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The problem of allergy in ecotoxicology of polymeric materials
Environment International 28 (2003) 699 – 702 www.elsevier.com/locate/envint
The problem of allergy in ecotoxicology of polymeric materials B. Kuzminov a,*, V. Turkina a, L. Shafran b,1 a
b
Lviv State Medical University by Danylo Halytky, 69 Pekarska Str., Lviv 79010, Ukraine Ukrainian Research Institute of Transport Medicine, 92 Kanatnaya Str., Odessa 65039, Ukraine
Abstract In the program of initial toxicological test, the estimation of allergenic activity of some names of polymeric compositions, which are used in the polygraphic industry and when painting and decorating dwelling houses and social purpose premises, had been carried out. Most of the investigated compositions have different degrees of allergenicity. In order to unify the works in this field, we suggest the basic circuit of the estimation of allergenicity of polymeric materials, the final stage of which provides for the compiling of register of potentially allergenic polymeric materials. D 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Allergy; Polymers; Register
The nomenclature and sphere of application of polymeric materials are constantly expanding in modern human life. Numerous researches have shown that the presence of polymers in human environment raises risk of allergic diseases (Gubernsky et al., 1998; Lawlor et al., 1995). Thus, it is necessary to mention that immunity disfunction is often accompanied by the reduction of organism’s resistibility to infectious diseases and by the increase of danger of malignant neoplasms, allergopathologies. The problem of allergodanger of polymeric materials is aggravated by the possible accumulation on their surfaces of the bacteria-destructors and mycoflora, which are active allergens themselves (Burge, 1989), as well as by probable formation of thermal oxidizing destruction products when producing polymeric materials by casting or high temperature pressing, and at recycling.
1. Methods The objects used were varnishes, paints and polygraphic polymeric materials of various compounding and different manufacturers.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +38-322-965663; fax: +38-322-970796. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (B. Kuzminov), [email protected] (L. Shafran). 1 Tel.: +38-482-226752; fax: +38-482-246566.
The study of sensitization activity of preparations was carried out on guinea pigs, males, light-coloured, 200 – 220 g body weight. During the experiments, two ways of influence on animals have been used: intracutaneous, as screening test, reflecting the possibility of occurrence of allergic reactions caused by penetration of preparations into the skin barrier, with additional daily skin applications, and inhalation, as the most adequate way of receiving volatile components of polymeric materials. In case of intracutaneous influence, the preparation was put into the ears of guinea pigs in the dose of 200 mg/animal in 0.02 ml of physiological solution. Control animals received the same volume of the carrier. Sensitization properties of preparations were defined on the 10th day after the only putting by making immunologic reactions in vitro, epicutaneous test by native preparation in a physiological solution. The carrier served as the control in epicutaneous testing. Epicutaneous reactions were estimated in 15 min, 2, 24, 48 and 72 h after putting permissible dose on a tested part. Besides, the quantity of basophils and eosinophils in the blood of experimental and control animals was defined. During the skin application, the testing was carried out on the 30th day from the beginning of preparation application. Inhalation influence was studied in conditions of dynamic priming substances, which were emitted into the air from not hardened materials (time of exposition was 4 h). Tests were carried out in 24 h with the use of standard immunologic test. The statistical analysis of the received data was carried out
0160-4120/02/$ - see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 1 6 0 - 4 1 2 0 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 11 4 - 9
700
B. Kuzminov et al. / Environment International 28 (2003) 699–702
with the help of variational statistics after the Student’s method.
2. Results and discussion In the program of initial toxicological test, the estimation of allergen danger row of some polymeric compositions, which are used in the polygraphic industry and when painting and decorating dwelling houses and special purpose premises, had been carried out. Skin applications of polygraphic composition Nos. 11, 12 and 13 (Table 1) provoked contact dermatitis with allergic component experimental animals. Thirty to fifty percent of the guinea pigs had positive provocative epicuta-
neous tests; the increase of eosins and lymphocytes in the blood was marked as well. Composition Nos. 3, 5, 10, 11 and 14 caused allergic reorganization in the organisms of experimental animals, which revealed itself both in skin reactions, and in changes of immunologic parameters of the whole blood and in tests in vitro. According to our data, the major factor that influences the intensity of the allergic answer of the organism, when using decoration varnishes and paints, is their polymeric basis. Out of the 12 groups compounded by this principle, the most vivid allergenic properties were observed in materials based on styrolacrylic, polyurethanes and silicone bases (Table 2). The presence of organic solvents in the compounding can promote the amplification of allergenic
Table 1 The comparative characteristic of allergenic effect caused by polygraphic materials
B. Kuzminov et al. / Environment International 28 (2003) 699–702 Table 2 Comparative allergenic activity of the various groups of varnishes and paints Type of a polymeric basis Acrylic Styrene-acrylic Nitrocellulose Alkyd Epoxide PVA On the basis of mineral bindings On the basis of animal sizing On the basis of natural resins Polyurethanes PVC Siliconorganic
Degree of allergenic activity water-based with organic water-based with organic with organic with organic with organic water-based
solvent solvent solvent solvent solvent
++ +++ ++ ++ + ++
/+ water-based with organic solvent water-based
++ +
, absent; +, feebly expressed; ++, middy expressed; +++, strongly expressed.
