Applying the adverse outcome pathway concept for assessing non-monotonic dose responses: biphasic effect of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on testosterone levels.

Male reproduction is one of the primary health endpoints identified in rodent studies for some phthalates, such as DEHP (Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), DBP (Dibutyl phthalate), and BBP (Benzyl butyl phthalate). The reduction in testosterone level was used as an intermediate key event for grouping some phthalates and to establish a reference point for risk assessment. Phthalates, and specifically DEHP, are one of the chemicals for which the greatest number of non-monotonic dose responses (NMDRs) are observed. These NMDRs cover different endpoints and situations, often including testosterone levels. The presence of NMDR has been the subject of some debate within the area of chemical risk assessment, which is traditionally anchored around driving health-based guidance values for apical endpoints that typically follow a clear monotonic dose-response. The consequence of NMDR for chemical risk assessment has recently received considerable attention amongst regulatory agencies, which confirmed its relevance particularly for receptor-mediated effects. The present review explores the relationship between DEHP exposure and testosterone levels, investigating the biological plausibility of the observed NMDRs. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept is applied to integrate NMDRs into Key Event Relationships (KERs) for exploring a mechanistic understanding of initial key events and possibly associated reproductive and non-reproductive adverse outcomes.

Sub-Kelvin cooling for two kilopixel bolometer arrays in the PIPER receiver.

The Primordial Inflation Polarization Explorer (PIPER) is a balloon-borne telescope mission to search for inflationary gravitational waves from the early universe. PIPER employs two 32 × 40 arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensors, which operate at 100 mK. An open bucket Dewar of liquid helium maintains the receiver and telescope optics at 1.7 K. We describe the thermal design of the receiver and sub-Kelvin cooling with a continuous adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (CADR). The CADR operates between 70 and 130 mK and provides ≈10 µW cooling power at 100 mK, nearly five times the loading of the two detector assemblies. We describe electronics and software to robustly control the CADR, overall CADR performance in flightlike integrated receiver testing, and practical considerations for implementation in the balloon float environment.

Highly efficient star formation in NGC 5253 possibly from stream-fed accretion.

Gas clouds in present-day galaxies are inefficient at forming stars. Low star-formation efficiency is a critical parameter in galaxy evolution: it is why stars are still forming nearly 14 billion years after the Big Bang and why star clusters generally do not survive their births, instead dispersing to form galactic disks or bulges. Yet the existence of ancient massive bound star clusters (globular clusters) in the Milky Way suggests that efficiencies were higher when they formed ten billion years ago. A local dwarf galaxy, NGC 5253, has a young star cluster that provides an example of highly efficient star formation. Here we report the detection of the J = 3→2 rotational transition of CO at the location of the massive cluster. The gas cloud is hot, dense, quiescent and extremely dusty. Its gas-to-dust ratio is lower than the Galactic value, which we attribute to dust enrichment by the embedded star cluster. Its star-formation efficiency exceeds 50 per cent, tenfold that of clouds in the Milky Way. We suggest that high efficiency results from the force-feeding of star formation by a streamer of gas falling into the galaxy.

A dust-obscured massive maximum-starburst galaxy at a redshift of 6.34.

Massive present-day early-type (elliptical and lenticular) galaxies probably gained the bulk of their stellar mass and heavy elements through intense, dust-enshrouded starbursts--that is, increased rates of star formation--in the most massive dark-matter haloes at early epochs. However, it remains unknown how soon after the Big Bang massive starburst progenitors exist. The measured redshift (z) distribution of dusty, massive starbursts has long been suspected to be biased low in z owing to selection effects, as confirmed by recent findings of systems with redshifts as high as ~5 (refs 2-4). Here we report the identification of a massive starburst galaxy at z = 6.34 through a submillimetre colour-selection technique. We unambiguously determined the redshift from a suite of molecular and atomic fine-structure cooling lines. These measurements reveal a hundred billion solar masses of highly excited, chemically evolved interstellar medium in this galaxy, which constitutes at least 40 per cent of the baryonic mass. A 'maximum starburst' converts the gas into stars at a rate more than 2,000 times that of the Milky Way, a rate among the highest observed at any epoch. Despite the overall downturn in cosmic star formation towards the highest redshifts, it seems that environments mature enough to form the most massive, intense starbursts existed at least as early as 880 million years after the Big Bang.

Risk assessment of dietary exposure to methylmercury in fish in the UK.

