Ambient air pollution and smoking are well-documented risk factors for male infertility. Prevalent air pollutants and cigarette smoke components, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are environmental and occupational toxicants that act as chemicals disrupting endocrine regulation and reproductive potential in males. Testicular gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is critical for normal development and function of testicular tissue, thus we assessed GJIC as a process potentially targeted by PAHs in testes. Lower MW PAHs with a bay or bay-like region rapidly dysregulated GJIC in Leydig TM3 cells by relocalization of major testicular gap junctional protein connexin 43 (Cx43) from plasma membrane to cytoplasm. This was associated with colocalization between Cx43 and ubiquitin in intracellular compartments, but without any effect on Cx43 degradation rate or steady-state Cx43 mRNA levels. A longer exposure to active PAHs decreased steady-state levels of full-length Cx43 protein and its 2 N-truncated isoforms. Inhibition of GJIC by PAHs, similarly to a prototypic GJIC-inhibitor TPA, was mediated via the MAP kinase-Erk1/2 and PKC pathways. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced GJIC dysregulation in testes was cell-type-specific because neither PAH dysregulated GJIC in Sertoli TM4 cells, despite PAHs were rapidly taken up by both Leydig TM3 as well as Sertoli TM4 cells. Because TPA effectively dysregulated GJIC in both testicular cell types, a unique regulator of GJIC targeted by PAHs might exist in Leydig TM3 cells. Our results indicate that PAHs could be a potential etiological agent contributing to reproductive dysfunctions in males through an impairment of testicular GJIC and junctional and/or nonjunctional functions of Cx43.
- MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- endokrinní disruptory chemie toxicita MeSH
- fosforylace MeSH
- konexin 43 genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Leydigovy buňky účinky léků metabolismus patologie MeSH
- mezerový spoj účinky léků metabolismus patologie MeSH
- mezibuněčná komunikace účinky léků MeSH
- mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy metabolismus MeSH
- myši MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie toxicita MeSH
- Sertoliho buňky účinky léků metabolismus patologie MeSH
- signální transdukce MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- zátoková oblast polycyklických aromatických uhlovodíků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The chemical composition of emissions from old-type (an overfire boiler, a boiler with down-draft combustion) and modern-type (an automatic and a gasification boiler) boilers was compared. The boilers were operated with different fuels (brown and hard coal, wet and dry wood, wood pellets and brown coal briquettes) with reduced output (40-60%). The emissions were characterized by the contents of gaseous components (NOx, SO2, CO, CO2, OGC); and particulate organic compounds (alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, saccharides), including organic markers (monosaccharide anhydrides, diterpenoids, methoxyphenols, hopanes), which are used for source apportionment of particulate matter in ambient air. In general, emissions of the products of incomplete combustion (CO, particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) were higher from the combustion of solid fuels in old-type boilers than from that in modern-type boilers. The modern-type (especially automatic) boilers were the most environmentally friendly. The highest concentrations of particulate matter (81.6-89.4 g kg-1) and particulate organic compounds (sum of PAHs: 225-275 mg kg-1) including organic markers were found in emissions from old-type (overfire) boilers, especially with the combustion of brown and hard coal. Characteristic ratios of selected organic compounds/markers applied for source identification were calculated. Computed characteristic ratios for monosaccharide anhydrides (biomass combustion) agreed with values in the literature. Homohopane indexes, frequently used for identification of coal combustion, and other characteristic ratios for PAHs, were different from the literature data. In our opinion, characteristic ratios for PAHs are not suitable for use in source apportionment.
An experiment was established to compare composting and vermicomposting for decreasing the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in biomass fly ash incorporated into organic waste mixtures. PAH removal from the ash-organic waste mixture was compared to the same mixture spiked with PAHs. The removal of 16 individual ash PAHs ranged between 28.7 and 98.5% during the 240 day experiment. Greater dissipation of total PAH content of ash origin was observed at the end of composting (84.5%) than after the vermicomposting (61.6%). Most ash PAHs were removed similarly to spiked PAHs through the composting and vermicomposting processes. Higher manganese peroxidase in composting treatments indicated increased activity of ligninolytic PAH-degrading microorganisms. 3D models of total PAH removal were parametrized using the polarity index and organic matter content, and paraboloid equations for each treatment were estimated (all R2 > 0.91). A two-phase model of pseudo-first order kinetics analysis showed faster PAH removal by higher rate constants during the first 120 days of the experiment. The compost and vermicompost produced from the bioremediation treatments are usable as soil organic amendments.
