Plasma and saliva levels of three metals in waterpipe smokers: a case control study.

In this case-control study, the influence of waterpipe tobacco smoking on the plasma and saliva levels of cadmium, lead and zinc was examined in participants who were waterpipe tobacco smokers (WS) or never-smokers (NS). The concentration of metals was higher in WS relative to NS. The mean (SEM) cadmium concentration in plasma was 3.3 (0.18) µg/dL in WS versus 0.82 (0.09) µg/L in NS (p < .001) and in saliva was 5.1 (0.36) µg/L in WS versus 0.64 (0.2) µg/L in NS (p < .001). The mean (SEM) lead concentration in plasma was 5.2 (0.25) µg/dL in WS versus 3.4 (0.41) µg/dL in NS (p < .01) and in saliva was 4.8 (0.58) µg/L in WS versus 2.8 (0.27) µg/L in NS (p < .05). Similarly, a significant difference in zinc concentration was observed, with a mean of 2.0 (0.17) µg/mL in WS plasma versus 1.49 (0.16) µg/mL in NS (p < .05) and a mean 0.94 (0.07) µg/mL in WS saliva versus 0.45 (0.06) µg/mL in NS (p < .01). In conclusion, waterpipe tobacco smoking is associated with elevated levels of metals in body fluids. These results provide another demonstration of how waterpipe tobacco smoking exposes smokers to harmful toxicants.

Analysis of Zn, Cd, As, Cu, Pb, and Fe in snails as bioindicators and soil samples near traffic road by ICP-OES.

Snails are used as biological indicators of the environment pollution for heavy metals. Living snail samples were collected from different sites at the city of Irbid-Jordan and classified according to their morphological features including Helix pelasga, Eobania vermiculata, Xeropicta derbentina, Oychilus, Xerocrassa seetzenii, Xerocrassa simulata, and Pila. Zn, Cd, As, Cu, Pb, and Fe levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. Results indicated that metal concentrations in all snail shell samples were with an average and range for Zn 22.4 (6.5-105.5) µg g(-1), Cd 7.8 (0.4-48.1) µg g(-1), As 25.9 (0.7-248.5) µg g(-1), Cu 15.1 (1.6-69.0) µg g(-1), Pb 0.4 (0.2-1.7) µg g(-1), and Fe 119.6 (14.0-1102.0) µg g(-1), whereas, in soil samples, the average and range for Zn 204.0 (12.0-709.0) µg g(-1), Cd 5.7 (0.2-39.5) µg g(-1), As 3.2 (1.8-5.2) µg g(-1), Cu 22.1 (2.3-77.4) µg g(-1), Pb 0.2 (0.1-0.3) µg g(-1), and Fe 242.4 (25.0-680.0) µg g(-1).

Atmospheric deposition of major and trace elements in Amman, Jordan.

Wet and dry deposition samples were collected in the capital of Jordan, Amman. Concentrations of Al, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, Zn, Fe, Sr, Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+, K+, Cl-, NO3- and SO(4)(2-), along with pH were determined in collected samples. Mean trace metal concentrations were similar or less than those reported for other urban regions worldwide, while concentrations of Ca2+ and SO(4)(2-) were among the highest. High Ca2+ concentrations were attributed to the calcareous nature of the local soil and to the influence of the Saharan dust. However, high SO(4)(2-) concentrations were attributed to the influence of both anthropogenic and natural sources. Except for Cl-, NO3-, SO(4)(2-) and Cu, monthly dry deposition fluxes of all measured species were higher than wet deposition fluxes. The annual wet deposition fluxes of trace metals were much lower than those reported for other urban areas worldwide.

Determination of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) by ICP-OES and their speciation in Algerian Mediterranean Sea sediments after a five-stage sequential extraction procedure.

