Use Of Volatile Organic Compounds Research Articles

Health risk assessment of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes in a vehicle manufacturing industry in Iran

IntroductionConsidering the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and specially Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes (BTEX) which are widely used in vehicle manufacturing industry, it is clear that monitoring and control of occupational exposure to these substances is of utmost significance. More often than not the studies on occupational exposure to VOCs in vehicle manufacturing industry—specifically BTEX—have been carried out exclusively in paint shop units. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational BTEX exposure & health risk in different units of a vehicle manufacturing industry.Material and methodsFoam injection unit (FIU), gluing unit (GU), repair shop unit (RSU), molding unit (MU) as well as paint shop units (PSU) were selected for this study. Sampling and analysis were conducted based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 guidelines by utilizing MSA personal sampling pumps set to 0.2 l/m and Gas Chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Risk characterization and assessment was performed using Environmental Protection Agency Risk Assessment Information System (EPA RAIS).Results and conclusionThe results revealed that the concentration of benzene in gluing and paint shop units was above occupational exposure limits. Carcinogenic risk levels in 8 out of 10 units registered in the 1E-2 to 1E-4 range, and only two units registered a risk level below EPA’s acceptable risk level (10–6). The highest risk levels were measured in gluing, paint shop and repair shop units. Furthermore, the total non-carcinogenic hazard quotient was measured higher than 1 in 8 out of 10 studied units. Considering the abundance and wide use of VOCs -most notably BTEX- and the adverse carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects of these compounds, it is advised to: change the type of paint used in paint shops, improve the existing ventilation systems, develop new and more efficient ventilation systems and conduct consistent training.

A simplified spectrophotometric procedure for the detection of mercury ions

The recent brief work presents the results of attempts to simplify a procedure to detect dissolved Hg(II) compounds. It is based on the performance of a procedure, after the simplification of the prescription given in literature. The simplification was performed, to avoid the use of volatile organic compounds (VOC), such as the proposed in literature isoamyl alcohol. The present study aims to verify a simplified procedure, which does not require the use of mentioned VOC and detergents, like sodium dodecyl sulfate.

Curing Kinetics and Structure-Property Relationship of Moisture-Cured One-Component Polyurethane Adhesives

Moisture-curable polyurethane (PU) adhesives have been exploited in the automotive industry because of their usability, non-toxicity without the use of volatile organic compounds (VOC), outstanding solvent resistance, and adhesiveness. However, there has been a lack of quantitative and comprehensive analyses related to the chemical and thermomechanical properties of moisture-curable PU adhesives depending on the applied curing conditions. Herein, we systematically investigated the effects of curing conditions, including relative humidities (25, 35, 45, 55, 65, and 75%RH) and curing duration (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days), on the structure–property relationships of moisture-cured PU adhesives. As the relative humidity increased, the chemical reaction of the PU adhesives accelerated, and they exhibited a high crosslinking density and storage modulus. However, even prolonged curing time and higher relative humidity did not lead to a continuous enhancement in the mechanical properties of the PU adhesive. After a sufficient curing time, the storage modulus of the PU adhesive reached saturation, and the PU adhesives cured above 65%RH demonstrated a comparable saturated storage modulus. This structure–property relationship of PU adhesives will provide fundamental understanding and insights for quality control and optimization of processing time in the industry.

Connaissances Des Vendeurs Du Marché Sur Les Risques Chimiques Des Composés Organiques Volatils « Cas Du Marché Bayaka » De La Commune De Ngiri-Ngiri,» A Kinshasa, République Démocratique Du Congo

