Extraction and Characterization of Lipids from Macroalgae.

Although most algal biofuel research has focused on microalgae, macroalgae are also potential sources of lipid for the production of biodiesel and other liquid fuels. Reliable, accurate methods for assessing the lipid composition of biomass are essential for the development of macroalgae in this area. The conventional methods most commonly used to evaluate lipid composition, such as those of Bligh and Dyer and Folch, do not provide complete extraction of lipids in photosynthetic cells/tissues and therefore do not provide an accurate accounting of lipid production. Here we present a 2-EE lipid extraction protocol, a method which has been demonstrated to be superior to conventional lipid extraction methods for microalgae, adapted for use with macroalgae.

Reticulocytosis in screen-printing workers exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the hematologic toxicity of ethylene glycol ethers in humans are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between exposure to solvents (containing 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol) and hematological effects. METHODS: Thirty-four screen-printing workers who were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol and 37 non-exposed clerical workers were selected using data from the health care facilities that provided regular health screening services. Student's t-tests and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare differences in hematological parameters between the exposed and the control groups. A multivariate analysis was performed using the multiple logistic regression models to adjust for other variables. RESULTS: The chi-square test showed the reticulocyte percentages and corrected reticulocyte counts to be significantly higher in the exposed group. The t-tests showed a significant increase in white blood cell counts, reticulocyte percentages, and corrected reticulocyte count (i.e., reticulocyte index) in the exposed group, with p-values of 0.002, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the odds ratio for the corrected reticulocyte counts to be 16.30 for the exposed group, when compared with that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol was significantly associated with reticulocytosis, necessitating the implementation of preventive measures for workers prone to occupational exposure to ethylene glycol ethers.

Reticulocytosis in screen-printing workers exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol

BACKGROUND: Studies on the hematologic toxicity of ethylene glycol ethers in humans are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between exposure to solvents (containing 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol) and hematological effects. METHODS: Thirty-four screen-printing workers who were exposed to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol and 37 non-exposed clerical workers were selected using data from the health care facilities that provided regular health screening services. Student's t-tests and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to compare differences in hematological parameters between the exposed and the control groups. A multivariate analysis was performed using the multiple logistic regression models to adjust for other variables. RESULTS: The chi-square test showed the reticulocyte percentages and corrected reticulocyte counts to be significantly higher in the exposed group. The t-tests showed a significant increase in white blood cell counts, reticulocyte percentages, and corrected reticulocyte count (i.e., reticulocyte index) in the exposed group, with p-values of 0.002, 0.004, and 0.002, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the odds ratio for the corrected reticulocyte counts to be 16.30 for the exposed group, when compared with that of the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol was significantly associated with reticulocytosis, necessitating the implementation of preventive measures for workers prone to occupational exposure to ethylene glycol ethers.

The effects of 2-methoxyethanol and 2-ethoxyethanol on hematological changes induced by 2-butoxyethanol.

BACKGROUND: Alkoxyethanols (ethylene glycol alkyl ethers) are used as mixtures in a variety of industrial and household products. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the effects of 2-methoxyethanol (ME) and 2-ethoxyethanol (EE) on hematological changes induced by 2-butoxyethanol (BE) in rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Experiments were performed on male Wistar rats treated subcutaneously with BE, ME, and EE alone (in the dose of 0.75 mM/kg/day and 1.25 mM/kg/day) and their mixtures with the molar ratio 1:1, for 4 weeks. Hematological analyses were performed on the day 0, 4, 11, 18, and 29. Hemoglobin (HGB) concentration in the urine was also determined in the rats treated with BE alone and co-exposed to BE and ME and also BE and EE. RESULTS: The rats co-exposed to BE and ME or BE and EE demonstrated significantly less pronounced hematological changes in comparison with animals treated with BE alone at the beginning of exposure. At the later period the hematological alterations in the same animals were markedly pronounced and progressing with exposure time. The rats co-exposed to BE and ME or BE and EE did not demonstrate hemoglobinuria. CONCLUSIONS: ME or EE co-administered to rats with BE lead to the amelioration in the majority of the hematological parameters at the beginning of the exposure. The hematological changes at the end of the co-exposure to BE and ME or BE and EE were markedly pronounced. The effects observed in this study appear to be related with metabolic interactions of the examined ether. Med Pr 2015;66(3):303-315.