Risk assessment of chemicals in food is generally based upon the results of toxicological studies in laboratory animals, allowing for uncertainties relating to interspecies differences, human variability, and gaps in the database. Use of quantitative human data is preferable if available, as in the example of methylmercury. Methylmercury is a neurotoxic environmental contaminant, for which fish is the main source of dietary exposure. Human data from poisoning incidents and epidemiological studies have been used by expert committees to derive a guideline intake level for methylmercury, based on the susceptibility of the most sensitive lifestage, the developing fetus. In the UK, an expert group of nutritionists and toxicologists was formed to review the benefits and risks associated with fish consumption. A formal risk-benefit analysis was not possible because the nutritional data were not sufficiently quantitative. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), therefore, modified the risk assessment approach to derive different guideline intake levels for different subgroups of the population. The COT opinion was used to provide targeted advice on how much fish can be consumed without undue risk from the contaminants. Consumption by adults of one weekly portion (140 g) of shark, swordfish or marlin, would lead to an exceedance of the guideline intake for methylmercury of 40-90%, set to protect the developing fetus, without considering intake from the rest of the diet. Pregnant women and women who may become pregnant within 1 year were, therefore, advised to avoid consumption of these species. Intakes in other adults would be within a higher guideline intake, set to protect groups of the population other than the developing fetus. However, consumption by children of one weekly portion of these species could lead to an exceedance of this guideline intake by up to 60%, without considering intake from the rest of the diet. It was, therefore, advised that consumption of these species by children should be avoided.

Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants.

This report represents the conclusions of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee convened to evaluate the safety of various food additives, including flavouring agents, with a view to recommending acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and to preparing specifications for identity and purity. The Committee also evaluated the risk posed by two food contaminants, with the aim of advising on risk management options for the purpose of public health protection. The first part of the report contains a general discussion of the principles governing the toxicological evaluation and assessment of intake of food additives (in particular flavouring agents) and contaminants. A summary follows of the Committee's evaluations of technical, toxicological and intake data for certain food additives (acidified sodium chlorite, asparaginase from Aspergillus oryzae expressed in Aspergillus oryzae, carrageenan and processed Eucheuma seaweed, cyclotetraglucose and cyclotetraglucose syrup, isoamylase from Pseudomonas amyloderamosa, magnesium sulfate, phospholipase A1 from Fusarium venenatum expressed in Aspergillus oryzae, sodium iron(III) ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and steviol glycosides); eight groups of related flavouring agents (linear and branched-chain aliphatic, unsaturated, unconjugated alcohols, aldehydes, acids and related esters; aliphatic acyclic and alicyclic terpenoid tertiary alcohols and structurally related substances; simple aliphatic and aromatic sulfides and thiols; aliphatic acyclic dials, trials and related substances; aliphatic acetals; sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds; aliphatic and aromatic amines and amides; and aliphatic alicyclic linear alpha, beta -unsaturated di- and trienals and related alcohols, acids and esters); and two food contaminants (aflatoxin and ochratoxin A). Specifications for the following food additives were revised: maltol and ethyl maltol, nisin preparation, pectins, polyvinyl alcohol, and sucrose esters of fatty acids. Specifications for the following flavouring agents were revised: maltol and ethyl maltol, maltyl isobutyrate, 3-acetyl-2,5-dimethylfuran and 2,4,5-trimethyl-delta-oxazoline (Nos 1482, 1506 and 1559), and monomenthyl glutarate (No. 1414), as well as the method of assay for the sodium salts of certain flavouring agents. Annexed to the report are tables summarizing the Committee's recommendations for intakes and toxicological evaluations of the food additives and contaminants considered.

Dual Fabry-Perot filter for measurement of CO rotational spectra: design and application to the CO spectrum of Venus.

We present the design of a harmonic resonant filter that can be used with a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) for simultaneous measurement of a series of lines in the CO rotational ladder. To enable studies of both broad CO absorptions in Venus and modestly red-shifted CO emission from external galaxies, relatively broad (approximately 10-30-GHz FWHM) transmission passbands are desirable. Because a single low-finesse Fabry-Perot (FP) etalon has insufficient interline rejection, a dual-FP etalon was considered. Such a design provides significantly better interband rejection and somewhat more flattopped transmission spikes. A prototype filter of this type, made of two thin silicon disks spaced by an air gap, has been constructed and used with our FTS at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory for simultaneous measurement of the four submillimeter CO transitions in the atmosphere of Venus that are accessible from the ground.

Factors influencing the carcinogenicity of food chemicals.