- MeSH
- biodegradace * MeSH
- biomasa * MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- kompostování * MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu analýza MeSH
- lipasa chemie MeSH
- odpadní vody analýza MeSH
- Oligochaeta MeSH
- peroxidasy chemie MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie MeSH
- popel uhelný MeSH
- půda MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of organic pollutants to soil biota, often required by risk assessment, are mostly obtained in non-sterile laboratory-contaminated artificial soils. However, microbial degradation has been indicated by many authors to influence the fate of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in soils. A question arises if the microbial community of peat which is used for artificial soil preparation affects the measured values of BAFs. In this study the effect of soil microorganisms on bioavailability of HOCs was studied and a portion of each soil was sterilized by gamma irradiation. Results indicated that the sterilization process significantly affected the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs; phenanthrene and pyrene) and increased bioavailability of these compounds to earthworms with BAFs several times higher in the sterile soils compared to their non-sterile variants. This suggests that sterilization of soils can be used as the "worst-case scenario" for laboratory tests of toxicity or bioaccumulation of biodegradable HOCs such as PAHs. It represents a situation of limited microbial degradation resulting in higher bioavailable fractions to other organisms (e.g. invertebrates). This may be the case in soils where microbial communities face stresses caused by contamination or land management. The bioavailability of chlorinated HOCs (lindane, 4,4'-DDT and PCB 153) was not affected by sterilization, as their BAFs were similar in the sterile and non-sterile soils during the experiment.
- MeSH
- biologická dostupnost * MeSH
- hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu analýza metabolismus MeSH
- Oligochaeta metabolismus MeSH
- organické látky chemie metabolismus MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie metabolismus MeSH
- půda chemie MeSH
- půdní mikrobiologie MeSH
- sterilizace MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The kinetics of the reaction of an alkene (E-stilbene) and three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (perylene, anthracene and fluoranthene), as examples of environmental pollutants, with ozone on the surface of ice grains (also called "artificial snow"), produced by shock-freezing of aqueous solutions, was studied at submonolayer pollutant coverages (c = 1.5 × 10(-8) to 3 × 10(-10) mol kg(-1)) and two different temperatures (258 and 188 K). This work supports and extends our previous discovery of a remarkable increase in the apparent ozonation rates with decreasing temperature. The ozonation kinetic results were evaluated using the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and, in one case, the Eley-Rideal kinetic model. It is shown that the apparent rate enhancement is related to the specific nature of the ice surface at different temperatures, which influences the availability of contaminants to gaseous ozone, and to inherent reactivities of the contaminants. The maximum pseudofirst-order rate constants and the lifetimes of the studied compounds are provided. At a typical atmospheric ozone concentration in polar areas (50 ppbv), the lifetimes were estimated to be on the order of hours (258 K) or tens of minutes (188 K) for alkenes, and hundreds (258 K) or tens (188 K) of days for PAHs, thus approximately of the same magnitude or longer than those found for the gas-phase reactions. We imply that this rate enhancement at lower temperatures is a general phenomenon, and we provide data to implement heterogeneous reactions in snow in models that predict the extent of chemical reactions occurring in cold environments.
Systematic characterization of morphological, mineralogical, chemical and toxicological properties of various size fractions of the atmospheric particulate matter was a main focus of this study together with an assessment of the human health risks they pose. Even though near-ground atmospheric aerosols have been a subject of intensive research in recent years, data integrating chemical composition of particles and health risks are still scarce and the particle size aspect has not been properly addressed yet. Filling this gap, however, is necessary for reliable risk assessment. A high volume ambient air sampler equipped with a multi-stage cascade impactor was used for size specific particle collection, and all 6 fractions were a subject of detailed characterization of chemical (PAHs) and mineralogical composition of the particles, their mass size distribution and genotoxic potential of organic extracts. Finally, the risk level for inhalation exposure associated to the carcinogenic character of the studied PAHs has been assessed. The finest fraction (<0.45 μm) exhibited the highest mass, highest active surface, highest amount of associated PAHs and also highest direct and indirect genotoxic potentials in our model air sample. Risk assessment of inhalation scenario indicates the significant cancer risk values in PM 1.5 size fraction. This presented new approach proved to be a useful tool for human health risk assessment in the areas with significant levels of air dust concentration.
