Toxicity bioassay of waste cooking oil-based biodiesel on marine microalgae.

The world biodiesel production is increasing at a rapid rate. Despite its perceived safety for the environment, more detailed toxicity studies are mandatory, especially in the field of aquatic toxicology. While considerable attention has been paid to biodiesel combustion emissions, the toxicity of biodiesel in the aquatic environment has been poorly understood. In our study, we used an algae culture growth-inhibition test (OECD 201) for the comparison of the toxicity of B100 (pure biodiesel), produced by methanol transesterification of waste cooking oil (yellow grease), B0 (petroleum diesel fuel) and B20 (diesel-biodiesel blended of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel by volume). Two marine diatoms Attheya ussuriensis and Chaetoceros muelleri, the red algae Porphyridium purpureum and Raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo were employed as the aquatic test organisms. A sample of biodiesel from waste cooking oil without dilution with petroleum diesel (B100) showed the highest level of toxicity for the microalgae A. ussuriensis, C. muelleri and H. akashiwo, compared to hexane, methanol, petroleum diesel (B0) and diluted sample (B20). The acute EC50 in the growth-inhibition test (96 h exposure) of B100 for the four species was in the range of 3.75-23.95 g/L whereas the chronic toxicity EC50 (7d exposure) was in the range of 0.42-16.09 g/L.

Simulating real-life exposures to uncover possible risks to human health: A proposed consensus for a novel methodological approach.

In real life, consumers are exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals via food, water and commercial products consumption. Since risk assessment usually focuses on individual compounds, the current regulatory approach doesn't assess the overall risk of chemicals present in a mixture. This study will evaluate the cumulative toxicity of mixtures of different classes of pesticides and mixtures of different classes of pesticides together with food additives (FAs) and common consumer product chemicals using realistic doses after long-term exposure. Groups of Sprague Dawley (CD-SD) rats (20 males and 20 females) will be treated with mixtures of pesticides or mixtures of pesticides together with FAs and common consumer product chemicals in 0.0, 0.25 × acceptable daily intake (ADI)/tolerable daily intake (TDI), ADI/TDI and 5 × ADI/TDI doses for 104 weeks. All animals will be examined every day for signs of morbidity and mortality. Clinical chemistry hematological parameters, serum hormone levels, biomarkers of oxidative stress, cardiotoxicity, genotoxicity, urinalysis and echocardiographic tests will be assessed periodically at 6 month intervals. At 3-month intervals, ophthalmological examination, test for sensory reactivity to different types of stimuli, together with assessment of learning abilities and memory performance of the adult and ageing animals will be conducted. After 24 months, animals will be necropsied, and internal organs will be histopathologically examined. If the hypothesis of an increased risk or a new hazard not currently identified from cumulative exposure to multiple chemicals was observed, this will provide further information to public authorities and research communities supporting the need of replacing current single-compound risk assessment by a more robust cumulative risk assessment paradigm.

Amphiphilic poly-N-vynilpyrrolidone nanoparticles: Cytotoxicity and acute toxicity study.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells and acute intraperitoneal toxicity of amphiphilic poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles to confirm possibility of their application for creation of novel drug delivery systems. The effect of cellular uptake of polymeric nanoparticles on human cancer cell line MCF-7 cells was investigated by MTT assay. MTT analysis showed that tested amphiphilic polymers were essentially non-toxic. In acute toxicity studies, LD50 and other toxicity indexes were evaluated, under which no deaths or treatment related complications were observed even in high concentration treatment for 14 days of experiment. For histological analysis, organs of the animals were weighed and examined. No animal died during the study and no significant changes have been observed regarding body weight, feed consumption, organ weight or histological data. Obtained results show that amphiphilic poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone nanoparticles possessed no toxicity against cells and in animals after intraperitoneal administration. Thus, amphiphilic PVP nanoparticles demonstrate high potential as carriers for novel high-effective drug delivery systems.

[Safety of nanoparticles and nanomaterials for environmental and occupational space].

National and international experience, international standards, reports and recommendations relating to the assessment of harm to health, safety in the new nanoscale production for environmental and occupational space (ISO / TR 12885:2008 (E), BSI PD 6699-1:2007, etc .) have been analyzed.

[About the human health safety estimation of ractopamine intake together with the food].

The analysis of scientific data including American and European scientific communities concerning use of ractopamine as a growth factor in food animal production and the argumentation of the maximum permitted levels of ractopamine and levels of ractopamine in meat and byproducts (offal) is carried out. The position of the Russian side stated at the Codex Alimentarius commission 35th session that acceptable ractopamine daily intake is insufficiently validated and cannot be used for the determination of maximum permitted levels of ractopamine in meat and byproducts (offal) is confirmed. It is represented that residual ractopamine intake together with food on the levels which are recommended by the Codex Alimentarius commission and by taking into account the levels of animal products consumption in Russian Federation will lead to unacceptable human health risk level that will promote increasing heart diseases and life expectancy reduction. In this connection Russia states against of acceptance of maximum permitted levels of ractopamine in food.

[Tolerance in the substantiation of the maximum allowable content of antibiotics in food products].

Provides the ability to use the principle of tolerance in substantiation of the maximum permissible levels (MDU) residual amounts of antibiotics of tetracycline group (ATG) in meat and dairy products. Using the data of monitoring research of food products, carried out in 2005-2011, in the system of Rospotrebnadzor was conducted analysis of the levels of tolerance of residual quantities of ATG in the meat, meat by-products, chicken eggs, milk, dairy and other products. The conclusion weas made that the Russian Federation hygienic norm MDU of ATG of meat and dairy products - 0.,01 mg/kg (SanPiN2.3.2.2804-10) - justified, consistent with the principle of tolerance and reduces the risk of negative consequences for the population.