Surface sediment samples (n = 18) were collected from the Algerian Mediterranean coasts and analyzed for seven metals using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry in order to asses the distribution and bioavailability of metals and to study the anthropogenic factors affecting their concentrations. Sediment samples were size-fractionated into three sizes: 1,080-500 (coarse), 500-250 (medium), and <250 mm (fine). Bulk sediments were subjected to both sequential extraction and total digestion to evaluate the reliability of the sequential extraction procedure (SEP), while the fractions have been only sequentially extracted for metals speciation. The metals were sequentially extracted into five phases namely exchangeable (P1), carbonates (P2), Fe-Mn oxides (P3), organic (P4) and residual (P5). Metal recoveries in sequential extractions were +/-20% of the independently measured total metal concentrations; the high recovery rates indicate the good reliability of the SEP used in this study. Correlation coefficients indicated that the grain size has an effect on the distribution of metals in the investigated samples. The order of metal levels in the fractions was medium > fine > coarse for all the metals. The average total extractable metal concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 1.1, 8.8, 4.7, 1,291.3, 13.9, 5.7 and 20.4 mug/g, respectively. The northeastern shelf had the lowest metal levels while the highest were in northwestern part mainly due to the significant tourism activities in the northwestern part. Comparison of our results to Earth's crust values and to previous studies points out that our samples were relatively unpolluted with respect to the heavy metals investigated; most of the metals are not from anthropogenic sources. Enrichment factors as the criteria for examining the impact of the anthropogenic sources of heavy metals were calculated, and it was observed that the investigated samples were not contaminated with Cr, Cu, and Fe, moderately contaminated with Ni, Pb, and Cd, and contaminated with Cd in some sites. The P5 phase had the highest percents of Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn. Cadmium and lead were predominant in the P4 phase, while Cu, Fe and Zn were distributed in the order P5 > P3 > P4 > P2 > P1. The following order of bioavailability was found with the heavy metals Pb > Cr > Cd > Ni > Zn > Cu > Fe.

Ethanol-induced increases in neuroactive steroids in the rat brain and plasma are absent in adrenalectomized and gonadectomized rats.

Peripheral administration of alcohol has been demonstrated to cause significant increases in neurosteroid levels in the brain and periphery. These findings have led to several theories suggesting a role for neurosteroids in the actions of alcohol. However, the anatomical sources of these steroids (e.g., brain or periphery) are as yet unknown. This study utilized gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to assess the levels of several neuroactive steroids in plasma and brain frontal cortex 30-360 min following acute administration of alcohol (2 g/kg, i.p.). Concentrations of pregnenolone, allopregnanolone (3alpha-hydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one), and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (3alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregnan-20-one) were all measured. In order to determine the contribution of peripheral endocrine organs to neurosteroid responses, neuroactive steroid levels were measured in both intact and adrenalectomized/gonadectomized male Wistar rats 30 min after acute administration of alcohol. Intact animals exhibited a maximal increase of pregnenolone in plasma and frontal cortex 30 min after acute administration of alcohol. In addition, allopregnanolone levels increased, with a maximal effect observed at 60 min in plasma. However, in the adrenalectomized/gonadectomized groups treated with alcohol, no significant increases of pregnenolone, allopregnanolone, or allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone were found after 30 min. Thus, the alcohol-induced response was associated first with a relatively rapid increase in the first and rate-limiting step in the conversion of cholesterol to steroids, leading to increases in pregnenolone levels. This response was followed by the further secretion of the anxiolytic neuroactive steroids allopregnanolone and allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone, both of which appeared to be of adrenal and gonadal origin.

Acutely administered ethanol participates in testosterone synthesis and increases testosterone in rat brain.

BACKGROUND: The interaction of alcohol and testosterone has long been of interest, mainly due to the effect of alcohol on aggression and sexual behavior. To date, there have been very few, if any, studies examining the effect of acute alcohol administration on testosterone concentrations in the brain. The administration of 1,1-dideuteroethanol ([1,1-2H2]ethanol) provided the opportunity to trace the deuterium label into newly synthesized deuterotestosterone in brain samples to determine whether ethanol oxidation was directly linked to testosterone synthesis. METHODS: Unoperated and adrenalectomized-gonadectomized (ADX/GDX) rats were given either ethanol or [1,1-2H2]ethanol in a single intraperitoneal dose of 2 g/kg body weight. We used gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to accurately determine both the amount of steroids present and the degree of deuterium incorporation into specific steroids isolated from brain samples. RESULTS: Thirty minutes after alcohol administration, the level of total testosterone increased 4-fold in the frontal cortex and 3-fold in the plasma of unoperated male Wistar rats. The relative increase in the abundance of monodeuterated testosterone 30 min after [1,1-2H2]ethanol administration was significant (p < 0.05) in both brain and plasma. ADX/GDX animals treated with alcohol had testosterone concentrations that were 5% of those found in unoperated animals dosed with ethanol. CONCLUSIONS: Acutely administered ethanol increased brain concentrations of testosterone 4-fold in male Wistar rats. ADX/GDX surgery reduced brain concentrations of testosterone in response to alcohol by 95%. The deuterium labeling of testosterone after [1,1-2H2]ethanol showed that ethanol oxidation is directly linked to testosterone biosynthesis and that the deuterium-labeled testosterone is present in the central nervous system. These results demonstrate that peripherally administered ethanol directly contributes to the concentrations of testosterone in the central nervous system and that the testosterone found in brain samples is primarily synthesized in the periphery. These findings may be important for understanding the behavioral changes associated with acute alcohol consumption.