The aim of our study is to assess the knowledge of vendors at the BAYAKA market in the commune of Ngiri-Ngiri Ville, Kinshasa, on the prevention of pathologies caused by volatile organic compounds. Methods : Data were collected using a survey questionnaire on a sample of 115 respondents, sellers of all kinds of chemical products with over three years' experience on the BAYAKA market. An interview grid (focus group) was used to complete the information contained in the questionnaire. The data collected covered the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and their opinions on the characteristics of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), as well as cases of intoxication caused by Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Results : The results showed that the main health problems linked to the use of volatile organic compounds cited by sellers were digestive problems (2.1%), eye irritation (17.0%), vomiting (12.8%), coughing (23.4%), respiratory problems (4.3%), skin irritation (8.4%), dizziness (12.8%), hunger (6.4%), heat in the hand (4.3%), etc. When it comes to waste management, most vendors dispose of their waste by incineration (48.5%), landfill (16.9%), reuse (11.5%) and garbage can (23.1%). Conclusion : In view of the results obtained, studies on samples of persistent organic products, hydrocarbons, sodium hypochlorites (bleach), etc. are essential for a sustainable orientation of market gardening in Kinshasa.

Hydrogen bond-mediated organocatalytic enantioselective reduction of nitroalkenes in deep eutectic solvents

The catalytic enantioselective reduction of β,β-disubstituted nitroalkenes was performed in deep eutectic solvents, avoiding the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as reaction medium. The desired enantioenriched nitroalkanes were obtained in high yields and high enantiomeric excesses, up to 90%, by a metal-free, hydrogen bond-mediated catalytic methodology, with a convenient experimental protocol that could be successfully applied to a gram-scale reaction.

Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents as Active Media for Sustainable Synthesis of Biindoles Starting from 2,2’‐Diaminotolanes and Aldehydes

AbstractWe describe an alternative and more sustainable method for the synthesis of 2,2’‐disubstituted 3,3’‐biindoles starting from 2,2’‐diaminotolanes and (hetero)arylaldehydes. The key feature of the approach is the use of an acidic Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) able to exploit a double activity, i. e., solvent and Brønsted Acid (BA) catalyst, avoiding the use of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) as solvents and additional acid catalysts. By this way, we synthesized twenty‐five biindoles, including eighteen new compounds. The reactions run quickly under mild conditions by microwave heating at 70 °C, with yields ranging from good to very good. The reaction scope is rather broad. The medium demonstrated to be reusable at least five times with only a slight reduction in yields. Based on experimental evidence and previous literature findings, a plausible mechanism is proposed.

Antibacterial waterborne polyurethane coatings impregnated with in-situ formed and capped silver nanoparticles via p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene

The development of antibacterial nanocomposite coatings has been well studied in response to antibiotic resistance concerns. In this regard, silver nanoparticles incorporated waterborne polyurethanes (WPUs) are among the most attractive area due to their unique properties such as biocompatibility, reduced use of volatile organic compounds (VOC), easy construction, low viscosity, high adhesion to various surfaces, and rapid film formation. In this project, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were in-situ formed and simultaneously stabilized in the presence of sodium p-sulfonatocalix [4]arene (p-SC4A) as both reducing and stabilizing agents. Subsequently, the p-SC4A-stabilized AgNPs (p-SC4A/Ag) were incorporated into waterborne polyurethane, which was synthesized by the prepolymer mixing method. Examination of the structure and morphology of p-SC4A/Ag nanostructures using FT-IR, XRD, UV, SEM, and TEM analyses confirmed the synthesis of p-SC4A/Ag NPs with a smaller size than 50 nm. In addition, the various properties of WPU films with and without SC4A/Ag were evaluated by ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM, ICP, TGA, and contact angle tests. The results showed that using p-SC4A macrocycles not only solves the agglomeration problem of silver nanostructures in waterborne polyurethane dispersions but also significantly improves bacteria-killing efficiency against the gram-positive S. aureus and gram-negative E. coli bacteria relative to pure WPU. The biocompatibility of WPU films was also evaluated, and the results showed that samples containing SC4A/Ag NPs have good biocompatibility in contact with L929 fibroblast cells.

Bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) promote growth and induce metabolic changes in rice.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) represent an eco-friendly alternative to reduce the use of chemical products while increasing the productivity of economically important crops. The emission of small gaseous signaling molecules from PGPB named volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has emerged as a promising biotechnological tool to promote biomass accumulation in model plants (especially Arabidopsis thaliana) and a few crops, such as tomato, lettuce, and cucumber. Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most essential food crop for more than half of the world's population. However, the use of VOCs to improve this crop performance has not yet been investigated. Here, we evaluated the composition and effects of bacterial VOCs on the growth and metabolism of rice. First, we selected bacterial isolates (IAT P4F9 and E.1b) that increased rice dry shoot biomass by up to 83% in co-cultivation assays performed with different durations of time (7 and 12 days). Metabolic profiles of the plants co-cultivated with these isolates and controls (without bacteria and non-promoter bacteria-1003-S-C1) were investigated via 1H nuclear magnetic resonance. The analysis identified metabolites (e.g., amino acids, sugars, and others) with differential abundance between treatments that might play a role in metabolic pathways, such as protein synthesis, signaling, photosynthesis, energy metabolism, and nitrogen assimilation, involved in rice growth promotion. Interestingly, VOCs from IAT P4F9 displayed a more consistent promotion activity and were also able to increase rice dry shoot biomass in vivo. Molecular identification by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene of the isolates IAT P4F9 and E.1b showed a higher identity with Serratia and Achromobacter species, respectively. Lastly, volatilomes of these and two other non-promoter bacteria (1003-S-C1 and Escherichia coli DH5α) were evaluated through headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Compounds belonging to different chemical classes, such as benzenoids, ketones, alcohols, sulfide, alkanes, and pyrazines, were identified. One of these VOCs, nonan-2-one, was validated in vitro as a bioactive compound capable of promoting rice growth. Although further analyses are necessary to properly elucidate the molecular mechanisms, our results suggest that these two bacterial isolates are potential candidates as sources for bioproducts, contributing to a more sustainable agriculture.

Water - Based Polyurethanes for Antibacterial Coatings: an Overview

The spread of bacterial infections and the resulting loss of life and material have led scientists to research ways to develop knowledge in these disease-causing microorganisms. Usage of antibacterial polymer coatings is an important part of this area. Among the polymers, water-based polyurethanes (WPU’s) have received a lot of attention in biomedical fields such as antibacterial coatings, biological products and wound dressings due to their unique properties such as reduced use of volatile organic compounds (VOC), biocompatibility, the possibility of using a variety of raw materials. In this review, the methods of creating antibacterial properties in polymers, the synthesis of WPU’s and WPU-based antibacterial coatings are reviewed. The products produced as a result of these studies have been recommended for various fields such as the dressing and packaging industries, and the coating of medical equipment.

Deep Eutectic Solvents as à-la-Carte Medium for Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Organic Processes

Our society is facing a tremendous challenge to become more sustainable in every sphere of life. Regarding the chemical industry, one of the most significant issues to be addressed is the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as solvents because they are petrol-derived and most of them are toxic and flammable. Among the possible solutions, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as sustainable alternatives to VOCs in organic catalyzed transformations and other fields. The advantages of these new reaction media are not only related to their more benign physical and chemical properties and, for most of them, their renewable sources but also due to the possibility of being recycled after their use, increasing the sustainability of the catalyzed process in which they are involved. However, their use as media in catalytic transformations introduces new challenges regarding the compatibility and activity of known catalysts. Therefore, designed catalysts and "à-la-carte" DESs systems have been developed to overcome this problem, to maximize the reaction outcomes and to allow the recyclability of the catalyst/media system. Over the last decade, the popularity of these solvents has steadily increased, with several examples of efficient metal-catalyzed organic transformations, showing the efficiency of the catalysts/DES system, compared to the related transformations carried out in VOCs. Additionally, due to the inherent properties of the DES, unknown transformations can be carried out using the appropriated catalyst/DES system. All these examples of sustainable catalytic processes are compiled in this review.

