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Despite their numerous possible applications, the potential impact of carbon engineered nanomaterials (CEN) on human health, especially after inhalation exposure, is still questioned. Quantification of CEN in the respiratory system is a recurring issue and deposition and pulmonary biopersistence data are essential for toxicological evaluation. In this context, a fully validated standard method for CEN quantification in lung tissue is therefore imperative. The present method, based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 5040 method for atmospheric elemental and organic carbon analysis as well as on previous developments on biological matrices, involves a simple thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of lyophilized samples, possibly preceded by a step of chemical digestion of the tissues depending on the nature of CEN investigated. The analytical method was validated for 4 CEN (carbon black as well as 3 long and thick or short and thin carbon nanotubes) for selectivity, linearity, detection and quantification limits, bias, and within-batch and between-batch precision. Calibration curves show linearity in the range of 1-40 mg/g lyophilized lung. Limits of detection for the different CEN range from 6 to 18 µg in 20 mg dry test sample. On average, within-batch precision was kept below 20 and 10% for analysis with or without a prior digestion step, respectively, whereas the corresponding between-batch precision levels reached almost 20 and 15%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to toxicological investigations for the quantitative analysis of CEN contents in rat lung exposed by inhalation.

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BACKGROUND: Carbon disulfide (CS2) exacerbates the effect of noise on hearing, and disrupts the vestibular system. The goal of this study was to determine whether these effects are also observed with intermittent CS2 exposure. METHODS: Rats were exposed for 4 weeks (5 days/week, 6 h/day) to a band noise at 106 dB SPL either alone or combined with continuous (63 ppm or 250 ppm) or intermittent (15 min/h or 2 × 15 min/h at 250 ppm) CS2. Hearing function was assessed by measuring distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs); balance was monitored based on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR). Functional measurements were performed before, at the end of exposure and 4 weeks later. Histological analyses of the inner ear were also performed following exposure and after the 4-week recovery period. RESULTS: The results obtained here confirmed that CS2 exposure exerts two differential temporary effects on hearing: (1) it attenuates the noise-induced DPOAE decrease below 6 kHz probably through action on the middle ear reflex when exposure lasts 15 min per hour, and (2) continuous exposure to 250 ppm for 6 h extends the frequency range affected by noise up to 9.6 kHz (instead of 6 kHz with noise alone). With regard to balance, the VOR was reversibly disrupted at the two highest doses of CS2 (2 × 15 min/h and continuous 250 ppm). No morphological alterations to the inner ear were observed. CONCLUSION: These results reveal that short periods of CS2 exposure can alter the sensitivity of the cochlea to noise at a dose equivalent to only 10 times the short-term occupational limit value, and intermittent exposure to CS2 (2 × 15 min/h) can alter the function of the vestibular system.

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Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) compounds are classified as carcinogenic to humans. Whereas chromium measurements in urine and plasma attest to the last few hours of total chromium exposure (all oxidation states of chromium), chromium in red blood cells (RBC) is attributable specifically to Cr(VI) exposure over the last few days. Before recommending Cr in RBC (CrIE) as a biological indicator of Cr(VI) exposure, in vivo studies must be undertaken to assess its reliability. The present study examines the kinetics of Cr(VI) in rat after a single intravenous dose of ammonium dichromate. Chromium levels were measured in plasma, red blood cells and urine. The decay of the chromium concentration in plasma is one-phase-like (with half-life time of 0.55 day) but still measurable two days post injection. The excretion of urinary chromium peaks between five and six hours after injection and shows large variations. Intra-erythrocyte chromium (CrIE) was very constant up to a minimum of 2 days and half-life time was estimated to 13.3 days. Finally, Cr(III) does not interfere with Cr(VI) incorporation in RBC. On the basis of our results, we conclude that, unlike urinary chromium, chromium levels in RBC are indicative of the amount of dichromate (Cr(VI)) in blood.

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Volatile organic solvents are frequently present in industrial atmospheres. Their lipophilic properties mean they quickly reach the brain following inhalation. Acute exposure to some solvents perturbs the middle ear reflex, which could jeopardize cochlear protection against loud noises. As the physiological mechanisms involved in this protective reflex are highly complex, in vivo rodent models are required to allow rapid and reliable identification of any adverse effects of solvents on the middle ear reflex (MER). In this study, MER amplitude was measured in anesthetized Brown-Norway rats by monitoring the decrease in distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) caused by a contralateral stimulation. Our screening test consisted in measuring the impact of inhalation of solvent vapors at 3000 ppm for 15 min on the MER amplitude. We had previously studied a selection of aromatic solvents with this model; here, we extended the analysis to volatile compounds from other chemical families. The results obtained shed light on the mechanisms involved in the interactions between solvents and their neuronal targets. Thus, benzene and chlorobenzene had the greatest effect on MER (≥ + 1.8 dB), followed by a group composed of toluene, styrene, p-xylene, m-xylene, tetrachloroethylene and cyclohexane, which had a moderate effect on the MER (between + 0.3 and + 0.7 dB). Finally, trichloroethylene, n-hexane, methyl-ethyl-ketone, acetone, o-xylene, and ethylbenzene had no effect on the MER. Thus, the effect of solvents on the MER is not simply linked to their lipophilicity, rather it depends on specific interactions with neuronal targets. These interactions appear to be governed by the compound's chemical structure, e.g. the presence of an aromatic ring and its steric hindrance. In addition, perturbation of the MER by a solvent is independent of its toxic effects on cochlear cells. As the MER plays a protective role against exposure to high-intensity noises, these findings could have a significant impact in terms of prevention for subjects exposed to both noise and solvents.

