Method development of multi pesticide residue analysis in country beans collected from Dhaka, Bangladesh, and their dietary risk assessment

The aim of the study was to develop a modified QuEChERS method coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of five multi-class pesticides in country beans collected from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pesticides were extracted using ACN, and to minimize the co-extraction matrix, optimized d-SPE cleanup was done using sorbents (GCB, PSA, and C18). In the calibration range, the method showed excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient of R2 ≥ 0.9990 both in solvent- and matrix-matched calibration. For the selected pesticides, average recoveries (at four spiking levels (n = 5) of 10, 20, 100, and 200 µg/kg) of 70-100 % were achieved with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ≤ 9.5 %. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) ranged from 0.3333 to 1.3333 μg/kg and 1.0 to 4.0 μg/kg, respectively. The dietary risk assessment, in terms of hazard quotient (HQ), was calculated to assess consumers' health risks.

Biometric indices and population parameters of three polynemid fishes from Batang Lassa Estuary of East Malaysia

The length-weight relationships (LWRs), condition factor (Kn), growth, mortality and exploitation status of three polynemid fishes, i.e., Filimanus xanthonema (Valenciennes, 1831), Polynemus melanochir (Valenciennes, 1831) and Polynemus paradiseus (Linnaeus, 1758) from Batang Lassa River estuary were estimated. Fish samples were caught during April 2019 to September 2020 using the ESBN (locally called Gnian) having 1.25 to 4.00 cm mesh size. The total length (TL) and body weight of each individual fish was measured to the nearest 0.1 cm and 0.01 g respectively. The growth coefficients (b) for F. xanthonema, P. melanochir and P. paradiseus, were 2.880, 2.717 and 2.724 with the R² values 0.956, 0.972 and 0.936 respectively. Estimated growth coefficients indicated a negative allometric growth pattern for all three threadfin fishes. To date, information regarding length-weight relationships for F. xanthonema and P. melanochir is insufficient whereas the information is available for P. paradiseus. About 40–48% of fishes exhibited flat or thin body shape (Kn < 1), 48–50% were rounded or fat (Kn > 1) and only 1–3% of fishes showed proportional body shape (Kn = 1). The growth parameters L_∞, K and ϕ’ were estimated at 15.75 cm, 0.95 yr⁻¹ and 2.37 for F. xanthonema; 27.61 cm 0.87 yr⁻¹ and 2.82 for P. melanochir; and 27.30 cm, 0.58 yr⁻¹ and 2.64 for P. paradiseus; respectively. The estimated natural mortality (M) included 2.10, 1.69 and 1.30 yr⁻¹; the fishing mortality (F) 0.57, 0.67 and 0.60 yr⁻¹; and exploitation ratio (E) 0.21, 0.28 and 0.31 for F. xanthonema, P. melanochir and P. paradiseus respectively. The study concluded that the stocks are still under exploitation (E < 0.5) condition. However, the studied Batang Lassa estuary could be a potential nursery ground considering the minimum lengths of 5.0, 3.8 and 4.0 cm for F. xanthonema, P. melanochir and P. paradiseus respectively. Therefore, management initiatives are needed to escape juvenile catches.

Spatial distribution of manganese in groundwater and associated human health risk in the southern part of the Bengal Basin

The scarcity of arsenic and iron-free safe drinking water is an alarming issue in the southern part of the Bengal Basin. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the spatial distribution of manganese (Mn) concentration in the shallow and deep groundwater and its associated health risks for the children and adults of entire southern Bengal Basin. The Mn concentration in the groundwater varied from 0 to 5.4 mg/L with an average value of 0.47 mg/L that exceeded the WHO's and Bangladesh drinking water guideline values of 0.4 and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. Mn concentration in the shallow wells overrode the deep ones. About 23% of the shallow wells and 11% of deep wells exceeded the WHO's safety limit of Mn concentration for human health. The human health risk related to Mn contamination was estimated by computing the average daily dosage (ADD) and hazard quotient (HQ) values for children and adults. The average computed HQ values found 0.108 and 0.099 for children and adults, respectively. The HQ values delimitated that children are posing a higher risk compared to the adults for the shallow wells. Deep wells were found risk-free for both children and adults. The areal coverage of shallow wells with HQ values > 1 was minimal compared to the total study area and covered only a small portion of Patuakhali and Barguna districts. The rest of the site does not pose any health risk due to Mn contamination for children and adults.