Effects of volatile organic compounds on the explosion characteristics of polyethylene dust

This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of ethylene and propene gas on the explosion characteristics of polyethylene (PE) dust. After the addition of ethylene and propene gases, the maximum explosion pressure of PE dust increased from 6.7 barg to 9.1 and 7.6 barg by 1.4 and 1.1 times, respectively. Furthermore, the lower explosion limit (LEL) decreased; the addition of even a small amount of these inflammable gases was sufficient to produce a hazardous gas/dust hybrid mixture with low LEL. PE dust tests in a 2 vol. % propene environment revealed that an initial explosion occurred in the hybrid gas mixture, and the heat was transferred to the remainder of the incompletely mixed gas/dust mixture, thereby leading to a two-stage and more complete reaction. In addition, 2 vol. % propene tests also exhibited changes in the maximum pressure rise rate increase, resulting in strong St-2 level explosions because the propene reached its LEL of 2 vol. %. Therefore, propene underwent a complete combustion, resulting in a higher rate of pressure, and shortened time to maximum rate of pressure rise (TMRPR). Thus, the use of volatile organic compounds in dust manufacturing processes considerably increases the risk of explosion incidents.

Preparations and Properties of Ionic Liquid-Assisted Electrospun Biodegradable Polymer Fibers.

Enhanced awareness of the environment and environmental conservation has inspired researchers to search for replacements for the use of volatile organic compounds in the processing of polymers. Recently, ionic liquids have been utilized as solvents for solvating natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers since they are non-volatile, recyclable, and non-flammable. They have also been utilized to prepare electrospun fibers from biodegradable polymers. In this concise review, examples of natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers that are generally employed as materials for the preparation of electrospun fibers are shown. In addition, examples of ionic liquids that are utilized in the electrospinning of biodegradable polymers are also displayed. Furthermore, the preparations of biodegradable polymer electrospinning solutions utilizing ionic liquids are demonstrated. Additionally, the properties of electrospun biodegradable polymer fibers assisted by different ionic liquids are also concisely reviewed. Besides this, the information acquired from this review provides a much deeper understanding of the preparation of electrospinning solutions and the essential properties of electrospun biodegradable polymer fibers. In summary, this concise review discovered that different functions (solvent or additive) of ionic liquids could provide distinct properties to electrospun fibers.

Volatile Organic Compounds in Exhaled Breath as Biomarkers of Pulmonary Exacerbations in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Background/Objective: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal genetic disease in Caucasians, but CF affects all races and ethnicities. A characteristic manifestation of CF is the pulmonary exacerbation (PEx), which involves an increase in pulmonary symptoms, decrease in pulmonary function, energy loss, weight loss, and changes to clinical findings, and correlates with lung disease progression and lower quality of life. However, in children with CF, PExs have a subtle presentation, similar to that of the cold or flu, and there is a need for a test that can identify PExs. For this project, our objective was to establish a proof of concept for the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath as PEx biomarkers.
 
 Methods: This project enrolled 19 participants with a diagnosis of CF between the ages of 8 and 18, at Riley Cystic Fibrosis Center in Indianapolis. From each participant, exhaled breath was collected in a Tedlar Bag, in addition to lung function data and PEx status. Exhaled breath was analyzed for VOCs using Solid Phase Microextraction coupled to Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.
 
 Results: There were 13 VOCs that exhibited statistically significant differences in concentration between exhaled breath at baseline and during a PEx. These VOCs could be used in a Principal Component Analysis to differentiate baseline and PEx conditions. Finally, using Linear Regression, this project identified 22 VOCs with a significant correlation to lung function, an important potential confounder. Limitations include: (1) comparisons of multiple VOCs increase the likelihood of a false positive result and (2) small sample size.
 
 Conclusions: VOCs in exhaled breath are promising candidates as biomarkers to diagnose the presence and severity of PExs. In future experiments, we aim to expand the number of participants and track more clinical details to provide further evidence and applications for this proof of concept.

