[Biologic degradation of phenoxypropanolene. Biodegradability of phenoxypropanols]. / Biologische Abbaubarkeit von Phenoxypropanolen.

Phenoxypropanols have been used for some time as ingredients in surface and instrument disinfectants. Since the residual solutions of these preparations are discharged into the waste-water, the biodegradability of the ingredients used is of great importance. Tests by means of the Zahn-Wellens test in accordance with OECD guidelines have shown that phenoxypropanols are biodegradable. In further studies it was investigated whether unwanted intermediate products are formed in considerable amounts. Of particular interest was the question of the possible development of phenol outside the bacterial cells. To test the biodegradability of the aromatic alcohols and to ascertain whether there is extracellular formation of phenol, microorganisms were isolated from the municipal sewage plant at Stellinger Moor, Hamburg, and from water from the River Elbe. Phenoxypropanol-containing solutions were then inoculated with the bacteria and incubated at 30 degrees C. At regular intervals both the concentration of the alcohols was determined and the test for phenol was performed by means of liquid chromatography on reverse phase material (RP 18) and detection with a photodiode array detector. The breakdown of the phenoxypropanols was monitored for a period of up to 4 weeks. During this period a clear breakdown of the aromatic alcohols was observed. No phenol was detected.

[Octenidine dihydrochloride, properties of a new antimicrobial agent]. / Octenidindihydrochlorid, Eigenschaften eines neuen antimikrobiellen Wirkstoffes.

The chemical, antimicrobial and toxicological properties of Octenidine dihydrochloride - a compound belonging to the bipyridines - are briefly described. Already low concentrations (0.1% and less) of the substance are bactericidally and fungicidally effective. It is remarkable that this effect is practically as strong against grampositive as against gram negative germs. The compound is not absorbed by the skin. A systemic effect cannot be observed upon oral application within large of dosage scales. As active component in antiseptics the remanent effect has particularly to be emphasized even against transient germs reaching the skin after disinfection.

[The emission of toxic ingredients from disinfectant solutions into the air]. / Untersuchungen zur Abgabe toxischer Bestandteile aus Desinfektionsmittellösungen in die Luft.

The development of peracidous disinfectants allows a disinfection, inactivating an incomparable large spectrum of microorganisms and showing special advantages of toxicology. There is no release of evaporable toxic substances into the air after disinfection with the exception of products based on peracetic acid. In this paper cell cultures are chosen as indicator for the toxicity of evaporable substances. It is shown that the cells were able to propagate in the presence of active oxygen containing disinfectants as well as in the blanc test. However, there was no propagation of cells in presence of formaldehyde, glutardialdehyde and peracetic acid.

[Resorption of 2-phenylphenol from washing hand disinfectants (author's transl)]. / Zur Frage der Resorption von 2-Phenylphenol aus waschenden Händedesinfektionsmitteln.

2-phenylphenol may be applied as active agent in hand disinfectants which have a simultaneous cleaning effect. Such a preparation (Primasept M, Schülke & Mayr GmbH, Norderstedt) which is also suited for the inactivation of Hepatitis B viruses was applied according to prescription and the intake of the active agent by the skin was determined indirectly by the quantity separated in the urine. After 10 minutes successive application of the preparation a mean value of 6.2 mg was observed. Compared with the ADI-value, admitting significantly higher values, no particular risk has to be expected by application of the preparation.

[The treatment of thermolabile instruments with water after cold sterilization with Gigasept (author's transl)]. / Die Behandlung thermolabiler Instrumente mit Wasser nach Kaltsterilisation mit Gigasept.

After careful disinfection of polished surfaces of V4A steel, rubber or PVC with a 10% Gigasept solution it is already sufficient to dip the plates into water for 5 min one time only in order to practically clear off all residues. In order to receive also those parts free from residues which are unfavourably shaped regarding their geometry they should be rinsed twice. This second time should last 1 h or if a shorter dipping time is desired the instrument should be moved.

[Quantitative determination of glutaraldehyde in disinfectants (author's transl)]. / Quantitative Bestimmung von Glutardialdehyd in Desinfektionsmitteln.

Glutaraldehyde is oxidized by KMnO4 to glutaricacid. The separation of the glutaricacid from the reaction-mixture by use of extraction columns is followed by quantitative gas-chromatography.

[Experimental investigations on the tumorigenic activity of cigarette smoke condensate on mouse skin. VII. Comparative studies of condensates from different modified cigarettes (author's transl)]. / Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die tumorerzeugende Wirkung von Zigarettenrauch-Kondensaten an der Mäusehaut. VII. Einzelvergleiche von Kondensaten verschiedener modifizierter Zigaretten.

Condensate from different modified cigarettes were compared with condensate from a standard cigarette with regard to its tumorigenic activity on mouse skin. Significant lower effects were observed in test series with cigarettes from expanded tobacco. Different results were obtained in experiments with cigarettes from the new smoking materials. In one case the effect was higher, in two another cases the effect was lower in comparison to the effect of condensate from reference cigarettes. A certain influence may be referred to the diameter of the cigarette, i.e. a thinner cigarette shows a lower biological effect. The lowest tumoringenic effect was observed in tests with cigarettes with a high content of Burley-stems.

