In vitro models for the assessment of inflammatory and immuno-modulatory effects of the volatile organic compound chlorobenzene

An in vitro cell culture system based on an air/liquid culture technique was developed which allows a direct exposure of cells to volatile chemicals without medium coverage. For the establishment of the experimental system, chlorobenzene was used as a model compound. Chlorobenzene is a volatile organic compound which is mainly used as a solvent. Beside other adverse health effects, chlorobenzene exposure has been shown to be associated with respiratory tract irritations, Th2 differentiation, and allergic sensitizations. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lung epithelial cells (A549) were exposed to chlorobenzene via gas phase for 20 h. Additionally, PBMC were incubated with culture supernatants from exposed lung epithelial cells. High chlorobenzene concentrations (100 g/m(3)) induced IL-8 production in A549 cells, whereby lower concentrations (10 microg/m(3)-1 g/m(3)) stimulated the secretion of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). A direct effect of chlorobenzene on the cytokine secretion of PBMC was not found. However, if PBMC were incubated with culture supernatants of exposed lung cells, an enhanced production of the Th2 cytokine IL-13 was observed. This induction was prevented in the presence of an anti-MCP-1 antibody. Our data suggest that chlorobenzene induces the production of inflammatory mediators in lung cells. The primary chlorobenzene caused release of MCP-1 in lung epithelial cells may secondarily result in a Th2 differentiation in T lymphocytes. These findings may contribute to the understanding of how chlorobenzene mediates the development of inflammatory reactions in the airways and contributes to the development of an allergic reactivity.     

新建IVF实验室中挥发性有机化合物的浓度变化及其对鼠胚体外发育的影响

目的:探讨新建成的体外受精(IVF)胚胎实验室挥发性有机化合物(volatile organic compound,VOC)的浓度变化及不同浓度VOC环境对小鼠体外受精和胚胎发育的影响,同时比较目前常用的去除实验室内VOC方法的效率。方法:测定胚胎实验室装修后不同时间段的VOC浓度变化,比较不同浓度的VOC对小鼠体外受精率、2-细胞率和囊胚率的影响;比较排风扇抽风机、Coda空气净化器和单纯活性炭包去除室内VOC的效率。结果:装修后第1个月(M1)VOC浓度为384.00 ppb,显著高于对照组(199.00 ppb)(P0.05);装修后第2个月(M2)VOC浓度为279.50 ppb,与对照组相比差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);装修后第3个月(M3)VOC浓度为210.25 ppb,与对照组(206.00 ppb)相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。装修后1个月(M1)实验组体外受精率、2-细胞率和囊胚率分别为62.3%、71.5%、72.0%,显著低于对照组(91.8%、92.2%、93.0%),组间差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。装修后3个月(M3)时受精率、2-细胞率和囊胚率(91.5%、90.7%、91.4%)与对照组(89.8%、90.1%、92.5%)相比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。Coda空气净化器处理3个月后可去除室内60.15%的VOC,显著高于排风扇抽风(51.88%)和单纯活性炭吸附(28.95%)的去除效率。结论:实验室内高浓度的VOC会对小鼠体外受精胚胎造成严重的胚胎毒性,导致受精率、2-细胞率和囊胚率降低,胚胎质量下降和发育受阻;Coda空气过滤器是一种有效的去除实验室内VOC的方法。     

Short-term effects of electronic and tobacco cigarettes on exhaled nitric oxide

The objective of this study was to compare the short-term respiratory effects due to the inhalation of electronic and conventional tobacco cigarette-generated mainstream aerosols through the measurement of the exhaled nitric oxide (eNO). To this purpose, twenty-five smokers were asked to smoke a conventional cigarette and to vape an electronic cigarette (with and without nicotine), and an electronic cigarette without liquid (control session).     

Effects of indoor painting and smoking on airway symptoms in atopy risk children in the first year of life results of the LARS-study. Leipzig Allergy High-Risk Children Study

INTRODUCTION: The Leipzig Allergy High-Risk Children Study (LARS) is a prospective nested cohort control study about the influence of chemical indoor exposure in dwellings on the health outcome of atopy-risk children during the first years of life. DESIGN AND METHODS: 475 premature children and children with allergic risk factors have been selected out of the 1995/1996 birth cohort in the city of Leipzig. Twenty-five volatile organic compounds (VOC) were measured in the infant's bedrooms using passive sampling systems for 4 weeks after birth. The babies underwent a medical examination at the age of six weeks and 1 year. The parents answered a questionnaire. RESULTS: Correlations between VOC exposures and infections were calculated by multiple logistic regression. Selected VOC show a direct association to actually painted dwellings (OR = 2.4; 95% Cl 1.1-5.3). An increase of risk of pulmonary infections was observed in infants aged 6 weeks if restoration (painting OR 5.6; 95% Cl 1.3-24.0) or flooring connected with painting had occurred during the pregnancy period. Higher concentration of styrene (> 2.0 micrograms/m3, indicator for flooring) elevated the risk of pulmonary infections in six-week-old infants (OR = 2.1; 95% Cl 1.1-4.2). Environmental benzene > 5.6 micrograms/m3 increased the risk of airway infections in six-week-old babies (OR = 2.4; 95% Cl 1.28-4.48). Smoking in the dwelling (OR = 2.0; 95% Cl 1.1-3.5) as well as restoration (OR = 1.9; 95% Cl 1.1-3.5) are also risk factors of the development of wheezing in the one-year-old child. CONCLUSIONS: The data give indications in order to prevent allergies and chronic lung diseases in atopy risk children exposure to chemicals from indoor air should be minimised from birth on.     

装修后居室空气中有机物污染状况调查

目的了解装修前后不同时期居室空气中主要挥发性有机物的污染状况及污染物浓度变化情况,为制定相应的防制对策提供依据。方法选择拟装修的居室82户,分别于装修前,装修竣工后30d、1年和2年,测定室内空气中甲醛、苯、甲苯、二甲苯和TVOC的浓度。结果甲醛在装修后1年的浓度最高,均值为（0.185±0.050）mg/m^3,装修后2年的甲醛平均浓度仍显著地高于装修前（P〈0.01）。而苯系物和TVOC的浓度在装修后30d最高,以后逐渐降低。甲苯、二甲苯平均浓度严重超标,分别超出我国《室内空气质量标准》最高容许浓度的17.7倍、14.1倍,苯和TVOC浓度超标相对较少。结论居室装修能造成室内严重挥发性有机物污染,对人体健康危害较大。     

Indoor contaminants from newspapers: VOCs emissions in newspaper stands

Mean volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in 16 newspaper stands and in two printing shops were monitored for the purpose of quantifying the various VOCs in these areas and to relate the results. In each site halogenated, oxygenated, aliphatic, and aromatic compounds were monitored during one workweek. They were sampled with diffusive samplers for thermal desorption and analysed by GC-MS. The results showed that in all newspaper stands the indoor levels of toluene were much higher than the outdoor levels; some sites had toluene indoor concentrations 100 times higher than their correspondent outdoor levels. The investigations in two printing shops confirmed that newspapers, in particular the inks, are the main sources of toluene in the newspaper stands.