Technical support for recovery phase decision-making in the event of a chemical warfare agent release

In late 1985, Congress mandated that the U.S. stockpile of lethal unitary chemical agents and munitions be destroyed by the Department of the Army in a manner that provides maximum protection to the environment, the general public and personnel involved in the disposal program (Public Law 99-1, Section 1412, Title 14, Part b). These unitary munitions were last manufactured in the late 1960`s. The stockpiled inventory is estimated to approximate 25,000-30,000 tons, an includes organophosphate ({open_quotes}nerves{close_quotes}) agents such as VX [O-ethylester of S-(diisopropyl aminoethyl) methyl phosphonothiolate, C{sub 11}H{sub 26}NO{sub 2}PS] and vesicant ({open_quotes}blister{close_quotes}) agents such as Hd [sulfur mustard; bis (2-chloroethyl sulfide), C{sub 4}H{sub 8}Cl{sub 2}S]. The method of agent destruction selected by the Department of the Army is combined high-temperature and high-residence time incineration at secured military installations where munitions are currently stockpiled. This program supports the research program to address: the biomonitoring of nerve agent exposure; agent detection limits in foods and milk; and permeation of agents through porous construction materials

Preliminary evaluation on the use of homing pigeons as a biomonitor in urban areas

This study evaluates the usefulness of homing pigeons as a biomonitor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban environments. The mean concentrations of total PAHs in liver and lung tissues were greater in pigeons from Beijing compared to pigeons from Chengdu, however, this difference was only statistically significant for PAH concentrations in liver tissue (P < 0.05). Similarly, the severity of anthracosis or pneumoconiosis in lung tissue and hepatitis in liver tissue was greater in pigeons from Beijing compared to pigeons from Chengdu. Low molecular weight PAHs dominated the contribution of individual PAHs in both tissues. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed for most low and moderate molecular weights PAHs in liver and for some low and high molecular weights PAHs in lung between the two cites. The profile patterns of individual PAHs were similar between lung tissue of pigeons and between local ambient airs in summer for both cities, whereas the profile patterns between liver tissue and pigeon food were less similar. These data suggest that homing pigeons may be of value as a biomonitor of environmental pollution in urban areas.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000273979000006&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701EcologyEnvironmental SciencesToxicologySCI(E)PubMed6ARTICLE2295-3051

Asparagine couples mitochondrial respiration to ATF4 activity and tumor growth

Mitochondrial respiration is critical for cell proliferation. In addition to producing ATP, respiration generates biosynthetic precursors, such as aspartate, an essential substrate for nucleotide synthesis. Here, we show that in addition to depleting intracellular aspartate, electron transport chain (ETC) inhibition depletes aspartate-derived asparagine, increases ATF4 levels, and impairs mTOR complex I (mTORC1) activity. Exogenous asparagine restores proliferation, ATF4 and mTORC1 activities, and mTORC1-dependent nucleotide synthesis in the context of ETC inhibition, suggesting that asparagine communicates active respiration to ATF4 and mTORC1. Finally, we show that combination of the ETC inhibitor metformin, which limits tumor asparagine synthesis, and either asparaginase or dietary asparagine restriction, which limit tumor asparagine consumption, effectively impairs tumor growth in multiple mouse models of cancer. Because environmental asparagine is sufficient to restore tumor growth in the context of respiration impairment, our findings suggest that asparagine synthesis is a fundamental purpose of tumor mitochondrial respiration, which can be harnessed for therapeutic benefit to cancer patients