Study of Heavy Metals Toxicity Level in Workplace Atmosphere by Alternative Methods

Promoting safety and health at work, as part of the overall improvement of working conditions, is an important strategy, not only to ensure well-being of workers, but also to make a positive contribution to productivity. Health, safety and well-being of workers are therefore prerequisites for improving quality and productivity and are important for equitable and sustainable socio-economic development. Toxicological investigation of an industrial objective involves both knowledge of working conditions and the dynamic establishment of occupational pollutants in the workplace atmosphere, as well as bio-toxicological evaluation, being a synthetic representation of the aggressiveness of pollutants entering the body by various paths (respiratory, cutaneous, digestive, etc.) with reference, at the same time, to the adaptability of respective employees. Evaluation of the toxicological investigation has a role in following the evolution of working conditions and health of employees in time, potential technological changes with possible impact on employees’ health, as well as if new conditions occur, requiring the completion of previous toxicological investigations. Use of heavy metals in different industries has increased the quality of products from different production sectors but on the other hand also led to an increase in the toxicity of workplace atmosphere, which requires an assessment of the negative impact produced. The current paper aims at an alternative analysis of the determination of heavy metals content (Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr) in workplace atmosphere, using, on one hand, the method of spectroscopy of atomic emissions with inductively coupled plasma and, on the other hand, fluorescence with X rays. Following statistical processing of data gathered by the two alternative methods, the accuracy, reproducibility, relative standard deviation as well as the fidelity of methods expressed by the coefficient of variation will be established.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Thymus broussonetii Boiss

Thymus broussonetii Boiss (T. broussonetii) is a rare medicinal and aromatic plant. It is widely used in traditional medicine to treat several diseases, including diarrhea, fever, cough, irritation, skin diseases, rheumatism, respiratory ailments, influenza, and digestion problems. In this review, we have critically summarized previous data on T. broussonetii about its phytochemistry, botanical and geographical distribution, toxicological investigation, and pharmacological properties. Using scientific research databases such as Wiley Online, SciFinder, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus Wiley Online, and Google Scholar, the data on T. broussonetii were collected and discussed. The presented data regrouped bioactive compounds and biological activities of T. broussonetii. The findings of this work showed that essential oils and extracts of T. broussonetii exhibited numerous pharmacological activities (in vitro and in vivo), particularly antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, antipyretic, antinociceptive, and immunological and behavioral effects. While toxicological studies of T. broussonetii essential oils and extracts are lacking, modern scientific tools revealed the presence of different classes of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, quinones, carotenoids, and steroids. T. broussonetii essential oils, especially from the aerial parts, exhibited potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant effects. An in-depth toxicological investigation is needed to validate the efficacy and safety of T. broussonetii extracts and essential oils and their secondary metabolites. However, further pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies should be performed to validate its bioavailability.

Ethnomedicinal Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Salvia verbenaca L. : A Review

Salvia verbenaca L. is a Mediterranean medicinal plant used traditionally to treat several diseases such as burns, ocular wounds, contusion, stomach pain, eye diseases, dermal inflammation. This review highlighted previous reports, including the botanical, taxonomical, geographical distribution, traditional use, phytochemical, biological, and toxicological effects of S. verbenaca. The data were gathered from scientific databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink. The presented data on S. verbenaca were organized according to ethnomedicinal use, bioactive compounds, pharmacology, and toxicological investigation. Ethnobotanical studies reported that many folk medicines use S. verbenaca, especially against wounds, burns, and cicatrization. The phytochemical compounds in different parts of S. verbenaca belonged to different classes of chemical compounds, including terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenolic diterpenoids, and fatty acids. The extracts and essential oils from S. verbenaca have a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, i.e., antioxidant, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antihemolytic, antihypertensive, antileishmanial, and immunomodulatory activities. This research suggests that the biological activities of S. verbenaca prove its traditional uses. However, in-depth investigations are required, such as pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological experiments, to prove the efficacy and safety of S. verbenaca extracts and essential oils and their bioactive compounds.

Recommendations for Toxicological Investigation of Drug-Impaired Driving and Motor Vehicle Fatalities – 2021 Update

ABSTRACT This report describes updates to the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Alcohol, Drugs, and Impairment Division’s (ADID) recommendations for drug testing in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) cases and motor vehicle fatalities. The updates are based on a survey of drug testing practices in laboratories in the United States and Canada, a comprehensive review of the prior recommendations, and data and research on drugs most frequently detected in DUID cases. A consensus meeting was held with representative forensic science practitioners and the authors of this report to update recommendations. No changes were made to the Tier I scope; however, there were changes to cutoffs of some analytes for blood, urine and oral fluid. Due to increased prevalence in DUID cases, trazodone and difluoroethane were added to the Tier II scope. For clarification, Tier I cutoffs reflect free concentrations, and hydrolysis is recommended but not required. The consensus panel concluded that urine is an inferior matrix to blood and oral fluid as it may represent historical use or exposure unrelated to observed impairment; therefore, future iterations of these recommendations will not include urine as a recommended matrix. Laboratories currently testing urine should work with traffic safety partners to encourage the use of blood and oral fluid as more appropriate specimens and adjust their capabilities to provide that testing.

