Bertin Trottier

Studies on lipid peroxidation in rat tissues following administration of low and moderate doses of cadmium chloride

The susceptibility to lipid peroxidation (LPO) of liver, kidneys, brains, lungs, heart, and testes was assessed in rats administered intraperitoneally with various doses of cadmium (Cd). Dose-response studies were carried out with male Long Evans rats (12-week-old; 300 +/- 33 g) injected with 25, 125, 500, and 1250 micrograms Cd/kg as CdCl2 and sacrificed after 24 h. In time-response studies, animals were administered with 25 and 500 micrograms Cd/kg as CdCl2 and sacrificed after 2, 6, 12, 24, and 72 h. Exposure of rats to low and moderate doses of Cd by the intraperitoneal route stimulated LPO in all the tissues investigated as assessed by the measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Lungs and brain were the most responsive, and these tissues and liver displayed early responses following Cd exposure. Comparison of LPO to various tissue indicators (for liver: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP); for lungs: ALP, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT] suggested that low doses of Cd stimulated LPO without any evidence of acute damages. These results suggest that LPO is an early and sensitive consequence of Cd exposure as determined in various organs. Investigation of liver, lungs, and heart antioxidant defense system components (glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD] revealed that GPX might be considered as a potential modulator of the Cd-induced LPO reaction in lungs and heart tissues.

Integration of toxicological and chemical tools to assess the bioavailability of metals and energetic compounds in contaminated soils

Bioavailability is critical for understanding effects that might result from exposure of biota to contaminated soils. Soils from military range and training areas (RTAs) are contaminated principally by energetic materials (EM) and metals. Their chemical characteristics are relatively well known and toxicity assessment of soils from RTAs are in some cases available. However, bioavailability on these sites needs to be comprehensively characterized. A holistic approach to bioavailability, incorporating both chemical and earthworm toxicological indicators, was applied to soils from an anti-tank firing range at a Canadian Forces Base. Results showed that HMX and the metals Zn, Pb, Bi and Cd, though not consistently the prevailing toxicants, were the most accessible to earthworms. Some metals (notably Cu, Zn, Cr and Bi) were also accumulated in earthworm tissue but those were not necessarily expected given their bioaccessibility (i.e., the chemical availability of contaminants in the environment for the organisms) at the beginning of the exposure. The tested soils impaired earthworm reproduction and reduced adult growth. Measurement of selected sublethal parameters indicated that lysosomal integrity (determined as the neutral red retention time--NRRT) was decreased, while elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity suggested that earthworms experienced oxidative stress. The correspondence between the NRRT and metal contamination pattern suggested that metals may be the main cause of lysosomal disruption in EM-contaminated soils. The approach to bioavailability appraisal adopted in this case appears to be a promising practice for site-specific assessment of contaminated land.

Immunotoxicity of aminocarb. III. Exposure route-dependent immunomodulation by aminocarb in mice

Aminocarb, a phenylsubstituted methylcarbamate pesticide (4-dimethylamino-3-methyl-N-carbamate; matacil), previously suspected of a relatively low immunotoxic potential, was administered by four different exposure routes to C57BL/6 mice. A single sublethal exposure by oral and dermal routes stimulated humoral immune response at a relatively low dose; 1/256 LD50 of aminocarb. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection decreased the humoral PFC response, whereas inhalation of aminocarb had no marked effect on peripheral immune status in exposed animals. Thus, i.p. exposure resulted in higher immunotoxicity over oral administration of aminocarb. Similarly, marked route-related exposure differences in immunomodulatory effects of aminocarb were noted for mitogenic stimulation of spleen lymphocytes and mixed lymphocyte response. Other indices, such as delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) and production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) were unchanged. Interestingly, expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II by purified, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated B cells increased equally after i.p. and oral exposures to aminocarb. Overall, a weak immunosuppressive potential of aminocarb was concluded, which was possibly due to indirect interaction of the pesticide with the immune system. However, aminocarb may represent an autoimmunity-inducing toxic.

Maternal–fetal distribution of cadmium in the guinea pig following a low dose inhalation exposure

Pregnant guinea pigs in their last trimester of gestation were exposed by inhalation to cadmium (Cd) chloride level (50 microg/m3 Cd) for 1 and 5 days. Cd content was evaluated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Maternal blood Cd concentration increased by 127 and 223% of control for 1 and 5 days of exposure. Maternal lung Cd concentration increased significantly by 11.66- and by 48.24-fold after 1 and 5 days of treatment, while maternal liver showed an increase of 188 and 227% for 1 and 5 days of exposure. Also, fetal Cd concentration significantly increased in brain (156 and 192%), liver (159 and 174%) and heart (201 and 157%) after 1 and 5 days of exposure, compared to unexposed females. Placental calcium content decreased significantly by 16% of control after 5 days of exposure. These results suggest that low-level inhalation of Cd may pass through the guinea pig placenta and accumulate in fetal brain, liver and heart.

The response of the pulmonary surfactant-associated alkaline phosphatase following acute cadmium chloride inhalation.

