survey of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in ambient air of Isfahan, 2003

During the past two decades, the determination of heavy metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons [PAH[5]] in the ambient air of industrialized cities has gained great importance. Heavy metals and PAH[5] in flue gas have received considerable attention in recent years due to their mutagenic or carcinogenic properties. PAH[5], are products of incomplete combustion of carbonaceous compounds at high temperatures The sources of PAH[5], into the atmosphere include: waste incineration, exhaust emission of petrol and diesel engine automobiles power plants, and residential heating systems. Heavy metals are released into the ambient air from the same sources as those earlier mentioned for PAH[5]. The present study is carried out to investigate the influence of the quantity of heavy metals on PAH[5] formation in ambient air. Heavy metals encourage not only absorption of PAH[5] but also catalyze PAH[5] formation. In this study, air particulates were collected on glass fiber filters using a high-volume air sampler. Flow rate and sampling period were 0.5 m[3]/min and 24 hrs. respectively. Each filter was exactly cut into equal pieces. One piece was digested with HNO[3] as well as H[2]O[2] and used for determination of heavy metals. Another piece was extracted with DCM Using Soxhlet method. The latter was used for the determination of PAH [5]. The concentrations of heavy metals [Cr, Cd, Cu. Pb, and Zn] were measured by using Perkin-Elmer atomic absorption spectrometer PAH[5]. The concentration of PAH[5] was measured by a PU4400 gas chromatograph equipped with RD detector. The concentrations of PAH[5] and heavy metals were determined in different seasons, The results showed that the concentration of PAH[5] was minimum in the weekend and holidays, but maximum in winter. The relationship between ambient air concentrations of PAH[5] and heavy metals was investigated and an excellent agreement was found. The general trend of variations in concentratioll of heavy metals were found very similar to PAH[5] therefore it could be concluded that the source of pollution was same for both the pollutants

relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals in Isfahan city

During the past two decades, determination of heavy metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons [PAH,] in the atmosphere of industrialized cities have gained great importance. Heavy metals arc toxic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are known as toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds. PAHs are products of incomplete combustion of carbonaceous compounds at high temperatures. The sources of PAHs into the atmosphere include: waste incineration, exhaust emissions of petrol and diesel engine automobiles, plant powers, and residential heating systems. Heavy metals are released into the atmosphere from the same sources as those earlier mentioned for PAHs In this study, air particulates were collected on glass fiber filters using a high-volume air sampler. Flow rate and sampling period were 0.5 m[3]/min and 12 hrs respectively. Each filter was exactly cut into equal pieces. One piece was digested with HNO3 as well as H2O2 and used for determination of heavy metals. Another piece was extracted with dichloromethane [DCM] using Soxhlet method. The latter was used for the determination of PAHs. The concentrations of heavy metals were measured using Perkin-Elmer atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentration of PAHs was measured by a PU4400 gas chromatograph equipped with Fill detector. The concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals were determined in different seasons. Lead and cadmium were higher than similar cities in Iran. The results showed that the concentration of PAHs was minimum in the weekends and holidays. But it was maximum in winter. The relationship between the atmospheric concentrations of PAHs and heavy metals was investigated and an excellent agreement was found. The determination of concentrations of PAHs by HPLC-GC was also investigated and the results were compared to those determined by CGC. An excellent agreement between the results of two techniques was also found. The general trend of variations in concentration of heavy metals was found very similar to PAHs, therefore, it could be concluded that the source of pollution was same for both the pollutants

[Correlation between toluene environmental monitoring and biological index of urinary hippuric acid of workers in the coke industry]

Toluene is an organic solvent that it is one of the byproducts in the coke industry. Exposure to toluene causes central nervous system dysfunction and others disorders. Many workers are exposed to toluene due to leakage from tracks. Therefore the aim of this study was to determine the levels of exposure through environmental and biological monitoring of toluene Air toluene sampling of air inhaled by 36 coke oven workers was done by using activated charcoal tubes and personal sampling pumps. At the e[1id of the shift, urine samples of workers and control group were collected by urine samplers. Air toluene was determined by GC, urinary hippuric acid by FIPLC and urine creatinine level was determined by auto analyzer. The mean of air toluene and urinary hippuric acid levels in exposed and control samples were 14.34 ppm, 0.33 and 0.28 g/g creatinine. Air toluene and urinary hippuric acid showed a correlation of r = 0.8. Toluene TWA was lower than the TLV-TWA [p=0.000]. Urinary hippuric acid concentration was also lower than the BEI [p=0.008]. Difference between exposed and unexposed group was not significant. This study showed that hippuric acid because of its interaction with background factors can not be used as a sensitive biomarker for biomonitoring

[Large sublingual dermoid cyst a case report]

Sublingual dermoid cysts are rare and constitute a little percent of alln dermoid cysts. Typically, these cysts present as a non-painful slow growing mass on floor of the mouth or submental region. They can cause problems in deglution, speech and respiration. These lesions can be diagnosed by ultrasonography, CT or MRI. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice, which can be done through extra- or intra- oral approach. We report a case of a large sublingual dermoid cyst in a 17 years old girl, who was referred to our hospital because of sublingual mass, submental swelling and fibrovascular lesions of lower face

[ protective effect of turmeric [[curcuma longa] [CL]] extract on acetaminophen-induced liver damage in mice]

Acetaminophen is a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug which can produce hepatic injury in both humans and animals when given in high doses. Liver damage induced by actaminophen depends on cytochrome P-450 activities which appear as centrilobular necrosis. In this study, hepatoprotective effect of Curcuma longa [CL] is tested. The active constituent of CL is known as curcumin which has detoxifying and antioxidant activity. 58 NMRI male mice were randomly divided into 7 groups. After an overnight denial of food, the first three groups received the following: group C normal saline, group B 1000 mg/kg CL extract, group A 700 mg/kg oral acetaminophen. Treatment groups received acetaminophen and CL extract concurrently in various doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 800 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, respectively. After 24 hours blood samples were taken from jugular arteries for bioassay tests and the liver was removed and placed in 10% formalin for histopathologic assessments. Serum levels of hepatic transaminases [ALT, AST] in groups receiving CL declined remarkably compared to positive control group with a significant difference [p<0.05]. Based on histopathologic survey hepatic necrosis decreased as the CL intake increased. Based on the present research results, CL extract improves the condition in acetaminophen induced hepatic toxicity and its administration is recommended