Fluorination effect on the solubility of C60 in a bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide based ionic liquid

Highly fluorinated fullerenes with a chemical composition of C60F48 have been prepared and characterized. Their solubility of the new nanomaterials in the ionic liquid (IL) has been compared with raw fullerenes C60. Fluorination may appear as a convenient method to enhance the solubility of carbonaceous nanomaterials in a fluorinated based anion IL. Indeed, the ability of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BmIm][NTf2]), to solubilize C60 and C60F48 was investigated using optical microscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. While C60 has very poor solubility in this IL (below 0.07 mmol/L), the solubility increases at least eightfold, i.e. more than 1.0 mg/mL (or 0.61 mmol/L) for C60F48 samples. The presence of fluorine atoms on fullerene seems to enhance the stability of the solvated molecules in IL thanks to the limitation of the aggregation of C60F48 in [BmIm][NTf2]. This improvement of the solubility could be explained by the beneficial effect of the fluorination that induces a decrease of the π-π interaction between carbonaceous solutes as the carbon hybridization changes from sp2 to sp3 through the formation of C-F covalent bonds and thus enhances the interaction between the solvent and the solute. Fluorination appears as an efficient approach to limit the use of volatile organic compounds usually used as co-solvent to enhance the dispersion mechanism.

Volatile Organic Compounds in the Early Diagnosis of Non‐healing Surgical Wounds: A Systematic Review

The normal healing of surgical wounds can be disrupted by infection and/or dehiscence, leading to development of chronic, non-healing wounds (NHW). Diagnosis of NHWs is via clinical acumen and analysis of microbiology wound swabs. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted generally by human subjects and specifically as products of bacterial metabolism and are detected in the wound area. This systematic review will assess the potential use of VOCs released by surgical wounds as a non-invasive method for identifying bacterial species and the progression to NHW. A systematic search of studies, via PRISMA guidelines, was conducted. Of 220 papers screened, seven studies were included. Outcome data were extracted on methods for VOC analysis and wound/bacterial VOC profiles. The studies have shown that VOC profiles are identified by two methods: gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electronic nose. There are VOC profiles associated with causative bacterial species, with early indications that they could be anatomically specific or could monitor treatment effects. VOC profiling of bacterial species within wounds is possible and could become a point of care test. More research is needed on specific VOC profiles to wound location and whether these profiles may predict progression to NHW.

Probing the ion-dipole interactions between the imidazolium-based ionic liquids and polyethylene glycol 200 using excess thermodynamic and spectroscopy studies

The use of volatile organic compounds in industrial applications has generally been considered as detrimental to the environment and been a contributor to unsustainable activity. Ionic liquids (ILs) are generally considered as “green” and ecologically friendly solvents compared to volatile organic solvents. In the application of ILs in various processes, they are typically mixed with other solvents in order to modify their physicochemical properties. Thus, the focus in the present study on the interactions between ILs and polymer via thermophysical properties together with FT-IR analysis. In this study, density (ρ), viscosity (η), speeds of sound (u), and refractive index (nD) of the binary mixtures of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIM+PF6-), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (EMIM+BF4-) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIM+BF4-) with polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) were measured at (293.15, 303.15, 313.15, 323.15 and 333.15) K and at p = 0.1 MPa. Excess thermodynamic properties: excess molar volume (VE), excess isentropic compressibility (KsE), excess viscosity (ηE), excess refractive index (nDE) and excess thermal expansion coefficient (αPE) were calculated from the thermophysical properties for the new systems studied. Excess thermodynamic properties were best correlated using the Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. Excess thermodynamic properties such as excess molar volume (VE), excess isentropic compressibility (KsE), and excess thermal expansion coefficient (αPE), displayed negative deviations, while excess viscosity (ηE) and excess refractive index (nDE) exhibited positive deviations throughout the entire composition range for the new systems. In addition, FT-IR spectroscopy was further utilized to confirm the presence of ion–dipole interactions/hydrogen bonding between the molecules of ILs and PEG200. The results from FT-IR spectra support the results obtained from excess thermodynamic properties. The results from both excess thermodynamic properties and FT-IR spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of ion–dipole interactions/hydrogen bonding. The strength of the ion–dipole interactions formed between molecules of PEG200 and ions of ILs follows the order: EMIM+BF4- >BMIM+PF6- > BMIM+BF4-. This study of the ILs + PEG200 binary mixtures contributes to the knowledge of physicochemical properties of these mixtures which can be utilized in specific applications such polymeric electrolytes in different electrochemical devices.

