[Pharmwaste] Effects of a Complex Mixture of Therapeutic Drugs at Environmental Levels on Human Embryonic Cells

Tenace, Laurie Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us
Mon Apr 3 15:36:02 EDT 2006


http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/esthag/2006/40/i07/abs/es051715a.htm
l
(Thanks to Cheri Grasso of King County WA for passing this on)

Environ. Sci. Technol., 40 (7), 2442 -2447, 2006. 10.1021/es051715a
S0013-936X(05)01715-3 
Web Release Date: March 1, 2006 

Copyright (c) 2006 American Chemical Society 
Effects of a Complex Mixture of Therapeutic Drugs at Environmental Levels on
Human Embryonic Cells 

Francesco Pomati,* Sara Castiglioni, Ettore Zuccato, Roberto Fanelli, Davide
Vigetti,# Carlo Rossetti, and Davide Calamari 

Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Sciences, University of Insubria,
Varese 21100, Italy; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, "Mario
Negri" Institute for Pharmacological Research, Milan 20157, Italy; and
Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences, University of
Insubria, Varese 21100, Italy 

Abstract:

The potential risk associated with the presence of low levels of
pharmaceuticals in aquatic environments is currently under debate. In this
study we investigated the effects of 13 drugs merged to mimic both the
association and low concentration (ng/L) profiles detected in the
environment. The mixture comprised atenolol, bezafibrate, carbamazepine,
cyclophosphamide, ciprofloxacin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, ibuprofen,
lincomycin, ofloxacin, ranitidine, salbutamol, and sulfamethoxazole. At
environmental exposure levels, the drug mix inhibited the growth of human
embryonic cells HEK293, with the highest effect observed as a 30% decrease in
cell proliferation compared to controls. Pharmaceuticals activated
stress-response signaling protein kinases (ERK1/2), and induced overexpres
sion of glutathione-S-transferase P1 gene. No evidence was found for
apoptosis or necrosis in HEK293 cells, although morphological changes were
observed. The drug mixture effectively stimulated the expression of
cell-cycle progression-mediating genes p16 and p21, with a slight
accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell-cycle. Our results
suggest that a mixture of drugs at ng/L levels can inhibit cells
proliferation by affecting their physiology and morphology. This also
suggests that water-borne pharmaceuticals can be potential effectors on
aquatic life. 


Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 4555
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace at dep.state.fl.us  
 
view our mercury web pages at: 
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm 

Please Note:  Florida has a very broad public records law.  Most written
communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public
records available to the public and media upon request.  Your e-mail is
communications and may therefore be subject to public disclosure.


 
 



More information about the Pharmwaste mailing list