Toxicology Commons^™

Toxicity Of Formulated Insecticide Mixtures To Apis And Non-Apis Bees, Joseph Edward Belsky

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates ecotoxicology of new insecticide mixtures to Apis and non-Apis bees. Previous studies have demonstrated the acute and sub-lethal toxicity of individual active ingredient insecticides to honey bees and to a lesser extent non-Apis bees. However, the contact toxicity of formulated premix insecticides containing multiple active ingredients to bees has not been thoroughly assessed. To address this void, laboratory studies simulating exposure to four premix insecticides under different field-realistic scenarios were conducted for two bee species.

Honey bee, Apis mellifera (Linnaeus) contact exposure was examined by simulating three scenarios: (1) when bees continuously forage in a field and …

Analysis Of Synthetic Opioids In Postmortem Blood, Vitreous Humor, And Brain Tissue, Rachel K. Chesser

Student Theses

In the United States, the use of new synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl and derivatives) has become an increasing health issue with thousands of overdose deaths being observed since 2013. With the high mortality rate associated with these substances, postmortem analyses and interpretation of synthetic opioids has become extremely important. However, due to the novelty of these compounds, the available data is limited and provides challenges to toxicologists. The focus of this project was to examine the postmortem distribution of new synthetic opioids in blood, vitreous humor, and brain tissue. New methods were developed and validated to quantify 13 synthetic opioids …

The Role Of Cyp2a5 In Cadmium-Induced Liver Injury, Julia Salamat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cadmium is present in food and groundwater. Tobacco smoking and occupational exposure are also major sources for cadmium. Cadmium is primarily accumulated in liver, a major organ metabolizing exogenous chemicals. Chemical metabolism may cause detoxification, but it can also cause bio-activation resulting in liver damage. Cytochrome P450s (CYP) are major liver metabolism enzymes, and cadmium chloride (CdCl2) can induce CYP2A5 in mice. We examined the effect of CYP2A5 on CdCl2-induced liver injury using CYP2A5-knockout (cyp2a5-/-) mice. The cyp2a5-/- mice and their control WT mice were injected CdCl2 intraperitoneally at 5 mg/kg body weight, respectively, to induce liver injury. …

The Role Of Cathelicidin In The Regulation Of Gut Microbiota And Inflammasome Activation In Alcoholic Liver Disease., Fengyuan Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by gut dysbiosis and hepatic and intestinal inflammation. Gut microbiota is critically maintained by antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) expressed in the epithelial and immune cells. AMPs are also identified as immune-regulators in various diseases. Previous studies demonstrated that deficiency of AMPs REG3 lectins exacerbated alcoholic steatohepatitis. LL-37 is the sole member of human cathelicidin AMP family, named CRAMP in mouse. Despite of the extensive studies in infectious diseases and in gut-microbiota-related inflammatory bowel disease, the role of LL-37/CRAMP in ALD is yet unknown. Our previous studies showed a decreased intestinal CRAMP in a mouse model …

Postmortem Toxicology Of New Synthetic Opiods, Marta Concheiro, Rachel Chesser, Justine Pardi, Gail Cooper

Publications and Research

One hundred fifteen Americans die every day from opioid overdose. These overdose fatalities have been augmented by the increased availability of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and its derivatives. The death rate of synthetic opioids, other than methadone, increased by 72.2% from 2014 to 2015, and doubled from 2015 to 2016, situating the USA in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. The analytical identification of these opioids in postmortem samples and the correct toxicological data interpretation is critical to identify and implement preventive strategies. This article reviews the current knowledge of postmortem toxicology of synthetic opioids and the …

Neurobehavioral Evaluation Of Mice Dosed With Water Hemlock Green Seeds And Tubers, Camila F. P. Orlando-Goulart, Kevin D. Welch, James A. Pfister, Daniel S. Goulart, Adilson D. Damasceno, Stephen T. Lee

