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PubMed1996

Clinical and hematologic effects of hydroxyurea in children with sickle cell anemia.

PURPOSE: This open-label pilot study was designed (1) to determine the effect of hydroxyurea on the hemoglobin level in children with sickle cell anemia, (2) to evaluate the toxicity of hydroxyurea, and (3) to assess any impact of hydroxyurea on the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten children (group 1) with three or more VOCs of the extremities or two or more VOCs of the lungs (acute chest syndrome) in the preceding 12 months, and five children (group 2) with hemoglobin levels less than 70 gm/L were treated with hydroxyurea in doses of 20 to 35 mg/kg per day. The frequency of VOCs before hydroxyurea therapy was compared with the frequency during therapy, and the peak hemoglobin levels during hydroxyurea therapy were compared with the pretreatment values. RESULTS: One patient in group 1 was removed from the study within 1 month because of nausea. Seven of the remaining nine patients in group 1 had a decrease in the frequency of VOCs. The number of VOCs per patient-year for all 14 patients decreased from 2.5 before hydroxyurea therapy to 0.87 during hydroxyurea therapy, a decrease of 65% (p < 0.00001). Two of five patients in group 2 had an increase in hemoglobin of 27 gm/L and 34 gm/L over the baseline. The median rise in hemoglobin was 19 gm/L (range, 7 to 37) for all 14 patients. Nine patients are still receiving hydroxyurea for a median period of 23 months (range, 18 to 59). CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyurea decreases the severity of anemia in some patients, and it may decrease the frequency of VOC. Its short-term hematologic toxicity is minimal.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Characterization of ambient volatile organic compounds at a landfill site in Guangzhou, South China.

Ambient air monitoring was conducted at Datianshan landfill, Guangzhou, South China in 1998 to investigate the seasonal and horizontal variations of trace volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Twelve sampling points over the Datianshan landfill were selected and samples were collected simultaneously using Carbontrap(TM) adsorption tubes. Thirty eight VOCs were detected in the winter, whereas 60 were detected in the summer. The VOC levels measured in summer were alkanes, 0.5-6.5 microg/m(3); aromatics, 2.3-1667 microg/m(3); chlorinated species, 0.2-31 microg/m(3); terpines, 0.1-34 microg/m(3); carbonyl species, 0.3-5.6 microg/m(3) and naphthalene and its derivatives, 0.4-27 microg/m(3). Compared to the summer samples the VOC levels in winter were much lower (mostly 1-2 orders of magnitude lower). The aromatics are dominant VOCs in landfill air both in winter and summer. High levels of alkylbenzene and terpines such as methyl-isopropylbenzene (max 1667 microg/m(3)) and limonene (max 162 microg/m(3)) cause undesirable odor. The similar correlation coefficients of BTEX in summer and winter suggest VOCs emissions were from landfill site sources. The variation of BTEX ratio at landfill site is different from that in the urban area of Guangzhou. It shows that the ambient VOCs at landfill site were different from the urban areas.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1999

Variation in volatile organic compounds in the breath of normal humans.

We studied the variation in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the breath of 50 normal humans, using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. An average breath sample contained 204.2 VOCs (SD=19.8, range 157-241). The alveolar gradient of each VOC (abundance in breath minus abundance in air) varied with rate of synthesis minus rate of clearance. A total of 3481 different VOCs were observed: 1753 with positive alveolar gradients, 1728 with negative alveolar gradients. Twenty-seven VOCs were observed in all fifty subjects. This study confirmed previous reports of wide inter-individual variations. Two new findings were the comparatively small variation in total number of breath VOCs, and the presence of a 'common core' of breath VOCs in all subjects.

Breath Tests↗

PubMed2002

Microwave-assisted generation of standard gas mixtures.