Spatiotemporal distribution of boron in the groundwater and human health risk assessment from the coastal region of Bangladesh

High concentrations of naturally-occurring and man-accentuated boron in groundwater possess a potential threat to the health and well-being of humans worldwide. In Bangladesh, only a few studies focused on the health risks of boron-containing groundwater. Therefore, the present study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of boron concentrations in groundwater and its associated health risks in the coastal districts of Bangladesh. A total of 268 samples from the shallow and deep wells during the wet and dry season (137 and 131 samples, respectively) were collected to determine the level of boron concentrations and health risk status. The groundwater boron concentrations ranged from 0 to 4.10 mg/L with an average concentration of 0.68 mg/L, which was much lower than the WHO and the values of Bangladesh drinking water standard guideline. The boron concentrations in the shallow wells override the deep ones with insignificant seasonal variation. Boron contamination affected 10% of the shallow wells in the wet season and only 6% of them in the dry season, whereas only 1% of deep wells exceeds the WHO guideline values of 2.40 mg/L during the wet and dry season, respectively. The human health risk of boron was determined by computing estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) values for infants, children, teenagers, and adults. The average HQ value delimitated that children have high risk followed by teenagers, adults, and infants. About 90-95% of the studied samples were free from boron contamination because of having HQ values < 1 and the rest of the samples possess a high risk for children. For the overall study area, the deep wells were found safer than the shallow wells, which were more susceptible to boron contamination aided by localized freshwater inputs.

Study on ascitic fluid protein level in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Complement 3 is an important component of ascitic fluid total protein, which offers local defence against infection of the ascitic fluid. Hepatic synthesis of complement 3 as well as other proteins and their concentrations in ascitic fluid is significantly reduced in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The level of protein in ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis was compared with that in patients without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Ascitic fluid protein level in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n=15) was 1.1 +/- 0.3 g/dL whereas it was 1.5 +/- 0.5 g/dL in patients without spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n=15). In conclusion, this study suggests that, ascitic fluid protein level is significantly (p = 0.008) reduced in cirrhotic patients who develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Unusual perforating foreign body in the neck

Penetrating injury in the neck is not an uncommon condition, but a perforating foreign body like bamboo in the neck is uncommon. A 36 years old young man was admitted in Otolaryngology and Head Neck surgery department, Mymensingh Medical College hospital, with a history of accidental perforating injury in the neck with a bamboo, while driving a vehicle (tempo). Clinical examination revealed a bamboo measuring 4.6 X 0.09 ft. perforated in his neck from left to right. Surprisingly great vessels and air way spared. Due to difficult intubation, elective tracheostomy was done. Neck was explored and foreign body removed under general anesthesia. Haemostasis ensured and wound closed in layers after putting drain tubes. Recovery was uneventful and was discharged after three weeks.

DNA strand breaks caused by exposure to ozone and nitrogen dioxide

The present study demonstrates that exposure to ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can cause DNA single-strand breaks in alveolar macrophages. Three-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, specific pathogen free, were exposed to either 1.2 ppm NO2 or 0.3 ppm O3 alone or a combination of these two oxidants continuously for 3 days. The control group was exposed to filtered room air. The oxidant effects were substantiated by determining total and differential cell counts, lactate dehydrogenase activity, and total soluble protein in bronchoalveolar lavage. DNA damage was measured as single-strand breaks by alkaline elution assay. The results showed that, relative to control, NO2 exposure did not cause any significant change in the parameters studied. Exposure to O3 and combined exposure to NO2 and O3 caused significant changes in all parameters studied except cell viability. The rates of elution (Kc) of single-strand DNA from polycarbonate filter for O3 exposure and combined exposure were 73 and 79% faster than that of the control, respectively. The amounts of DNA single-strand breaks caused by O3 and combined exposure were significantly greater than the amounts detected for the NO2-exposed and control groups.