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Water hemlock are plants of the genus Cicuta and are toxic to animals and humans. The primary toxin is cicutoxin, which is abundant in the tubers, but less abundant in other parts of the plant. Other cicutoxin-like compounds, such as cicutols, which may also contribute to the toxicity of water hemlock, are more abundant in non-tuber plant parts. The objective of this study was to determine the toxicity of different parts of water hemlock and characterize their effects on motor function/coordination in mice. An aqueous extract of green seeds, dry seeds, tubers, flowers and stems of water hemlock was dosed …

The Value Of Chemical Defense: The Effects Of Toxin Milking On The Physical, Physiological, And Behavioral Performance Of Cane Toads (Rhinella Marina), Ryann Blennerhassett

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Amphibians have cutaneous glands on their skin which produce a number of toxic compounds that serve as protection against predators and microorganisms. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) have large parotoid glands located on their shoulders to store toxins, many of which are derived from lipids and are thus energetically expensive to produce. I used a combination of field and laboratory studies to investigate behavioral and physiological consequences of toxin loss and replenishment in cane toads. In a cross-sectional study, free-ranging toads were euthanized and dissected to identify correlations between toxin content and morphology /physiology. Experimental manipulations (manually expressing toxin from glands) …

A Review Of Inhalation Exposure To Mold And Adverse Health Outcomes, Amanda S. Persad, Todd Stedeford, Marek Banasik, Tomasz T. Suchecki, Carlos A. Muro-Cacho

Florida State University Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law

No abstract provided.

Mycotoxins: Mechanisms For Toxicity And Methods For Identifying Exposed Individuals, Carlos A. Muro-Cach, Todd Stedeford, Marek Banasik, Tomasz T. Suchecki, Amanda S. Persad

Florida State University Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law

No abstract provided.

Toxicology And Risk Assessment Of Mycotoxins, Raymond D. Harbison, Todd Stedeford, Marek Banasik, Carlos A. Muro-Cacho

Florida State University Journal of Land Use and Environmental Law

No abstract provided.

Development And Evaluation Of Biocompatible Engineered Nanoparticles For Use In Ophthalmology, Bedia Begum Karakocak

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The synthesis and design of biocompatible nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery and bioimaging requires knowledge of both their potential toxicity and their transport. For both practical and ethical reasons, evaluating exposure via cell studies is a logical precursor to in vivo tests. As a step towards clinical trials, this work extensively investigated the toxicity of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and carbon dot (CD) nanoparticles as a prelude to their in vivo application, focusing specifically on ocular cells. As a further step, it also evaluated their whole-body transport in mice. The research pursued two approaches in assessing the toxicity of engineered …

Evaluation Of Drug-Loaded Gold Nanoparticle Cytotoxicity As A Function Of Tumor Tissue Heterogeneity., Hunter Allan Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The inherent heterogeneity of tumor tissue presents a major challenge to nanoparticle-medicated drug delivery. This heterogeneity spans from the molecular to the cellular (cell types) and to the tissue (vasculature, extra-cellular matrix) scales. Here we employ computational modeling to evaluate therapeutic response as a function of vascular-induced tumor tissue heterogeneity. Using data with three-layered gold nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin, nanotherapy is simulated with different levels of tissue heterogeneity, and the treatment response is measured in terms of tumor regression. The results show that tumor vascular density non-trivially influences the nanoparticle uptake and washout, and the associated tissue response. The drug …

Detection Of In-Utero Ethanol Exposure Via Etg And Ets Analysis In Umbilical Cord And Placenta, Jennifer Hanna

Student Theses

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy constitutes one of the leading preventable causes of birth defects, mental retardation and neurodevelopmental disorders in exposed children. According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, alcohol was the second most prevalent substance (8.3%) after tobacco (10%), being this alcohol prevalence higher among 26-44 years old pregnant women than in the 18-25 years old group (9.1 vs 6.5%) (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2017). The ethanol marker ethyl glucuronide (EtG) has proven to be a specific long-term marker of ethanol in-utero exposure in meconium; however, currently there are scarce or no …