Microwave heating was employed for preparation of the standard gas of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semivolatile organic compounds (semi-VOCs) by using a 1000 W commercial domestic microwave oven and 1 L gas-sampling bulbs. The VOCs investigated were benzene, chloroform, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, and 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and the semi-VOCs used were the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) PCB 1016 and PCB 1248. Since these weakly or nonpolar molecules are very poor absorbers of microwave energy, an appropriate amount of water was introduced to accept microwave radiation and act as the thermal source to accelerate their evaporation. The glass bulb may also contribute thermal energy to the VOCs/semi-VOCs by accepting microwave energy to a small degree. For 0.5 microL of liquid VOCs on 10 mg of glass wool, it was shown that 15 microL of H2O and 60 s of microwave heating yielded a very efficient evaporation [97.2-106.4%, compared with a classic method (Muller, L; Gorecki, T.; Pawliszyn, J. Fresenius' J. Anal. Chem. 1999, 364, 610-616)]. For 1 microL of PCB solution (1000 microg/mL in hexane), 15 microL of H2O and 90 s of microwave heating also provided a complete evaporation. The addition of water was particularly significant for microwave-assisted evaporation of PCBs because semi-VOCs are much more difficult to evaporate than VOCs. This developed microwave technique proved to be quite simple, powerful, rapid, accurate, and safe for the preparation of VOC/semi-VOC standard gas. Solid- phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography was used for the gas analysis.

Air Pollution↗

PubMed2001

Gaseous transport of volatile organic chemicals in unsaturated porous media: effect of water-partitioning and air-water interfacial adsorption.

Laboratory experiments were conducted employing gas chromatographic techniques to evaluate the gaseous transport of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in water-unsaturated soil columns as influenced by interfacial (air-water) adsorption and water partitioning. VOCs [methylene chloride, tetrachloroethene (PCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), ethyl-benzene, p-xylene, chlorobenzene] with different water-partitioning and interfacial adsorption coefficients (air-water) were used to evaluate the theoretical basis of using these coefficients to predict the retardation factors (Rt) observed during gaseous transport. A loamy sand from Dover Air Force Base, DE, and a commercial sand were used as the column packing material to assess the effect of grain size on the air-water interfacial area (ai) and retardation at different water saturations (Sw). The ai were measured using n-alkanes. At low Sw, interfacial adsorption contributed most to the retardation for all VOCs during gaseous transport in the Dover soil which has little sorption capacity for the VOCs. As Sw increased, the fraction of Rt attributed to interfacial adsorption decreased, while that due to water partitioning increased for all of the VOCs used for this study. For the sand, with a more uniform grain-size distribution than the Dover soil, the contribution of air-water interfacial adsorption to the Rt of a VOC (p-xylene) was not as significant as that for the Dover soil due to small ai. The fractions of Rt attributed to interfacial adsorption and water partitioning were quantified. The observed Rt for the VOCs agreed well with those predicted based on the sorption coefficients and the quantities of sorption domains (Sw, ai).

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Treatment of volatile organic chemicals on the EPA Contaminant Candidate List using ozonation and the O3/H2O2 advanced oxidation process.

Seven volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) on the EPA Contaminant Candidate List together with 1,1-dichloropropane were studied for their reaction kinetics and mechanisms with ozone and OH radicals during ozonation and the ozone/ hydrogen peroxide advanced oxidation process (O3/H2O2 AOP) using batch reactors. The three aromatic VOCs demonstrated high reactivity during ozonation and were eliminated within minutes after ozone addition. The high reactivity is attributed to their fast, indirect OH radical reactions with k(OH,M) of (5.3-6.6) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). Rates of aromatic VOC degradation are in the order 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene > p-cymene > bromobenzene. This order is caused by the selectivity of the direct ozone reactions (k(O3,M) ranges from 0.16 to 304 M(-1) s(-1)) and appears to be related to the electron-donating or -withdrawing ability of the substituent groups on the aromatic ring. The removal rates for the five aliphatic VOCs are much lower and are in the order 1,1-dichloropropane > 1,3-dichloropropane > 1,1-dichloroethane > 2,2-dichloropropane > 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. The second-order indirect rate constants for the aliphatic VOCs range from 0.52 x 10(8) to 5.5 x 10(8) M(-1) s(-1). The relative stability of the carbon-centered intermediates seems to be related to the relative reactivity of the aliphatic VOCs with OH radicals. Except for 1,3-dichloropropane, ozonation and the O3/H2O2 AOP are not effective for the removal of other aliphatic VOCs. Bromide formation during the ozonation of bromobenzene indicates that bromate can be formed, and thus, ozonation and O3/H2O2 AOP may not be suitable for the treatment of bromobenzene.