Ozone-induced DNA strand breaks In guinea pig tracheobronchial epithelial cells

Ozone (O3), the major oxidant of photochemical smog, is thought to be genotoxic and a potential respiratory carcinogen or promoter of carcinogenic processes. Because of oxidative reactions with the mucus in the upper airway, O3 reaction products are able to penetrate into the tracheobronchial epithelial (TE) cells. The carcinogenic effects of O3 on the TE cells are especially of interest since most previous studies have focused on the morphology or permeability changes of tracheas only. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the potential O3 genotoxicity in TE cells after an in vivo exposure, using DNA strand breaks as an index. Two-month-old male Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs, specific pathogen free, 4 in each group, were exposed to 1.0 ppm O3 for 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, or 96 h. Animals exposed to filtered air without O3 exposure were used as controls. After O3 exposure, the trachea with two main bronchi was removed from each animal, and TE cells were isolated and employed for determination of DNA strand breaks by fluorometric analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU). The statistical significance level was set at alpha = .05. Compared with controls, ozone exposure did not alter the TE cell yield or viability, but caused an increase in protein content in tracheal lavage and an increase in DNA strand breaks. The amount of DNA left in the alkali lysate of TE cells found at 72 h exposure was significantly decreased from controls for 3 different alkali incubation times. An increase of the double-stranded DNA left in the alkali lysate of TE cells was observed at 96 h of exposure and approached the value of 24 h of exposure. The same pattern was seen with all 3 different alkali incubation times at 15 degrees C. One Qd unit was estimated to correspond to 100 strand breaks per cell. The Qd was also used as an indicator for O3 damage. Compared to controls, the Qd increases significantly after 1 ppm O3 exposure for 72 h, regardless of the alkali incubation time at 15 degrees C.

Increased vitamin E content in the lung after ozone exposure: a possible mobilization in response to oxidative stress

Vitamin E (vE) is a biological free radical scavenger capable of providing antioxidant protection depending upon its tissue content. In previous studies, we observed that vE increased significantly in rat lungs after oxidant exposure, and we postulated that vE may be mobilized to the lung from other body sites under oxidative stress. To test this hypothesis, we fed Long-Evans rats either a vE-supplemented or a vE-deficient diet, injected them intraperitoneally with 14C-labeled vE, and then exposed half of each group to 0.5 ppm ozone (O3) for 5 days. After exposure, we determined vE content and label retention in lungs, liver, kidney, heart, brain, plasma, and white adipose tissue. Tissue vE content of all tissues generally reflected the dietary level, but labeled vE retention in all tissues was inversely related to tissue content, possibly reflecting a saturation of existing vE receptor sites in supplemented rats. Following O3 exposure, lung vE content increased significantly in supplemented rats and decreased in deficient rats, but the decrease was not statistically significant, and vE content remained unchanged in all other tissues of both dietary groups. Retention of 14C-labeled vE increased in all tissues of O3-exposed rats of both dietary groups, except in vE-deficient adipose tissue and vE-supplemented brain, where it decreased, and plasma, where it did not change. The marked increases in lung vE content and labeled vE retention of O3-exposed vE-supplemented rats support our hypothesis that vE may be mobilized to the lung in response to oxidative stress, providing that the vitamin is sufficiently available in other body sites.

