Efeito do dióxido de titânio na decomposição fotocatalítica de substâncias persistentes no ambiente: corantes têxteis e interferentes endócrinos / Effect of titanium dioxide in the photocatalytic decomposition of persistent chemicals in the environment: textiles and dyes endocrine interfering

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a degradação fotocatalítica de três corantes e um interferente endócrino mediado pelo dióxido de titânio (TiO2). Foi estudada a degradação fotocatalítica de dois azo corantes comerciais, respectivamente o C.I Reactive Black 5 e o C.I Reactive Red 239. Para esse estudo foi utilizado o TiO2 P25 Evonik como catalisador e os experimentos foram realizados em solução aquosa com reator artificial equipado com lâmpada de vapor de mercúrio 125W. Nesse estudo,foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: concentração de TiO2, tempo de irradiação, pH, concentração inicial de corante, presença de diferentes concentrações de peróxido de hidrogênio e degradação em sistema bi-compartimental para os dois azo corantes. O outro corante estudado foi o Índigo Carmine (IC). Primeiramente foi investigada a descoloração do corante em efluente modelo usando processo físico e químico para sua remoção. Os experimentos de descoloração do efluente contendo o corante IC foram realizados usando carvão ativado no escuro e com irradiação. Além disso, o efeito do carvão ativado / TiO2 / UV foi avaliado pelo mesmo sistema. Os parâmetros da degradação do IC foram realizados, seguindo: concentração de TiO2, pH, concentração inicial de corante, presença de ânions inorgânicos, temperatura, concentração de peróxido de hidrogênio. A eficiência de três diferentes reatores (Reator 1 – reator do tipo batch com lâmpada vapor de mercúrio 125W; Reator 2 – reator do tipo batch equipado com 4 lâmpadas daylight 20W; Reator 3 – reator tubular de fluxo contínuo equipado com uma lâmpada daylight 20W) e reator batch com luz solar foram avaliados para degradação do IC.Além disso, otimizados experimentos foram realizados em planta piloto com compound parabolic collector reatores (CPC) na Plataforma Solar de Almería, Espanha, com TiO2 em suspensão e suportado. O IC foi estudado em diferentes tipos de águas, sendo elas: água destilada, água sintética moderadamente dura, água sintética e real de estação de tratamento de água residuária (ETAR). Testes ecotoxicológicos para o IC foram realizados em dois diferentes níveis tróficos de cadeia alimentar (Daphnia similis e Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata) e testes com minhocas Eisenia andrei. A degradação fotocatalítica do Bisfenol A (BPA) em diferentes tipos de águas na presença de TiO2 foi feita sob diferentes condições. O TiO2 em suspensão foi utilizado para comparar a eficiência da degradação do BPA (...) em batch e CPC reatores. O TiO2 foi suportado em esferas de vidro pelo método sol-gel e usado em reatores solares CPC em escala piloto para degradação do BPA (...) A influência das espécies reativas (...) foi avaliada. Testes ecotoxicológicos com minhocas Eisenia andrei também foram realizados para o BPA e seus produtos de degradação.

Exposición a ftalatos y su relación con la salud humana: una revisión sistemática / Exposición phthalates y su relación con la salud human: una systematic revisión

Introducción: Los ftalatos o ésteres del ácido ftálico son contaminantes ubicuos existentes en alimentos, aire, suelo, sedimentos, productos de belleza, materiales de construcción y dispositivos médicos. La utilización de estos productos pueden poner en riesgo a la población, por ejemplo: catéter venoso central y bolsas desangre usados en los procedimientos médicos encontrándo se en los enfermos expuestos a estos dispositivos médicos. Métodos: Revisión sistemática de estudios escritos sin restricción de fecha y de idioma, publicados en la literatura utilizando MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Lilacs y Web of Knowledge con las palabras claves: ftalato, plastificante, efectos adversos, efectos nocivos, efectos colaterales o efectos indeseables. De los artículos identificados se examinó la relación de los ftalatos con la salud reproductiva yendocrinológica. Se analizaron once artículos. Resultados: De los once artículos seleccionados, en cuatro se investigó la relacióncon la salud endocrinológica y en siete, con la salud reproductiva. De la mismamanera, en diez estudios se ha encontrado correlación negativas entre la salud reproductiva y endocrinológica con algún tipo de ftalato o su metabolito. Conclusiones: Las conclusiones de esta investigación, sugieren un nivel de exposición en los diferentes ambientes; los ftalatos pueden tener efectos en la salud reproductiva y endocrinológica...

