Public health decisions: Actions and consequences

The goal of public health is to promote the best possible health for the whole population. Public health issues are numerous and can be unbelievably complex in form, scope, and possible consequence. Most public health decisions involve assessing several different options, weighing the respective benefits and risks of those options, and making difficult decisions that hopefully provide the greatest benefit to the affected populations. Many risk management decisions involve a variety of societal factors which modify risk assessment choices. The purpose of this paper is to point out difficulties in making decisions that impact public health. The intent of such decisions is to improve public health, but as illustrated in the paper, there can be unintended adverse consequences. Such unplanned issues require continued attention and efforts for responsible officials in the protection of environmental public health. This article presents examples of such events, when in the past, it was necessary to assess and regulate a number of potentially hazardous chemicals commonly used as insecticides, gasoline additives, and wood preservatives.     

汽油及苯系物对加油工心血管系统的影响

目的探讨汽油、苯系物对加油工心血管系统的影响,为汽油及苯系物的心血管毒性研究提供人群资料。方法对某石化公司低水平汽油、苯系物暴露加油工662人进行职业健康检查,并以不接触毒物的650名公务员为对照。结果接触组高血压异常检出率（34.1%）明显高于对照组（19.4%）,χ2=36.11,P〈0.01;心电图异常检出率（36.6%）明显高于对照组（15.8%）,χ2=73.21,P〈0.01。且随着工龄的增加而升高,以上差异均有统计学意义。心电图异常主要表现为T波改变、ST-T改变、左心室高电压、窦性心律不齐、完全性右束支传导阻滞。结论长期接触汽油及苯系物作业是造成加油工高血压和心电图异常改变的危险因素。     

Comparison of immunotoxic effects induced by the extracts from methanol and gasoline engine exhausts in vitro

Gasoline engine exhaust has been considered as a major source of air pollution in China. Due to lower cyto- and geno-toxicity effects of methanol engine exhaust, methanol is regarded as a potential substitute for gasoline. We have previously compared cyto- and geno-toxicities of gasoline engine exhaust with that of methanol engine exhaust in A549 cells (Zhang et al., 2007).To characterize the immunotoxic effects for gasoline and methanol engine exhausts in immune cell, in this study, we further compared effects of gasoline and methanol engine exhausts on immune function in RAW264.7 cell and rabbit alveolar macrophages. Results showed that both gasoline and methanol engine exhaust could evidently inhibit RAW264.7 cell proliferation, promote RAW264.7 cell apoptosis, decrease E-rosette formation rate and inhibit anti-tumor effects of alveolar macrophages, at the same time, these effects of gasoline engine exhaust were far stronger than those of methanol engine exhaust. In addition, gasoline engine exhaust could significantly inhibit activities of ADCC of alveolar macrophages, but methanol engine exhaust could not. These results suggested that both gasoline and methanol engine exhausts might be immunotoxic atmospheric pollutants, but some effects of gasoline engine exhaust on immunotoxicities may be far stronger than that of methanol engine exhaust.     

上海市推广使用无铅汽油对儿童血铅水平影响的追踪调查

目的　研究推广使用无铅汽油前后儿童血铅水平的动态变化规律。方法　 1997年 8～9月间 ,在上海市 5个区县 30所托幼机构 196 9名 1～ 6岁儿童进行了血铅水平抽样调查 ,然后于1998年 4～ 6月及 1999年 8～ 9月对相应人群进行血铅水平两次追踪调查。调查采用末梢血纸片法血铅测定方法。结果　上海市儿童血铅水平几何均数在推广无铅汽油前为 83μg/L ,推广无铅汽油后的 1998年为 80 μg/L ,1999年为 76 μg/L ,与前一年相比血铅水平的变化均有显著意义 (t值分别为2 .2 190、4 .4 5 76 ,P值分别小于 0 .0 5和 0 .0 1) ;超过目前国际公认的儿童铅中毒诊断标准 (10 0 μg/L)的比例也由使用无铅汽油前的 37.8%下降到 1999年的 2 4 .8% ,差异有非常显著性 (u =8.82 4 7,P <0 .0 1)。儿童血铅水平几何均数下降幅度徐汇区为 10 μg/L、静安区 11μg/L、杨浦区 6 μg/L、嘉定区4 μg/L、崇明县 2 μg/L。 结论　推广使用无铅汽油可降低儿童的血铅水平。     

汽油尾气致大鼠肺组织氧化损伤机制的研究

目的 探讨汽油尾气对大鼠肺DNA损伤、8-羟基鸟嘌呤DNA糖苷酶-1(OGG1)表达和细胞超微结构的影响.方法 将汽油尾气的颗粒物、冷凝物和半挥发性有机物的二氯甲烷提取物以0、5.6、16.7和50.0 L/kg的剂量经气管滴注染毒SD大鼠,每周一次,共4次,末次染毒24 h后处死动物,用彗星实验检测肺组织细胞中DNA单链断裂水平,免疫组化检测肺组织中OGG1的含量,并在电镜下观察各型肺细胞超微结构的变化.结果 在汽油尾气16.7和50.0 L/kg组,肺组织细胞的拖尾率明显高于溶剂对照组(P<0.05),并有随剂量增加而增加的趋势,但各剂量组尾长的增加均无统计学意义;而汽油尾气中、高剂量组OGGI蛋白水平明显增加(P<0.05);在汽油尾气50.0 L/kg组,肺组织各型细胞中的线粒体发生肿胀和空泡化,且线粒体数量明显减少.结论 汽油尾气可诱导大鼠肺组织DNA单链断裂、OGG1蛋白含量增加和线粒体的损伤.     