Effects of short-term, single and combined exposure to low-level NO2 and O3 on lung tissue enzyme activities in rats

To examine the pulmonary effects of relatively low levels of NO2 and O3, and test for any possible interaction in their effects, we exposed 3-mo-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, free of specific pathogens, to either filtered room air (control) or 1.20 ppm (2256 micrograms/m3) NO2, 0.30 ppm (588 micrograms/m3) O3, or a combination of the two oxidants continuously for 3 d. We studied a series of parameters in the lung, including lung weight, and enzyme activities related to NADPH generation, sulfhydryl metabolism, and cellular detoxification. The results showed that relative to control, exposure to NO2 caused small but nonsignificant changes in all the parameters; O3 caused significant increases in all the parameters except for superoxide dismutase; and a combination of NO2 and O3 caused increases in all the parameters, and the increases were greater than those caused by NO2 or O3 alone. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the effects of combined exposure were synergistic for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities, and additive for glutathione peroxidase and disulfide reductase activities, but indifferent from those of O3 exposure for other enzyme activities.

Effects of ozone inhalation on polyamine metabolism and tritiated thymidine incorporation into DNA of rat lungs

We examined the effects of low-level ozone (O3) inhalation on polyamine metabolism and tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation into DNA in rat lungs. We have also compared the activities of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the key enzyme of the pentose phosphate cycle and a typical marker of oxidant injury, to assess whether ODC can serve as a sensitive marker of O3 effects on the lung. We exposed 90-day-old male specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats to either 0.45 +/- 0.05 ppm (882 +/- 98 micrograms/m3) O3 or filtered room air continuously for 3 days. After exposure, the rats were terminated and the lungs examined for enzyme activities, polyamine contents, DNA content, and 3H-TdR incorporation. We found that in exposed rats, the enzyme activities were significantly increased (p less than 0.05) relative to air controls. G6PD, 25%, ODC, 147%, and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMet DC), 86%. Polyamine contents were also affected by O3; putrescine increased 80%, p less than 0.05, spermidine did not change, and spermine decreased 23%, p less than 0.05. 3H-TdR incorporation into DNA was significantly elevated, 155%, p less than 0.001, after O3 exposure while total lung DNA content remained unchanged. The concomitant and large increase in ODC activity (reflecting polyamine metabolism) and DNA labeling (reflecting DNA synthesis and/or repair), indicates a strong correlation between the two and suggests that polyamine metabolism may play an important role in the accelerated cell proliferation associated with O3 injury. Moreover, the greater increase in lung ODC activity compared to other enzymes offers a sensitive marker of the lung response to inhaled O3. We conclude that inhalation of O3 at levels similar to what may be encountered during some smog episodes can result in significant pulmonary biochemical alterations with a potential for long-term consequences. The possible association between ODC activity and DNA labeling may offer a new insight into the mechanism of tissue injury and repair. We also speculate that the changes in lung polyamines may reflect antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions associated with the cellular defense against oxidant injury.

Biochemical basis of ozone toxicity

Ozone (O3) is the major oxidant of photochemical smog. Its biological effect is attributed to its ability to cause oxidation or peroxidation of biomolecules directly and/or via free radical reactions. A sequence of events may include lipid peroxidation and loss of functional groups of enzymes, alteration of membrane permeability, and cell injury or death. An acute exposure to O3 causes lung injury involving the ciliated cell in the airways and the type 1 epithelial cell in the alveolar region. The effects are particularly localized at the junction of terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts, as evident from a loss of cells and accumulation of inflammatory cells. In a typical short-term exposure the lung tissue response is biphasic: an initial injury-phase characterized by cell damage and loss of enzyme activities, followed by a repair-phase associated with increased metabolic activities, which coincide with a proliferation of metabolically active cells, for example, the alveolar type 2 cells and the bronchiolar Clara cells. A chronic exposure to O3 can cause or exacerbate lung diseases, including perhaps an increased lung tumor incidence in susceptible animal models. Ozone exposure also causes extrapulmonary effects involving the blood, spleen, central nervous system, and other organs. A combination of O3 and NO2, both of which occur in photochemical smog, can produce effects which may be additive or synergistic. A synergistic lung injury occurs possibly due to a formation of more powerful radicals and chemical intermediates. Dietary antioxidants, for example, vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium, can offer a protection against O3 effects.

