Otmaro Enrique Roses

Chlorinated pesticide occurrence in the Uruguay River (Argentina-Uruguay)

Water samples, collected trimonthly along the Uruguay River between February 1988 and December 1989, were analyzed for alpha- and gamma-HCH, heptachlor and its epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, and the o-p′ and p-p′ isomers of DDE, DDD and DDT to assess the present status of the contamination in this South American region. In general, chlorinated pesticides were encountered at very low concentrations. HCH isomers were the most commonly detected compounds with concentrations ranging from the detection limits to 10 ng L−1. Heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, aldrin, dieldrin, p-p′ DDE and p-p′ DDT were occasionally encountered while o-p′ DDE, p-p′ DDD, o-p′ DDD and o-p′ DDT were never detected. Compared to previous studies in the area, the present data seems to indicate that there was a decrease in the concentrations of these compounds.

MASS POISONING BY SODIUM ARSENITE

An acute massive epidemic of arsenic poisoning in Argentina involved 718 subjects. Urine samples were obtained from 307. The 49 with urine arsenic 76-500 micrograms/dl and 12 with urine arsenic greater than 500 micrograms/dL received dimercaprol treatment. Symptomatology increased with the urine arsenic with increased diarrhea, vomiting and systemic symptoms at urine arsenic greater than 75 micrograms/dL.

First analytical chemistry study on drug abuse in the Buenos Aires (Argentina) University students

One hundred samples were randomly selected from urine specimens collected from Buenos Aires University students, 50 males and 50 females, whose ages ranged from 19 to 47 years. Cocaine (COC), cannabinoids (CNNs), amphetamines (AMs), benzodiazepines (BZDs), barbiturates (BBTs), opiates (OPs) and salicylates (SAs) were searched for by ELISA, FPIA, normalized TLC, HPLC and GC/MS techniques. The presence of COC was detected in five samples, CNN in two and SA in twelve. No evidence of AMs, BZDs, BBTs or OPs was found.

Quantification of Cotinine in Plasma and Urine by HPLC‐UV Detection

Abstract Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine in man, is widely used as an abstention marker to Nicotiana tabacum smoke, as well as to evaluate passive inhalation of tobacco smoke by non‐smokers. Development and validation of a reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) method with ultraviolet (UV) detection for identification and quantification of cotinine in human plasma and urine are described. After diluting plasma with distilled water (1/6), NaOH 5 M (1:1) was added to both matrices and cotinine extracted using a RP 18 solid phase extraction column (SPE). Extracts were resuspended in mobile phase phosphate buffer pH 6.8:acetonitrile (90:10) and injected into a Lichrospher 100 RP‐18 column (5 µm). The UV detector was set to 260 nm. Linear calibration curves in the range of 10–1000 ng/mL of cotinine with correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 were obtained. Within‐run and between‐run accuracy was less than 5%. Cotinine detection limit was 20 ng/mL. The proposed chromatographic system allows cotinine to be separated from caffeine.

Variations in rat biochemical parameters after buckshot implant

Twenty eight albino Wistar rats were implanted with two 100 mg lead spheres: 14 received the implant in the peritoneum (P) and 14 in the thigh (T). Variations in the activity of delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase (ALAD), of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALAU), of hematoporphyrins (HP) and of lead blood levels (BPb) were then determined at 30, 60 and 90 days with respect to basal values. Parallel determinations were performed by the same schedule in 7 rats implanted with two glass beads and in 8 sham animals receiving surgical incision alone. Techniques employed for ALAD were Berlin and Schaller; for ALAU, Tomokuni and Ogata; for HP, Piomelli; and for BPb, atomic absorption spectrophotometry. As indicators of lead presence, HP and ALAU proved better, both in P and in T rats. The replacement of lead buckshot for small game hunting by other less toxic elements is recommended.

Human dietary exposure to lead and cadmium via the consumption of mussels and seaweeds from San Jorge Gulf, Patagonia Argentina

Lead and cadmium were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in Aulacomya atra, Mytilus edulis, Porphyra columbina and Ulva spp. in two sites of the San Jorge Gulf (Argentina). In Punta Maqueda, M. edulis cadmium concentrations were higher than those measured at the mouth of La Mata stream throughout the year. In A. atra, no statistically significant difference was recorded between the two sampling points. Lead levels do not exceed the limits set by the National Agrifood Health and Quality National Service. Cadmium levels in Punta Maqueda exceed the limit set by the EU and values close to the PTWI have been observed. Lead concentrations in P. columbina and Ulva spp. do not seem to represent a problem for the public health. Nevertheless, all the seaweed samples exceed the values set for cadmium in France, Australia and New Zealand. An intake of 30 g of seaweed would not exceed cadmium PTWI.