A Study on the Hematologic Changes of Workers Exposed to Mixed Organic Solvents / 대한산업의학회지

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hematological changes of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents and to search the organic solvent that bring out these changes. The study participants were 1,605 workers, consisting 1,088 workers (male 989, female 99) exposed to mixed organic solvents and 517 non-exposed workers (male 431, female 86). The authors analyzed the results of complete blood count and differential count of leukocytes of all the workers and examined all of the material safety data sheets of substances with which they dealt and the results of their working environmental surveys during the last 3 years. The results were as follows: 1. The mean values of complete blood count in workers exposed to mixed organic solvents were lower than that of non-exposed workers in WBC, RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit in cases of male and RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit in cases of female, but the mean value of platelet count in male exposed workers and WBC count in female exposed workers were higher than those of non-exposed workers. 2. The distribution of differential count of leukocytes showed no difference between exposed workers and non-exposed workers. 3. The correlation coefficients between age and duration of employment and WBC showed statistically a positive value and that between age and duration of employment and RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit showed a statistically negative value in cases of male exposed to mixed organic solvents. But in cases of female there was no statistical correlation between them. 4. In cases of male the proportions of workers with subnormal levels of WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet according to the standard of classification were high or than those of non-exposed workers. The proportions of exposed workers were 3.6 %, 18.6 %, 5.3 %, 32.7 % and 1.4 % respectively and those of non-exposes workers were 2.8 %, 10.7 %, 2.1 %, 13.9 % and 0.2 % respectively. 5. In cased of female the proportion of workers with subnormal levels of RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit according to the standard of classification were higher than those of non exposed workers. The proportion of exposed workers were 42.4 %, 55.6 % and 41.4 % respectively and those of non-exposed workers were 10.5 %, 11.6 % and 8.1 % respectively. 6. The number of substances with which workers exposed to mixed organic solvents dealt were about 500, and 22 organic solvents such as xylene, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate were main components of substances according to the material safety data sheet and working environmental surveys during the last 3 years. The authors suspect 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate of the organic solvents, which bring out the hematological changes of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents. As a result of this study, the authors confirmed the hematological changes of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents and recommend : strict management of working environment, working time and the protective equipments of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents.

A Study on the Hematologic Changes of Workers Exposed to Mixed Organic Solvents / 대한산업의학회지

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the hematological changes of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents and to search the organic solvent that bring out these changes. The study participants were 1,605 workers, consisting 1,088 workers (male 989, female 99) exposed to mixed organic solvents and 517 non-exposed workers (male 431, female 86). The authors analyzed the results of complete blood count and differential count of leukocytes of all the workers and examined all of the material safety data sheets of substances with which they dealt and the results of their working environmental surveys during the last 3 years. The results were as follows: 1. The mean values of complete blood count in workers exposed to mixed organic solvents were lower than that of non-exposed workers in WBC, RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit in cases of male and RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit in cases of female, but the mean value of platelet count in male exposed workers and WBC count in female exposed workers were higher than those of non-exposed workers. 2. The distribution of differential count of leukocytes showed no difference between exposed workers and non-exposed workers. 3. The correlation coefficients between age and duration of employment and WBC showed statistically a positive value and that between age and duration of employment and RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit showed a statistically negative value in cases of male exposed to mixed organic solvents. But in cases of female there was no statistical correlation between them. 4. In cases of male the proportions of workers with subnormal levels of WBC, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet according to the standard of classification were high or than those of non-exposed workers. The proportions of exposed workers were 3.6 %, 18.6 %, 5.3 %, 32.7 % and 1.4 % respectively and those of non-exposes workers were 2.8 %, 10.7 %, 2.1 %, 13.9 % and 0.2 % respectively. 5. In cased of female the proportion of workers with subnormal levels of RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit according to the standard of classification were higher than those of non exposed workers. The proportion of exposed workers were 42.4 %, 55.6 % and 41.4 % respectively and those of non-exposed workers were 10.5 %, 11.6 % and 8.1 % respectively. 6. The number of substances with which workers exposed to mixed organic solvents dealt were about 500, and 22 organic solvents such as xylene, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate were main components of substances according to the material safety data sheet and working environmental surveys during the last 3 years. The authors suspect 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-ethoxy ethyl acetate of the organic solvents, which bring out the hematological changes of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents. As a result of this study, the authors confirmed the hematological changes of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents and recommend : strict management of working environment, working time and the protective equipments of workers exposed to mixed organic solvents.