Levels Of Heavy Metals In Selected Facial Cosmetics Marketed In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, Joseph Yoeza Naimani Philip, Silvia John, Othman Chande Othman

Tanzania Journal of Science

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of heavy metals: lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, arsenic and mercury in facial cosmetics (lipstick, lip glossy, facial powder, foundation, eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara) which were purchased randomly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The levels of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The levels of arsenic were determined using Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (HGAAS), and levels of mercury were determined using Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Prior to determination of the concentration of heavy metals, the samples were acid digested. The average order …

Levels Of Heavy Metals In Deposited Dust And Soil From Selected Primary Schools In Dar Es Salaam, Joseph Yoeza Naimani Philip, Eliamini Ismail Mkenga, Othman Chande Othman

Tanzania Journal of Science

The objective of this study was to examine the levels of heavy metals, lead, manganese, nickel, copper, chromium and cadmium in standard one and kindergarten classroom dusts and playing ground soils from selected primary schools along Morogoro road highway (Kimara, Mbezi, Kibamba and Kiluvya primary schools) and away from Morogoro road highway (Makabe, Msumi and Mbopo primary schools) as well as in the Dar es Salaam city center (Uhuru, Mzimuni, Dr. Omari Ali Juma, Manzese and Ubungo National House primary schools), Tanzania. The samples were acid digested and the supernatant analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The …

One-Compound-Two-Pharmacophores: Design, Synthesis And Antimalarial Activities Of Chloroquinoline-Cassiarin, Thobias M. Kalenga, Monica M. Ndoile, Quintino A. Mgani

Tanzania Journal of Science

This paper describes the design and synthesis of a potential antimalarial compound, chloroquinoline-cassiarin (6) using 4,7-dichloroquinoline and the natural product barakol (1) extracted from the leaves of Cassia siamea as starting materials. In this paper a one compound-two-pharmacophores concept is introduced in which coupling of two known pharmacophores into one has been described. The concept is not only useful to organic synthesis but also to drug development researches. The synthesized compound 6 exhibited potent in vitro antimalarial activity at IC50 = 0.51 µM, and low toxicity where at 20 µM, 80% viability of HeLa cells was observed.

The Effect Of Imidacloprid On Honey Bee Queen Fecundity, Jamilyn Martin, Julia D. Fine, Amy Cash-Ahmed, Gene E. Robinson

PRECS 2018

Imidacloprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide commonly used in agricultural settings to control insect pests by acting as an agonist of acetylcholine receptors and inducing paralysis and mortality. In small doses, imidacloprid can cause loss of memory and foraging ability along with impaired learning and a lowered immune response in western honey bees (Apis mellifera). Effects of neonicotinoid insecticides on colony reproduction have been documented including decreased colony expansion, queen failure and replacement, and decreased queen egg laying.

For this study, we examined the effects of imidacloprid on the fecundity of queen bees when their worker attendants were exposed to low …

Effects Of Oil On Mollusk And Crustacean Populations, Behavior, And Predator-Prey Interactions, Elizabeth Marie Robinson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill in April 2010 released ~5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Approximately 1,773 km of shoreline was oiled along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, and ~60% of the oiling ended up on Louisiana salt marsh habitat. The objective of this dissertation was to examine the effects of DWH oil on predator-prey relationships between blue crabs and periwinkle snails, as well as mollusk and blue crab population structure. A broad spatial-temporal field study in Barataria and Terrebonne Bays was used to examine the legacy of oil on five species of …

Δ-9-Thc Effect On The Dopamine Transporter, Brooke E. Nielsen

Student Theses

Understanding the mechanism behind drugs of abuse is one of the key elements to understanding why addiction is so prevalent in society. The goal of this research was to determine the effect that a popular cannabinoid, Δ -9-tetrahydrocannabinol has on the regulation of dopamine neurotransmitter in the synapses. It was hypothesized that the addictive high users experience from using Δ-9-THC had a direct effect on lowering the dopamine transporter protein on cell surface causing a buildup of dopamine in the synapse. The results of the study show that the higher concentration of Δ-9-THC that the cells were exposed to caused …

