Cancer induction in mice by feeding the raw false morel mushroom Gyromitra esculenta.

One of the false morel mushrooms, Gyromitra esculenta, was administered p.o. to Swiss mice that were 6 weeks old at the beginning of the experiment. The mushrooms were fed to the mice for 3 days and were followed by a semisynthetic diet for 4 days each week for life. The treatment induced tumors in the lungs, nasal cavity, blood vessels, forestomach, glandular stomach, cecum, and liver in the following incidences: 80, 10, 50, 16, 4, 28, and 6% in females, and 70, 12, 32, 18, 20, 22, and 12% in males. In the untreated controls, the corresponding tumor incidences were 28, 0, 14, 0, 0, 8, and 0% in females and 38, 0, 6, 0, 0, 8, and 2% in males. The light microscopic examination revealed the typical appearance of adenomas and adenocarcinomas of lungs, adenomas and adenocarcinomas of nasal cavities, hemangiomas and hemangiosarcomas of blood vessels, squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas of the forestomach, adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the glandular stomach, polypoid adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the cecum, and hepatomas. The work demonstrates the carcinogenic action of the raw G. esculenta mushroom.

Heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and other chlordane compounds in Finnish plywood workers.

Residue levels of heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and other chlordane compounds were determined in sera from 74 Finnish plywood workers and 52 controls. Concentrations of heptachlor epoxide in plywood workers varied from below the detection limit of 0.1 ng/g to 19.2 ng/g serum (conversion factor for SI units = 975 [1 ng/g = 0.98 microgram/l]); the mean and standard deviation were 3.2 and 3.9 ng/g, respectively. Heptachlor expoxide values in controls varied from below the detection limit to 1.2 ng/g serum. The exposure time, i.e., number of years spent working with sizings that contained heptachlor, correlated with the residue levels of heptachlor epoxide that were measured in serum samples taken from employees at two companies (p = .03). The most common chlordane compound (contaminant of heptachlor) found in the sera of plywood workers was trans-nonachlor; also found were high concentrations of heptachlor epoxide. Headache, dizziness, and eye irritation were not related to serum levels of heptachlor or chlordane compounds.

Occurrence of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane in breast cancer patients.

The residues of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and neutral organochlorine compounds in breast fat of 44 breast cancer patients and 33 women free of cancer were determined. No statistically significant differences appeared between the two comparison groups with regard to occurrence of PAH compounds. Of the neutral organochlorine compounds, residues of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were found more frequently in breast cancer patients. After adjusting for age and parity by stepwise logistic regression, beta-HCH remained a significant risk factor of breast cancer. Using a cutoff point for the residue level of beta-HCH in breast adipose tissue of more than 0.1 mg/kg fat, the odds ratio was 10.51 (95% CI, 2.00-55.26).

The presence of chlorophenols and their conjugates in Finnish human adipose and liver tissues.

The concentrations of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, pentachlorophenol and their conjugates were analysed in tissues of 58 people from the southern and northern parts of Finland, none of whom were known to be occupationally exposed. The tissue samples consisted of 44 adipose and 13 liver samples. The ages of the donors varied from 3 months to 91 years. Only very small residues of chlorophenols were found: the median concentration of tetra- or pentachlorophenol in adipose tissue samples was 0.002 micrograms g-1 fat, ranging from a trace amount to 0.031 micrograms g-1, while none of the samples contained measurable amounts of trichlorophenol. In liver samples, the median concentration of pentachlorophenol was 0.004 micrograms g-1. Only two liver samples were positive for tetrachlorophenol and none for trichlorophenol. The age, smoking habit or fish intake of the donor did not have any relation to the chlorophenol concentration found in the tissue sample.

Class separation of mutagenic polycyclic organic material in grilled and smoked foods.

A method for class separation of mutagenic polycyclic organic material in grilled and smoked foods is described. The procedure involves an initial extraction with acetone, removal of fat and proteins by precipitation at -55 degrees C, and an acid-base extraction. Further fractionation was carried out by gel filtration and silica gel chromatography. In four samples of grilled sausages, 80%-90% of the extracted mutagenicity (TA98 + S9) was contained in the basic fractions. Flame-grilled sausages showed higher mutagenicity than charcoal-grilled ones. In a smoked fish sample, the mutagenicity was low and evenly distributed between the basic and the neutral/acidic fractions. A few samples showed a weak direct-acting mutagenicity in the neutral/acidic fractions. The presence of nitrite in grilled sausages did not influence the mutagenicity markedly. Gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring was used to successfully identify a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tentatively identify several nitro-PAHs and oxygenated compounds. However, the identification of mutagens in the basic fractions was complicated by peak tailing and the presence of co-eluting material.

Relation between the content of organochlorine compounds in Finnish human milk and characteristics of the mothers.

Neutral organochlorine pesticide and PCB residues were analyzed by GC-MS technique in 183 human milk samples obtained in 1984-1985 from 165 women living in different parts of Finland. The effect of the donors' age, body mass, place of residence, number of children, dietary habits, smoking habits, occupational history, and weight loss on the organochlorine content of human milk were studied. Of all the milk samples analyzed, p,p'-DDE concentrations were above the detection limit in 99.5%, p,p'-DDD + p,p'-DDT in 57.9%, isomers of HCH in 30.0%, cis-chlordane in 4.9%, oxychlordane in 3.3%, trans-nonachlor in 6.0%, heptachlor in 12.0%, and heptachlor epoxide in 6.6%. Mirex was not found in any of the milk samples, whereas the signals of chlorinated terpenes (toxaphenes) were detected but could not be quantitatively determined. The mean fat adjusted residue levels above the detection limit in Finnish human milk samples of primipara mothers were 0.66 ppm for total DDT compounds, 0.08 ppm for HCB, 0.93 ppm for PCBs, 0.41 ppm for chlordane compounds, 0.20 ppm for isomers of HCH, and 0.10 ppm for heptachlor epoxide. The geometric means were 0.46, 0.06, 0.57, 0.02, 0.02, and 0.01 ppm, respectively. The age of the mothers positively correlated with the DDE concentrations in human milk. The residues of OC compounds in human milk did not differ in women living in plywood industry regions, those actually working in the industry, and other mothers. Small differences were detected in the levels of organochlorine compounds in different parts of Finland. No relation was found between the OC content and the fish consumption, smoking habits, weight loss, or social group of the donors.

