A tire fire at a retreading location in Blair Township near Interlochen, Michigan was reported at 9:30 a.m. on December 29, 1995. The company had stored over 700,000 petroleum based tires at this location. It took 22 days for 15 fire departments to quell the fire. Inside the tire piles, the temperature reached up to 2400°F. Tire fire smoke usually includes inorganic and organic particulates, ash, arsenic, benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, oxides of nitrogen, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol, sulfur dioxide, zinc, etc. Most of the above mentioned environmental contaminants in low concentrations were found at or near the tire fire location in outdoor air, groundwater, snow and soil. No contaminants were detected in indoor environments (residential areas) about one mile away from the tire fire location. Cancer risk assessments were conducted for carcinogens using U.S. EPA guidelines and assumptions. These cancer risk estimates were very low as compared to the acceptable excess risk level of 1x10^-6. Reported concentrations and potential health risks of the released contaminants are briefly discussed. The tire fire smoke is an irritant to eyes, nose, and the respiratory tract, therefore, exposure to this source of air pollution should be regulated and minimized.

To study the effect of quinalphos on cell mediated immune response in chickens, one week old 80 chicks procured from Poultry Research Centre of the University were randomly divided into two equal groups. The chicks were immunized with Ranikhet disease vaccine at day 4 and IBD vaccine at day 15. Group I was kept as control while group II birds were given quinalphos daily orally at dose rate of 8 ppm for 8 weeks in feed. Cellular immune response in chickens was measured by Lymphocyte Stimulation Test (LST), Total Leucocyte Count (TLC), Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) and Delayed Typed Hypersensitivity Reaction (DTH). The results showed significant decrease in Lymphocyte Stimulation Index, Total Leucocyte Count, Absolute Lymphocyte Count leading to suppression in cell mediated immune response in quinalphos fed birds in comparison to control. Similarly, a mild DTH reaction was observed in pesticide fed birds than the control birds.

This study was carried out to evaluate the protective potential of Withania somnifera in chlorpyrifos-induced changes in clinico-haematological parameters and hepatic microsomal enzyme activities after long term exposure of the insecticide in cockerels. Twenty four, eight week old male WLH cockerels were divided equally and randomly into four groups viz. I, II, III and IV. They were administered with powdered dried roots of W. somnifera (100 ppm) in group II, chlorpyrifos (25 ppm) in group III and both in group IV birds in feed for 24 weeks. Group I served as control. There was significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight, TEC, TLC, percent leucocytes, PCV and Hb concentrations and activities of aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine-N-demethylase and glutathione-S-transferase enzymes in group III cockerels. Significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of cytochrome P450 and b5 were also recorded in group III. Group IV birds did not show any significant alteration in clinico-haematological profiles in comparison to control. It may be concluded that chlorpyrifos altered the clinico-haematological parameters and activities of hepatic michrosomal enzymes in cockerels. Simultaneous medication of W. somnifera reduced the severity of chlorpyrifos toxicity in cockerels.

Effect of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) at three different dose levels: 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg of body weight, given intraperitoneally (i.p), daily for 15 days was studied in the liver and kidney tissues of male and female wistar strain adult albino rats. There is an increase (1.4 and 1.2 fold) of GOT in the kidney tissues of both male and female rats. Whereas in the liver tissue GOT decreased by 18% to 28% in the male and female rats. GPT level decreased by 54% and 73% in the liver tissue of female and male rats respectively, but in kidney tissue the increase was in the ratio of 1: 2 and 1:1.7 respectively. In the liver tissue, in males ALP increased at 1:1.6 and 1:2.2 ratio in the female respectively but in the kidney tissue the change was insignificant. Among the lipids, there is a decrease in TG level by 15%, 35% and 43% (low, medium and high) in the liver of male and 2 fold increase in female rats. 62% to 40% reduction occurs in the kidney tissue of male and female rats. However TC level was increased significantly by 2 to 4 fold in liver and a slight increase in the kidney of male and female rats respectively.

Effect of Hexachlorophene (HCP) on protein profiles, protease activity, free amino acid content, and transmination pattern in rat liver were studied during the sublethal (18 mg/kg^-1/day ^-1) and paralytic (60 mg/kg^-1/day) dose of HCP. The effect of HCP was assessed on the basis of biochemical profile of proteins (total, sucrose soluble and insoluble), protease activity (acid, alkaline and neutral), free amino acids (FAA) and aspartate (AAT), alanine (ALAT), leucine (LAT), isoleucine (ILAT) and valine(VAT) aminotransferases. Exposure to hexachlorophene by gavage (oral administration) for 7 days showed degradation in the protein profiles due to elevation in the activity levels of proteases, and subsequent elevation in the free amino acid content, and activity of aminotransferases.