Zolpidem Facilitated Sexual Assaults: A Hair Method Validation, Danielle N. Chasworth

Student Theses

A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS) method was developed and validated to detect for the presence of zolpidem in human hair samples. Zolpidem is a sedative hypnotic whose adverse effects make it a common drug found in drug facilitated crimes (DFC). It is important to be able to detect and quantitate the drug after a long period of time due to the victim’s delayed reporting of the crime. Hair’s long window of detection makes it a useful matrix for DFC investigations. The linear range of the assay was targeted at 2 pg/mg to 1,000 pg/mg and experiments designed to …

Radical Social Ecology As Deep Pragmatism: A Call To The Abolition Of Systemic Dissonance And The Minimization Of Entropic Chaos, Arielle Brender

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper aims to shed light on the dissonance caused by the superimposition of Dominant Human Systems on Natural Systems. I highlight the synthetic nature of Dominant Human Systems as egoic and linguistic phenomenon manufactured by a mere portion of the human population, which renders them inherently oppressive unto peoples and landscapes whose wisdom were barred from the design process. In pursuing a radical pragmatic approach to mending the simultaneous oppression and destruction of the human being and the earth, I highlight the necessity of minimizing entropic chaos caused by excess energy expenditure, an essential feature of systems that aim …

Examining The Roles Of Genetic And Environmental Factors In Drosophila Melanogaster Hematopoiesis And Innate Immune System, Minkyung Lee

Student Theses and Dissertations

Nearly 24 million people are affected by autoimmune diseases in the United States. Main causes of autoimmune diseases have been attributed to genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to chemicals such as hormones and pesticides. Due to the large population that are affected by autoimmune diseases, it is critical to understand the mechanisms behind them. In this study, we sought to explore both genetic and environmental factors that affect hematopoiesis, or the formation of specific blood cells, and immune system in Drosophila melanogaster. As Drosophila melanogaster have conserved pathways of hematopoiesis as humans, they were used as the model organism …

Investigating The Role Of Genomic Variation In Susceptibility To Environmental Chemicals Across Populations, Lindsay Adrian Holden

Dissertations and Theses

No two individuals are identical. This is true at the genetic level and at the phenotypic level. One of the traits that varies between populations is toxicant susceptibility: some individuals are sensitive to the effects of environmental chemical exposure, and others are resistant. This body of work aims to address the impact of genomic copy number variants (CNV)--large (>1 Kb) duplications or deletions across the genome--on the toxicant-susceptibility phenotype.

Herein copy number variants were characterized across three commonly used laboratory strains of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mRNA expression phenotypes were identified in the same strains. It was found that …

Levels Of Heavy Metals In Drinking Water, Cosmetics And Fruit Juices From Selected Areas In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, John Am Mahugija

Tanzania Journal of Science

Heavy metals were determined in samples of drinking water, cosmetics (nail polish, lip glosses and hair dye) and fresh fruit juices in Dar es Salaam. The samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) after digestion with concentrated acids, filtration and dilution. Lead, zinc and iron were detected in the water samples and the concentration ranges were below detection limit (BDL) to 0.114, 0.01 to 1.47 and 0.027 to 0.39 mg/L, respectively, whereas cadmium was not detected. The concentrations of lead in 70.83% of the samples exceeded the WHO permissible limit, implying that the water in most of the areas …

Heavy Metals And Cyanide Distribution In The Villages Surrounding Buzwagi Gold Mine In Tanzania, Edwin Sifuel Gomezulu, Agnes Mwakaje, Jamidu, H.Y. Katima

