 207, 1984). For the purpose of particular PAHs identification and quantification, gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used. Sixteen US EPA PAHs were detected in the soil and earthworm tissues. Their content, related to fresh tissue mass, was as follows: naphthalene 0.17 ␮g kg−1 , acenaphthylene 0.30 ␮g kg−1 , acenaphthene 1.78 ␮g kg−1 . Their levels in soil, related to dry matter, were as follows: naphthalene 1.01 ␮g kg−1 , acenaphthylene 1.22 ␮g kg−1 , and acenaphthene 10.1 ␮g kg−1 . For the evaluation of the transfer from abiotic matrices to biota, bioaccumulation factor (BAF = cPAHs E.f./cPAHs S) was calculated and its values can suggest the PAHs quantity, accumulated in tissues of the soil macroedaphone. The highest BAF were determined at the following analytes: naphtalene (5.94), acenaphthylene (4.03) and acenaphthene (5.69). On the basis of the results achieved, we can claim that earthworm (Eisenia fetida) is an appropriate organism for similar ecotoxicologic evaluations. Apart from that, it is obvious that in case of evaluation of pollutants distribution from abiotic to biotic matrices, use of the bioconcentration factor calculation is appropriate. Financial Support: MSMT 6215712402. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.430

P1197 Environmental nitration processes enhance the mutagenic potency of aromatic compounds A. Bonnefoy 1,∗ , S. Chiron 2 , A. Botta 1 1

Laboratoire De Biogénotoxicologie Et Mutagenese Environnementale, Faculté de Medecine, Marseille, France, 2 Laboratoire Chimie Provence, Université de Provence, Marseille, France This work is an attempt to establish if aromatic nitration processes are always associated with an increase of genotoxicity. We determined the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of benzene (B), nitrobenzene (NB), phenol (P), 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), pyrene (Py), 1-nitropyrene (1-NPy),

P1198 Effect of formaldehyde on corneal epithelial cells in an air–liquid culture model F. Brignole-Baudouin 1,∗ , S. Achard 2 , C. Persoz 2 , A. Emptoz 1 , N. Seta 3 , C. Baudouin 4 Toxicologie, Universite Paris Descartes, Paris, France, 2 Sante Publique Environnement, Universite Paris Descartes, Paris, France, 3 Laboratoire De Santé Publique Et Environnement EA4064, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France, 4 Institut De La Vision Inserm Umr S598, Paris, France

1

Purpose: Dry eye disease and ocular allergy are growing ocular surface diseases in occidental countries. Formaldehyde (FA) is the major pollutant of indoor air and its role on the ocular surface is still poorly understood. Our aim was to study the effect of FA on the expression of the chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1 by human corneal epithelial cells in an air–liquid culture. Methods: Human corneal cells were grown until subconfluence on transwell inserts before being placed in exposure chambers (Vitrocell) where 4 conditions were tested for 30 min: standard medium without(negative control) or with TNF (2 ng/ml, positive control) or after removal of the supernatant, in air or in formaldehyde (50 ␮g/m3 ). Then, the cells were returned to standard medium for 24 h. Protein and LDH activity assessment, CXCL8/IL-8 and CCL2/MCP-1 ELISA assays in the supernatant, and immunofluorescence stainings on the inserts have been performed. ANOVA with Bonferroni test was used to compare the conditions between them. Results: The LDH activity significantly increased when cells were exposed to air or FA with FA values higher than those in air. Air did not induce chemokine secretion in contrast to FA and TNF (with FA less than TNF). The immunostainings confirmed these observations and showed apoptosis patterns in air and FA. We showed with this new air–liquid cell culture model, which better mimicks in vivo atmospheric exposure of the cornea to pollutants, that formaldehyde alters cell viability, induces chemokine production and apoptosis and could therefore actively participate to the development of some ocular surface diseases. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.05.432