Assessment of estrogenic activity in Tunisian water and wastewater by E-screen assay.

Wastewater and surface water samples from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and three rivers in Tunisia were assayed for estrogenic activity using the E-screen assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results showed that all the Tunisian raw wastewater samples as well as the Roriche river water sample induced a strong proliferative response in human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Tunisian raw wastewater had an average 17beta-estradiol content of 2,705.

Inhibitory effect of fulvic acid extracted from Canadian sphagnum peat on chemical mediator release by RBL-2H3 and KU812 cells.

Fulvic acid (FA) was extracted and purified from Canadian Sphagnum peat (CP-FA) and characterized by using an element analysis meter, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, and (13)C-nuclear magnetic resonance ((13)C-NMR) spectroscopy. To investigate the antiallergic effect of CP-FA, we incubated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells with 0.001-10.

Effects of organophosphorous pesticides used in china on various mammalian cells.

Organophosphorous pesticides are currently widely used in China to help boost agricultural production. However, these pesticides pose various threats to organisms, including humans, and are thus a cause of concern. Five organophosphorous pesticides, monocrotophos, omethoate, parathion-methyl, phoxim and dichlorvos, were examined for their effects on mammalian cell lines to determine their potential impact on physiological functions in vivo.