Caracterização por cromatografia gasosa - espectrometria de massas do Tíner comercialmente disponível na cidade de Cartagena

El thinner es uno de los productos de mayor utilización en la industria de las pinturas, lubricantes y pegamentos. Su composición es variable de acuerdo con su uso y calidad. Sin embargo, la exposición crónica es una preocupación debido a que puede afectar órganos principales tales como pulmones, hígado, riñón y glándulas suprarrenales. En este estudio fue caracterizada la composición de varias muestras de thinner, disponibles comercialmente en la ciudad de Cartagena, que fueron recolectadas en diferentes almacenes y analizadas por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (GC/MS). Los resultados mostraron que no solo la composición, sino también la distribución relativa de los componentes presentes en las muestras son variables. Treinta y dos compuestos fueron detectados, entre los que se encuentran: tolueno, o-xileno, pxileno y etilbenceno, con frecuencias de aparición de 91,7, 66,7, 75,0 y 66,7 %, respectivamente. El desconocimiento del riesgo de intoxicación, generado al manipular este tipo de mezclas, puede ser la causa de muchos de los problemas de salud en personas expuestas al thinner, tanto en actividades laborales como domésticas. Una minería de datos mostró la asociación potencial entre los componentes del thinner y manifestaciones clínicas, las cuales incluyen daño renal y hepático, pérdida de cabello, alteraciones hematológicas, dermatitis, ansiedad y problemas de equilibrio, entre otras. En conclusión, el thinner posee gran variabilidad tanto en sus componentes como en la proporción relativa de los mismos. Los efectos perjudiciales en la salud por exposición directa o indirecta a estos componentes han sido ampliamente descritos en la literaturaO Tíner é um dos produtos de maior utilização na indústria das pinturas, lubrificantes e colas. Sua composição é variável conforme a seu uso e qualidade. No entanto, a exposição crônica é uma preocupação devido a que pode afetar órgãos principais tais como pulmões, fígados, rins e glândulas suprarrenais. Neste estudo foi caracterizada a composição de várias amostras de Tíner, disponíveis comercialmente na cidade de Cartagena. Doze amostras de Tíner foram recoletadas em diferentes lojas e analisadas por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas (GC/MS). Os resultados mostraram que não só a composição, más também a distribuição relativa dos componentes presentes nas amostras são variáveis. Trinta e dois compostos foram detectados, entre os que se encontram: tolueno, o-xileno, p-xileno e etilbenceno, com frequências de aparição de 91.7, 66.7, 75.0 e 66.7%, respectivamente. O desconhecimento do risco de intoxicação, gerado ao manipular este tipo de misturas, pode ser a causa de muitos dos problemas de saúde em pessoas expostas ao Tíner, tanto nas atividades laborais quanto domésticas. Uma mineração de dados mostrou a associação potencial entre os componentes do Tíner e manifestações clínicas, as quais incluem dano renal e hepático, perda de cabelo, alterações hematológicas, dermatite, ansiedade e problemas de equilíbrio, entre outras. Em conclusão, o Tíner possui grande variabilidade tanto em seus componentes quanto na proporção relativa dos mesmos. Os efeitos prejudiciais na saúde por exposição direta ou indireta a estes componentes têm sido amplamente descritos na literaturaThinner is a widely used product in the industry of paints, lubricants and adhesives. Its composition varies according to its use and quality. However, its chronic exposure is a concern, because it can affect major organs such as lungs, liver, kidney and the adrenal glands. This study characterizes the composition of several thinner samples commercially available in the city of Cartagena. Twelve samples were collected in different stores, these were then analyzed through gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results showed that not only the composition but also the relative distribution of the components present in the samples are variable. Thirty two compounds were detected: toluene, o-xylene, p-xylene and ethylbenzene —among others— with occurrence frequencies of 91.7, 66.7, 75, and 66.7 %, respectively. The lack of knowledge regarding the risk of poisoning, produced when handling this type of mixtures, may be the cause of many health problems in people exposed to thinner, both in workplace and domestic activities. A data mining showed the potential association between thinner components and clinical manifestations, which include kidney and liver damage, hair loss, haematological disorders, dermatitis, anxiety and balance problems, among others. In conclusion, thinner has large variability, both in terms of components and of their relative composition. The adverse health effects of direct or indirect exposure to these components have been widely described in the literature

Perchlorate Contamination: Sources, Effects, and Technologies for Remediation

Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropo genic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physi cochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlo rate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from harsh Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropo genic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physi cochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlo rate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from hars

Urban Endocrine Disruptors Targeting Breast Cancer Proteins.

