Recalcitrant Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment: A Comparative Screening Study of Their Occurrence, Formation of Phototransformation Products and Their in Vitro Toxicity

Data allowing for a complete environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals and their photoderatives in the environment are still scarce. In the present study, in vitro toxicity and both bio- and photopersistence of various pharmaceuticals (aciclovir, allopurinol, cetirizine, cimetidine, fluconazole, hydrochlorothiazide, lisinopril, phenytoin, primidone, ranitidine, sotalol, sulpiride, tramadol and valsartane) as well as their phototransformation products were evaluated in order to fill data gaps and to help prioritise them for further testing. Twelve out of the fourteen compounds investigated were found to be neither readily nor inherently biodegradable in the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development-biodegradability tests. The study further demonstrates that the photo-induced transformation of the pharmaceuticals was faster upon irradiation with a Hg lamp (UV light) than with a Xe lamp emitting a spectrum that mimics sunlight. Comparing the non-irradiated with the respective irradiated solutions, a higher acute and chronic toxicity against bacteria was found for the irradiated solutions of seven compounds (cetirizine, cimetidine, hydrochlorothiazide, ranitidine, sulpiride, tramadol and valsartane). No cyto- and genotoxic effects were found in human cervical (HeLa) and liver (Hep-G2) cells for any of the investigated compounds or their phototransformation products. This comparative study documents that phototransformation products can arise as a result of UV treatment of wastewater containing these pharmaceuticals. It further demonstrates that some phototransformation products may have a higher environmental risk potential than the respective parent compounds because some phototransformation products exhibited a higher bacterial toxicity

Determinación de daño genético en comerciantes de plaguicidas en el departamento de Matagalpa

EL DAÑO CITOGENÉTICO ASOCIADO CON PLAGUICIDAS POR PARTE de comerciantes de agroquímicos fue evaluado en el departamento de Matagalpa analizando micronúcleos en células bucales (MNBC). Así mismo, fue evaluada la exposición crónica a plaguicidas usando la prueba de acetilcolinesterasa y adicionalmente se identificaron mutaciones de manera exploratoria en el gen CYP2D6, implicado en el metabolismo de plaguicidas. La comparación entre comerciantes de plaguicidas y controles reveló diferencias significativas en las frecuencias de MNBC (6.23±2.2 vs. 3.63±1.3 MN/2000 MNBC, P<0.001, t de student). Niveles de colinesterasa indican efecto neurotóxico crónico en los comerciantes de plaguicidas. Estos comerciantes utilizan poco o ningún equipo de protección personal así como medidas de seguridad. Este es el primer estudio a nivel nacional que reporta efecto citogenético de exposición crónica a plaguicidas en comerciantes expuestos

Elution of Monomers from Provisional Composite Materials

The aim of this study was to evaluate the elution of substances from different materials used for the manufacturing of temporary indirect restorations, after storage in saliva and ethanol 75%. 10 samples of three chemically cured materials (Protemp 3 Garant, Systemp.c&b, and Trim) and one light-cured material (Clip F) were stored in saliva and ethanol 75% for 24 h, 7, and days 28 days. From the storage media at each time period, samples were prepared and analysed by LC-MS/MS, in order to access the elution of monomers. The results differed among the materials (P ≤ 0.05). No monomers were detected in the samples of Protemp 3 Garant and Clip F. Substances were detected only in ethanol samples of Systemp.c&b and Trim. The amount of BisGMA, TEGDMA, and UDMA 2 released from Systemp.c&b was higher compared to Trim. Storage time affected the release of substances (P ≤ 0.05). The highest release was observed within the first 24 h. It can be concluded that provisional resin composite materials do not show high release of monomers and this release is material dependent. However, the detection of additional peaks during the analysis, suggesting the formation of by-products of the eluted substances, may not be in favour of these materials with respect to their toxicity