- MeSH
- aerosoly chemie toxicita MeSH
- chemické modely MeSH
- hodnocení rizik MeSH
- inhalační expozice statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch chemie toxicita MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
- pevné částice chemie toxicita MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza chemie toxicita MeSH
- testy toxicity MeSH
- velikost částic MeSH
- vzduch analýza MeSH
- znečištění ovzduší statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Novel approach to functionalized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is presented. Incorporation of cyclic nitrone framework into the structure of PAHs was studied with respect to their anti-proliferative activities and interaction with double stranded DNA. Theoretical docking studies and UV titration methods were used for preliminary evaluation of binding of new PAH derivatives to DNA structure.
- MeSH
- buňky K562 MeSH
- DNA chemie metabolismus MeSH
- HCT116 buňky MeSH
- interkalátory chemická syntéza chemie toxicita MeSH
- konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- MFC-7 buňky MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- oxidy dusíku chemie MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemická syntéza chemie toxicita MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- racionální návrh léčiv * MeSH
- simulace molekulového dockingu MeSH
- vazebná místa MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The cellular response to genotoxic treatment depends on the cell line used. Although tumor cell lines are widely used for genotoxicity tests, the interpretation of the results may be potentially hampered by changes in cellular processes caused by malignant transformation. In our study we used normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HEL12469 cells) and tested their response to treatment with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and extractable organic matter (EOM) from ambient air particles <2.5 µm (PM2.5) collected in two Czech cities differing in levels and sources of air pollution. We analyzed multiple endpoints associated with exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including the levels of bulky DNA adducts and the nucleotide excision repair (NER) response [expression of XPE, XPC and XPA genes on the level of mRNA and proteins, unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS)]. EOMs were collected in the winter and summer of 2011 in two Czech cities with different levels and sources of air pollution. The effects of the studied compounds were analyzed in the presence (+S9) and absence (-S9) of the rat liver microsomal S9 fraction. The levels of bulky DNA adducts were highest after treatment with B[a]P, followed by winter EOMs; their induction by summer EOMs was weak. The induction of both mRNA and protein expression was observed, with the most pronounced effects after treatment with B[a]P (-S9); the response induced by EOMs from both cities and seasons was substantially weaker. The expression of DNA repair genes was not accompanied by the induction of UDS activity. In summary, our results indicate that the tested compounds induced low levels of DNA damage and affected the expression of NER genes; however, nucleotide excision repair was not induced.
- MeSH
- adukty DNA MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- DNA vazebné proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fibroblasty účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch chemie toxicita MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí chemie toxicita MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- messenger RNA genetika MeSH
- oprava DNA * MeSH
- pevné částice chemie toxicita MeSH
- plíce MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie toxicita MeSH
- proliferace buněk účinky léků MeSH
- regulace genové exprese účinky léků MeSH
- xeroderma pigmentosum - protein skupiny A genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The aim of this study was to compare the toxic effects of selected two- and three-ringed PAHs (naphthalene, phenanthrene, and anthracene) and their N-heterocyclic analogs with one (quinoline, acridine, and phenanthridine) or two (quinoxaline, phenazine, and 1,10-phenanthroline) nitrogen atoms on the survival and reproduction of Enchytraeus crypticus in artificial soil. Toxicity of compounds was recalculated to soil pore-water concentrations using the data of chemical analyses of 0.01 M CaCl(2) extracts of spiked soils. When toxicity was based on molar concentrations in pore water (μmol/L), it significantly increased with increasing K(ow) value. This relationship indicates nonpolar narcosis as the general toxicity mechanism of the tested compounds. In addition, significant correlation between the toxicity of PACs and their ionization potential has been identified by multidimensional QSAR models.
- MeSH
- akridiny toxicita MeSH
- anthraceny chemie toxicita MeSH
- chinoliny toxicita MeSH
- dusík toxicita MeSH
- fenantreny chemie toxicita MeSH
- fenantroliny chemie toxicita MeSH
- kvantitativní vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu chemie toxicita MeSH
- Oligochaeta účinky léků MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie toxicita MeSH
- půda analýza MeSH
- rozmnožování účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