Humans are exposed to a huge amount of environmental pollutants called endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). These molecules interfere with the homeostasis of the body, usually through mimicking natural hormones leading to activation or blocking of their receptors. Many of these compounds have been associated with a broad range of diseases including the development or increased susceptibility to breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Thus, this article presents a virtual high-throughput screening (vHTS) to evaluate the affinity of proteins related to breast cancer, such as ESR1, ERBB2, PGR, BCRA1, and SHBG, among others, with EDCs from urban sources. A blind docking strategy was employed to screen each protein-ligand pair in triplicate in AutoDock Vina 2.0, using the computed binding affinities as ranking criteria. The three-dimensional structures were previously obtained from EDCs DataBank and Protein Data Bank, prepared and optimized by SYBYL X-2.0. Some of the chemicals that exhibited the best affinity scores for breast cancer proteins in each category were 1,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, bisphenol A derivatives, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and benzo(a)pyrene, for catalase, several proteins, sex hormone-binding globulin, and cytochrome P450 1A2, respectively. An experimental validation of this approach was performed with a complex that gave a moderate binding affinity in silico, the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and bisphenol A (BPA) complex. The protein was obtained using DNA recombinant technology and the physical interaction with BPA assessed through spectroscopic techniques. BPA binds on the recombinant SHBG, and this results in an increase of its α helix content. In short, this work shows the potential of several EDCs to bind breast cancer associated proteins as a tool to prioritize compounds to perform in vitro analysis to benefit the regulation or exposure prevention by the general population.This work was supported by Colciencias (567-2012 to D.M-G., 1107-519-29058, 1107-459- 21616), the University of Cartagena (0342010) and the EPSRC. G.J.L.B. is a Royal Society University Research Fellow.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from ACS via http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrestox.5b0034

Ciber-ecología política del carbón en Santa Marta Una etnografía sobre el caso del derrame de carbón en el Mar Caribe

El presente trabajo surge a partir de una peculiar observación desinteresada en internet cuando aún era estudiante de antropología en la Universidad del Magdalena. Transcurría el año 2013 cuando en Twitter, se manifestaron miles de mensajes que tenían como inscripción palabras referentes a una multinacional denominada Drummond Inc. La etiqueta bajo la cual se inscribían miles de palabras era una coordenada digital rotulada #sanciónejemplaraladrummond, donde, se exponían una serie de ideas y pensamientos a partir de un elemento central para este trabajo: internet como un canal de comunicación alternativo y des-centralizado de esferas de poder políticas o económicas. Twitter, en este contexto, aparece como otro tema central que resulta significativo explorar, ya que fue a través de esta red social que se produjeron, como resultado de la publicación en internet, dinámicas socio-comunicativas por parte de los usuarios de la mencionada red social que exponían, detallaban, criticaban y se preguntaban por un suceso ocurrido en el caribe colombiano y que incorporaba elementos ecológicos-políticos al exponerse en un blog, un derrame de carbón por parte de Drummond en su puerto marítimo ubicado en Ciénaga, departamento del Magdalena. A partir de este contexto, nació el interés por analizar la problemática descrita, que integra como objetivo principal describir y analizar las dinámicas, actores y efectos que se reflejaron en la web (y otros posibles espacios) en torno al hashtag #sanciónejemplaraladrummond, lo cual fue posible metodológicamente a través de la etnografía en internet (Ardevol et al., 2003; Hine 2004, Estalella y Ardevol, 2011), así como la revisión de documentos, observación y observación participante (Ardevol et al., 2003; del Fresno, 2011) y análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo de los tweets (Dertell et al., 2013; Valades, 2011)

Making the competitive exclusion principle operational at the biogeographical scale using fuzzy logic

In biogeography the competitive exclusion principle (CEP) has been confirmed in some cases but not in others. This has fueled an unresolved debate between those advocating niche theory or the neutral theory in biodiversity and biogeography. We suggest that this situation mainly arises from the use of crisp logic, where the CEP is defined as either completely true or false. We propose the application of the fuzzy concepts of favorability (the degree to which environmental conditions are propitious for the occurrence of individual species) and favorableness (the degree to which environmental conditions are simultaneously favorable for competing species) to operationalize a fuzzy version of the CEP. Favorability was obtained by performing species distribution models applying favorability functions, while favorableness was derived from the application of the fuzzy intersection between the favorability for competing species. Then we plotted individual favorability values along the gradient of favorableness. Two potentially competing species would coexist in high-favorableness locations, as the demands of both species would be well fulfilled. In locations of low favorableness, the result would be either autecological exclusion of both species or autecological segregation, as abiotic conditions are unfavorable for at least one of the species. Competitive exclusion would occur at the intermediate stretch of the favorableness gradient, as the conditions would be good enough for persistence of each species separately but not enough for permanent coexistence. According to this theoretical framework, the observed probability that a location belongs to the intermediate favorableness area given that the two species co-occur in this location should be lower than expected according to the environmental probability models for the two species. We tested this prediction on published data about the distribution of pairs of native and introduced deer species in Great Britain, using a Bayesian approach. In two thirds of comparisons between a native and an introduced deer species the predictions of the fuzzy CEP were corroborated, which suggests that these are the pairs of species and the specific geographical areas affected by competitive exclusion. This is important both theoretically and for biodiversity conservation planning.Postprin