The relationship between food and cancer is extremely complex. It is generally accepted that diet is a contributory factor in the aetiology of a large proportion of cancers, but with very few exceptions, we are unable to identify specific causal agents. Many food components have genotoxic potential and more are produced endogenously during digestion. Conversely, there is increasing evidence that consumption of some foods may decrease the risk of cancer, and a number of plant constituents have been shown to have the potential to inhibit various stages of the carcinogenic process. Yet we have little understanding of the interactions between the different food-related genotoxic and protective factors. A further complication is the variation in individual susceptibility and vulnerability. As a result we are still not able to determine the optimal diet for minimising cancer risk. In recognition of these issues, the UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) is funding a number of projects aimed at providing greater mechanistic understanding of the links between food and cancer, in order to offer detailed advice to the public. This report summarises the proceedings of a workshop entitled 'Factors influencing the carcinogenicity of food chemicals', held in London on 1 June 1998, providing overviews of some of the key issues, and demonstrating how the MAFF-funded research is contributing to advances in these areas. It includes discussion of genetic polymorphisms and how they may contribute to individual susceptibility and help to identify causal links between food components and colorectal cancer. Biomarkers of DNA damage in human studies and of inhibition of carcinogen activation and endogenous formation of genotoxic reactive nitrogen species are examined. Also considered are the potential uses of physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling techniques for providing more accurate estimates of risk and reducing the uncertainty in extrapolation between species and doses. Research now in progress will help to establish the critical risk and protective factors involved in diet-related colorectal cancers, in order to provide a sound scientific basis for formulation of dietary advice to the public.

Dermal route in systemic exposure.

To evaluate risk from dermal exposure, the amount of material on the skin must first be measured. The potential for dermal uptake must then be assessed for the potential health effects from systemic exposure. No standard methods exist for studying these processes, and published data are not comparable because of the different techniques used. Future validated methodology should provide a sound scientific basis for risk assessment. Methods for measuring skin and surface contamination will require development of reference contaminated surfaces and skin as part of quality control procedures. Biological monitoring is a valuable tool in the assessment of dermal absorption, in contributing to the validation of in vitro techniques, and in risk assessment and management. It will be necessary to conduct detailed investigations to support risk assessment for dermal exposure. Ultimately, predictive models will be established for exposure and for dermal absorption to support a generic approach and allow risk assessment strategies appropriate to actual workplace situations.

Skin irritant-induced cytotoxicity and prostaglandin E(2) release in human skin keratinocyte cultures.

Damage to the skin induced by chemical irritants is associated with the release of arachidonic acid metabolites, such as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) which plays an important role in epidermal inflammation. This study investigated cytotoxicity and release of PGE(2) in human epidermal keratinocytes following an 18 hr exposure of confluent cultures to various skin irritants. The concentration-dependent release of PGE, into the extracellular medium appeared to fall into two categories, which was reflective of possible mechanisms of action. Potent skin irritants, such as phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, benzalkonium chloride and tributyltin chloride, elicited an increase in extracellular PGE(2) levels at concentrations that did not produce overt cell damage (uptake of neutral red at these concentrations was comparable to control levels). Non-irritants (2-methoxyethanol and 2-butoxyethyl acetate) and two less severe irritants (sodium dodecyl sulfate and acetic acid) stimulated release of PGE(2) only at concentrations that compromised cellular integrity (uptake of neutral red was at least 50% lower than that of control cultures).

Use of human and rat keratinocyte cultures to assess skin irritation potential.

An in vitro cell culture approach was evaluated for its ability to provide data pertinent to the assessment of skin irritation potential. The hypothesis of this approach is that a direct toxic insult to the epidermal keratinocyte in vivo may lead to release of inflammatory mediators, which are responsible for initiation of a local primary skin irritant reaction. This paper presents data on the cytotoxic potential of a number of structurally unrelated chemicals (chloroform, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-butoxyethylacetate, toluene, 1-butanol, acetaldehyde, n-hexane, sodium dodecyl sulfate, benzalkonium chloride, silver nitrate, dibutyltin dichloride and tributyltin chloride). Cytotoxicity (neutral red uptake and intracellular acid phosphatase activity) of a number of structurally unrelated chemicals, representative of a wide range of skin irritation potential, was evaluated in cultures of rat and human epidermal keratinocytes. The sensitivity of human and rat keratinocytes to the test chemicals was very similar, irrespective of the endpoint of cytotoxicity. The neutral red uptake assay appeared more generally applicable to the diverse range of chemical structures represented in this study, since not all test chemicals elicited an early increase in intracellular acid phosphatase activity. The results were very encouraging, as a good correlation was evident between cytotoxicity in rat keratinocytes and the degree of erythema and oedema associated with an in vivo skin irritant response in rabbits. Keratinocyte cytotoxicity data may provide an indication of the potential of a chemical to induce a severe skin irritant reaction, or if a chemical is more likely to be a marginal or non-irritant. However, the data illustrate that such assays appear unable to discriminate correctly between more subtle classes of irritancy, such as non-irritant, mild, moderate or severe. Available human in vivo skin irritation data were insufficient to conclude which cell type is preferable for evaluation of human skin irritation potential.