Introduction: Phthalates or esters of phthalic acid are ubiquitous pollutants presentin food, air, soil, sediments, beauty products and construction materials and medical devices. The use of these products can put the population at risk, for example: central venous catheter and blood bags used in medical procedures found in the patients exposed to these medical devices. Methods: We performed a systematic review of studies without any date orlanguage restriction, published in the literature using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Lilacs and Web of Knowledge with the key words phthalate, plasticizer, adverse effects, side effects or undesirable effects. We considered the relationship with reproductive, endocrine and skin health. Eleven articles were analyzed. Results: Of the eleven selected articles, in four investigated the relationship with the health and endocrine or skin involvement in seven with reproductive health. In like manner, in ten studies have found correlate negative between reproductive healt hand endocrine or skin involvement with the use of some type of phthalate or its metabolite. Conclusions: The findings of this investigation suggest a level of exposure occurring at different environments; and the use of phthalates may have effects onthe reproductive, endocrine and skin health...

Disfunções endócrinas no modelo de programação pela exposição à fumaça de cigarro na lactação / Endocrine disorders in the programming model by exposure tobacco smoke in lactation

Eventos ou estímulos no início da vida podem afetar o desenvolvimento do indivíduo; dentre esses o tabagismo materno. A exposição materna isolada à nicotina, principal componente do cigarro, causa na prole alterações metabólicas, em curto e longo prazo, como aumento da adiposidade, resistência à leptina, e disfunção tireoideana e adrenal. Entretanto é sabido que na fumaça de cigarro estão presentes outros componentes com potenciais efeitos tóxicos. Assim propomos comparar o efeito de duas formas de exposição neonatal à fumaça do cigarro sobre o perfil endócrino-metabólico da prole em curto e longo prazo. Para isso, no 3º dia após o nascimento, ratos lactentes foram submetidos a dois modelos: Modelo I (exposição pelo leite materno), ninhadas separadas em: exposição à fumaça (EF; n=8) – lactantes expostas à fumaça de cigarros 2R1F (1,7 mg de nicotina/cigarro por 1h, 4 vezes ao dia), separadas de suas proles e grupo controle (C; n=8), onde as mães foram separadas de suas proles e expostas ao ar filtrado; Modelo II (exposição direta à fumaça), ninhadas separadas em: exposição à fumaça (EF; n=8) – mães e proles expostas à fumaça de cigarros 2R1F e controle (C; n=8) – mães e proles expostas ao ar filtrado. A exposição ao tabaco ocorreu até o desmame. Mães sacrificadas aos desmame e proles aos desmame e aos 180 dias de idade. As mães lactantes expostas à fumaça (EF) apresentaram hipoleptinemia (-46%), hiperprolactinemia (+50%), hipoinsulinemia (-40%) e diminuição de triglicérides (-53%). Quanto a composição bioquímica do leite, as lactantes EF mostraram aumento de lactose (+52%) e triglicérides (+78%). No modelo I, as proles EF apresentaram ao desmame: diminuição da gordura corporal total (-24%), aumento de proteína corporal total (+17%), diminuição da glicemia (-11%), hiperinsulinemia (+28%), hipocorticosteronemia (-40%) e aumento de triglicérides (+34%). Quando adultas, as proles EF apresentaram somente alteração da função adrenal onde observou-se menor ...

Events or stimuli during early life can affect the development; among these events, there is the maternal smoking. Children born from smoking mothers showed low birth body weight and overweight in childhood and adolescence. Maternal nicotine exposure, the main cigarette component, causes in the offspring several metabolic changes in short- and long-term, such as increase in adiposity, hyperleptinemia, leptin resistance as well as thyroid and adrenal dysfunction. However, it is known that there are other toxic components in tobacco smoke. Then, we compared the effects of two models of tobacco smoke exposure on endocrine-metabolic profile in offspring at short- and long-term. For this, in the 3rd day of birth, suckling rats were submitted to two different experiments: Model I (through breast milk exposure), in which litters were separated into, smoke exposure (SE; n=8) – lactating mothers exposed to 2R1F cigarettes smoke (1.7 mg nicotine/cigarette/1h, 4 times per day) separated from their offspring; and control (C; n=8) – mothers were separated of their pups and exposed to filtered air. Model II (direct exposure), in which litters were separated into: Smoke exposure (SE; n=8) – lactating mothers and their offspring were exposed to 2R1F cigarettes smoke; and control (C; n=8) – mothers and their pups were exposed to filtered air. The smoke exposure occurred until the weaning, when mothers and half of pups were killed. The other offspring were killed at 180 days-old. SE dams presented hypoleptinemia (-46%), hyperprolactinemia (+50%), hypoinsulinemia (-40%) and lower triglycerides (-53%). Concerning milk compositon, SE dams showed higher lactose (+52%) and triglycerides (+78%). In model I (through breast milk exposure), EF offspring showed at weaning lower total body fat (-24%) and higher total body protein (+17), lower serum glucose (-11%), hyperinsulinemia (+28%), hypocorticosteronemia (-40%) and higher triglycerides (+34%). In adulthood, these parameters were ...

