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Because of the high pKa of boric acid, inorganic borates, when taken up by the human or animal organism, exist in the body almost exclusively in the form of non-dissociated boric acid. Therefore, the variety of inorganic boron compounds is commonly addressed in the toxicological literature as “boron” (B). There is a discussion concerning categorisation of inorganic boron compounds as reproductive toxins. Boron treatment of rats, mice and dogs was dose-dependently associated with testicular toxicity, characterised by inhibited spermiation at lower dose levels and by reduction of epididymal sperm counts at higher dose levels. The NOAEL for such fertility effects of boric acid in male rats (oral feeding, Sprague Dawley strain) was evaluated to be 17.5 mg B/kg bw per day. As far as developmental toxicity is concerned, oral dosing of 9.6 mg B/kg bw daily to female pregnant Sprague Dawley rats remained without effects, with foetal skeletal effects observed at higher doses. Therefore, 9.6 mg B/kg bw (oral dosing) was evaluated as NOAEL for developmental effects of boric acid. The blood level in rats, equivalent to this NOAEL, is 1270 ng B/g. As far as B-exposed humans are concerned, field studies on the effect of boron on human reproduction are possible only in a few boron-rich geographical areas. Published field studies were conducted in China’s Liaoning province, the Argentinian Andes and Western Anatolia/Turkey. Particularly relevant are studies on occupationally B-exposed groups, because the potential exposure to boron is much higher in occupational compared to environmental settings. Comparison of estimated daily B exposure levels in humans and actually measured B blood levels confirms the preference of biomonitoring for exposure assessment in environmental and occupational studies. A boron blood level scaling shows that the levels of high occupational B exposures reported in China and in Turkey are compatible. Compared to the experimental B blood levels at boron-related NOAELs for male fertility and for developmental toxicity in rats, the human blood level means of the highest occupational exposure groups in China and in Turkey are lower by factors of > 4 and > 2, respectively. Basically, concentrations of B within the body that exert reproductive toxicity in humans are not reached under the conditions of human normal handling and use, including conditions of extreme occupational exposures. In consequence, all relevant results of studies into human reproductive toxicity of B are basically negative. Considering the effective doses, there is no scientific contradiction between experimental and human results of B reproductive toxicity.

Aroclor 1254 (A1254) is a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners known to induce testicular toxicity through oxidative stress, apoptosis, and hormonal disruption. Selenium (Se), an essential trace element for male reproduction, contributes to antioxidant defence, DNA repair, and spermatogenesis. Given the worldwide prevalence of Se deficiency and its potential impact on reproductive health, this study investigated the effects of A1254 exposure on testicular function in Sprague-Dawley rats with different Se status. Rats assigned to the Se-deficient group were receiving a ≤0.05 mg/kg Se diet, while those assigned to the Se-supplemented group were receiving 1 mg/kg Se for five weeks. A1254-treated groups were receiving 10 mg/kg/day of A1254 by oral gavage for 15 consecutive days. A1254 exposure caused significant reductions in testis weight, sperm count, motility, and plasma testosterone levels, accompanied by extensive germ cell apoptosis and enhanced lipid and protein oxidation. Total antioxidant capacity also dropped significantly, confirming redox imbalance in A1254-exposed testes. These adverse effects were substantially exacerbated in the Se-deficient group, whereas Se supplementation ameliorated but did not fully prevent histological and biochemical changes induced by A1254. Our findings demonstrate that Se plays a crucial protective role against PCB-associated testicular injury, primarily by mitigating oxidative stress and apoptotic pathways. However, Se supplementation alone may not completely counteract the reproductive toxicity caused by persistent environmental contaminants such as A1254.

