ABSTRACT
A standard operating procedure has been developed for an immunoslotblot assay of sulfur mustard adducts to DNA in human blood and skin for use in a field laboratory. A minimum detectable level of exposure of human blood in vitro (> or = 50 nM) sulfur mustard is feasible with the assay. In the case of human skin, a 1 s exposure to saturated sulfur mustard vapor (830 mg/m(-3)) could still be detected.
Subject(s)
Chemical Warfare Agents/poisoning , DNA Adducts/analysis , Immunoblotting/standards , Mustard Gas/poisoning , Skin/drug effects , Chemical Warfare Agents/chemistry , DNA Adducts/chemistry , Humans , Leukocytes/chemistry , Military Medicine/methods , Mustard Gas/chemistry , Reference Values , Skin/chemistryABSTRACT
A procedure for the modified Edman degradation of globin for determination of sulfur mustard adducts to the N-terminal valine residue in human hemoglobin has been developed for use under field laboratory conditions. The minimum detectable exposure level of human blood (in vitro) to sulfur mustard using this procedure is 100 nM. The interindividual and intraindividual variabilities of the procedure were acceptable (standard deviation < 10% and < 20%, respectively). The procedure could be properly set up and carried out in another laboratory within one working day, demonstrating its robustness.
Subject(s)
Chemical Warfare Agents/poisoning , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Hemoglobins/drug effects , Mustard Gas/poisoning , Chemical Warfare Agents/analysis , Chemical Warfare Agents/chemistry , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Hemoglobins/chemistry , Humans , Mustard Gas/analysis , Mustard Gas/chemistry , Valine/chemistryABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to demonstrate changes in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities, tyrosine aminotransferase activity (TAT) and plasma corticosterone level, neuroexcitability and behavior following 24 hours and 4 weeks of soman sublethal inhalation exposure at low level. AChE activity in erythrocytes and BuChE activity in plasma was decreased (dependent on the concentration of soman) 24 h and 4 weeks after the exposure. Similar decrease in AChE activity in different brain parts was observed. One of stressogenic parameters (TAT) was changed after 24 h exposure only. 4 weeks after the exposure, these parameters (corticosterone and TAT) were in the range of normal values. Behaviour of experimental animals was changed 24 h after the exposure persisting 4 weeks after the exposure as well as neuroexcitability.
