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Biomedical subjects

B Festy

Publications and source records attributed to B Festy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

[Influence of the running conditions of a diesel engine on the mutagenic effects of its emissions].

A direct exposure method to detect mutagenicity of car exhausts was applied to study the influence of the running conditions of a diesel engine functioning on an assay platform. Biological and physico-chemical approaches were carried out together to appreciate the quality of diesel emissions. Exhausts, emitted by a diesel engine (Renault, 2068 cm3) were sampled from a dilution tube connected to a constant volume sampler. Regulated pollutants (CO, NOx, HC and particles) and some non-regulated pollutants (monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAH) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aldehydes) were analysed when the engine ran at different operating conditions of load (full, 3/4, 2/4 and 1/4) and of engine speed (from 1000 to 4000 rev./min). The mutagenicity (Ames test) of diesel exhaust was assessed by a direct exposure method which does not need extraction of the particles. Bacteria are pre-seeded onto the agar plate and exposed directly to the diesel exhausts parallelly to the measurements of pollutants. The engine speed and the load influence the level, the composition and the induced mutagenicity of the diesel emissions and the results show that: when engine speed increases all the gaz phase indicators increase independently of the load, those of the particulate phase and mutagenicity increase at low load but decrease at full load; when load increase, all the indicators of both phases decrease except NOx which increases.

Carbon Monoxide↗
PubMed1993

Health effects of attending a public swimming pool: follow up of a cohort of pupils in Paris.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the health effects of attending a well-kept school swimming pool maintained according to French public health regulations. METHODS: This prospective month long study was carried out on a randomised sample of pupils aged 5 to 18 years who attended a private French school with two swimming pools. The children surveyed, helped by their parents, had to fill in questionnaires about their bathing habits and symptoms during the survey period. Inspections of the pool complex were made and these included physicochemical and bacteriological analyses of the pools' water. PARTICIPATION: The response rates achieved were 70% at primary and middle school levels but only 25% in the high school pupils. Because of this older teenagers were excluded from the final analysis (of 246 children). RESULTS: Compared with non-bathers, bathers experienced fatigue and eye irritation significantly more often (p < 0.001). The eyes were red (38% of bathers) and/or watery (16%) after swimming but this resolved spontaneously within 24 hours. Bathing behaviour (bath duration, head immersion, wearing swimming goggles) did not affect these incidence rates noticeably. There were no differences between bathers and non-bathers with regard to other symptoms, especially otolaryngological ones. This survey does not allow definite conclusions to be made about verrucas because 22% of non-bathers were exempted from swimming because of verrucas that they might have caught previously in a pool. CONCLUSIONS: Except for verrucas, the methodology was adequate and daily self reporting of symptoms was feasible. This college largely recruits pupils from higher social classes and is not therefore representative of schools in Paris.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Asthma, urban atmospheric pollution and the weather].

The aim of this study, which was carried out in an urban environment, was to research in to a possible relationship between temporal variations in the level of atmospheric pollution in the centre of Paris, compared to the frequency of acute dyspnoeic crises in which asthmatic patients had requested the emergency service (SOS Médecins). This study began in the first half of 1989; during this period there were 701 cases of acute asthma recorded within the Paris city boundary by "SOS Médecins". The pollutants recorded were sulphur dioxide (SO2), an index of black smoke (FN), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3) and soluble sulphate particles (SO4). In addition, the weather patterns were examined and pollen counts were recorded. In spite of a sub-acute episode of pollution in January and February, there was no definite increase noted in the number of emergency calls made for acute asthma. In the first three months, the number of crises were, on average, higher in association with high levels of the principal pollutants (SO2 FN, NOx, SO4) as well as with the periods of high atmospheric pressure; however, only the sulphate content and atmospheric pressure remained correlated with the daily number of asthmatic crises. In the second three months, there were some co-variations uniquely associated with sulphate particles, the atmospheric pressure, and above all the ozone level (allowing for a gap of one day). The influence of the daily variations in total pollen content or of grass pollens did not show up in this study.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Urban asthma and habitat].

This study examines in urban area the housing conditions in asthma patients who called a first-aid association of doctors (SOS Médecins) and their relationships to symptoms. The patient population is compared with the non asthmatic population who called SOS Medecins during the same period. During the first six months of 1989, among 102,791 calls, 701 were related to acute asthma symptoms, and 100 non asthma patients were sorted at random as a control group. A telephonic questionnary has been carried out to asthmatic patients and to control group. A particular aspect of asthma in Paris is given in this study: the homogeneous distribution of asthma attacks in the different districts of Paris, (with a light prevalence in three districts of the city). Sex, age, occupation were non discriminant and no significant difference was established in housing conditions and indoor air pollution sources, between the two groups of asthma and non-asthma patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Urban atmospheric pollution and mortality: analysis of epidemiological studies published between 1980 and 1991].