Assessment of adrenal endocrine function in Asian thalassemics.

Adrenal endocrine function was assessed in a cohort of 20 patients, between 10 and 20 years of age, with transfusion dependent beta thalassemia. Cortisol levels were assayed before and after ACTH stimulation with 1 micrograms and 250 micrograms. Adrenal dysfunction was defined as a basal cortisol of greater than 400 nmol/L and/or peak cortisol levels of greater than 500 nmol/L. Overall, 9 patients (45 %) had in vitro evidence of adrenal dysfunction. A statistical significant correlation (r=0.4308; P < 0.05), between wasting and the basal cortisol level, was observed. Similarly, there was correlation between the number of transfusions received and growth failure (r=0.4774;P < 0.05). In comparison to the involvement of other endocrine axes in polytransfused thalassemics, the adrenal endocrine function abnormalities are minor and clinically of little consequence. The observations, albeit, in a small cohort of thalassemics, stress the need for an annual estimation of basal cortisol level, especially in patients with wasting.

Noise induced nocturnal cortisol secretion and tolerable overhead flights.

Mainly dependent on level and dynamic increase sound produces over-shooting excitations which activate subcortical processing centers (e.g. the amygdala, functioning as fear conditioning center) besides cortical areas (e. g. arousing annoyance, awakenings) as well. In addition there exist very close central nervous connections between subcortical parts of the auditory system (e.g. amygdala) showing typical plasticity effects (sensitization) and the hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis. Using that causal chain noise induce cortisol excretion even below the awakening threshold. Thus repeated noise events (e.g. overflights during night time) may lead to accumulation of the cortisol level in blood. This can happen because its time-constant of exponential decrease is about 50 to 10 times larger than that one for adrenaline and noradrenaline. This fact and the unusual large permeability of cortisol through the cell membranes opens a wide field of connections between stress-dependent cortisol production and the disturbance of a large number of other endocrine processes, especially as a result of long-term stress activation by environmental influences such as environmental noise. Based upon a physiological model calculating the cortisol accumulation starting at a nightly threshold of physiological over-proportional reactions around Lmax = 53 dB(A) the number of tolerable noise events (over-flights in a nightly time range) can be estimated for given indoor peak sound pressure levels, keeping the cortisol increase within the normal range. Examples of results for 8 hours in the night are for instance number and level combinations (NAL-values) of 13 events with 53 dB(A) indoor peak level or 6 events with 70 dB(A) indoor peak level respectively.

Health effects caused by noise: evidence in the literature from the past 25 years.

Traffic noise is the most important source of environmental annoyance. According to the Environmental Expert Council of Germany, severe annoyance persistent over prolonged periods of time is to be regarded as causing distress. Previously, extraaural noise effects were mostly assessed using a paradigm in which the sound level played the major role. On the basis of this paradigm the relatively low sound level of environmental noise was not considered to be a potential danger to health. In contrast to this numerous empirical results have shown long-term noise-induced health risks. Therefore a radical change of attitude - a change of paradigm - is necessary. For an immediate triggering of protective reactions (fight/flight or defeat reactions) the information conveyed by noise is very often more relevant than the sound level. It was shown recently that the first and fastest signal detection is mediated by a subcortical area - the amygdala. For this reason even during sleep the noise from aeroplanes or heavy goods vehicles may be categorised as danger signals and induce the release of stress hormones. In accordance with the noise stress hypothesis chronic stress hormone dysregulations as well as increases of established endogenous risk factors of ischaemic heart diseases have been observed under long-term environmental noise exposure. Therefore, an increased risk of myocardial infarction is to be expected. The results of individual studies on this subject in most cases do not reach statistical significance. However, according to the Environmental Expert Council, these studies show a consistent trend towards an increased cardiovascular risk if the daytime immission level exceeds 65 dB(A). Most of the previous studies on the extraaural effects of occupational noise have been invalidated by exposure misclassifications. In future studies on health effects of noise a correct exposure assessment is one of the most important preconditions.

Sustancias quimicas con actividad hormonal: disruptores endocrinos / Chemical substances with hormonal activities: endocrine disrupters

La literatura medica ha publicado diversos trabajos sobre la exposicion animal y humana a sustancias quimicas que actuan en el organismo de forma similar a las hormonas naturales y que alteran la homeostais de los sistemas endocrinos...