Hydrocarbons↗

PubMed2004

A detailed study of the vapochromic Behavior of [Tl[Au(C6Cl5)2]]n.

The linear-chain polymer [Tl[Au(C(6)Cl(5))(2)]](n), 1, reacts in the solid state and in solution with different volatile organic compounds such as tetrahydrofuran, acetone, tetrahydrothiophene, 2-fluoropyridine, acetonitrile, acetylacetone, and pyridine. Solid-state exposure of 1 to vapors of the above VOCs produces a selective and reversible change in its color that is perceptible to the human eye and even deeper under UV irradiation, allowing 1 to function as a sensor for these VOCs. Heating the samples exposed to the VOCs for a few minutes at 100 degrees C regenerates the original material without degradation, even after several exposure/heating cycles. The reversibility is further confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction measurements of complex 1 before and after exposure to vapors and again after heating the samples. The products obtained by reactions of complex 1 with the above VOCs as ligands in solution contain extended linear chains of alternating gold and thallium centers with two molecules of the organic ligands attached to each thallium atom. The stoichiometry of these materials has been confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction as [Tl(THF)(2)[Au(C(6)Cl(5))(2)]](n), 3, and [Tl(acacH)(2)[Au(C(6)Cl(5))(2)]](n), 5. Comparison of FT-IR, UV-vis, and luminescence spectra at room temperature and at 77 K of the solid samples of complexes 2-9 with the spectra of complex 1 after its exposure to VOCs suggests interaction occurs between the organic VOCs and thallium in each case. Thermogravimetric analyses data indicate that all the thallium centers in these derivatives of complex 1 are neither fully nor equally coordinatively saturated. The materials formed appear to be intermediates between complex 1 with no VOCs attached and complexes 3-9 which contain two organic ligands coordinated to each thallium. A crystal structure analyses of one of these intermediates, [Tl(THF)(0.5)[Au(C(6)Cl(5))(2)]](n), 1.0.5THF, confirms this. Density functional calculations are in accord with the observed experimental results. Analysis reveals a substantial participation of the metal atoms in transitions that give rise to the observed emissions. Crystallographic data are as follows. For 1.0.5THF: triclinic, P1, a = 8.9296(1) A, b = 11.2457(1) A, c = 21.2465(3) A, alpha = 96.7187(7) degrees, beta = 92.5886(6) degrees, gamma = 98.5911(8) degrees, V = 2090.87(4) A(3), and Z = 2. For 3: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 26.4163(6) A, b = 12.1619(2) A, c = 28.0813(6) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 161.9823(6) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V = 2790.51(10) A(3), and Z = 4. For 5: monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 9.8654(2) A, b = 29.8570(5) A, c = 11.6067(2) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 114.5931(6) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, V = 3108.64(10) A(3), and Z = 4.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the passenger side and the back seat of automobiles.

The in-vehicle volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations during commutes have previously been measured in only one single interior sampling location, considering a sample collected in the single interior location as representative of overall VOC concentrations within an automobile. The present study evaluated if the potential differences in VOC concentrations occur in the automobiles' interior during idling and commuting under different driving conditions associated with the use of air cleaning devices (ACDs) and interior fan. The experiments were conducted under the low ventilation condition with the windows and the vent closed and the fan off. The difference of VOC concentrations between passenger side and back seat during idling was small. The variability of VOC concentrations with location inside automobiles while commuting was not significant at p < 0.05, regardless of the use of ACDs and/or the interior fan, while inter-vehicle variability was significant at p < 0.05. In addition, currently available ACDs equipped with activated carbon filters in Korea were ineffective at removing VOCs from the interior of automobiles. The concentrations of the two lightest ones of the target compounds, benzene and toluene, were significantly higher inside two vehicles than in the roadway air at p < 0.05, while the in-vehicle and roadway concentrations of the other target compounds did not differ significantly at p < 0.05 for both vehicles. The concentrations of all target VOCs, except benzene, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the interior of older car than of newer car. Median in-vehicle concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, and o-xylene were 38.3, 107, 9.2, 7.8, 16.9, and 10.7 micrograms/m3, respectively.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