Perchlorate-Reducing Bacteria from Hypersaline Soils of the Colombian Caribbean

[EN] Perchlorate (ClO4¿) has several industrial applications and is frequently detected in environmental matrices at relevant concentrations to human health. Currently, perchlorate-degrading bacteria are promising strategies for bioremediation in polluted sites. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize halophilic bacteria with the potential for perchlorate reduction. Ten bacterial strains were isolated from soils of Galerazamba-Bolivar, Manaure-Guajira, and Salamanca Island-Magdalena, Colombia. Isolates grew at concentrations up to 30% sodium chloride. The isolates tolerated pH variations ranging from 6.5 to 12.0 and perchlorate concentrations up to 10000¿mg/L. Perchlorate was degraded by these bacteria on percentages between 25 and 10. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strains were phylogenetically related to Vibrio, Bacillus, Salinovibrio, Staphylococcus, and Nesiotobacter genera. In conclusion, halophilic-isolated bacteria from hypersaline soils of the Colombian Caribbean are promising resources for the bioremediation of perchlorate contamination.This research received support from the Vice Presidency of Research, University of Cartagena; and Colciencias-University of Cartagena (Grant: RC-758-2011/1107-521-29360).Acevedo-Barrios, R.; Bertel-Sevilla, A.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Olivero-Verbel, J. (2019). Perchlorate-Reducing Bacteria from Hypersaline Soils of the Colombian Caribbean. International Journal of Microbiology. 2019:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6981865S1132019Cole-Dai, J., Peterson, K. M., Kennedy, J. A., Cox, T. S., & Ferris, D. G. (2018). Evidence of Influence of Human Activities and Volcanic Eruptions on Environmental Perchlorate from a 300-Year Greenland Ice Core Record. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(15), 8373-8380. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b01890Acevedo-Barrios, R., Sabater-Marco, C., & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2018). Ecotoxicological assessment of perchlorate using in vitro and in vivo assays. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(14), 13697-13708. doi:10.1007/s11356-018-1565-6Maffini, M. V., Trasande, L., & Neltner, T. G. (2016). Perchlorate and Diet: Human Exposures, Risks, and Mitigation Strategies. Current Environmental Health Reports, 3(2), 107-117. doi:10.1007/s40572-016-0090-3Knight, B. A., Shields, B. M., He, X., Pearce, E. N., Braverman, L. E., Sturley, R., & Vaidya, B. (2018). Effect of perchlorate and thiocyanate exposure on thyroid function of pregnant women from South-West England: a cohort study. Thyroid Research, 11(1). doi:10.1186/s13044-018-0053-xSmith, P. N. (s. f.). The Ecotoxicology of Perchlorate in the Environment. Perchlorate, 153-168. doi:10.1007/0-387-31113-0_7Steinmaus, C., Pearl, M., Kharrazi, M., Blount, B. C., Miller, M. D., Pearce, E. N., … Liaw, J. (2016). 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CsgA, an extracellular protein essential for Myxococcus xanthus development. Journal of Bacteriology, 172(9), 5299-5306. doi:10.1128/jb.172.9.5299-5306.1990Acevedo-Barrios, R., Bertel-Sevilla, A., Alonso-Molina, J., & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2016). Perchlorate tolerant bacteria from saline environments at the Caribbean region of Colombia. Toxicology Letters, 259, S103. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.07.257Iizuka, T., Tokura, M., Jojima, Y., Hiraishi, A., Yamanaka, S., & Fudou, R. (2006). Enrichment and Phylogenetic Analysis of Moderately Thermophilic Myxobacteria from Hot Springs in Japan. Microbes and Environments, 21(3), 189-199. doi:10.1264/jsme2.21.189Wu, Z.-H., Jiang, D.-M., Li, P., & Li, Y.-Z. (2005). Exploring the diversity of myxobacteria in a soil niche by myxobacteria-specific primers and probes. Environmental Microbiology, 7(10), 1602-1610. doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2005.00852.xHuang, X. (1999). CAP3: A DNA Sequence Assembly Program. 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International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 56(3), 563-567. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.63440-0Ling, J., Zhang, G., Sun, H., Fan, Y., Ju, J., & Zhang, C. (2011). Isolation and characterization of a novel pyrene-degrading Bacillus vallismortis strain JY3A. Science of The Total Environment, 409(10), 1994-2000. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.02.020Romano, I., Gambacorta, A., Lama, L., Nicolaus, B., & Giordano, A. (2005). Salinivibrio costicola subsp. alcaliphilus subsp. nov., a haloalkaliphilic aerobe from Campania Region (Italy). Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 28(1), 34-42. doi:10.1016/j.syapm.2004.10.001Ali Amoozegar, M., Zahra Fatemi, A., Reza Karbalaei-Heidari, H., & Reza Razavi, M. (2007). Production of an extracellular alkaline metalloprotease from a newly isolated, moderately halophile, Salinivibrio sp. strain AF-2004. Microbiological Research, 162(4), 369-377. doi:10.1016/j.micres.2006.02.007Dubert, J., Romalde, J. L., Prado, S., & Barja, J. L. (2016). 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3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) and its ring-substituted halogenated analogs (ring-DIMs) induce differential mechanisms of survival and death in androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cells.