This paper analyses 14 epidemiologic investigations (published from January 1980 to September 1991) about the relationship between urban air pollution and mortality. Air pollution indicators and mortality indicators are examined. Methods to analyse the relationships between these two kinds of indicators are classified according as they bring "qualitative information" trying to answer the question: "is there any relationship between air pollution and mortality?" or according as they try to quantify this relationship. Results are presented by author. Confounding factors and means to take them into account are described. This paper ends by a discussion about interest and limits of these studies. It emphasizes the importance of the collaboration between metrologists of urban air pollution and epidemiologists.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1992

Structure-mutagenicity relationships in a series of indolo[3,2-c]quinoline-1,4-diones that have shown cytotoxic properties on leukemia cells.

A series of seven 6-methylindolo[3,2-c]quinoline-1,4-diones substituted either in the 2 position or in 3 position by various groups were examined for their ability to induce mutation in the Ames test at several concentrations in four strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA97, TA98, TA100, and TA102). First, relationships were established between their mutagenic activities and either the nature or the position of the substituent on the quinonic nucleus. Compounds substituted in the 2 position were less mutagenic than the 3 isomers. In the second study, the mutagenic properties were compared to the in vitro antitumor activity. Interestingly, some very cytotoxic quinones were only weak mutagens. So where the cytotoxicity is similar, the less mutagenic compounds may be suitable for clinical use as antitumor drugs, in order to avoid important side effects; the Ames test can then be used guide the selection of molecules for further in vivo antitumor screening. It can also be very helpful in selecting the best candidate molecules to be synthesized.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

[Health effects of chronic exposure to tobacco smoke on a non-smoker population].

A study devised to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to tobacco smoke on the health of a population of non-smokers was conducted in a prison. Fourteen volunteers among male, non-smoking prisoners in good health and without history of lung disease were put for thirty days in a cell that was already occupied by three smokers. These subjects were examined on arrival and on the 30th day of their imprisonment. The examination included filling a questionnaire concerning daily habits and food, respiratory function tests, measurement of CO in the expired air, measurement of nicotine, cotinine, thiocyanates and cadmium concentrations in blood and in urine, and measurement of mutagenic substances excreted. The purpose of the study was to detect possible changes in the variables tested between the first and last days of confinement. No significant difference could be demonstrated within this lapse of time. These results are in agreement with the data available in the literature. In the present state of our knowledge, it is difficult to find evidence of a biological impact, notably on the concentrations of the specific indicators nicotine and cotinine, in subjects passively exposed to tobacco smoke.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Structure-activity relationships of a series of antitumoral 5,8-quinazolinediones in mutagenicity studies.

Four antitumoral 5,8-quinazolinediones were examined for their ability to induce mutation in Salmonella typhimurium. Each compound was tested at several concentrations in 4 strains. Relationships were established between the structure of the quinones and their mutagenic activities. The mutagenicity was influenced by (i) the nature of the substituent(s) of the quinonic moiety: the methoxyquinone had no mutagenic properties and the aziridinylquinones were mutagenic in the 4 strains with or without activation by S9 mix; (ii) the presence or the absence of a diaminopolymethylenic chain in the 4 position; (iii) the monomeric or the dimeric structure of the tested compound. Interestingly, the data indicated that the aziridinylquinazolinedione bearing the dimethylaminopropylamino chain in the 4 position was less mutagenic and had greater antitumor activity than the dimeric quinone.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1991

[Mutagenic activity of the condensates from thermal decomposition of different polyamides].

The mutagenic activity of the condensates from oxydative pyrolysis of various polyamides at 500, 800 and 1,000 degrees C has been searched for by AMES preincubation test in strains TA 98 and TA 100 with or without metabolic activation by an Aroclor 1254 induced rat liver microsomal S9mix fraction. All condensates are mutagenic in the presence of this fraction and most of them are far less or not mutagenic in the absence of S9mix. Strain TA 98 is more sensitive than strain TA 100 for detecting the mutagenic activity of these condensates. So, they mainly contain indirect mutagenic substances responsible for frameshift mutation. In all cases, mutagenic activity is maximum at 800 degrees C. This observation should draw the attention upon the genotoxic (carcinogenic) long term risk induced by thermal decomposition of plastics and then upon the necessary protection of firemen and others in charge of domestic or hospital solid waste incineration.

Differential Thermal Analysis↗
PubMed1991

[Current data on atmospheric pollutions].