Tanzania Journal of Science

The study aimed at assessing the levels of heavy metals and cyanide in water and sediments in villages surrounding Buzwagi gold mine, both during wet and dry seasons.  A total of 56 samples of water (28 from each season) and 44 samples of sediments (22 from each season) were collected from the wells in the area and were analyzed for total cyanide and heavy metals.  The total cyanide was analyzed spectrophotometrically whilst the heavy metals were analyzed by an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The Pb and Fe levels in water were found to exceed 10 µg/L and 2000 µg/L respectively, …

Status Of Selected Heavy Metals Dispersion From Top Soil In And Around Automobile Workshop Areas In Zanzibar Municipality, Tanzania, John Am Mahugija, Hawa M Sheikh

Tanzania Journal of Science

The distributions of selected heavy metals in top soil in areas with and without automobile workshops in Zanzibar municipality were investigated. Sampling was done during dry and rainy seasons. The samples were digested with aqua regia (HCl and HNO3, 3:1) and analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The concentrations of zinc, copper and lead in the samples ranged 0.27–419.2, 0.10–167 and 0.02–271 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. The concentrations were higher in areas with automobile workshops than those without. The concentrations of the heavy metals were highest at point sources and decreased with increase in distance during the dry season. The concentrations …

Assessment Of Heavy Metal And Radioactivity Levels In Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea) Grown At Bahi Wetlands In Dodoma Region, Najat K. Mohammed, Boniface Haule

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study reports on the levels of heavy metals and radionuclides in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in Bahi wetlands in Dodoma Region. The farm soil in Bahi wetland has been reported to contain elevated concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K due to the existence of shallow uranium deposit in the area. In this study, spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in three zones of Bahi district were analyzed for heavy metals and radioactivity associated with the uranium deposit in the area. The concentrations of elements were determined by Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDXRF) of Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission, Arusha. The activities of …

Lead, Copper, And Iron In University Tap Water, Alison Mclendon

Honors Theses

This study observed concentrations of lead, copper, and iron in university tap water over an eight-week span during and between the summer and fall semesters. First draw and 30s flush samples were taken after overnight stagnation from the Honor House, College Hall, J. B. George Building, and International Center bathrooms and analyzed with an inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICPMS). There was no obvious correlation between time in the semester and metal concentrations. Relative iron levels rose and fell at the same time in all buildings, but there was little correlation between buildings for lead and copper concentrations. The Honor House …

A Model To Study The Effects Of Whole Life Chronic Exposure To Arsenic Or Cadmium On The Development Of Adult Metabolic Syndrome : Initial Characterization Of Hepatic Changes., Jamie L. Young

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of diseases affecting < 30% of adults. Although obesity is a major risk for the development of MetS, it does not account for all cases, suggesting contribution of other risk factors. We hypothesized that early life exposure to arsenic (As) or cadmium (Cd) may represent such a risk. The purpose of this study was to characterize a model to discern the effects of early life exposures to Cd and As on high fat diet (HFD)-induced MetS. Adult C57BL/6J mice were exposed to control or metals containing drinking water. Pregnant dams and offspring were continuously exposed to the same toxicants as their parents. At weaning, offspring were fed LFD or HFD and sacrificed 10 or 24 weeks later. Metal exposure caused time- and sex-dependent alterations in HFD-induced variables of liver damage. The initial results suggest that these toxicants enhanced obesity-induced liver injury.

The Effects Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Exposure On Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease : Role Of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor., Hongxue Shi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are detectable in serum of 100% of adults in US, and has been associated with fatty liver disease in epidemiological studies. PCBs are classified as either dioxin-like (DL) or non-dioxin-like (NDL) PCB based on their ability to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). We used exposures that reflect human bioaccumulation patterns, which resembles Aroclor 1260 with a low level of the DL-PCB, PCB 126. Our aim was to determine if this exposure will activate the human and mouse AhR and examine if receptor activation influences these steatotic responses due to PCB exposures. DL-PCBs exposure-induced AhR activation in …