Lead is one of the most clinically important heavy metals, because it induces a broad range of physiological, biochemical, and genetical dysfunctions. Occupational exposure to lead leads to increased frequency of genetic system in human beings. In the present study the DNA damage among the workers occupationally exposed to lead was analyzed using peripheral blood lymphocyte by comet assay. The ...

Despite evidence of contamination in Antarctic coastal marine environments, no water-quality guidelines have been established for the region because of a paucity of biological effects data for local Antarctic species. Currently, there is limited information on the sensitivity of Antarctic microalgae to metal contamination, which is exacerbated by the lack of standard toxicity testing protocols ...

IntroductionMaterials & MethodsChemicalsGreen mussel collection and preparation of tissue homogenatesGreen mussel tissue extraction and human cell-based bioassayPOPs and heavy metal analysisData analysisResultsEndocrine activities of the mussel samplesBiological parameters and contaminant levels in green musselsStatistical analysisDiscussionSe...

Plant species act as natural bioindicators of atmospheric pollutants. Plants can be used as bioassay systems for monitoring atmospheric pollutants. Plant injury symptoms, altered growth and reproductive pattern, changes in yield and/or productivity, and changes in species distribution can be used singly or in combination as monitoring devices. The results must be accepted as semiquantitative, b...

In situ bioassays are becoming very popular for laboratory test validation and field extrapolation. Natural conditions, including environmental variables, affect the "behavior" of contaminants and, consequently, their toxicity. This work aimed to develop protocols for in situ chronic bioassays with cladocerans and to assess the ecological relevance of conventional protocols for laboratory testi...

A new method that utilizes the scattering of polarized light from a suspension of bacteria to assay the effect of toxins is evaluated. The method compares the time dependence of changes in an angular scattering pattern obtained from a suspension of Escherichia coli bacteria with no toxin exposure to the corresponding, but reduced, changes that occur when there is exposure to a small concentrati...

Human exposure to toxic metals is a concern of the highest priority, due to their vast array of biological effects, including carcinogenicity. The particulate (water insoluble) form of several heavy metals presents a higher carcinogenic potential than its soluble counterparts. Our previous work demonstrates that the particulate forms of different heavy metals, such as nickel oxide, cadmium sulf...

The bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Zn, and Pb from two metal-contaminated sediments (Bidassoa and Dunkerque) was studied using Crassostrea gigas larvae exposed to sediment elutriates. The metal contents within the sediments, the larvae and larval growth, the condition index, and the induction of metallothionein in the larvae were measured. The larval growth and condition index were only affected af...

testosterone level was determined in six different populations of iran using saliva steroid assay. significant difference was observed in morning and afternoon testosterone level of the same individual (p>0.00l) significant difference was also noticed among different regions studied (p>0.00 1). comparisons between alcoholics and nonalcoholic as well as smokers and nonsmokers showed significant ...