exposure to benzene-toluene-xylene mixture (BTX) and IL-10, TNF and IL-12 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Methods Exposure was estimated in 54 workers from a paint company in Mexico City through BTX accumulated potential dose (BTX-APD). Two exposure groups were formed: high and low BTX-APD established with a cutoff point at ≥1.0 of BTXAPD, as a function of the geometric mean o...

In this paper, it is presented a review about applications of biofilms in the degradation of contaminants in industrial effluents. Biofilms are typically comprised of water, microorganisms, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), retained particles and dissolved and adsorbed substances. Water is the most significant fraction of the total mass of the biofilm, and it can vary from 70 to 95%. Po...

A vacuum ultraviolet lamp based single photon ionization- (SPI-) photoelectron ionization (PEI) portable reflecting time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) was designed for online monitoring gas samples. It has a dual mode ionization source: SPI for analyte with ionization energy (IE) below 10.6 eV and PEI for IE higher than 10.6 eV. Two kinds of sampling inlets, a capillary inlet and a membra...

Burkholderia sp. K24, formerly known as Acinetobacter lwoffii K24, is a soil bacterium capable of utilizing aniline as its sole carbon and nitrogen source. Genomic sequence analysis revealed that this bacterium possesses putative gene clusters for biodegradation of various monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs), including benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX), as well as aniline. We verified the ...

The effects of batrachotoxin (BTX) on the membrane potential and conductances of squid giant axons have been studied by means of intracellular microelectrode recording, internal perfusion, and voltage clamp techniques. BTX (550-1100 nM) caused a marked and irreversible depolarization of the nerve membrane, the membrane potential being eventually reversed in polarity by as much as 15 mv. The dep...

Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Xylene are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with approximately similar physical and chemical characteristics. Benzene and Ethyl-benzene are known carcinogen as well as they affect the circulatory, nervous, and reproductive and respiratory systems. Toluene and Xylene also damage the nervous and reproductive systems. The main purpose of this study is to determ...

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of substrate interactions on the biotransformation rates and mineralization potentials of gasoline monoaromatics and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), compounds that commonly co-exist in groundwater contaminant plumes. A mixed culture was derived from gasoline-contaminated aquifer material using toluene as the enrichment substrate. Tw...

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of substrate interactions on the biotransformation rates and mineralization potentials of gasoline monoaromatics and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), compounds that commonly co-exist in groundwater contaminant plumes. A mixed culture was derived from gasoline-contaminated aquifer material using toluene as the enrichment substrate. Tw...