International audienceWe recently reported that novel ring-substituted analogs of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (ring-DIMs) induce apoptosis and necrosis in androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cells. In this paper, we have focused on the mechanism(s) associated with ring-DIM-mediated cell death, and on identifying the specific intracellular target(s) of these compounds. The 4,4'- and 7,7'-dichloroDIMs and 4,4'- and 7,7'-dibromoDIMs induced the death of LNCaP, C42B and DU145 prostate cancer cells, but not that of immortalized normal human prostate epithelial (RWPE-1) cells. Ring-DIMs caused the early loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and decreased mitochondrial ATP generation in prostate cancer cells. Cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, inhibited ring-DIM-mediated cell death, and salubrinal, an inhibitor of ER stress, inhibited cell death mediated only by 4,4'-dihaloDIMs. We found that although salubrinal did not inhibit the onset of ER stress, it prevented 4,4'-dibromoDIM mediated loss of MMP. Salubrinal potentiated cell death in response to 7,7'-dihaloDIMs and DIM, and this effect concurred with increased loss of MMP. Using in silico 3-D docking affinity analysis, we identified Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) as a potential direct target for the most toxic ring-DIM, 4,4'-dibromoDIM. An inhibitor of CaMKII, KN93, but not its inactive analog KN92, abrogated cell death mediated by 4,4'-dibromoDIM. The ring-DIMs induced ER stress and autophagy, but these processes were not necessary for ring-DIM-mediated cell death. Inhibition of autophagy with bafilomycin A1, 3-methyladenine or by LC3B gene silencing sensitized LNCaP and C42B, but not ATG5-deficient DU145 cells to ring-DIM- and DIM-mediated cell death. We propose that autophagy induced by the ring-DIMs and DIM has a cytoprotective function in prostate cancer cells

Environmental and human health risks associated with exposure to hazardous elements present in urban dust from Barranquilla, Colombian Caribbean

Urban dust is a mixture of deposited particles from different sources usually linked to potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Despite the industrialization of many South American countries, little is known about the impact of particulate matter in large cities, data necessary to promote environmental policies aiming to protect human health. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the particle size distribution, composition, as well as environmental and human health risks of settled dust particles from Barranquilla, a Colombian Caribbean industrialized area. Trace elements were analyzed by ICP‐MS from thirty‐five different sites, covering all city areas. Dust was mostly composed of 10–70 μm particles. The average concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Pb, and Bi were above background. High spatial heterogeneity was observed for Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Sn, Sb, and Bi. Concentration factors suggest urban dusts are extremely contaminated by Zn and Cu. The ecological risk associated with specific elements decreased in the order Cd > Cu > As > Hg > Pb > Ni > Co ≈ Zn ≈ Cr, and the contamination load index showed that 91% of the samples are polluted by PTEs. Although the carcinogenic risks of Cr, Ni, As, Co, and Cd were low, chronic exposure to several PTEs may be impacting the quality of life. Educational programs, as well as monitoring and greater control on traffic, industry, and construction activities, are needed in order to protect environmental and human healt