In order to identify sensitive and specific biochemical indicators of pulmonary damages caused by industrial contaminants, male Long-Evans rats were exposed to a cadmium chloride (CdCl2) aerosol (5 mg Cd/m3; MMAD = 1.4 microns; SDg = 1.8) for 1 hr. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 4, 8, and 16 days after treatment. The response of the pulmonary surfactant (SF) system, which prevents alveolar collapse during expiration by lowering the surface tension at the air-liquid interface, was of particular interest. The effect of CdCl2 inhalation on the SF system was monitored by assaying the alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity and phospholipid (PL) content in an enriched surface active SF fraction purified from bronchoalveolar lavages. The AKP activity of the SF fraction was markedly decreased (99%) on Day 1, indicating an inhibition of AKP by Cd. The PL content remained at control level while the total protein content was significantly increased (199%). On day 4, the high recovery of PL (207%) and AKP activities (639%) may reflect an increased secretion caused by Type II cell hyperplasia. By Day 8 these parameters returned to baseline levels. On Day 16 both the AKP activity and the PL content of the SF fraction were decreased significantly. Concurrently, the activities of the acid phosphatase and the B-N-acetylglucosaminidase followed, but to a lesser extent, the response of the AKP activity on Days 1 and 4. They differed from AKP, however, in that their activities remained significantly elevated on Day 8 and in that they returned to baseline levels on Day 16.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Immunosuppression in mice after inhalation of cadmium aerosol

Aerosol cadmium (CdCl2) exposure of female C57Bl/6 mice was performed to assess the in vivo effects of cadmium on the cellular and humoral immune responses of splenic lymphocytes. Primary cellular and humoral responses of lymphocytes were examined at 5-18 days after a single, 60 min exposure to 0.88 mg Cd/m3 (MMAD = 0.7 +/- 0.3 micron, sigma g = 3.43). Significant decrease of in vitro lymphoproliferative response to allogeneic antigens, LPS and PHA antigens, and inhibition of the primary IgM response to sheep erythrocytes were correlated with a marked decrease in spleen cell viability at 5-8 days after aerosol cadmium exposure. This type of cadmium-induced immunosuppression, which correlated with the direct cytotoxicity of effector cells, appeared to be different from the chronic, oral cadmium-induced suppression of the primary IgM response, in which acute cytotoxicity of the spleen cell population was not observed.

Micro method for determination of cadmium in tissues and slurried samples by use of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) was determined in rat liver, kidneys, brain, testes, heart, and lungs with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following digestion of micro quantities (100 μl) of tissue homogenates in polypropylene micro diagnostic tubes. Microwave heating was used to complete the digestion. Results obtained demonstrated adequate precision, as indicated by relative standard deviations in control (±14%) and treated rat tissues (±2.6%). Cd measured in Standard Reference Materials that represented various biological tissues agreed with certified values, and no significant differences were observed between results obtained by use of the method of additions and those obtained by use of matrix-free reference solutions. Overall mean recovery of Cd added to Cd-treated rat tissue homogenates prior to the digestion procedure was 96%.

Immune response of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia andrei and Aporrectodea tuberculata) following in situ soil exposure to atmospheric deposition from a cement factory

In order to reduce their energy costs, many cement plants use fuel product substitutes (old tyres and used oil). The combustion of these products generates a metal increase (e.g. Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn) in the atmospheric emissions. After their release, these elements are deposited into the environment and could eventually accumulate up to concentrations of concern. At the Saint-Laurent cement factory (Joliette, QC, Canada), maximum deposition of these elements occurs in the direction of prevailing winds (North-East). We evaluated the potential impact of these depositions upon the immune system of three earthworm species (Lumbricus terrestris, Eisenia andrei and Aporrectodea tuberculata) exposed in a natural environment. The exposure sites were 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 km downwind from the cement factory, along with an upwind reference site. The immune parameters studied were the cell viability and phagocytic potential of the immune cells (coelomocytes). For both L. terrestris and E. andrei, after 7 d exposure, none of the measured parameters showed significant differences among the sites. On the other hand, for the indigenous worm A. tuberculata, in the most exposed zone (at 0.5 km), we observed an increase in cell viability and phagocytic potential. This increase could possibly be attributed to physicochemical effects such as the alkaline pH of the soil, or alternatively, it could result from beneficial effects induced by an increased calcium supply.

Assessment of soil quality using bioaccessibility-based models and a biomarker index.

Bioavailability in heterogeneous media such as soils is a multi-factorial concept which ranges from soil chemistry to toxicity. The complexity of this factor has been tackled by various studies pinpointing its relevancy for laboratory to field extrapolation of toxicity data. As contaminant bioavailability on these sites is virtually unknown, a global assessment of this issue has been conducted on soils impacted by antitank firing from a Canadian Range and Training Area (RTA) and contaminated by energetic materials (EM) and metals. Yet, the descriptive results acquired from this survey require further in-depth analysis so as to enhance understanding of soil health status. Statistical models as well as an index integrating biomarker responses were derived from this database and are proposed as diagnostic, explanatory and possibly predictive tools for soil bioavailability and quality assessment. Relationships associating bioaccessible contaminant levels to soil properties allowed to clarify contaminant behaviour in energetic material (EM)-contaminated soils. Likewise, models expressing biomarker responses as a function of bioaccessible contaminant concentrations contributed to identify the contaminants causing toxicity in earthworms and to the comprehension of those toxic effects. The index of biomarker response was adapted from similar concepts applied in the aquatic environment and is an original contribution to terrestrial sites. The biomarker index data were in agreement with soil contamination profiles and represent therefore an interesting tool for soil quality appraisal. Such tools also offer a promising potential for the management of contaminated soils.