Effect of altered dose rate on NO2 uptake and transformation in isolated lungs

While the pulmonary toxicity of NO2 is clearly established, the mechanism by which it is removed from inspired air is poorly understood. Uptake is most likely dependent on chemical reaction since, despite limited per se gaseous NO2 aqueous solubility, uptake proceeds rapidly without ready saturation. We utilized an isolated perfused rat lung model to characterize the effect of dose rate on uptake and transformation. Dose rate was varied via alterations in inspired concentration, tidal volume, and ventilation frequency. Dose equaled the total amount inhaled, uptake the amount removed from inspired air, and transformation the amount of NO2- that accumulated in the perfusate. We found a linear proportionality between both inspired concentration (4-20 ppm) and minute ventilation (45-130 ml/min) and uptake. Fractional uptakes (65%) were similar for all groups. Regression of combined concentration and minute ventilation data yielded a linear relationship between total inspired dose (25-330 micrograms NO2) and both uptake (r2 = 0.99) and transformation (r2 = 0.98). Testing of the functional descriptions resulted in measured uptakes and transformation that fell within a few percentage points of those predicted. We conclude that in acutely exposed isolated lungs (1) NO2 uptake is dependent on total inhaled dose rather than on the variables which serve to affect dose rate, (2) transformation is related to both total inspired dose and uptake, and (3) uptake is more accurately described using a regression equation rather than by use of fractional uptakes.

Influence of age on the biochemical response of rat lung to ozone exposure

We have previously examined the influence of animal age on the pulmonary response to ozone (O3) in rats between 7 and 90 days of age (Elsayed et al., 1982a). In the present study, we expanded the age groups of rats, and examined in greater detail the relationship between animal age and pulmonary response to inhaled O3. We exposed 7 groups of specific pathogen free, male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 24, 30, 45, 60, 90, 180, and 365 days, to 0.8 ppm (1568 micrograms/m3) O3 continuously for 3 days. After O3 exposure, we sacrificed the exposed rats and a matched number of controls from each age group, and analyzed their lungs for a series of physical and biochemical parameters, including glutathione metabolizing and NADPH producing enzyme activities. We observed that in control rats all the parameters increased as a function of age. However, the rate of increase was generally slower after age 60 days. After O3 exposure there was an increase in all the parameters for all age groups relative to their corresponding controls, but the extent of increase was significantly larger in rats 60 days and older than in younger rats. A regression of the difference in mean values between control and exposed animals for each parameter against age showed a linear correlation, indicating that the response was age-dependent. Since the magnitude of such increases is thought to reflect the degree of lung injury, the results suggest that O3 exposure causes greater lung injury in older rats than in younger rats. We tested this assumption by exposing rats from four different age groups (24, 45, 60 and 90 days) to a lethal dose of O3 (4 ppm or 7840 micrograms/m3 for 8 hours). The mortality rates were 50% and 83% for 24 and 45 day old rats, respectively, and 100% for 60 and 90 day old rats. The results of these studies further demonstrate that older rats are more susceptible to lung injury from O3 than younger rats.

Murine lung carcinogenesis following exposure to ambient ozone concentrations

Inbred strain A/J mice, responsive to the chemical induction of pulmonary adenomas, were used to assess any of several roles that the photochemical air pollutant ozone might play in lung carcinogenesis. In separate experiments, animals were exposed to two concentrations of ozone (0.31 +/- 0.01 and 0.50 +/- 0.02 ppm) intermittently for a 6-month period, to evaluate the potential of ozone to act as either a pulmonary carcinogen, a tumor promoter, or an inhalant capable of increasing lung tumor yield when exposure was in conjunction with a pulmonary carcinogen, urethane. Statistical analyses of results indicated that ozone exposure at both concentrations caused an increase in lung tumor number relative to clean air controls, but that ozone was not an effective tumor promoter under the conditions of our protocol. When ozone exposure immediately preceded treatment with urethane (CAS: 51-79-6), animals were at increased risk for the development of lung adenomas.