PubMed2003

Measurement of volatile organic compounds inside automobiles.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the types and concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the passenger cabin of selected sedan automobiles under static (parked, unventilated) and specified conditions of operation (i.e., driving the vehicle using air conditioning alone, vent mode alone, or driver's window half open). Data were collected on five different passenger sedan vehicles from three major automobile manufacturers. Airborne concentrations were assessed using 90-min time-weighted average (TWA) samples under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Method IP-1B to assess individual VOC compounds and total VOCs (TVOCs) calibrated to toluene. Static vehicle testing demonstrated TVOC levels of approximately 400-800 microg/m(3) at warm interior vehicle temperatures (approximately 80 degrees F), whereas TVOCs at least fivefold higher were observed under extreme heat conditions (e.g., up to 145 degrees F). The profile of most prevalent individual VOC compounds varied considerably according to vehicle brand, age, and interior temperature tested, with predominant compounds including styrene, toluene, and 8- to 12-carbon VOCs. TVOC levels under varied operating conditions (and ventilation) were generally four- to eightfold lower (at approximately 50-160 microg/m(3)) than the static vehicle measurements under warm conditions, with the lowest measured levels generally observed in the trials with the driver's window half open. These data indicate that while relatively high concentrations of certain VOCs can be measured inside static vehicles under extreme heat conditions, normal modes of operation rapidly reduce the inside-vehicle VOC concentrations even when the air conditioning is set on recirculation mode.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of low nanogram/millilitre levels of volatile organic compounds in on-purpose and by-product hydrochloric acids.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is used in the food industry as a processing aid in the manufacture of certain foods. HCl is manufactured, either directly from inorganic sources, i.e. "on-purpose' or indirectly as a by-product from the production of organic compounds generally intended for non-food applications. By-product HCl potentially may contain traces of the manufactured product, its precursors, and other reaction by-products. Many of the potential contaminants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as vinyl chloride and benzene. A study was conducted to determine whether there were differences between the levels of VOCs found in HCl samples collected from two on-purpose HCl manufacturers and two by-product HCl manufacturers. Process water used to manufacture the HCl also was analysed. Twenty-nine VOCs were determined by purge- and-trap concentration and capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Of these, nine were found in the process water and in both the by-product and on-purpose HCl samples at total VOC levels of less than 116 ng/ml. The levels of total VOCs identified in the two on-purpose HCl samples were 58 and 80 ng/ml; the levels of total VOCs identified in the two by-product samples were 41 and 115 ng/ml. The process water appeared to be the source of most of the contaminants. These results show that the levels of VOCs found in the two types of acid are comparable.

Food Handling↗

PubMed2003

Arterialization of venous blood for differentiation of sickle cell subjects in vaso-occlusive crisis.

These studies were designed as two experiments. Experiment 1 was performed to validate the hypothesis that oxygen saturation of the venous blood may be a marker for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in sickle cell patients undergoing hydroxyurea (HU) treatments. Experiment 2 was performed to test the hypothesis that an acute increase in the blood nitric oxide (NO) concentration by administering HU modulates the perception of pain in sickle cell subjects in VOC. The percent saturations of oxyhemoglobin (%O 2 Hb), reduced hemoblogin (%RHb), carboxy-hemoglobin (%COHb), met-hemoglobin (%MHb), fetal hemoglobin (HbF), and nitric oxide metabolites were measured in venous blood samples collected from sickle cell disease (SCD) who were on and off HU and O 2 at steady state and during VOC. The results showed the ratio of %O 2 Hb/RHb in VOC+HU was significantly higher than patients in the steady state who were on and off of HU (p<0.05). The %COHb was higher in all SCD groups, %COHb values were significantly different in SCD at steady state who were on HU. HU and O 2 treatment did not play important role on venous blood %O 2 Hb and pain scores in SCD during VOC. A single oral dose of HU was associated with a significant increase in the venous concentration of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), p<0.05. These findings suggest that the ratio %O 2 Hb/RHb in venous blood and pain scores differentiate HU-untreated and HU-treated at steady state subjects from HU-treated subjects in VOC; however, the acute increase in venous NOx produced by administering HU to HU-treated subjects in VOC does not explain this difference.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Landfill gas effects on groundwater samples at a municipal solid waste facility.