Effects of PVC pipe leachates on the survival and reproduction of two micro-crustacean species Ceriodaphnia Cornuta and Daphnia Magna

The occurrence and impacts of plastic are among the most concerns on the environment, ecosystems, and human health in recent years. Plastic products may contain harmful additives (e.g. phthalate, bisphenol) which can easily be leached out of the surface of the plastic materials and enter the environment causing negative effects on organisms in aquatic ecosystems. However, the toxicity of the leached plastic additives on aquatic organisms including micro-crustaceans have not been fully understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the chronic effects of the leachate from the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) water pipes at the concentration of 0, 10 and 100 mg PVC/L on the survival and reproduction of two micro-crustacean species: Daphnia magna, and Ceriodaphnia cornuta. The results showed that the leachate from PVC pipes at the concentration of 100 mg/L did not adversely affect on survival and reproduction of D. magna, but reduced up to 50% of the survival rate and 60% of the reproduction of C. cornuta. The tropical micro-crustacean species C. cornuta was more vulnerable than the temperate one, D. magna. The results revealed the potential health risks of the PVC water pipes C. cornuta was recommended to be used as a model organism for the toxicological investigation and environmental assessment.

Use of bone marrow for detection of toxic chemicals for the elucidation of poisoning in forensic veterinary medicine

ABSTRACT: In forensic toxicology, the detection of toxic chemicals from human bone marrow is often used in cases with an extended post mortem interval; however, in veterinary medicine, this practice is not used. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the suitability of bone marrow for toxicological analysis in dogs and cats. Six animals with suspected poisoning were selected; the carcasses were sent for necropsy, and the organs were collected and preserved in buffered formalin and processed routinely for histological examination. In addition, bone marrow samples from the femur, humerus, and tibia were collected for toxicological analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS). This analysis confirmed the presence of aldicarb, aldicarb sulfone, asulam, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, thifensulfuron methyl and trifloxysulfuron-sodium and associated with clinical symptoms and anatomo-histopathological alterations it was recognized the poisonings. It is expected that this study will promote the toxicological investigation of bone marrow and open avenues for the use of this tissue as an option for the detection of toxic chemicals in cases of forensic pathology.

Postmortem Brain–Blood Ratios of Codeine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Tramadol

The analgesics, codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone and tramadol, frequently occur in postmortem cases and determining their role in the cause of death can be challenging. However, postmortem blood is susceptible to redistribution and may not be available in cases of severe blood loss, putrefaction or burns. Brain tissue may serve as a viable supplement to blood or on its own, as it is resistant to postmortem redistribution and often available as a sample matrix when blood is not available. We present brain and blood concentrations and brain–blood ratios of the four analgesics from 210 autopsy cases. The cases were classified according to the presumed cause of death: A: The compound was believed to have solely caused a fatal intoxication. B: The compound was assumed to have contributed to a fatal outcome in combination with other drugs, alcohol or disease. C: The compound was not regarded as being related to the cause of death. Blood and brain samples were prepared by automatic solid phase extraction and quantified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The squared correlation coefficients between concentrations in brain tissue and blood ranged 0.45–0.91. The median brain–blood ratios were codeine 1.8 (range 0.47–4.6), fentanyl 2.1 (range 0.29–16), oxycodone 1.8 (range 0.11–6.0) and tramadol 1.8 (range 0.047–6.8). A significantly higher brain–blood ratio of codeine was observed in cases where heroin had been administered, although there was a wide overlap. Intravenous and transdermal fentanyl administration could not be distinguished based on the blood or brain concentration or the brain–blood ratio. The results of this study may benefit the toxicological investigation in postmortem cases where one of the four analgesics are suspected of having contributed to or caused a fatal intoxication.

An unconscious man with profound drug-induced hypoglycaemia

Introduction: Hypoglycaemia has been reported as an unusual complication of tramadol use and in a few cases of tramadol poisoning, but the exact mechanism is not known. Case description: An ambulance crew was dispatched to an unconscious 46-year old man. A glucometer point-of-care measurement revealed a profound hypoglycaemia (1.9 mmol/L). Treatment with intravenous glucose was started and the patient was transported to the hospital. The patient had several episodes of pulseless electrical activity requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the ambulance and upon arrival in the hospital. Despite continuous glucose infusion the hypoglycaemia was difficult to correct during the next few hours and the patient developed hypokalaemia. Further investigation to identify the cause of hypoglycaemia revealed that insulin and C-peptide were inappropriately raised. A toxicological investigation revealed the presence of tramadol and its metabolites in lethal concentrations. Also acetaminophen, ibuprofen and lormetazepam were present. Ethanol screening was negative (< 0.1 g/L) and no sulfonylurea were detected. The patient developed multiple organ failure, but eventually recovered. What happened: The hypoglycaemia was caused by inappropriate stimulation of insulin secretion in a patient intoxicated with tramadol. The sudden hypokalaemia was caused by a massive intracellular shift of potassium in response to the hyperinsulinemia, triggered by the intravenous administration of glucose. Main lesson: To our knowledge, we are the first to document a significant rise in endogenous insulin production in a hypoglycaemic patient presenting with tramadol intoxication. Our observation suggests that hyperinsulinemia could be the cause of the hypoglycaemia associated with tramadol use.