Stimulation of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase activity in the lungs of mice exposed to a low level of ozone

Toxic effects of O3 are mediated through the formation of free radicals, which can cause DNA strand breaks. Cellular DNA repair is dependent upon the formation of poly(ADP-ribose) (polyADPR) catalyzed by polyADPR synthetase. In order to evaluate whether O3 exposure inflicted DNA damage in lung tissue, we measured the activity of polyADPR synthetase (known to be activated in response to DNA damage) in mouse lungs after exposure to 0.45 ppm (882 micrograms/m3) O3 for up to 7 days. The enzyme activity was stimulated with O3 exposure relative to unexposed controls, showing a 20% (P less than 0.05) increase at Day 5 and 42% (P less than 0.001) at Day 7 of O3 exposure. In addition, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), known to be stimulated in response to production of superoxide anion (.O2-), was measured as an indicator of free radical involvement. Relative to unexposed controls, the SOD activity in exposed animal lungs increased to the peak level at Day 5 (48%, P less than 0.001) and then declined at Day 7 of O3 exposure but was still higher than controls (17%, P less than 0.05). When animals, after 5 days of O3 exposure, were allowed to recover in filtered room air, the activities of both enzymes declined to their respective control values in 6 days. These results suggest a possible temporal relationship between O3 injury and the activities of polyADPR synthetase and a free radical scavenging enzyme, SOD. The stimulation of polyADPR synthetase activity with O3 exposure, reflecting a response to lung cellular DNA repair, may be a sensitive indicator for assessing DNA damage in oxidant injury.

Splenomegaly in mice following exposure to ambient levels of ozone

Female strain A/J mice were exposed to 0.31 ppm (608 micrograms/m3) ozone continuously for 103 h every other week for 6 mth. Following an additional period of 5 mth in a filtered air environment, animals were killed and examined for evidence of altered spleen weight. It was observed that animals exposed to ozone had a greater spleen weight, and spleen to body weight ratio than air-breathing controls. In some of the ozone-exposed mice, pronounced splenomegaly was noted. Increased spleen weight appears to be another example of an extrapulmonary effect of ozone inhalation.

Dietary antioxidants and the biochemical response to oxidant inhalation : III. Selenium influence on mouse lung response and tolerance to ozone

We fed female strain A/St mice selenium (Se) test diets containing either no Se (-Se) or 1 ppm Se (+Se) for 11 wk. Both diets contained 55 ppm vitamin E. We then exposed three groups of mice from each dietary regimen to either 0.8 ppm (1568 μg/m(3)) O3 (low-level) continuously for 5 d, 10.0 ppm (19,600 μg/m(3)) O3 (high-level) for 12 h, or filtered room air, where the latter served as a control for both O3 exposures. After O3 exposures we analyzed the lungs for various physical and biochemical parameters, and compared the results to those obtained from the air controls. The results showed that the difference in dietary Se intake produced an eightfold difference in Se content and a three-fold difference in glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity in the lung, but few changes in other lung parameters. With low-level O3 exposure, NADPH production increased significantly in +Se mice, but did not change in -Se mice. With high-level O3 exposure we observed comparable effects for both dietary regimens, including animal mortality, which was 24% for -Se and 14% for +Se mice. Thus, it seems that diminished GP activity resulting from Se deficiency and the ensuing lack of increase in NADPH production were poorly correlated with mouse tolerance to O3. The lung Se content increased in both dietary regimens after O3 exposure, but the increase was greater after high-level O3 exposure. This suggests a "mobilization" of Se to the lung under O3 stress. It is possible that such a mobilization contributes to the lung reserve of antioxidants, and hence the comparable mortality in both dietary Se regimens.

A comparison of biochemical effects of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and their combination in mouse lung

Swiss Webster mice were exposed to either 4.8 ppm (9024 microgram/m3) nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 0.45 ppm (882 microgram/m3) ozone (O3), or their combination intermittently (8 hr daily) for 7 days, and the effects were studied in the lung by a series of physical and biochemical parameters, including lung weight, DNA and protein contents, oxygen consumption, sulfhydryl metabolism, and activities of NADPH generating enzymes. The results show that exposure to NO2 caused relatively smaller changes than O3, and that the effect of each gas alone under the conditions of exposure was not significant for most of the parameters tested. However, when the two gases were combined, the exposure caused changes that were greater and significant. Statistical analysis of the data shows that the effects of combined exposure were more than additive, i.e., they might be synergistic. The observations suggest that intermittent exposure to NO2 or O3 alone at the concentration used may not cause significant alterations in lung metabolism, but when the two gases are combined the alterations may become significant.