activity of the preparation, which is noticed for acrylic compositions. The possible reason for this could be that organic solvents cause the destruction of protein in the organism, which, in turn, leads to the development of autallergic reactions. Taking into consideration the fact that, at the present stage, water-based materials are used in most applications, it is expedient to carry out their comparative analysis in view of their various origins. The strongest allergenic effect of the materials investigated was noticed in composition Nos. 6
701
and 10, which was revealed not only in epicutaneous effects when using permissible dose, but first of all in typical immunologic reactions, particularly in the growth of RSAL in 68.2% and 49.1% accordingly (Fig. 1). The analysis and generalization of this above-mentioned actual materials testifies to the necessity, from the point of view of the ecology-hygienic regulation of polymeric materials, of inclusion of allergic screening in the general circuit of their estimation. Thus, in each concrete case, depending on kind of the material and research aims, the individual approach to the selection of the battery of tests, which will be later included in the general circuit of research, is necessary. It is suggested to carry out researches stage by stage (Fig. 2). The unified approach includes a three-stage program that provides a different degree of labour input on every stage and the transition to the following stage only after having the results of the previous test. Such an approach to the researches allows planning the minimal set of methods for the estimation of allergenicity of preparations. At the initial preliminary stage of the researches, the analysis of materials’ compounding is carried out and, according to the literature facts, their potential ability is used and the operation with allergic reactions in the organism is predicted. If the information received at the first stage allows speaking about the ability of this material to provoke hyperreaction of immune system, its test is carried out on experimental animals. In studying of every material, it is necessary to investigate the basic systems involved in allergic reactions, including T- and B-cellular links, and
Fig. 1. The comparative characteristic of allergenic action of decoration material: 1, control; 2, water-based paint ‘‘Ziba Plastic Paint’’ (Iran); 3, paint ‘‘Pinecol’’ (Spain); 4, polyacrilic-dispersive paint (Germany); 5, water-based paint ‘‘Dyopa’’ (Turkey); 6, paint ‘‘Accuablat’’ (Spain); 7, ELACS VD-AK-111 (Ukraine); 8, paint ELACS VD-AK-211 (Ukraine); 9, first coat ELACS VD-AK-0125 anti corrosive; 10, paint ELACS AK-112; 11, varnish VD-AK-100 (Ukraine).
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B. Kuzminov et al. / Environment International 28 (2003) 699–702
Fig. 2. The basic circuit of an allergenicity estimation of polymeric materials.
also to take into account the possibility of the occurrence of autallergic reactions. In choosing the battery of tests to be carried out at this stage, it is necessary to take into account its informativeness and, consequently, its simplicity as well as the purposes and aims that the researcher face. The last criterion entails ground definition of the sphere of polymer application. As the final stage of allergic screening, it is suggested to compile the register of potentially allergenic polymers both within the framework of certain scientific institutions and its elaboration on the national and interstate level. It will allow minimizing the quantity of experimental animals to avoid excessive material expenses and the waste of time in researching similar materials.
3. Conclusions 1. Different degrees of allergenic activity are marked in most polymeric materials.
2. The definition of the degree of polymers allergenicity at all stages of its use is a necessary component of ecological – toxicological examination of polymeric materials and allows defining adequacy of spheres of their use. 3. As the final stage of allergic screening, it is suggested to compile a register of potentially allergenic polymeric materials in order to minimize research volumes, to decrease their cost price and for the coordination of the works in the area of polymer ecotoxicology.
References Burge HA. Airborne allergenic gungi, classification, nomenclature, and distribution. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 1989;9(2):307. Gubernsky Y, Kalinina N, Melnikova A. Ecology hygienic an estimation of influence of factors home environments on allergy of the population. Hyg Sanit 1998;N4:50 – 4 [in Russian]. Lawlor GL, Fisher TJ, Adelmann DC, editors. Manual of Allergy and Immunology. 3rd ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1995. p. 287 – 314.
