CC2 ENVIRONMENTAL CARCINOGENS AND TOXINS

• A substance or agent known to cause cancer or

  produces an increase in incidence of cancer in

  animals or humans

  Carcinogen
• It refers to a number of disease characterize with uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells

  Cancer
• • Aromatic compound produced in cigarettes and exhaust of engines
  • Lung cancer

  Benzpyrene
• • Preservatives in red meats
  • Causes colon cancer

  Nitrites
• Hepatocellular cancer


  Aflatoxin
• What is the method of choice for carcinogens?

  GC-MS
• Specimen used for carcinogens?

  Blood or urine
• Common suicide agent

  Cyanide
• What is the toxic level of cyanide?

  2 ug/mL
• How is cyanide cleared in the body?

  Converted into thiocyanate
• Usage of this as treatment for cyanide intoxication is known to produce side effects and is a form of vitamin B12

  Hydroxocobalamin
• Odor of bitter almonds

  CYANIDE
• Tasteless, odorless, and colorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of organic or carbon containing substances

  Carbon monoxide
• has affinity to hemoglobin 200-225 times greater than Oxygen

  Carbon monoxide
• When carbon monoxide is present in the body, it binds to the hemoglobin producing CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN
• Carbon monoxide has a half-life 60-90 mins
• What is the toxic level of carbon monoxide?

  20%
• cherry red color” of the face

  carbon monoxide
• Specimen used for detection of CO


  Whole Blood (EDTA)
• (+) Pink color of solution: >20% COHb

  Qualitative - screening test
• Reference method for Detection of Carbon Monoxide


  Gas Chromatography
• Half life of lead in bone?

  32 years
• Half life of lead in soft tissue

  120 days
• Most serious lead toxic effect occurs in CNS and PNS
• Specimen used for Detection of Lead

  whole blood, urine, and hair
• Wrist drop” or “foot drop” manifestation 5

  Lead
• Specimen useful for recent lead exposure

  urine
• ICP-MS - reference method for Lead
• Indicators of Lead Poisoning

  Increased urinary ALA

  Decreased ALA-d activity in RBC
• Acronydia (pink disease, Feer-Swift disease,

  Feer Syndrome)

  Mercury
• Which form of mercury is extremely toxic?

  Organic compounds
• Minimata disease is a clinical manifestation of mercury
• Specimens used in Detection of Mercury

  Whole blood or 24 hr urine, hair*
• Specimen for detection in cases of chronic mercury exposure

  Hair
• Specimen used for detecting organic form of mercury level

  Whole blood
• Specimen used for inorganic mercury

  Urine
• Method used for detection of Mercury?

  AAS
• • Common in agriculture and smelting industries
  • Common homicide or suicide agent

  Arsenic
• Most toxic form of Arsenic?

  Arsine gas
• Hyperpigmentation of skin and keratosis is a Clinical Manifestation of Arsenic