Dietary antioxidants and the biochemical response to oxidant inhalation. II. Influence of dietary selenium on the biochemical effects of ozone exposure in mouse lung

We examined the influence of dietary selenium (Se) on the pulmonary biochemical response to ozone (O3) exposure. For 11 weeks, weanling female strain A/St mice were fed a test diet containing Se either at 0 ppm (-Se) or 1 ppm (+Se). Each diet contained 55 ppm vitamin E (vit E). Mice from each dietary group were exposed to 0.8 +/- 0.05 ppm (1568 +/- 98 micrograms/m3) O3 continuously for 5 days. After O3 exposure, they were killed along with a matched number of unexposed controls, and their lungs were analyzed for various biochemical parameters. The Se contents of lung tissue and whole blood were determined, and the levels were seven- to eightfold higher in +Se mice than in -Se mice, reflecting the Se intake of the animals. In unexposed control mice, Se deficiency caused a decline in glutathione peroxidase (GP) activity relative to +Se group. After O3 exposure, the GP activity in the -Se group was associated with a lack of stimulation of glutathione reductase (GR) activity and the pentose phosphate cycle (PPC) as assessed by measuring glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) activities. In contrast, the +Se group after O3 exposure exhibited increases in all four enzyme activities. Other parameters, e.g., lung weight, total lung protein, DNA and nonprotein sulfhydryl contents, and O2 consumption, were not affected by dietary Se in the presence or absence of O3 exposure. The data indicate that dietary Se alters the GP activity, which in turn influences the GR and PPC activities in the lung evidently through a reduced demand for NADPH. The level of vit E in the lung was found to be twofold higher in the -Se group than in the +Se group, suggesting a compensatory relationship between Se and vit E in the lung. With O3 exposure, both Se and vit E contents further increased in the lungs of each dietary group. It is plausible that Se and vit E under oxidant stress are "mobilized" to the lung from other body sites.

Formation of N-nitrosomorpholine in isolated rat lungs during nitrogen dioxide ventilation

An isolated rat lung preparation was ventilated with NO2 while being perfused with a medium containing morpholine. After 60 min of ventilation-perfusion, N-nitrosomorpholine was detected in both lung tissue and perfusate.

Age-dependent pulmonary response of rats to ozone exposure

The influence of age on O3 effects in the lung was studied in 8 groups of Sprague-Dawley rats: 7, 12, and 18 d of age (neonatal); 24, 30, and 45 d of age (infant); and 60 and 90 d of age (adult). Lung weight, total lung protein and DNA contents, and a series of marker enzyme activities in lung tissue were determined. After exposure of rats from each group to 0.8 ppm (1568 microgram/m3) O3 continuously for 3 d, a biphasic effect was noted. The biochemical parameters, expressed per lung, in O3-exposed rats relative to their corresponding controls decreased in the 7- and 12-d-old groups, increased or remained unchanged in the 18-d-old group, and increased in the 24- to 90-d-old groups. However, the increases were much greater for 60- to 90-d-old rats than for 24- to 30-d-old rats. The increase in lung biochemical parameters is thought to occur in response to lung injury and subsequent repair processes, and greater increases in the lungs of older rats suggest that they are more responsive to O3 exposure than younger rats. The decrease in lung biochemical parameters and increased mortality in 7- and 24-d-old neonatal rats suggest that they are more susceptible to O3 stress than infant and adult rats.