[Methodical aspects of hygienic safety assessment of polymeric materials in contact with foodstuffs].

It was purposed new technique by capillary gas chromatography (GC) for the low level determination of monomer hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) in food simulants water from polymeric materials in contact with foodstuffs. Hexamethylenediamine, HN2-(CH2)6-NH2, is a monomer used in the manufacture of certain of polyamide plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. Compound exhibits all the chemical properties of aliphatic amines, is an irritant, causing dermatitis, can accumulate in the body, the degree of human exposure to HMDA assigned to the 2nd class of hazard - the substance is highly dangerous. There was studied two methodological approaches pre-derivatization of compound for GC determination. The first approach involves conversion of the free diamine using ethyl chloroformate as derivatizing agent followed by analysis of the resulting diurethan by gas chromatography using a flame ionization and mass selective detection (HMDA was quantitated by selective ion monitoring at m/z 102, the lower detection limit of 1 ng). According to second methodological approach the water samples were mixed with sodium chloride and extracted with toluene, then derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride (60 min, 55 degrees C) to diamide, 1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7,0) was add to remove excess derivatizing agent, followed by analysis of resulting diamide by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (lower limit value 0,01 ng). Conformation of HMDA levels is carried out by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HMDA was quantitated by selective ion monitoring at m/z 126, the lower limit value of 0,1 ng). The optimal pre-derivatization of the second approach for the determination of low levels of HMDA in the water extracts. The range of measured concentrations of 0,005-0,5 mg/dm3, recovery 88-101%, the total error of measurement is 16%, the relative standard deviation is 1,85%. The method was tested in the study of aqueous extracts of the 10 random samples intended for food purchased in the consumer market. Shows the corresponding output level hexamethylenediamine requirements for products of this type.

[Rationale for hygienic regulations for the use of a new mixed herbicide antidote].

The paper deals with the investigation of a new chloroquinoline derivative antidote and with the substantiation of hygienic standards and regulations for the safe use of its based mixed drug, by applying a procedure for assessing risks for workers and the population. According to the results of the studies conducted, the authors have established the hazard of the new chloroquinoline derivative antidote, developed respective hygienic standards, and provided a scientific rationale for the hygienic regulations for the safe use of the mixed herbicide, which prevent the negative impact of its residues in the foodstuffs and environmental objects on workers and the population.

[Guidelines to estimating the parameters of oxidative stress upon exposure to man-made environmental factors].

The authors developed new methods for non-invasive diagnosis of the body's antioxidative balance, by using the kinetic characteristics of spontaneous and induced luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of an expirate. Comparative studies revealed a higher risk of diminished antioxidative protection for younger groups of the population; the total negative influence of techogenic effects and unbalanced nutrition is significant. Normalization of an antioxidative process as one of the mechanisms of formation of the body's non-specific resistance was observed in 90% of cases during medicobiological monitoring.

[The mutagenic and carcinogenic activity of chemical compounds].

The article presents data on the association between the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of chemical compounds. Genotoxic carcinogens, which universally act via interaction with DNA, are positive in tests for mutagenicity. The mechanisms of the carcinogenicity of non-genotoxic carcinogens include promotion, cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. As mutagenicity tests do not allow determination the carcinogenicity of chemical substances, long-term experiments on rodents should be considerred the only reliable method of carcinogenicity detection.

[Antioxidant and microelement status of the organism: present-day diagnostic problems].

The paper presents methodical approaches to non-invasive biological testing, based upon the found correlations between the parameters of the microelement status and the intensity of free radical oxidation processes in human alveolar moisture. The study demonstrates that the ratio of microelements with close chemical properties that display high biological activity and are key environment pollutants plays a prognostic role in the organism homeostasis.

[Effects of combined radioactive and pesticide loads on the population health]. / Vliianie sochetannykh radiatsionno-pestitsidnykh nagruzok na zdorov'e naseleniia.

Relationships of the magnitude of environmental radioactive and pesticide factors to morbidity were studied. Comparative investigations showed that there was a correlation between the above environmental factors. Hygienic preventive measure for health promotion in ecologically poor areas (exposed to radiation or pesticides) were developed.

[Classification of pesticides according to carcinogenicity to man]. / Klassifikatsiia pestitsidov po stepeni kantserogennoi opasnosti dlia cheloveka.

A classification of pesticides according to their carcinogenic hazard is presented. It is part of a more comprehensive classification of toxic, mutagenic and other pesticides. All the agents are divided into four classes: extremely hazardous, hazardous, moderately hazardous and slightly hazardous. Class I corresponds to Group 1 of the classification of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)-the agent confirmed as hazardous to humans. Class 2 (hazardous agents) is subdivided into three subclasses (2A, 2B and 2C) to ensure a more differentiated approach to evaluation of pesticides; the corresponding group of the classification is divided into two groups. Like group 3 of the IARC classification, class 3 (moderately hazardous agents) covers substances with limited evidence of carcinogenicity to animals. Unlike the IARC classification, it does not include unclassifiable agents which are not subject to consideration when pesticides are submitted for registration. Another distinction from the IARC group 3 is the inclusion of agents on sufficient evidence of their carcinogenicity but obtained with maximum tolerated dose only. Regulatory actions to be taken depending upon the class of hazard are discussed.