A study was performed to determine the source of low concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) detected in groundwater samples at a solid waste management facility. The affected wells were identified as hydraulically upgradient of an old unlined facility, but downgradient of a new clay-lined landfill. These monitoring wells are close to both sites. Subsurface landfill gas migration was identified after a low permeability cap was installed on the older site. Subsurface gas pressure was monitored to identify horizontal landfill gas migration. Monitoring well headspace gases were evaluated to identify depressed oxygen concentrations and methane because of landfill gas migration into the well. Monitoring well headspace gas VOC concentrations were compared to groundwater VOC concentrations to determine the direction of phase transfer. A ratio above 1.0 of the observed well headspace gas concentration of a VOC to the concentration that would be in equilibrium with the groundwater concentration indicates gas-to-water phase transfer within the well. For the major gas-phase and aqueous-phase VOC, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, gas-to-water phase transfer is clearly indicated from the data for two of the four wells. Fifteen other VOCs were detected in monitoring well headspace gases but not in groundwater samples from the four wells studied. Only one compound in one well was detected in the groundwater sample but not in the headspace gases, and only one compound in one well was detected in both matrices at concentrations that suggested water-to-gas phase transfer. This study suggests that if landfill gas is suspected as the source of detected VOCs, monitoring well construction and stratigraphy are important considerations when attempting to differentiate between groundwater contamination by landfill gas and contamination from other sources.

Environmental Monitoring↗

PubMed1998

Characterization of emissions of volatile organic compounds from interior alkyd paint.

Alkyd paint continues to be used indoors for application to wood trim, cabinet surfaces, and some kitchen and bathroom walls. Alkyd paint may represent a significant source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indoors because of the frequency of use and amount of surface painted. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting research to characterize VOC emissions from paint and to develop source emission models that can be used for exposure assessment and risk management. The technical approach for this research involves both analysis of the liquid paint to identify and quantify the VOC contents and dynamic small chamber emissions tests to characterize the VOC emissions after application. The predominant constituents of the primer and two alkyd paints selected for testing were straight-chain alkanes (C9-C12); C8-C9 aromatics were minor constituents. Branched chain alkanes were the predominant VOCs in a third paint. A series of tests were performed to evaluate factors that may affect emissions following application of the coatings. The type of substrate (glass, wallboard, or pine board) did not have a substantial impact on the emissions with respect to peak concentrations, the emissions profile, or the amount of VOC mass emitted from the paint. Peak concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) as high as 10,000 mg/m3 were measured during small chamber emissions tests at 0.5 air exchanges per hour (ACH). Over 90% of the VOCs were emitted from the primer and paints during the first 10 hr following application. Emissions were similar from paint applied to bare pine board, a primed board, or a board previously painted with the same paint. The impact of other variable, including film thickness, air velocity at the surface, and air-exchange rate (AER) were consistent with theoretical predictions for gas-phase, mass transfer-controlled emissions. In addition to the alkanes and aromatics, aldehydes were detected in the emissions during paint drying. Hexanal, the predominant aldehyde in the emissions, was not detected in the liquid paint and was apparently an oxidation product formed during drying. This paper summarizes the results of the product analyses and a series of small chamber emissions tests. It also describes the use of a mass balance approach to evaluate the impact of test variables and to assess the quality of the emissions data.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗

PubMed2003

The effect of reformulated gasoline on ambient carbon monoxide concentrations in southeastern Wisconsin.