N-Nitrosodiethylamine is amongst the important group of carcinogens frequently present in human environment. The mechanism of toxicity of nitroso-compounds at cellular level is not clear, at least when the exposure is for short period. Therefore, the effect of varying doses of NDEA (50,100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) was studied in albino rats. Intraperitoneal administration of NDEA resulted in heart and spleen enlargement and decrease in liver weight. Hepatotoxicity was evident by a steady increase in enzyme levels of liver function test in a dose dependent manner. A significant increase in creatinine level at higher doses indicated it to be nephrotoxic as well. NDEA increased lipid peroxidation of blood and tissues in a dose dependent manner. These results were further supported by histopathological changes seen at higher doses.

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid insecticide, after repeated oral administration at dose rate of 1 mg/kg/day for 21 consecutive days in cow calves produced very mild toxic symptoms of nasal discharge and occasional regurgitation of ruminal contents. Imidacloprid significantly elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase (22.3%), alkaline phosphatase (19.0%) and had no significant effects on plasma aspartate aminotransferase, acid phosphatase and cholinesterase enzymes. Daily oral administration of imidacloprid failed to induce any significant changes in the levels of total serum proteins, blood urea nitrogen, plasma creatinine, blood glucose and plasma cholesterol. The repeated oral toxicity study on imidacloprid in present investigation suggested that it is a low-risk insecticide.

The present report describes outbreak of malicious endosulfan toxicity at an organized cattle farm. The clinical symptoms viz. excitement, restlessness, frothy salivation, high fever, circling movements, facial tremors and convulsions led to provisional diagnosis. The sick animals responded well to treatment of activated charcoal, diazepam, calcium borogluconate and normal saline at recommended dosages. Endosulfan residues were detected as a-endosulfan with mean level of 22.6 mg/kg, b-endosulfan 10.5 mg/kg and endosulfan sulphate 1.5 mg/kg in green fodder. No insecticide was detected in feed samples.

A study was undertaken to evaluate the chronic interactive toxicity of DEP and PCBs in young male and female Wistar rats. Healthy young male and female albino rats of Wistar strain weighing 80-100 g (7-8 weeks old) were randomly assigned to five groups of six each. five groups for male and another five for female. Group I male and female rats were provided normal diet and water ad libitum. Group II male and female rats were maintained on normal diet mixed with corn oil at 16.5 mg/ kg of the diet / day (approx. 0.94mg/ kg body weight/ day) as oil control. Group III and IV male and female rats were given PCB and DEP dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/ kg of the diet /day, which is approximately equal to 2.85 mg/ kg body wt/ day, individually to each group. Group V female rats received a mixture of DEP and PCB, each dissolved in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50 mg/kg of the diet /day, which is approximately equal to 2.85 mg/ kg body wt/ day. Treatment was carried out for 150 days and after the completion of treatment, biochemical parameters in the serum and liver were assessed. Liver and serum cholesterol level was significantly increased in both the sexes of DEP-treated rats compared to controls, PCB and PCB + DEP-treated rats, and serum cholesterol level in DEP-treated female rats was significantly higher than males of the same group. Similarly, in the PCB-treated group, serum level of cholesterol was significantly higher in female rats compared to males of the same group. Triglyceride levels showed significant increase in liver and serum of both the sexes of PCB, PCB + DEP-treated and only in the serum of DEP-treated female rats compared to control rats, of which, level in the livers of male rats of PCB and PCB + DEP-treated groups was significantly higher than the females and opposite results in the serum of same group was observed. Liver glycogen level was significantly increased in both sexes of PCB and PCB + DEP-treated rats compared to controls and DEP-treated rats, of which levels in the female rats of PCB + DEP-treated group were significantly higher than male rats of the same group while levels in the male rats of DEP treated group was significantly higher than females of the same group. Serum glucose levels were significantly increased in both sexes of PCB and DEP-treated groups compared to control rats and PCB + DEP-treated rats, of which levels were significantly higher in both sexes of PCB-treated rats compared to both sexes of DEP-treated rats. Lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in the liver of both sexes of PCB, DEP and PCB + DEP treated rats compared to controls. These results indicate that PCB and DEP independently impair lipid metabolism and in combination, these agents severely affect carbohydrate metabolism in both sexes. In addition, there is significant gender based differences in response to both the xenobiotics individually as well as in combined form. The results of lipid peroxidation in liver also implicate that DEP is a strong peroxidant, of which male rats showed higher levels of peroxidation than female rats.

Effect of Cadmium chloride administered intraperitoneally at 0.5(low-dose), 1.0 (medium-dose) and 2 (high-dose) mg/kg, body weight dose levels for 15 days was observed on the testes of adult albino rats. Cadmium chloride increased the activity of total protein by 6.5 fold; 3 and 4 fold increase occurs in the TC and TG levels. There is a significant increase occurs in the Ca⁺⁺ATP-ases and 59% and 32% reduction occurs in the Mg⁺⁺ATPase and Inorganic phosphatases. Histologically testes showed dose dependent seminiferous epithelial necrosis, degeneration and loss of spermatozoa. The changes were dose-dependent. These altered structural and biochemical changes associated with cadmium chloride intoxication along with altered membrane permeability may be responsible for the observed metabolic changes.