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) in leaf lettuce.

Twenty-three samples of leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) cultivated in private gardens in southern Finland were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and derivatives. The total PAH concentrations varied from 4.8 to 94 micrograms/kg fresh weight. Nitro derivatives of PAH were detected in only five samples. One lettuce sample was also analyzed for PAH oxy-derivatives. 9H-Fluoren-9-one (1.3 microgram/kg) and 6 H-benzo[cd]pyren-6-one (0.3 microgram/kg) were found. The profiles of PAH in lettuce were compared with those in ambient air. It was concluded that PAH in lettuce originate from deposition of PAH-containing particles present in ambient air.

Average total dietary intakes of organochlorine compounds from the Finnish diet.

As a contribution to the FAO/WHO organochlorine monitoring programme, samples of milk, eggs, beef pork, chops, game, animal livers as well as fish-liver oils were analysed for PCB-, DDT- and toxaphene compounds, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), heptachlor and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH). From the annual consumption of the foodstuffs investigated average intakes of organochlorines were estimated and compared with the acceptable daily intakes (ADI) as set by FAO/WHO. Intakes from the sources studied were then compared with those from fish, butter and margarine. Total average dietary intakes were determined to be 14.4 micrograms/day for PCB, 2.9 for DDT, 2,3 for gamma-HCH, 1.7 for HCB, and 0.5 micrograms/day for heptachlor representing 0.08% of the ADI for DDT, 0.3% for HCH, 4.2% for HCB and 1.4% of the ADI for heptachlor.

Cigarettes as a source of some trace and heavy metals and pesticides in man.

Trace and heavy metal and pesticide contents of different tobacco brands sold in Finland during 1920 to 1984 were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the purpose of investigating the variation in contents over time. In addition, the following were studied: the effect of commercial filters in cigarettes in preventing the inhalation of metals, the transfer of metals and pesticides to the mainstream smoke; and the correlation between the cadmium content of adipose tissue of smokers and their smoking habits. No differences were found in trace and heavy metal contents of different brands and packs from different decades. The pesticide residues in tobacco have followed the pattern of their use in the tobacco plantation. The dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) content of tobacco has decreased during the past 20 yr to about 1/200 of the peak value, i.e., from 34.5 to 0.17 micrograms/g. Cigarette filters significantly prevent the inhalation of cadmium, lead, magnesium, and iron. The mean content of cadmium in fat tissue of male smokers was four times that of non-smokers. The difference was statistically significant.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Finnish sauna air.

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the air of three different types of wood-heated saunas were studied. The highest concentrations were found in the smoke sauna (total PAH 170-1550 micrograms/m3, benzo[a]pyrene 4.6-20 micrograms/m3) the second highest in the preheated sauna (total PAH 50-90 micrograms/m3, benzo[a]pyrene 3.4-4.5 micrograms/m3) and the lowest concentrations in the sauna heated by continuous burning of wood (total PAH 25 micrograms/m3, benzo[a]pyrene below 0.1 micrograms/m3). The results clearly indicate that regular bathing in the smoke sauna and in the pre-heated sauna increases the intake of PAH compounds (e.g. benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]anthracene).

Influence of diet and other factors on the levels of organochlorine compounds in human adipose tissue in Finland.

One hundred and five human adipose tissue samples were recovered during surgical operations or postmorten examinations of patients experiencing death due to traumatic injury. The sample donors were between the ages of 2 mo and 91 yr. Samples were analyzed by GLC-MS techniques for polychlorobiophenyl (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) compounds, chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene, and chlorinated phenols. Special attention was paid to the concentration of hepatchlor epoxide, a metabolite of heptachlor, commonly used as an insecticide in the Finnish plywood industry. The mean concentrations of PCB, DTTs, HCB, and chlordanes were 0.26, 0.33, 0.02, and 0.007 mg/kg fresh weight, respectively, while the mean concentration of heptachlor epoxide was 2.3 micrograms/kg. The geometric means were 0.20, 0.28, 0.018, 0.0055, and 0.002 mg/kg, respectively. The concentrations of PCB and DDT compounds in Finnish human adipose tissue has rapidly decreased during the last 10 yr. The average concentrations were higher in south Finland than those in north Finland, and the results clearly indicate the prominent influence of fish meals and the age of sample donors on the pollutant concentrations in adipose tissue. The results were further analyzed and discussed with respect to sex, smoking habits, and number of childbirths of the sample donors.

The effect of oxidation of the sulfur atom on the mutagenicity of ethylenethiourea.

Ethylenethiourea is metabolized in mice by oxidation of the sulfur atom to form 2-imidazolin-2-yl sulfenate. Ethylenethiourea itself is a carcinogen, goitrogen, teratogen and a weak bacterial mutagen. The mutagenicities of ethylenethiourea, 2-imidazolin-2-yl sulfenate and their nitroso derivatives were compared in direct bacterial tests and in the host-mediated assay. In all the test systems applied, 2-imidazolin-2-yl sulfenate was less mutagenic than the parent compound.