The problem of allergy in ecotoxicology of polymeric materials B. Kuzminov a,*, V. Turkina a, L. Shafran b,1 a
b
Lviv State Medical University by Danylo Halytky, 69 Pekarska Str., Lviv 79010, Ukraine Ukrainian Research Institute of Transport Medicine, 92 Kanatnaya Str., Odessa 65039, Ukraine
Abstract In the program of initial toxicological test, the estimation of allergenic activity of some names of polymeric compositions, which are used in the polygraphic industry and when painting and decorating dwelling houses and social purpose premises, had been carried out. Most of the investigated compositions have different degrees of allergenicity. In order to unify the works in this field, we suggest the basic circuit of the estimation of allergenicity of polymeric materials, the final stage of which provides for the compiling of register of potentially allergenic polymeric materials. D 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Allergy; Polymers; Register
The nomenclature and sphere of application of polymeric materials are constantly expanding in modern human life. Numerous researches have shown that the presence of polymers in human environment raises risk of allergic diseases (Gubernsky et al., 1998; Lawlor et al., 1995). Thus, it is necessary to mention that immunity disfunction is often accompanied by the reduction of organism’s resistibility to infectious diseases and by the increase of danger of malignant neoplasms, allergopathologies. The problem of allergodanger of polymeric materials is aggravated by the possible accumulation on their surfaces of the bacteria-destructors and mycoflora, which are active allergens themselves (Burge, 1989), as well as by probable formation of thermal oxidizing destruction products when producing polymeric materials by casting or high temperature pressing, and at recycling.
1. Methods The objects used were varnishes, paints and polygraphic polymeric materials of various compounding and different manufacturers.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +38-322-965663; fax: +38-322-970796. E-mail addresses: [email protected] (B. Kuzminov), [email protected] (L. Shafran). 1 Tel.: +38-482-226752; fax: +38-482-246566.
The study of sensitization activity of preparations was carried out on guinea pigs, males, light-coloured, 200 – 220 g body weight. During the experiments, two ways of influence on animals have been used: intracutaneous, as screening test, reflecting the possibility of occurrence of allergic reactions caused by penetration of preparations into the skin barrier, with additional daily skin applications, and inhalation, as the most adequate way of receiving volatile components of polymeric materials. In case of intracutaneous influence, the preparation was put into the ears of guinea pigs in the dose of 200 mg/animal in 0.02 ml of physiological solution. Control animals received the same volume of the carrier. Sensitization properties of preparations were defined on the 10th day after the only putting by making immunologic reactions in vitro, epicutaneous test by native preparation in a physiological solution. The carrier served as the control in epicutaneous testing. Epicutaneous reactions were estimated in 15 min, 2, 24, 48 and 72 h after putting permissible dose on a tested part. Besides, the quantity of basophils and eosinophils in the blood of experimental and control animals was defined. During the skin application, the testing was carried out on the 30th day from the beginning of preparation application. Inhalation influence was studied in conditions of dynamic priming substances, which were emitted into the air from not hardened materials (time of exposition was 4 h). Tests were carried out in 24 h with the use of standard immunologic test. The statistical analysis of the received data was carried out
0160-4120/02/$ - see front matter D 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S 0 1 6 0 - 4 1 2 0 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 11 4 - 9
700
B. Kuzminov et al. / Environment International 28 (2003) 699–702
with the help of variational statistics after the Student’s method.
2. Results and discussion In the program of initial toxicological test, the estimation of allergen danger row of some polymeric compositions, which are used in the polygraphic industry and when painting and decorating dwelling houses and special purpose premises, had been carried out. Skin applications of polygraphic composition Nos. 11, 12 and 13 (Table 1) provoked contact dermatitis with allergic component experimental animals. Thirty to fifty percent of the guinea pigs had positive provocative epicuta-
neous tests; the increase of eosins and lymphocytes in the blood was marked as well. Composition Nos. 3, 5, 10, 11 and 14 caused allergic reorganization in the organisms of experimental animals, which revealed itself both in skin reactions, and in changes of immunologic parameters of the whole blood and in tests in vitro. According to our data, the major factor that influences the intensity of the allergic answer of the organism, when using decoration varnishes and paints, is their polymeric basis. Out of the 12 groups compounded by this principle, the most vivid allergenic properties were observed in materials based on styrolacrylic, polyurethanes and silicone bases (Table 2). The presence of organic solvents in the compounding can promote the amplification of allergenic
Table 1 The comparative characteristic of allergenic effect caused by polygraphic materials
B. Kuzminov et al. / Environment International 28 (2003) 699–702 Table 2 Comparative allergenic activity of the various groups of varnishes and paints Type of a polymeric basis Acrylic Styrene-acrylic Nitrocellulose Alkyd Epoxide PVA On the basis of mineral bindings On the basis of animal sizing On the basis of natural resins Polyurethanes PVC Siliconorganic
Degree of allergenic activity water-based with organic water-based with organic with organic with organic with organic water-based
solvent solvent solvent solvent solvent
++ +++ ++ ++ + ++
/+ water-based with organic solvent water-based
++ +
, absent; +, feebly expressed; ++, middy expressed; +++, strongly expressed.