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1. Multiple exposures are ubiquitous in industrial environments. In this article, we highlight the risks faced by workers and complete the data available on the metabolic impact of a common mixture: toluene (TOL) and methylethylketone (MEK). 2. Rats were exposed by inhalation under controlled conditions either to each solvent individually, or to mixtures of the two. How the interaction between the two solvents affected their fate in the blood and brain, their main relevant urinary metabolites (o-cresol, benzylmercapturic acid for TOL and 2,3-butanediols for MEK) and their hepatic metabolism were investigated. 3. Although the cytochrome P450 concentration was unchanged, and the activities of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 isoforms were not additively or synergistically induced by co-exposure, TOL metabolism was inhibited by the presence of MEK (and vice versa). Depending on the relative proportions of each compound in the mixture, this sometimes resulted in a large increase in blood and brain concentrations. Apart from extreme cases (unbalanced mixtures), the amount of o-cresol and benzylmercapturic acid (and to a lesser extent 2,3-butanediols) excreted were proportional to the blood solvent concentrations. 4. In a co-exposure context, ortho-cresol and benzylmercapturic acid can be used as urinary biomarkers in biomonitoring for employees to relatively accurately assess TOL exposure.

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Carbon disulfide (CS2) is used in industry; it has been shown to have neurotoxic effects, causing central and distal axonopathies.However, it is not considered cochleotoxic as it does not affect hair cells in the organ of Corti, and the only auditory effects reported in the literature were confined to the low-frequency region. No reports on the effects of combined exposure to low-frequency noise and CS2 have been published to date. This article focuses on the effects on rat hearing of combined exposure to noise with increasing concentrations of CS2 (0, 63,250, and 500ppm, 6h per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks). The noise used was a low-frequency noise ranging from 0.5 to 2kHz at an intensity of 106dB SPL. Auditory function was tested using distortion product oto-acoustic emissions, which mainly reflects the cochlear performances. Exposure to noise alone caused an auditory deficit in a frequency area ranging from 3.6 to 6 kHz. The damaged area was approximately one octave (6kHz) above the highest frequency of the exposure noise (2.8kHz); it was a little wider than expected based on the noise spectrum.Consequently, since maximum hearing sensitivity is located around 8kHz in rats, low-frequency noise exposure can affect the cochlear regions detecting mid-range frequencies. Co-exposure to CS2 (250-ppm and over) and noise increased the extent of the damaged frequency window since a significant auditory deficit was measured at 9.6kHz in these conditions.Moreover, the significance at 9.6kHz increased with the solvent concentrations. Histological data showed that neither hair cells nor ganglion cells were damaged by CS2. This discrepancy between functional and histological data is discussed. Like most aromatic solvents, carbon disulfide should be considered as a key parameter in hearing conservation régulations.

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Some volatile aromatic solvents have similar or opposite effects to anesthetics in the central nervous system. Like for anesthetics, the mechanisms of action involved are currently the subject of debate. This paper presents an in vivo study to determine whether direct binding or effects on membrane fluidity best explain how solvents counterbalance anesthesia's depression of the middle-ear reflex (MER). Rats were anesthetized with a mixture of ketamine and xylazine while also exposed to solvent vapors (toluene, ethylbenzene, or one of the three xylene isomers) and the amplitude of their MER was monitored. The depth of anesthesia was standardized based on the magnitude of the contraction of the muscles involved in the MER, determined by measuring cubic distortion product oto-acoustic emissions (DPOAEs) while triggering the bilateral reflex with contralateral acoustic stimulation. The effects of the aromatic solvents were quantified based on variations in the amplitude of the DPOAEs. The amplitude of the alteration to the MER measured in anesthetized rats did not correlate with solvent lipophilocity (as indicated by logKow values). Results obtained with the three xylene isomers indicated that the positions of two methyl groups around the benzene ring played a determinant role in solvent/neuronal cell interaction. Additionally, Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra for brain microsomes confirmed that brain lipid fluidity was unaffected by solvent exposure, even after three days (6h/day) at an extremely high concentration (3000ppm). Therefore, aromatic solvents appear to act directly on the neuroreceptors involved in the acoustic reflex circuit, rather than on membrane fluidity. The affinity of this interaction is determined by stereospecific parameters rather than lipophilocity.

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INTRODUCTION: In human and veterinary medicine, the injectable drugs ketamine and xylazine are mainly used in combination to induce, and then maintain general anaesthesia; they also provide pain and stress relief. Some side-effects have been reported on the auditory brainstem response, a method is therefore required to determine their concentrations in the brain. METHODS: This paper presents a method to determine nanogramme quantities of ketamine and xylazine in rat brain using liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selective ion monitoring mode. The technique requires only 0.5 g of sample, and uses xylazine d6 as an internal standard. RESULTS: The method was linear between 0.86 and 34.4 µg/g of brain. Limits of quantification were 378 and 87 ng (approximately 0.76 and 0.17 µg/g of brain) for ketamine and xylazine, respectively. The reliability of the method in terms of accuracy, within-day and between-day precision was also demonstrated. For xylazine, bias and intra-day precision were good (<3.0%), as was between-day precision (<10.5%); the equivalent values for ketamine were 7%, 11.1% and 20.9%, respectively. Stability of the analytes in the matrix at -80 °C was assessed over five months; both compounds were found to be stable for at least 1 month, even at very low concentrations. The procedure was successfully applied to determine (for the first time) the in vivo brain levels of both drugs in animals following systemic administration. DISCUSSION: The procedure will be useful in future studies of the side-effects of these drugs, and their interactions with other compounds.

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