Reformulated gasoline (RFG) contains oxygen additives such as methyl tertiary butyl ether or ethanol. The additives enable vehicles to burn fuel with a higher air/fuel ratio, thereby lowering the emission of carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Because VOCs react with sunlight to form ozone (O3), the Clean Air Act requires severe O3 nonattainment areas such as southeastern Wisconsin to use RFG. On July 17, 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Milwaukee, WI, and Chicago, IL, a waiver from the VOC reduction requirement of Phase II RFG. The VOC reduction requirement was lowered from 27.4% of the 1990 baseline fuel to 25.4%. The assumption was that ethanol-blended RFG would lower summertime CO concentrations sufficiently to offset the increased VOC emissions. The waiver is estimated to increase VOC emissions by approximately 0.8%, or 0.4 t of VOC on a hot summer weekday. This study evaluates whether RFG has been effective in lowering southeastern Wisconsin ambient CO concentrations. Three years of ambient CO data before RFG was introduced were compared with the first three years of ambient CO data after RFG was introduced. This paper also evaluates how the meteorology, vehicle inspection/maintenance program, vehicle miles traveled, and stationary source emissions influence CO concentrations. The winter decrease in ambient CO concentrations was found to be statistically significant, while the summer data showed no statistically significant change, indicating that RFG is most effective lowering ambient CO concentrations in cold weather.

Air Pollution↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Patterns of arginine and nitric oxide in patients with sickle cell disease with vaso-occlusive crisis and acute chest syndrome.

PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate L-arginine and nitric oxide metabolite (NOx) levels in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) at steady-state and during vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). Because alterations in nitric oxide production may have an important role in the pathophysiology of SCD, our second aim was to determine if a relationship exists between these levels and vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Plasma L-arginine and serum NOx levels were examined in 36 patients with SCD with 39 episodes of VOC and 10 children with SCD at steady-state. Daily levels were obtained in children requiring hospitalization. RESULTS: Steady-state L-arginine levels were normal in children with SCD. L-arginine levels were low, however, in children with VOC (37.4 +/- 2.7 vs. 53.6 +/- 4.6 micromol/L; P = 0.008) but returned to baseline during hospitalization. In contrast, NOx levels were normal at presentation but decreased during hospitalization for both patients with VOC and patients with acute chest syndrome (ACS) (21.1 +/- 2.0, 17.4 +/- 2.4, and 12.3 +/- 1.6 micromol/L, respectively; P < 0.05). In the patients with VOC who had ACS develop, L-arginine decreased to the lowest levels at the time of the ACS diagnosis, correlating with decreasing NOx levels. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that there may be a relationship between the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and vaso-occlusion in SCD. Low arginine levels during VOC could reflect a state of acute substrate depletion that results in a decrease in nitric oxide production.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2006

Reduced levels of volatile emissions in jasmonate-deficient spr2 tomato mutants favour oviposition by insect herbivores.

Tomato plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) following insect or mechanical damage. In this study, the constitutive and wound-induced emission levels of VOCs in suppressor of prosystemin-mediated responses2 (spr2) mutant plants, compromised in linolenic acid (LA) and jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis, and in 35S::prosystemin (35S::prosys) plants, having upregulated direct defence responses, were compared. The spr2 mutants produced constitutively lower levels of VOCs, which were nonetheless increased in response to (a)biotic damage, although at lower levels than wild-type (Wt) and 35S::prosys plants. No significant differences in VOC emissions were detected between the latter two genotypes, thereby suggesting that systemin does not regulate indirect defence responses, whereas differences in fatty acid composition in spr2 plants led to the predominant emission of saturated C6 volatiles in response to wounding. The expression of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS2), a key gene involved in VOC synthesis in the chloroplast, was only upregulated in Manduca sexta L.-damaged Wt and 35S::prosys plants. However, its expression was restored in spr2 plants by exogenous LA or JA, suggesting that abated VOC emissions in spr2 plants are correlated with lowered DXS2 expression. Bioassays with two different insects showed that adult females significantly preferred spr2 plants, indicating that lowered levels of VOCs in tomato influence plant selection by insects during oviposition.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

On the induction of volatile organic compound emissions by plants as consequence of wounding or fluctuations of light and temperature.

