Green Tobacco Sickness: A Review

It is still an unknown fact among many that tobacco harvesters are at a potential at a risk of suffering from “Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS)”, with its prevalence seen mostly among Asian and South American tobacco harvesters. These harvesters working in hot, wet conditions are likely to develop GTS, as in such climatic conditions, the wetness and high humidity causes nicotine to reside on the surfaces of the leaves, while the high ambient temperature increases skin absorption, thereby increasing plasma nicotine concentrations by 30-45%. Patients suffering from GTS report nausea, vomiting, pallor, dizziness, headaches, increased perspiration, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea, increased salivation, prostration, weakness, cough with or without expectoration, breathlessness and occasional reduction in blood pressure or heart rate. GTS is self-limiting and of short duration and hence treatment is not always necessary and not often sought by the harvesters. This review educates readers about GTS as well as encourages their participation in making tougher regulations in their respective countries for the control of this disease.

An Overview on Topical Administration of Carotenoids and Coenzyme Q10 Loaded in Lipid Nanoparticles

Carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 are naturally occurring antioxidant compounds that are also found in human skin. These bioactive compounds have been the focus of considerable research due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective properties. In this review, the current state of the art in the encapsulation of carotenoids and coenzyme Q10 in lipid nanoparticles to improve their bioavailability, chemical stability, and skin absorption is discussed. Additionally, the main findings are highlighted on the cytotoxic and photoprotective effects of these systems in the skin.

Skin Absorption of Bisphenol A and Its Alternatives in Thermal Paper

Objectives Bisphenol A (BPA) is the most used colour developer in thermal paper for cashiers receipts, labels, and tickets. BPA can migrate onto the skin and be absorbed when handling these papers. BPA is a known endocrine disruptor and is therefore being replaced in thermal paper by some alternatives such as Bisphenol S (BPS), D-8, and Pergafast 201® (PF201). To our knowledge, no studies have characterized skin permeation of these BPA alternatives. Methods We measured/characterized skin absorption for BPA, BPS, D-8, and PF201 through ex vivo human skin using flow-through diffusion cells according to OECD guideline 428. Skin samples were 7–12 per test substance from three different skin donors. Skin metabolism was studied for BPA. Dermal absorption was expressed as the amount of the BPA alternatives in the receptor fluid over applied dose in percent (%). Results The absorbed dose after 24 h of exposure was 25% for BPA, 17% for D-8, 0.4% for BPS, and <LLOQ for PF201. The amount of BPA-glucuronide in the receptor fluid after 24 h was under the limit of quantification (LLOQ = 0.2 µg l−1). Despite the 10-fold lower concentration of the aq solution applied on the skin, D-8’s permeation rate JMAX was 5-fold higher than the one for BPS (0.032 versus 0.006 µg cm−2 h−1). Neither D-8 nor BPS permeated readily through the skin (tlag = 3.9 h for D-8, 6.4 h for BPS). None of PF201’s skin permeation kinetic parameters could be determined because this BPA analogue was not quantifiable in the receptor fluid in our test conditions. Conclusions Skin absorption was in decreasing order: BPA > D-8 >> BPS > PF201. These results are in agreement with their log Kow and molecular weights. We provided here the necessary data to estimate the extent of skin absorption of BPA analogues, which is a necessary step in risk assessment, and ultimately evaluate public health risks posed by D-8, BPS, and PF201.