[Investigations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cigarette smoke (author's transl)]. / Zur Kenntnis der polycyklischen aromatischen Kohlenwasserstoffe im Zigarettenrauch

Polycyclic aromatic hydrobarbons (PAH), which are responsible for most of the carcinogenic activity of cigarette smoke were isolated from smoke condensate by distribution steps and chromatographic methods. The fractions containing substances in the range fluorence to chrysen were investigated by gaschromatography and mass-spectrometry. 150 substances were characterized. Unsubstituted PAH, alkyl-substituted PAH and O-heterocyclic compounds were identified.

[Nicotine metabolism in the pig (author's transl)]. / Uber den Nikotinstoffwechsel beim Schwein

After i.v. injection of 0.33 mg nicotine/kg the elimination of unchanged nicotine as well as nicotine-N-oxide, cotinine, nornicotine and norcotinine was determined in the urine of pigs dependent on time. In female pigs 16.3% and in male pigs 25.9% of the applied nicotine were recovered in form of the mentioned compounds within 31h. Nicotine elimination essentially stopped in the collecting period 3-8 h. The main decomposition products nicotine-N-oxide and cotinine were eliminated to a significant extent also 8-23 h after application.

[Experimental studies on tumorigenic activity of cigarette smoke condensate on mouse skin. V. Comparative studies of condensates from different modified cigarettes (author's transl)]. / Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die tumorerzeugende Wirkung von Zigarettenrauch-Kondensaten an der Mäusehaut. V. Mitteilung: Einzelvergleiche von Kondensaten verschiedener modifizierter Zigaretten

The tumorigenic effect of smoke condensates from reference cigarettes and different modified cigarettes has been investigated on the mouse skin. The following results have been obtained: 1. Reconstituted tobacco sheets made from the blend of the reference cigarette T as well as different other tobacco mixtures showed a reduced tumorigenic effect. 50% or 20% of reconstituted tobacco sheets as additive to the tobacco T showed reduced tumorigenic effect too. 2. A dark tobacco mixture (cigar type) as well as the Virginia tobacco of the mixture T showed no significant differences in biological activity compared to the reference tobacco. Condensate of the Burley tobacco of the blend T showed a reduced tumorigenic effect. 3. A small amount of nitrate as additive (1.8% total nitrate) only showed a limited reduction of the tumorigenic effect. 4. Condensate of a cigarette with commercially used filters, 20% reconstituted tobacco sheets and a total nitrate content of 1.8% showed a distinctly reduced tumorigenic effect. 5. Statistical evaluations of this experiment indicated that each of the applied dose should not be too high. Application of high doses did not lead to a further increase of tumor incidence. Cytotoxicity and viscosity of higher concentrated solutions may be responsible for this fact.

[Experimental studies on the rumorigenic activity of cigarette smoke condensate on mouse skin. VI. Fractionation of cigarette smoke condensate (author's transl)]. / Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die tumorerzeugende Wirkung von Zigarettenrauch-Kondensaten an der Mäusehaut. VI. Mitteilung: Untersuchungen zur Fraktionierung von Zigarettenrauch-Kondensat

This experiment has been performed to clarify the question to which extent fractions containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) or other carcinogenic compounds are responsible for the biological activity of cigarette smoke condensate. With chromatographic procedures using organic gels it was possible to separate quantitatively polar compounds from the PAH-fraction and to obtain fraction IX representing 0.4% of the whole condensate. In this fraction the PAH were enriched 250fold. Significant losses of tumorigenic effects by this fractionation method could not be observed. This PAH-containing fraction showed 50% of activity compared with the overall activity of whole smoke condensate of a reference cigarette. A so-called PAH-free fraction showed with 7% of the overall activity of the whole smoke condensate a weak carcinogenic effect. The importance of PAH for the tumorigenic effect of cigarette smoke is emphasized by these results.

Uptake of carbon monoxide in blood of miniture pigs and other mammals.

Different affinities of blood for CO were observed in in vivo and in vitro experiments. Hamsters showed the greatest relative affinity (1.0), the corresponding value for rats was 0.8, for pigs 0.74 and for rabbits 0.58. The upward shift of the saturation curves was dependent on the rate of respiratory exchange per unit of body weight, e.g. the curves were less steep for pigs than for rabbits. After increased motor activity the equilibrium saturation of CO in blood is reached more rapidly. From the results of in vitro experiments the following affinity constants for the blood of different species could be calculated: pig K = 130, hamster K = 181, rat I = 141, rabbit K = 109. For equal atmospheric CO concentrations the saturation values were lower (37-40%) in experiments in vitro than in vivo. Similar saturation values were obtained with light excluded, when O2 concentration was decreased to the level of alveolar oxygen concentration. With regard to the affinity of blood for CO, the blood of domestic pigs did not differ from that of minature pigs in in vitro experiments.