Characterization of a submillimeter high-angular-resolution camera with a monolithic silicon bolometer array for the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory.

We constructed a 24-pixel bolometer camera operating in the 350- and 450-µm atmospheric windows for the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO). This instrument uses a monolithic silicon bolometer array that is cooled to approximately 300 mK by a single-shot (3)He refrigerator. First-stage amplification is provided by field-effect transistors at approximately 130 K. The sky is imaged onto the bolometer array by means of several mirrors outside the Dewar and a cold off-axis elliptical mirror inside the cryostat. The beam is defined by cold aperture and field stops, which eliminates the need for any condensing horns. We describe the instrument, present measurements of the physical properties of the bolometer array, describe the performance of the electronics and the data-acquisition system, and demonstrate the sensitivity of the instrument operating at the observatory. Approximate detector noise at 350 µm is 5 × 10(-15) W/√Hz, referenced to the entrance of the Dewar, and the CSO system noise-equivalent flux density is approximately 4 Jy/√Hz. These values are within a factor of 2.5 of the background limit.

Comparison of tumour promoter-induced prostaglandin E2 release in human and rat keratinocytes.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is associated with phorbol ester-induced skin irritation and tumour promotion, but the mechanism of action is not fully understood and the role of keratinocyte-derived PGE2 is unclear. PGE2 was recently reported to modulate keratinocyte differentiation and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), the most extensively studied phorbol ester tumour promoter in mouse skin, was shown to stimulate PGE2 release in human keratinocytes. Preliminary data on PGE2 release induced by PMA, mezerein, anthralin, sodium dodecyl sulphate and acetic acid in human keratinocyte cultures is compared to their response in rat keratinocytes. Our data confirms a previously published report on stimulation of PGE2 release by PMA in human keratinocytes and also demonstrates a difference in the magnitude of the PMA- and mezerein-induced response between human and rat keratinocyte cultures at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the Neutral Red uptake assay and a concentration that reduced cell viability to 50% of control was selected as a maximum concentration for subsequent measurement of PGE2 release. In contrast, anthralin, sodium dodecyl sulphate and acetic acid induced a similar degree of PGE2 release in human and rat keratinocyte cultures, but release was specifically associated with a cytotoxic response. Non-cytotoxic concentrations of these three chemicals did not stimulate release of PGE2. This study illustrates that PGE2 dose-response curves may reflect different mechanisms of action that may be intimately associated with skin irritant and tumour promoting activity. The data indicates a possible species difference in keratinocyte response to PMA and mezerein. The important value of keratinocyte cultures for mechanistic studies of tumour promotion and skin irritation is highlighted and further research is warranted into the potential role of intracellular pathways, which modulate keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, in these processes.

Prostaglandin E(2) release in keratinocyte cultures following exposure to various tumour promoters.

The interaction of tumour promoters with the target cell type (keratinocyte) may be an essential feature of their promoting activity and their ability to initiate an inflammatory response. The role of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), particularly in the keratinocyte, remains largely unknown, but it is closely associated with inflammation and regenerative epidermal hyperplasia, which appear critical for tumour promotion. Rat keratinocytes derived from sublingual mucosa represent a suitable model to investigate the ability of several irritants, of varying tumour-promoting potency, to stimulate PGE(2) release. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by the neutral red uptake assay and a concentration that reduced cell viability to 50% of control was selected as a maximum concentration for subsequent measurement of PGE(2) release. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate, ionophore A23187 and mezerein stimulated PGE(2) release at non-toxic concentrations. Anthralin, benzoyl peroxide, sodium dodecyl sulfate and acetic acid did not stimulate PGE(2) at non-toxic concentrations, but release was associated with a toxic response. Epidermal growth factor and phospholipase C, which are closely associated with intracellular signalling systems that modulate keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, also stimulated PGE(2) release. Epidermal growth factor elicited PGE(2) release at a concentration reported to be mitogenic in keratinocyte cultures. The stimulation of PGE(2) release in the absence of a toxic response by PMA, mezerein and ionophore A23187 may be indicative of a direct interaction of the chemicals with intracellular pathways involved in regulation of keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation. This interaction may also reflect the ability of such chemicals to initiate an inflammatory response. Measurement of PGE(2) release may be useful to investigate further the mechanism of action of tumour promoters in the target cell type. In contrast, other tumour promoters did not stimulate release at non-toxic concentrations, which implies that their ability to initiate an inflammatory response and possibly their promoting activity is associated with the induction of a toxic response in the target cell population.