Among the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plants, some are characteristic of stress conditions, but their biosynthesis and the metabolic and environmental control over the emission are still unclear. We performed experiments to clarify whether (1) the emission following wounding can occur at distance from the wounding site, from VOC pools subjected to metabolic signals; and (2) the emission of biogenic VOCs generated by membrane damage (e.g. consequent to wounding or ozone exposure) can also be induced by exposure to high light and high temperature, recurrent in nature. In Phragmites australis, leaf cutting caused large and rapid bursts of acetaldehyde both at the cutting site and on parts of the cut leaf distant from the cutting site. This emission was preceded by a transient stomatal opening and did not occur in conditions preventing stomatal opening. This suggests the presence of a large pool of leaf acetaldehyde whose release is under stomatal control. VOCs other than isoprene, particularly acetaldehyde and (E)-2-hexenal, one of the C-6 compounds formed by the denaturation of membrane lipids, were released by leaves exposed to high temperature and high light. The high-temperature treatment (45 degrees C) also caused a rapid stimulation and then a decay of isoprene emission in Phragmites leaves. Isoprene recovered to the original emission level after suspending the high-temperature treatment, suggesting a temporary deficit of photosynthetically formed substrate under high temperature. Emission of C-6 compounds was slowly induced by high temperature, and remained high, indicating that membrane denaturation occurs also after suspending the high-temperature treatment. Conversely, the emission of C-6 compounds was limited to the high-light episode in Phragmites. This suggests that a membrane denaturation may also occur in conditions that do not damage other important plant processes such as the photochemistry of photosynthesis of photoinhibition-insensitive plants. In the photoinhibition-sensitive Arabidopsis thaliana mutant NPQ1, a large but transient emission of (E)-2-hexenal was also observed a few minutes after the high-light treatment, indicating extensive damage to the membranes. However, (E)-2-hexenal emission was not observed in Arabidopsis plants fumigated with isoprene during the high-light treatment. This confirms that isoprene can effectively protect cellular membranes from denaturation. Our study indicates that large, though often transient, VOC emissions by plants occur in nature. In particular, we demonstrate that VOCs can be released by much larger tissues than those wounded and that even fluctuations of light and temperature regularly observed in nature can induce their emissions. This knowledge adds information that is useful for the parameterization of the emissions and for the estimate of biogenic VOC load in the atmosphere.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed2006

Using 'mute' plants to translate volatile signals.

When attacked by herbivores, plants release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that attract natural enemies of the herbivores and function as indirect defenses. Whether or not neighboring plants 'eavesdrop' on these VOCs remains controversial because most studies use unrealistic experimental conditions and VOC exposures. In order to manipulate exposures of wild-type (WT) Nicotiana attenuata'receiver' plants, we elicited transformed 'emitter' plants, whose production of herbivore-induced C6 green leaf volatiles (GLVs) or terpenoid volatiles was genetically silenced, and placed them up-wind of WT 'receiver' plants in open-flow experimental chambers. We compared the transcriptional and secondary metabolite defense responses of WT receiver plants exposed to VOCs from these transgenic emitter plants with those of plants exposed to VOCs from WT emitter plants. No differences in the constitutive accumulation of defense metabolites and the signal molecule jasmonic acid (JA) were found. Additional elicitation of receiver plants revealed that exposure to WT, GLV-deficient and terpenoid-deficient volatile blends did not prime induced defenses, JA accumulation, or the expression of lipoxygenase 3 (NaLOX3), a gene involved in JA biosynthesis. However, exposure to wound- and herbivore-induced VOCs significantly altered the transcriptional patterns in receiver plants. We identified GLV-dependent genes by complementing the GLV-deficient volatile blend with a mixture of synthetic GLVs. Blends deficient in GLVs or cis-alpha-bergamotene regulated numerous genes in receiver plants that did not respond to the complete VOC blends of WT emitters, indicating a suppressive effect of GLVs and terpenoids. Whether these transcriptional responses translate into changes in plant fitness in nature remains to be determined.

Organic Chemicals↗