Atmospheric pollutions (AP) are very important for human health and ecological equilibrium. They may be natural or anthropogenic and in this later case they can appear outdoor or indoor. Urban air pollution is the most known form of AP. Its main sources are industries, individual and collective heating and now mainly automobile traffic in most cities. Classical AP indicators are SO2, particles, NOx, CO and Pb measured in networks. Important factors of AP are amounts of pollutants emitted and local climatic and meteorological characteristics. Health effects of AP peaks and of AP background levels are not well known. But generally, mean AP levels of SO2 and particles decreased in the last years in most towns as the consequence of collective actions on the three main sources of AP and on fuels, emission and immission levels; but more is wanted about motor-cars. Progress are necessary for limitation of three major ecological risks: "acid-rain" (SO2 and NOx derivatives, ozone,...) which participates in lake and forest attacks; "green house" effects whose air CO2 concentration increase is the main responsible, and stratospheric ozone depletion mainly due to freons (CFC); the consequences of these two last phenomena are not well known but ecological and health risk exist. Besides, indoor air pollution (IAP) is very important because we live more than 20 h a day indoor. IAP may be occupational (a lot of chemical or biological agents) or not. In the later case air pollutants are very various: CO, NOx and particles from heating or cooking, formaldehyde from wood glue, plywood or urea-formol foams, radon and derivatives in some granitic countries, odd jobs products, cosmetics, aero-allergens of chemical or biological origins, microbes,... Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is also an important pollutant complex. Risks of IAP are real or potential: acute risk is obvious for CO, aero-allergens, formaldehyde, NOx,...); irritations are produced by ETS, formaldehyde, solvants,...; long term or potential risks are of concern for asbest, radon,... A complex and bad known pathology is described in a lot of modern buildings as the "Sick Building Syndrom". Indoor air quality is very dependant of the quality of ventilation and possible air treatment. It may be considered in all urban epidemiological studies about air pollution.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1991

[Some aspects of the management of house-hold refuse].

Each day the average Frenchman produces near 1 kg of HHR, mainly paper and cardboard, vegetal and animal putrescible residues, glass, plastics, metals, ashes,... giving four important linked fractions of recyclable, biodegradable, combustible and inert matters. Production and precollection of HHR are of direct concern for the user, mainly in the collective housing; but the rubbish chute acts as a brake to the selective collection of HHR, which is one aspect of the valorization process of HHR, growing up in France. Three other treatments are used: combustion in plants with or without energy recovery, biological degradation of HHR as a compost used in agriculture, and dumping on or in the ground. All of them have advantages and disadvantages and then they must be used in complement of each other. The treatment units have some pollution effects on the environment and must be watched. Treatment refuses and solid, liquid or gaseous pollutants must be managed as much as HHR themselves. Three examples of collection-treatment-elimination french units are briefly described in Dunkerque (a mean town with selective collection), Bourgneuf-en-Mauges (a rural country with biological treatment and dumping) and Paris (a big town with a new incineration plan). Then the state of the management of HHR in France in 1989 is described with special attention to collection (99.4% of the population), recovery of glass (25%) and paper-cardboard (42%) and authorized treatment (94%) as dumping (43%), incineration (40.5%) and biological (7.5%). Accent is made about the importance of prevention (decrease of refuse production, way of consumption and life style, education of the masses) and of a good management of the HHR and of their treatment refuses and pollutants to limit environmental degradation.

France↗
PubMed1990

Influence of environmental lead on membrane ion transport in a French urban male population.

Red cell cation transports (Na(+)-K+ pump, Na(+)-K+ cotransport system, Na(+)-Li+ countertransport, and Na+ and K+ passive permeabilities) and blood and hair lead levels were measured in 129 healthy adult Caucasians not occupationally exposed to lead. In agreement with previously reported in vitro results showing a lead-induced Na(+)-K+ ATPase inhibition, Na(+)-K+ pump activity was inversely correlated with hair lead (r = -0.18, P less than 0.05); it was not significantly correlated with blood lead. Na(+)-K+ cotransport activity was inversely correlated with blood lead contents (r = -0.23, P less than 0.05) but not with hair lead. No significant correlation was found between the remaining cation transport pathways and lead levels. It is hypothesized that environmental, long-term exposure to lead may result in pump inhibition, while a recent exposition to lead may result in inhibition of the Na(+)-K+ cotransport system. Further research is required in order to determine if red cell Na(+)-K+ pump and Na(+)-K+ cotransport activities are sensitive indicators of chronic and recent exposures to lead, respectively.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Toxicity of ethylene oxide on the lens and on leukocytes: an epidemiological study in hospital sterilisation installations.