Measurement of eicosanoid release in keratinocyte cultures to investigate skin irritation and tumour promoting activity.

Skin irritation, inflammation and hyperplasia appear to be intimately associated with the phenomenon of tumour promotion, but the mechanism of action remains elusive. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes play an important role in skin inflammation and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) modulates several events associated with phorbol ester-induced tumour promotion. This study investigated the release of eicosanoids (PGE(2) and leukotriene B(4)) and markers of cytotoxicity [neutral red (NR) uptake and intracellular acid phosphatase (AP) activity], after exposure of rat tongue epithelial (RTE) keratinocyte cultures to chemicals of different irritating and tumour promoting activity. The potent phorbol ester tumour promoter phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), and the less potent, structurally related diterpene ester, mezerein (MEZ) were compared with the known skin irritant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Cytotoxicity data reflected the in vivo skin irritation potential of the test chemicals and intracellular AP activity was increased after exposure to SDS (160 mug/ml), but did not appear to be increased by the more cytotoxic chemicals PMA and MEZ. Extracellular levels of PGE(2) were increased (200 to > 1000% of control levels) after an 18-hr exposure to PMA or MEZ over a concentration range of 0.01 to 20 mug/ml (NR(50) values 8.0 +/- 6.6 and 15.5 +/- 4.8 mug/ml, respectively). These data indicated that PGE(2) release occurred in the absence of cytotoxicity. In contrast, SDS only elicited PGE(2) release after exposure to 80 mug/ml (a cytotoxic dose level, NR(50) 82.5 +/- 9.9 mug/ml). The potency of a chemical to elicit PGE(2) release in keratinocytes in the absence of a cytotoxic response may reflect intracellular pathways intimately associated with the initiation of an inflammatory response and possibly with tumour promoting activity.

Investigations of the genotoxicity and cell proliferative activity of dichlorvos in mouse forestomach.

This study investigated the possible mechanism by which dichlorvos may have caused forestomach tumours in mice in a chronic corn oil gavage cancer bioassay [NTP (1989) Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of dichlorvos in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (gavage studies). National Toxicology Program Technical Report 342, NIH Publ. No 89-2598]. For this purpose, a method has been developed to assess the genotoxicity of irritant substances on mouse forestomach epithelium. Groups of five B6C3F1 mice were given a single oral dose of dichlorvos, the genotoxic forestomach carcinogen 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or the irritant, non-genotoxic forestomach carcinogen butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). After periods of 2-48 h, three parameters were assessed: unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) by autoradiography of tissue sections, replicative DNA synthesis (RDS) also by autoradiography of incorporated [3H]thymidine, and histopathological changes, including hyperplasia. MNNG induced UDS but not RDS or hyperplasia in forestomach epithelium, consistent with its genotoxic mode of action. BHA and dichlorvos did not induce UDS, consistent with absence of genotoxic activity in the forestomach after in vivo exposure. In contrast, BHA and dichlorvos induced RDS and subsequent hyperplasia, which is likely to result from irritant damage. These data suggest that the chronic effects of dichlorvos on mouse forestomach epithelium in the oral gavage bioassay were mediated via enforced cell proliferation, rather than by a genotoxic mechanism.

Effects of some non-genotoxic chemicals on DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes.

The effect of the antihistaminic drug methapyrilene (MP) on DNA synthesis in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes has been compared with the effects of sodium phenobarbitone (PB), clofibric acid (CA), 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The response for all chemicals was dependent on the concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the culture medium. MP at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 mum stimulated DNA synthesis. PB had a stimulatory effect on DNA synthesis at 0.5-1 mm. A greater increase in DNA synthesis was observed in the absence of EGF in the culture medium, for both chemicals. CA (0.1 mm) increased DNA synthesis in the absence of EGF and inhibited DNA synthesis at concentrations of 10 ng/ml or more. A dose-related increase in DNA synthesis with DMSO was observed in the presence of 10 ng EGF/ml. AAF did not stimulate DNA synthesis and inhibited it in the presence of 10 ng EGF/ml.