橡胶厂制鞋工人的细胞遗传学分析

对橡胶厂制鞋工人作了淋巴细胞染色体畸变率及SCE频率的分析,两项结果在厂内的两组间差异都不明显。但染色体畸变与长春地区正常人比较,厂内两组明显增高,SCE频率也偏高。关于橡胶厂制鞋工人的细胞遗传学改变,仍有进一步探讨的必要。     

Changes in neuropsychological symptoms and moods among tanker drivers exposed to gasoline during a work week

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in theneuropsychological symptoms and moods among tanker drivers duringa work week and the associations of the changes with exposureto gasoline (including 10% methyl-tert-butyl ether). The targetgroup for the study consisted of 101 road tanker drivers fromthree Finnish oil companies in various parts of Finland. Thecontrol group consisted of 100 milk delivery drivers from twomilk companies from the same localities. Interviews were conductedbefore the work week and at the end of the same work week. Standardizedsymptom questionnaires were used to elicit responses to questionsabout symptoms and moods. In the questionnaires tanker driversscored significantly higher in the fatigue scale at the endof the work week than before the work week. Our findings showthat tanker drivers with long exposure to gasoline during thework week developed significantly higher changes in fatiguescores than drivers with short exposure. During the exposuresituations, 20% of tanker drivers reported acute symptoms (headache,dizziness, nausea, dyspnoea, irritation of saliva excretion)at the end of work week voluntarily. These symptoms have beenconnected, with MTBE (methyl-tert-butyl ether) exposure, amongothers. Exposure to MTBE during the work week can be reasonfor acute symptoms among the tanker drivers in this study.     

吸入70号汽油对小鼠大脑影响的形态学观察

对吸入不同浓度７０号汽油小鼠大脑形态学变化的观察结果发现，实验组小鼠脑的髓鞘脱失为其特征性改变，这种病变的数量和大小随吸入汽油浓度的增加愈加明显，病变是一种非炎症性反应，其机理似与汽油的脂溶性有关，脑的髓鞘脱失可能是导致其功能异常，特别是神经传导功能障碍的形态学基础。     

Estimating the gasoline components and formulations toxicity to microalgae (Tetraselmis chuii) and oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae) embryos: an approach to minimize environmental pollution risk

Even though petrochemical contamination frequently occurs in the form of oil spills, it is thought that a greater danger to coastal habitats is posed by chronic petrochemical toxicity associated with urban run-off, in which gasoline water-soluble-fraction (WSF) plays an important role. The hypothesis of the entrepreneurs, who were associated to the scientists uncharged of this research, was that recycled petrochemical waste may provide different gasoline formulations, having different toxic properties; the correlation between the gasoline formulations and their components' toxicological effects might contribute to the reformulation of the products, in such a way that the gasoline generated could be less toxic and less harmful to the environment. The aim of this research was to determine the toxic effects of 14 different types of gasoline (formulated, in accordance with National Petroleum Agency standards, from petrochemical waste), on Tetraselmis chuii (microalgae culture) and Crassostrea rhizophorae (embryos). Microalgae and oyster embryos were exposed to different gasoline formulations water-soluble fractions (WSF) at a range of concentrations (0%, 4.6%, 10.0%, 22.0%, 46.0%, and 100%), for 96 and 24h, respectively. The tests were carried out under controlled conditions. End-points have been CI50-96h (concentration causing 50% growth inhibition in microalgae cultures) and EC50-24h (concentration causing abnormalities on 50% of the exposed embryos). Through these procedures, gasoline formulations, which represent the lowest environmental risk, were selected. Bioassays carried out on the 8 different gasoline components aimed to correlate gasoline toxicity with the toxic potential of its components. The analysis of principal components showed that the C9DI, a mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons of 9 carbon atoms, had the highest level of toxic potential, followed by C9S (a mixture of aromatics with 9-11 carbon atoms) and heavy naphtha. The results showed gasoline formulations 1-4 (monoaromatic hydrocarbons being the most conspicuous components) to be the least toxic, whilst formulations 12-14 (having higher content of C9DI, C9S and naphtha) were found to be the most harmful to organisms. This study led to the identification of the most toxic WSF gasoline components (C9DI and C9S), and to the possibility of developing more eco-compatible gasoline formulations.     

汽油车尾气颗粒物对小鼠免疫功能的影响

运用大流量空气采样器采集汽油车尾气颗粒物,用其有机提取物注射小鼠,测定小鼠外周血白细胞分类、小鼠体重增长及脏器重量、抗体形成细胞试验及腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬功能试验４ 个指标。结果表明：小鼠腹腔染毒尾气颗粒物有机提取物（１０ｍｇ／ｋｇ 、４０ｍｇ／ｋｇ 、１６０ｍｇ／ｋｇ） 均可引起外周血白细胞中淋巴细胞比例降低、小鼠体重增长缓慢、脾脏与胸腺萎缩、抗体生成细胞分泌抗体减少、巨噬细胞吞噬功能受到抑制,并且均具有剂量反应关系。表明尾气颗粒物有机提取物对小鼠的免疫功能损伤是多方面的、广泛的。