activity of the preparation, which is noticed for acrylic compositions. The possible reason for this could be that organic solvents cause the destruction of protein in the organism, which, in turn, leads to the development of autallergic reactions. Taking into consideration the fact that, at the present stage, water-based materials are used in most applications, it is expedient to carry out their comparative analysis in view of their various origins. The strongest allergenic effect of the materials investigated was noticed in composition Nos. 6
701
and 10, which was revealed not only in epicutaneous effects when using permissible dose, but first of all in typical immunologic reactions, particularly in the growth of RSAL in 68.2% and 49.1% accordingly (Fig. 1). The analysis and generalization of this above-mentioned actual materials testifies to the necessity, from the point of view of the ecology-hygienic regulation of polymeric materials, of inclusion of allergic screening in the general circuit of their estimation. Thus, in each concrete case, depending on kind of the material and research aims, the individual approach to the selection of the battery of tests, which will be later included in the general circuit of research, is necessary. It is suggested to carry out researches stage by stage (Fig. 2). The unified approach includes a three-stage program that provides a different degree of labour input on every stage and the transition to the following stage only after having the results of the previous test. Such an approach to the researches allows planning the minimal set of methods for the estimation of allergenicity of preparations. At the initial preliminary stage of the researches, the analysis of materials’ compounding is carried out and, according to the literature facts, their potential ability is used and the operation with allergic reactions in the organism is predicted. If the information received at the first stage allows speaking about the ability of this material to provoke hyperreaction of immune system, its test is carried out on experimental animals. In studying of every material, it is necessary to investigate the basic systems involved in allergic reactions, including T- and B-cellular links, and
Fig. 1. The comparative characteristic of allergenic action of decoration material: 1, control; 2, water-based paint ‘‘Ziba Plastic Paint’’ (Iran); 3, paint ‘‘Pinecol’’ (Spain); 4, polyacrilic-dispersive paint (Germany); 5, water-based paint ‘‘Dyopa’’ (Turkey); 6, paint ‘‘Accuablat’’ (Spain); 7, ELACS VD-AK-111 (Ukraine); 8, paint ELACS VD-AK-211 (Ukraine); 9, first coat ELACS VD-AK-0125 anti corrosive; 10, paint ELACS AK-112; 11, varnish VD-AK-100 (Ukraine).
702
B. Kuzminov et al. / Environment International 28 (2003) 699–702
Fig. 2. The basic circuit of an allergenicity estimation of polymeric materials.
also to take into account the possibility of the occurrence of autallergic reactions. In choosing the battery of tests to be carried out at this stage, it is necessary to take into account its informativeness and, consequently, its simplicity as well as the purposes and aims that the researcher face. The last criterion entails ground definition of the sphere of polymer application. As the final stage of allergic screening, it is suggested to compile the register of potentially allergenic polymers both within the framework of certain scientific institutions and its elaboration on the national and interstate level. It will allow minimizing the quantity of experimental animals to avoid excessive material expenses and the waste of time in researching similar materials.
3. Conclusions 1. Different degrees of allergenic activity are marked in most polymeric materials.
2. The definition of the degree of polymers allergenicity at all stages of its use is a necessary component of ecological – toxicological examination of polymeric materials and allows defining adequacy of spheres of their use. 3. As the final stage of allergic screening, it is suggested to compile a register of potentially allergenic polymeric materials in order to minimize research volumes, to decrease their cost price and for the coordination of the works in the area of polymer ecotoxicology.
References Burge HA. Airborne allergenic gungi, classification, nomenclature, and distribution. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 1989;9(2):307. Gubernsky Y, Kalinina N, Melnikova A. Ecology hygienic an estimation of influence of factors home environments on allergy of the population. Hyg Sanit 1998;N4:50 – 4 [in Russian]. Lawlor GL, Fisher TJ, Adelmann DC, editors. Manual of Allergy and Immunology. 3rd ed. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1995. p. 287 – 314.