Objective: Cosmetic products are widely used, yet public awareness of their potential health risks and of cosmetovigilance remains limited. Given that studies increasingly highlight chemical exposure associated with cosmetics, this study aimed to assess public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding cosmetic use, toxicity, and cosmetovigilance in Türkiye. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the general population living in Türkiye, consisting of 700 people between January and May 2024. The study was conducted using a Google survey form. Results: Among 700 participants, 91.6% reported regular cosmetic use and 47.6% experienced at least one adverse effect, most commonly redness, itching, and burning. Adverse effects were more frequently associated with products purchased from shopping malls/cosmetic stores. Education level was significantly linked to awareness of cosmetovigilance and product preferences, with university graduates showing higher awareness and favoring both local and international brands. Conclusion: The study revealed that although cosmetic use is common in Türkiye, awareness of cosmetovigilance remains low, even among well-educated consumers. Many participants reported adverse effects but did not seek professional consultation, indicating gaps in safety practices and reporting. Strengthening public awareness and establishing effective cosmetovigilance systems are essential to ensure safer cosmetic use and protect public health.

This study’s objective was to evaluate genotoxic effects on automotive paint workers who are exposed to a complex mixture of VOCs, heavy metals, and solvents. Biological samples, including blood, urine, and buccal epithelial cells, were collected from 80 exposed workers and 80 demographically matched control subjects. DNA damage was assessed using the alkaline COMET assay in lymphocytes and whole blood. The Buccal Micronucleus Cytome (BMCyt) assay was also employed to identify cytogenetic abnormalities. Additionally, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), hippuric acid (HA), phenol, and lead (Pb) levels were measured as biomarkers of exposure. A significant increase in DNA damage was observed in the lymphocytes and whole blood of exposed workers (p < 0.05) BMCyt analysis also revealed higher frequencies of micronuclei (MN), binucleated cells, condensed chromatin (CC), and karyorrhectic (KHC) and pyknotic cells (PYC) in buccal cells (p < 0.05). Elevated levels of urinary HA, phenol, TCA, and blood lead indicated systemic chemical exposure. DNA damage positively correlated with these biomarkers, supporting a strong link between chronic occupational exposure and genotoxicity. The findings from this study highlight the critical importance of implementing effective safety measures and consistent biomonitoring for paint workers to prevent adverse health effects.

Purpose of ReviewOccupational allergic diseases (OAD) such as occupational contact dermatitis (OCD), occupational asthma (OA), and occupational rhinitis (OR) are the most prevalent occupational diseases in industrialized countries. The purpose of this review is to provide an update about the main occupational metal and solvent exposures related to allergy and airway diseases and to discuss newly defined causative agents and industries in this field.Recent FindingsCurrently for over 400 causative agents for OA and OCD, several hundreds of agents for OR have been identified. Although many studies have reported an overall decline in OAD related to known agents after implementation of efficient and effective workplace preventive measures, the constant development of new products continuously introduces to the market potential unknown respiratory hazards. Workplace allergens are often high molecular weight (HMW) agents that are > 10 kDa molecular weight and capable of eliciting IgE sensitization. Sensitizing low molecular weight (LMW) agents are often reactive chemicals. Metals and solvents are two large causative agent groups related to OADs that mainly behave as LMW (< 10 kDa) sensitizers and/or irritants.SummaryAvoidance of causative exposures through control strategies is the primary prevention approach for OADs. These strategies must be applied and covered for all known and newly defined causative agents. This review aims to summarize current status of known occupational metal and solvent exposures related to allergy and airway diseases and to discuss newly defined causative agents and industries in this field.

Boric acid and sodium borates have been considered as being “toxic to reproduction and development”, following results of animal studies with high doses. Experimentally, a NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) of 17.5 mg B/kg-bw/day has been identified for the (male) reproductive effects of boron in a multigeneration study of rats, and a NOAEL for the developmental effects in rats was identified at 9.6 mg B/kg-bw/day. These values are being taken as the basis of current EU safety assessments. The present study was conducted to investigate the reproductive effects of boron exposure in workers employed in boric acid production plant in Bandırma, Turkey. In order to characterize the external and internal boron exposures, boron was determined in biological samples (blood, urine, semen), in workplace air, in food, and in water sources. Unfavorable effects of boron exposure on the reproductive toxicity indicators (concentration, motility, morphology of the sperm cells and blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and total testosterone) were not observed. The mean calculated daily boron exposure (DBE) of the highly exposed group was 14.45 ± 6.57 (3.32–35.62) mg/day. These human exposures represent worst-case exposure conditions to boric acid/borates in Turkey. These exposure levels are considerably lower than exposures, which have previously led to reproductive effects in experimental animals. In conclusion, this means that dose levels of boron associated with developmental and reproductive toxic effects in animals are by far not reachable for humans under conditions of normal handling and use.