An epidemiological study was conducted in 55 subjects (mean age: 41) in hospitals to determine the prevalence of lens opacities and cataracts in workers exposed to ethylene oxide in six sterilisation units. The 21 exposed subjects over 45 were then compared with 16 non-exposed subjects, matched for age and sex. The relation between occupational exposure to ethylene oxide and white blood cell concentrations was also investigated. Lens opacities (independently of visual acuity) were observed in 19 of the 55 exposed. Among both exposed and non-exposed aged over 45, there were no significant differences with regard to the characteristics of lens opacities--prevalence (19 in the 21 exposed; 10 in the 16 non-exposed), distribution of the location, and importance and type (opalescence or discontinuous opacities). No link was found between the characteristics of the lens opacities and the characteristics of exposure: habitual exposure, measured between 0.06 and 39 ppm (cumulated in ppm-number of weekly hours-years) and accidental over-exposures (regular and irregular). For cataracts, defined by the association of lens opacities and a visual acuity less than 20/25 (this loss not being attributable to another cause), their prevalence differed significantly (p less than 0.05) between the exposed (six of 21) and the non-exposed (0 of 16); there was no relation between their existence and overexposures (the analysis for habitual exposure was not possible because of the small size of the sample). The risk of lens opacifications by ethylene oxide in cases of massive exposures as previously described could also exist during chronic exposure to low concentrations. It could be explained by saturation of protective mechanisms against alkylating action of this product. Linear relations were found between the logarithms of blood concentrations of polymorphoneutrophils (R=-0.54; p<0.005) and of lymphocytes (R=-0.45;p<0.05).

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Toxicity of ethylene oxide on the crystalline lense in an occupational milieu. Difficulty of epidemiologic surveys of cataract].

Ethylene oxide is a sterilizing gas for heat-sensitive materials. Eight cases of subcapsular cataract were attributed to this compound from 1982 to 1985. This epidemiological study was conducted in 55 persons to determine the prevalence of lens opacities and cataracts in workers exposed to this gas. The 21 persons of more than 45 years of age were then compared to 16 non-exposed persons matched for age and gender. Lens opacities (independently of visual acuity) were observed in 19 of the 55 exposed. Among exposed and non-exposed persons of more than 45 years of age, there were no significantly differences with regard to the following characteristics of lens opacities: prevalence (13 in the 21 exposed; 10 in the 16 non-exposed), distribution of the localisations, morphology and importance of the cortical opacities. No link was found between the characteristics of the lens opacities and the characteristics of the exposure: habitual exposure and accidental overexposures. For cataracts, defined by the association of lens opacities and a visual acuity less than 20/25 (this loss not being attributable to another cause), their prevalence differed significantly (p less than 0.05) between the exposed (6 of 21) and the non-exposed (0 of 16). There was no relation between their existence and accidental overexposures. The risk of lens opacification by ethylene oxide, established in cases of massive exposures as previously described, could also exist during chronic exposure to low concentrations, but is to be confirmed by other studies. It could be explained by saturation of the protective mechanisms against alkylating action of this product. This study prompted us to discuss the epidemiological difficulties in studies of cataracts.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Mutagenic activity of organic esters are likely to form from bromo-2 ethanol generated during fumigation using ethylene oxide].

The mutagenic potencies of 13 bromoethyl esters of natural organic acids, have been studied, by Ames's test (strains TA 98 and TA 100, with and without system of metabolisation, S9 mix). None of the 8 bromoethyl esters of linoleic, oleic, palmitic, stearic, lauric, myristic, cinnamic and fumaric acids is genotoxic. On the other hand the 5 others derived from gallic, oxalic, tartric acids (strain TA 100 with and without S9 mix), malic and citric acids (strain TA 100 with S9 mix) are mutagenic, the ester of gallic acid giving still a doubtful mutagenic response; their mutagenic potencies are 2 to 3 times smaller than that of bromo-2 ethanol. This observation, complemently with the mutagenicity of some organic esters of the chloro-2 ethanol, proves the potential danger of ethylene oxide used for the fumigation of foods or vegetables and medicinal plants containing much chloride and/or bromide.

Carboxylic Acids↗
PubMed1988

Genotoxicity of organic extracts from atmospheric particles.

Experiments to evaluate the genotoxic potentialities of urban air particles sampled in Paris (France) after organic solvent extraction have been carried out using four in vitro genotoxicity tests. The two bacterial tests (the Ames test and the SOS Chromotest) demonstrate the genotoxicity of the organic extracts of atmospheric particles; two additional tests (induction of 6-thioguanine mutants and sister chromatid exchanges), carried out on V79 Chinese hamster cells, also confirm these potentialities. These results show clearly that particulate organic extracts induce point mutations in both bacteria and mammalian cells, or the cellular response (SOS repair) to these mutations in bacteria; likewise, they are responsible for clastogenic effects in mammalian cells. Genotoxicity is due either to direct genotoxic chemicals or to active metabolic products of the action of microsomal enzymes. The optimalization of testing procedures is discussed in order to appreciate the contribution of genotoxicity tests to the study of atmospheric pollution.

Air Pollution↗