Document 4v573dM3G5NRj8vwX9Lw273Vj

University of Cincinnati Report of Research Program y' Ernest C. Foulkes will report on: echanisms of renal handling and renal damage following exposure to cadmium; > neurophysiologic changes induced by lead and mercury as affecting synaptic transmission; "ehavioral studies in lead intoxicated rats. There is a lack of correlation between the degree of damage ubed by cadmium and the levels of metal found in renal tissue ats and rabbits when exposed to cadmium oxide or cadmium /tide. By determining the rate of equilibration of lO^cd Jeen kidney cortex and plasma, the presence could be demonled of more than one cadmium compartment at a time when the test renal damage was apparent. The total Cd concentration e, therefore, less meaningful than the size of the discrete ular cadmium pools when attempting to relate renal damage to |presence of the metal. Lead chloride blocks synaptic transmission by competing with cium for presynaptic receptor sites and thereby reducing the unt of transmitter release from synaptic nerve terminals. jIn behavioral experiments it appears that lead intoxicated ts have considerably more difficulty than controls in mastering earning task requiring visual discrimination. *>'- ' |Dr. Suskind will report on progress in: CWater quality toxicology studies; ;.Fibrogenic aspects of coal dust and leachates; i Clinical studies. At the present stage of development, when compared with data pliable from toxicologic and epidemiologic studies, the cell __ system appears to be a very suitable one for determining j^liminary drinking water standards for suspected toxic agents. organic substances found in hospital waste water were studied fy are hydroquinone, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, and 1,3-dinitronzene. Spontaneous locomotor activity was measured. Even at low Jgcentrations dinitrobenzene elevated locomotor activity. At the low concentration, the toxicity of the compound could also be enionstrated in vitro. Hydroquinone field no effect on locoiuotor cac'c KETTER20254 57//75 ie fibrogenic aspects of coal dust and its leachable "tudied using cell culture models. The effect of coa ates of hydroxyproline synthesis in L-cells indicates thesis of hydroxyproline is nearly the same for P *3^ and Utah, and the synthesis of hydroxyproline parall rotein during the seventh growth period. The effect o acts is more pronounced than Utah extracts. A compari iiratio of total hydroxyproline to total protein reveals tures exposed to Pa coal leachates have a higher ratio ntrol, whereas the cultures of Utah coal leachates have ~lthan that of the control. nents l/When human cell lines WI-38 (embryo lung) were used, there was ignificant effect on collagen synthesis in response to Pa and Utah eachates. Both Pa and Utah coal cause substantial increase in `Itratio of total hydroxyproline to total protein in WI-38 cell Xtures. J: Clinical studies of thev following problems have been carried pduring the last year: meat wrappers' asthma, a group of workers ' sed to di-isocyanate, welders in an agricultural machinery ant, surgeons exposed to prosthesis plastics: methyl methacrylate net'styrene, bronchial asthma caused by phthallic anhydride sensi- Vi1t-y- , an in-depth evaluation of patients with lead poisoning eceiving chelation therapy. This latter study re 1st to th e e r : i'EDTA on zinc metabolism. -2 KETTER20255 Research efforts in all major areas of emphasis were expanded ng the past year. In addition, the following projects were tfiated: 1. The study of trace metals in relation to lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis in experimental animal and man. $2. The effect of acid mists and particulates on the pulmonary metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene in the isolated perfused lung. |<-3. Neurophysiologic and behavioral changes in rats exposed to SC^r an(^ particulates. i4. The effect of inhalation of platinum, lead, and other base r metal components of automotive exhausts on pulmonary defenses such as alveolar macrophages. 5. r. The toxicology of vinyl chloride: fetal toxicity, trans placental effects, the role of nutrition and ethanol in VCM toxicity, and a study of industrial workers involved in PVC transportation, processing and product manufacturing. f'6. The allergenic characteristics of specific aroma aldehydes and the quenching action of mixtures. 17. Thresholds of sensory detection of petroleum hydrocarbons in human subjects. 8. The effects of lead and mercury on synaptic transmission I and spinal cord and sympathetic ganglion. J9. The study of cadmium levels in hair, kidney, and liver as related to age. lO. The health risks of human exposure to waste water. -3 KETTER20256