Efficiency of dracaena deremensis and hederahelix plants in elimination of benzene from air using SPME-GC-FID

Background:Benzene, as a carcinogen, is a volatile substance emitted in many workplaces including large plants, small factories, laboratories, hospitals, offices, and even homes. To assess the ability of Dracaena deremensis and Hedera helix plants for removing benzene, this study was conducted. Methods:In a laboratory trial study,6 two-year old plants were exposed to 46 microliter of benzene in a sealed chamber. The concentration of benzene was measured using solid phase micro extracion (SPME) method and GC -FID. Results: The concentration of benzene decreased to 12, 34, 50, 91and 97% by Hedera helix plant after 24,48,72,96 and 120 hr, respectively.Also the concentration of benzene decreased to 18, 37, 94, 98 and 100% in 24,48,72,96 and 120 hr, respectively. The ability of Dracaena deremensis for removing benzene was higher than Hedera helix in the same conditions. For soil our results show that the concentration of benzene decreased to 2, 21, 42, 55 and 71%. Conclusion:The present study indicates that Dracaena deremensis and Hedera helix are useful plants for removing benzene and improving indoor air quality in the small workplaces, laboratories and even houses

Sulfur mustard induces expression of metallothionein-1A in human airway epithelial cells

Mohammad Reza Nourani1, Majid Ebrahimi1, Mehryar Habibi Roudkenar3, Ensieh Vahedi1, Mostafa Ghanei1, Abbas Ali Imani Fooladi21Chemical Injury Research Center; 2Microbial Product Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences; 3Research Center, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, IranBackground: Sulfur mustard can cause several long-term complications in the organs of individuals exposed to this toxic gas, and among these, pulmonary sequelae are the most important. More than 25 years after the Iran–Iraq war, thousands of Iranians are suffering from the chronic respiratory complications of sulfur mustard. Currently, based on several clinical findings, bronchiolitis obliterans is confirmed as the major diagnosis in these patients. Numerous studies have revealed that this disorder is strongly associated with oxidative stress due to excessive production of harmful reactive substances and decreased levels of endogenous antioxidants. Metallothioneins (MTs) are a group of low molecular weight sulfhydryl-rich intracellular proteins, and several isoforms have been identified in humans. MT-1A is an inducible and important MT isoform, which is transcriptionally activated by a variety of stress stimuli, such as free radicals.Methods: MT-1 mRNA expression and protein levels in endobronchial biopsy samples from 24 sulfur mustard-exposed patients and 15 unexposed control cases were evaluated by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry.Results: mRNA- MT-1A expression levels in sulfur mustard-exposed patients were upregulated compared with normal samples. Protein expression was also markedly higher in controls than in sulfur mustard-exposed patients.Conclusion: Upregulation of MT-1A mRNA in patients who have been exposed to sulfur mustard seems to be due to oxidative stress, which is induced in an attempt to ameliorate this harmful situation by reestablishment of homeostasis, but depletion of its protein might be due to secondary consequences of sulfur mustard toxicity, which are as yet not understood.Keywords: sulfur mustard, metallothionein-1A, airway, epithelial cell