core--epidemiology, biostatistics and biomathematics
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Publication
Journal: Journal of Investigative Dermatology
August/21/2003
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of ultraviolet-induced environmental trauma on human skin cells, primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes were exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation (290-320 nm). We found that relatively low doses of ultraviolet-B (62.5-500 mJ per cm2) caused dose-dependent increases in 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Unirradiated normal human epidermal keratinocytes contained 1.49 (+/- 0.11) 8-oxo-dG per 10(6) 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG) residues in cellular DNA, which increased linearly to as high as 6.24 (+/- 0.85) 8-oxo-dG per 10(6) dG after irradiation with 500 mJ per cm2. Further, this oxidative damage was reduced by 60.7% when the cells were pretreated with 1 mM mannitol. As hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is known to be generated during oxidative stress, its accumulation in ultraviolet-B-irradiated normal human epidermal keratinocytes was also assessed and correlated to 8-oxo-dG formation. An ultraviolet-B-induced increase in H2O2 was observed in normal human epidermal keratinocytes and its production was inhibited by the addition of catalase. Based on the ability of a neutral molecule like H2O2 to permeate membranes, our data indicate that, after ultraviolet-B irradiation, H2O2 migrates from the cytosol to the nucleus where it participates in a Fenton-like reaction that results in the production of hydroxyl radicals (OH*), which may then cause 8-oxo-dG formation in cellular DNA. This conclusion is supported by our data showing that OH* scavengers, such as mannitol, are effective inhibitors of oxidative DNA base damage. Although increased levels of 8-oxo-dG were previously found in immortalized mouse keratinocytes exposed to ultraviolet-B radiation, we now report the induction of 8-oxo-dG in normal human skin keratinocytes at ultraviolet-B doses relevant to human skin exposure.
Publication
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives
October/12/2017
Abstract
Epidemiological studies associate inhalation of fine-sized particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy with preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) but disagree over which time frames are most sensitive, or if effects are cumulative.
Our objective was to provide experimental plausibility for epidemiological observations by testing the hypothesis that exposure to PM2.5 during discrete periods of pregnancy results in PTB and LBW.
For the first study, timed-pregnant B6C3F1 mice were exposed to concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAPs) or filtered air (FA) throughout pregnancy [6 h/d from gestational day (GD) 0.5 through GD16.5]. A follow-up study examined the effects of CAPs exposure during discrete gestational periods (1: GD0.5–5.5; 2: GD6.5–14.5; 3: GD14.5–16.5; 4: GD0.5–16.5) aligning to milestones during human development.
In the first experiment, exposure to 160 μg CAPs/m3 throughout pregnancy decreased gestational term by 0.5 d (∼1.1 wk decrease for humans) and birth weight by 11.4% compared with FA. The follow-up experiment investigated timing of CAPs exposure (mean concentrations at 178, 193, 171, and 173 μg/m3 for periods 1–4, respectively). Pregnancy was significantly shortened (vs. FA) by ∼0.4d when exposure occurred during gestational periods 2 and 4, and by ∼0.5d if exposure occurred during period 3. Exposure during periods 1, 2, and 4 reduced birth weight by ∼10% compared with FA, and placental weight was reduced (∼8%) on GD17.5 if exposure occurred only during period 3.
Adverse PM2.5-induced outcomes such as PTB and LBW are dependent upon the periods of maternal exposure. The results of these experimental studies could contribute significantly to air pollution policy decisions in the future. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1029.
Publication
Journal: Tobacco Control
October/25/2017
Abstract
Hookahs (water pipes) are rapidly increasing in popularity worldwide. Evidence suggests that although perceived as safer than cigarette smoke, hookah smoke may be as, or even more, dangerous as cigarette smoke.
Air samples from 33 homes-11 where only hookah-smoking occurred, 12 with only cigarettes and 10 with no smoking-were collected to analyse concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon, elemental and organic carbon and carbon monoxide (CO). Air quality was assessed in rooms where smoking occurred and in an adjacent room.
Hookah and cigarette smoking impaired home air quality. The rooms in which hookahs were smoked showed the highest concentrations for all pollutants. CO was significantly greater in the rooms where hookahs were smoked than in the cigarette-smoking rooms and the non-smoking households (p<0.05). In addition, CO levels in the rooms adjacent to where hookah was smoked were 2.5-fold to 4-fold greater than those in the smoking and non-smoking rooms of the cigarette homes (p<0.05). PM2.5 levels were also elevated in hookah homes compared to cigarette and non-smoking homes, although not significantly different.
This study, the first of its kind, demonstrates potentially hazardous levels of home air pollution in rooms where hookahs are being smoked as well as in adjacent rooms. These levels were greater than those in cigarette smoking homes, raising concerns about potential negative health effects on all individuals living in homes where hookahs are smoked.
Publication
Journal: Teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, and mutagenesis
September/15/1986
Abstract
1,2-Dibromoethane (DBE) and two of its potential metabolites, bromoethanol (BE) and bromoacetaldehyde (BA), were tested for carcinogenicity in male and female B6C3F1 mice using 30 animals of each sex per group. The carcinogen DBE was included in this assay as a positive control. The compounds were administered in distilled drinking water using equimolar concentrations, 4 mmol, of the chemicals. The dose chosen was based on subchronic bioassays of three months' duration. The chronic tests were continued for approximately 450 days in the case of DBE and approximately 560 days for both BE and BA. DBE induced squamous carcinomas of the forestomach in 22 females and 26 males and squamous papillomas of the esophagus in 3 females. BE induced squamous papillomas of the forestomach only in 10 females and 9 males. BA did not induce a significant incidence of tumors of the forestomach. Significant tumor incidences at other sites were not observed in any groups including the distilled water control group. Based on these findings, it is unlikely that BE or BA are activated carcinogenic intermediates of DBE.