Comparison of pulmonary biochemical effects of low-level ozone exposure on mice and rats

The biochemical effects of a 5-d continuous exposure to 0.45 ppm (882 microgram/m3) O3, were studied in the lungs of 2-mo-old male, specific-pathogen-free mice (Swiss Webster) and three strains of rats (Long-Evans, Wistar, and Sprague-Dawley). The results, expressed per lung, indicated a general increase in lung weight, DNA and protein contents, oxygen consumption, sulfhydryl metabolism, and the activities of several NADP+-reducing enzymes for all exposed animals relative to their controls. When the increases in the two species (mice versus three strains of rats) were compared, the mice showed significantly higher increases than the rats in several parameters. The responses among the three strains of rats were variable, but the differences were not significant. These observations suggest that Swiss Webster mice may offer a more sensitive animal model than rats for studying the pulmonary effects of a given low-level O3 exposure.

Biochemical changes in rat lungs after exposure to nitrogen dioxide

Sixty-day-old male, specific pathogen-free rats were exposed continuously to 5 or 15 ppm NO2 for 1-7 d. Lung tissue from exposed and control rats was then analyzed for biochemical and enzymatic parameters. The exposure resulted in increased lung enzymatic activities, including elevated protein and DNA contents and nonprotein sulfhydryl levels. Biochemical and enzymatic parameters generally increased maximally after 4 d and remained elevated for up to 7 d of continued exposure. The magnitude of these increases was higher for 15 than for 4 ppm NO2. The increases in biochemical and enzymatic parameters may have occurred in response to NO2-induced lung injury.

Fate of inhaled nitrogen dioxide in isolated perfused rat lung

The fate of inhaled NO2 was studied with isolated perfused rat lungs. The isolated lungs were exposed to 5 ppm NO2 for 90 min at a ventilation rate of 34 ml/min. The NO2 exposure had no adverse effects on the lungs as judged from their weights, glucose uptake, or lactate production compared to control lungs. Isolated lungs absorbed 36% of ventilated NO2, which was detected in perfusate and lung tissue as NO2- but not NO3-. The NO2- concentration in perfusate increased linearly with time, and after 90 min of ventilation with NO2 and perfusion with erythrocyte-free medium the NO2- accumulation was 6.36 +/- 0.39 micrograms. If perfusate contained 10% erythrocytes, the ventilated NO2 product was mostly NO3- in perfusate but NO2- in lung tissue. Protein solutions absorbed NO2 more effectively than simple salt solutions, but they all yielded mainly NO2- unless erythrocytes were present, when the product was mostly NO3-. The results indicate that absorbed NO2 in the lung is converted predominantly to NO2-, but after its diffusion into the vascular space it is oxidized to NO3- by interactions with erythrocytes.

Pulmonary responses of rats to ambient levels of ozone: effects of 7-day intermittent or continuous exposure

Groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ozone for either 8 or 24 hours a day for 7 consecutive days to evaluate morphologic changes of the respiratory system. Three levels of exposure (0.2, 0.5, and 0.8 p.p.m. of O3) were selected to simulate moderate to severe episodes of oxidant pollution in urban environments. Morphologic evaluation included light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. Biochemical parameters which were examined included succinate oxidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome c reductase activities. The results indicated that (1) exposure to concentrations as low as 0.2 p.p.m. for 7 days induced pulmonary damage; (2) there was a dose-dependent pulmonary response to the three levels of ozone which was quantitated by alterations in biochemical marker enzyme activities and observed morphologically; (3) proportionate differences were not observed in morphologic characteristics of the lesions or detected in biochemical parameters between rats exposed continuously for 7 days and those exposed intermittently for 8 hours a day for 7 consecutive days; (4) alterations in surface height and granularity of the cytoplasmic luminal projection of Clara cells were subtle changes which were dose-dependent, occurring even at the lowest ozone concentration, and best detected by scanning electron microscopy; (5) alveolar macrophage accumulation within proximal alveoli of alveolar ducts was the most readily detectable morphologic indicator of pulmonary damage; and (6) although the brunt of ozone damage was borne by the centriacinar region, there was damage to cilia and increased ciliogenesis occurring in the trachea and larger conducting airways following exposure of 0.5 and 0.8 p.p.m. of ozone.