PAH Levels (pah + level)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Mobility and potential toxicity of sediment-bound metals in a tidal estuary

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2005
O. Geffard
Abstract Sediment toxicity in the Gironde Estuary, France, a site contaminated by such trace metals as Cd, Cu, and Zn, was examined monthly from March to October 1997, using concurrently geochemical procedures to assess the mobility of contaminants and ecotoxicity tests with invertebrate larvae (the oyster Crassostrea gigas, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, and the copepod Tigriopus brevicornis). Higher mobility of Cd than of Cu and Zn was shown by desorption tests. Both the gross concentrations of Cu and Zn in the sediment and the mobility of these metals showed a temporal evolution, and changes in the toxicity of the sediment to invertebrate larvae generally were observed concomitantly. Little damage was registered in the spring, and greater damage was found in the summer and fall. Positive correlations were shown between mortality in copepods or abnormalities in oyster larvae with the quantities of metals remobilized from sediment at pH 4. On the contrary, no clear temporal trend was shown for total PAH levels in sediment. These correlations and previous toxicological data suggest that sediment-bound metals, particularly Cu and Zn, possibly play a role in biological responses. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 20: 407,417, 2005. [source]


High levels of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in 20 brands of Chinese cigarettes

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
V. Akpan
Abstract Tar and nicotine levels have been made to conform to EU standards as of 1 July 2004, but data on tobacco-derived carcinogenic compounds, such as PAH, in Chinese cigarettes are lacking in the literature. Levels of tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and PAH were measured in 20 cigarette brands purchased in China between 2003 and 2004. Higher nicotine and tar levels were found in Chinese cigarettes than in European brands just 3 months before the above deadline; carcinogenic PAH levels were about 1.5 fold higher than in European cigarettes, but analysed singly, the mean value of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DBA), the most potent carcinogenic PAH yields, were 2.4 and 4.4 fold higher, respectively. Tar levels were well correlated with carcinogenic PAH (r = 0.53, P < 0.01), thus providing an easily measurable parameter for ranking various cigarette brands in developing countries where more sophisticated techniques might not be feasible for lack of funds and expertise. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoked cheese

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 8 2008
Marie Suchanová
Abstract BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) represent a group of organic compounds containing two or more aromatic rings. Their control in the human food chain is required due to the mutagenic and carcinogenic potential, exhibited in vertebrates. In the present study, the occurrence of PAHs in 36 cheeses smoked by various processes was investigated. RESULTS: PAH concentrations (sum of 15 US EPA PAHs) found in samples smoked under controlled industrial conditions were at level 0.11 µg kg,1, whereas in ,home-made' cheeses, the PAH content was up to 10 times higher. A similar trend was observed for B[a]P, a marker compound representing carcinogenic PAHs. While its levels in commercial products prepared by controlled smoking technologies were close to the limit of quantification (0.03 µg kg,1); in household samples, the B[a]P content ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 µg kg,1. Significantly higher amounts of PAHs (up to three to six times) were found in surface layers as compared to internal parts of cheese. CONCLUSION: Although smoked cheese is a popular food, only several papers have focused on PAH levels in these products. This paper evaluates the contribution of different smoking technologies to PAH contamination of several cheeses and thus can help in a risk assessment associated with their consumption. Moreover, the study shows the concentration ratios of selected PAHs, from which the type of smoking technology can be indicated. The results obtained in this study also supported the suggestion of the EU Scientific Committee on Food to use benzo[a]pyrene as an indicator of the occurrence of higher-molecular mass PAHs. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Short-term physiological response of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, on exposure to varying levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 15 2007
Mu-Chan Kim
Abstract In the present study, we investigate the short-term adaptive physiological strategies to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) of Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, by exposing the oysters to varying levels of PAH (0, 50, 100 and 200 ,g L,1) for 7 days with a 3-day acclimation period under laboratory conditions. The filtration rate (FR) and respiration rate (R) increased significantly at 50 ,g L,1 PAH and decreased at 100 and 200 ,g L,1 compared with the control. The absorption efficiency (Abs. eff.) was significantly impaired at 200 ,g L,1 PAH. Ammonia excretion (E) increased with increasing PAH levels, with a significant elevation at 200 ,g L,1. Although a significantly elevated FR was observed, oysters exposed to 50 ,g L,1 PAH showed scope for growth (SFG) similar to the control. This indicates that even at nominal levels, PAH contamination is a possible cause of reduced oyster production because of increased food demand. The oysters exposed to 200 ,g L,1 PAH showed negative SFG values, which could be a possible cause of growth stagnation or even mortality when the exposure is chronic. [source]