Silver sulfide (Ag S) quantum dots (QDs) are highly promising nanomaterials in bioimaging systems due to their high activities for both imaging and drug/gene delivery. There is insufficient research on the toxicity of Ag S QDs coated with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). In this study, we aimed to determine the cytotoxicity of Ag S QDs coated with DMSA in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cells over a wide range of concentrations (5-2000 μg/mL). Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays. The genotoxic and apoptotic effects of DMSA/Ag S QDs were also assessed by comet assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction technique, respectively. Cell viability was 54.0±4.8% and 65.7±4.1% at the highest dose (2000 μg/mL) of Ag S QDs using the MTT and NRU assays, respectively. Although cell viability decreased above 400 μg/mL (MTT assay) and 800 μg/mL (NRU assay), DNA damage was not induced by DMSA/Ag S QDs at the studied concentrations. The mRNA expression levels of , and genes were altered in the cells exposed to 500 and 1000 μg/mL DMSA/Ag S QDs. The cytotoxic effects of DMSA/Ag S QDs may occur at high doses through the apoptotic pathways. However, DMSA/Ag S QDs appear to be biocompatible at low doses, making them well suited for cell labeling applications.

Nanoparticles-based drug targeting delivery systems have been introduced in the treatment for various diseases because of their effective properties, although there have been conflicting results on the toxicity of nanoparticles. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and the genotoxicity of different concentrations of lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles with and without clobetasol-17-propionate (CP) by neutral red uptake (NRU) cytotoxicity assay and single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assays. The IC50 values of lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles with/without CP were found as 1.9 and 1.8 %, respectively, in the NRU cytotoxicity test. High concentrations of lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes as evaluated by comet assay. The micronucleus frequency was increased by the lecithin/chitosan treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Also at the two highest concentrations, a significant increase in micronucleus formation was observed. Lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles with CP did not increase the frequency of micronucleus and also did not induce additional DNA damage when compared with lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles without CP; therefore, CP itself has not found to be genotoxic at the studied concentration.

Background Paliurus spina-christi Mill. (PS) fruits are widely used for different medical purposes in Turkey. Like in many medicinal herbs the studies concerning their activity, the activities of PS are also not well clarified. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antigenotoxicity of the compounds isolated and identified from the extracts of PS fruits. Methods The active compounds were separated, isolated, and determined by chromatographic methods and their structural elucidation was performed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) methods. The compounds were obtained from either ethyl acetate (EA) or n-butanol extracts. The cytotoxicities of the compounds using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the antigenotoxic activities of the compounds using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis techniques (comet assay) were evaluated in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79) cell lines. Results The isolated major compounds were identified as (+/−) catechins and gallocatechin from EA fraction and rutin from n-butanol fraction of PS fruits. Their chemical structures were identified by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HMBC, and HMQC techniques. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration of catechins, gallocatechin, and rutin were found to be 734 μg/mL, 220 μg/mL, and 1004 μg/mL, respectively. The methanolic extract of PS (1-100 μg/mL) alone did not induce DNA single-strand breaks while catechins (1-100 μg/mL), gallocatechin (1-50 μg/mL), and rutin (1-50 μg/mL) significantly reduced H2O2-induced DNA damage. Conclusion It has been suggested that PS fruits and their compounds catechins, gallocatechin and rutin may have beneficial effects in oxidative DNA damage. It seems that PS fruits may be used in protection of the disorders related to DNA damage.