Urinary Volatiles and Chemical Characterisation for the Non-Invasive Detection of Prostate and Bladder Cancers.

Bladder cancer (BCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) are some of the most common cancers in the world. In both BCa and PCa, the diagnosis is often confirmed with an invasive technique that carries a risk to the patient. Consequently, a non-invasive diagnostic approach would be medically desirable and beneficial to the patient. The use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for disease diagnosis, including cancer, is a promising research area that could support the diagnosis process. In this study, we investigated the urinary VOC profiles in BCa, PCa patients and non-cancerous controls by using gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) and gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) to analyse patient samples. GC-IMS separated BCa from PCa (area under the curve: AUC: 0.97 (0.93–1.00)), BCa vs. non-cancerous (AUC: 0.95 (0.90–0.99)) and PCa vs. non-cancerous (AUC: 0.89 (0.83–0.94)) whereas GC-TOF-MS differentiated BCa from PCa (AUC: 0.84 (0.73–0.93)), BCa vs. non-cancerous (AUC: 0.81 (0.70–0.90)) and PCa vs. non-cancerous (AUC: 0.94 (0.90–0.97)). According to our study, a total of 34 biomarkers were found using GC-TOF-MS data, of which 13 VOCs were associated with BCa, seven were associated with PCa, and 14 VOCs were found in the comparison of BCa and PCa.

Abiotic and Biotic Damage of Microalgae Generate Different Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) for Early Diagnosis of Algal Cultures for Biofuel Production.

Open microalgal ponds used in industrial biomass production are susceptible to a number of biotic and abiotic environmental stressors (e.g., grazers, pathogens, pH, temperature, etc.) resulting in pond crashes with high economic costs. Identification of signature chemicals to aid in rapid, non-invasive, and accurate identification of the stressors would facilitate targeted and effective treatment to save the algal crop from a catastrophic crash. Specifically, we were interested in identifying volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be used to as an early diagnostic for algal crop damage. Cultures of Microchloropsis gaditana were subjected to two forms of algal crop damage: (1) active grazing by the marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, or (2) repeated freeze–thaw cycles. VOCs emitted above the headspace of these algal cultures were collected using fieldable solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers. An untargeted analysis and identification of VOCs was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Diagnostic VOCs unique to each algal crop damage mechanism were identified. Active rotifer grazing of M. gaditana was characterized by the appearance of carotenoid degradation products, including β-cyclocitral and various alkenes. Freeze–thaw algae produced a different set of VOCs, including palmitoleic acid. Both rotifer grazing and freeze–thawed algae produced β-ionone as a VOC, possibly suggesting a common stress-induced cellular mechanism. Importantly, these identified VOCs were all absent from healthy algal cultures of M. gaditana. Early detection of biotic or abiotic environmental stressors will facilitate early diagnosis and application of targeted treatments to prevent algal pond crashes. Thus, our work further supports the use of VOCs for monitoring the health of algal ponds to ultimately enhance algal crop yields for production of biofuel.

Detecting the Conspecific: Herbivory-Induced Olfactory Cues in the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), is a polyphagous pest whose larval feeding threatens several economically important crops worldwide with especially severe damage to corn (Zea mays L.). Field-derived resistance to several conventional pesticides and Bt toxins have threatened the efficacy of current management strategies, necessitating the development of alternative pest management methods and technologies. One possible avenue is the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other secondary metabolites that are produced and sequestered by plants as a response to larval feeding. The effects of conspecific larval feeding on fall armyworm oviposition preferences and larval fitness were examined using two-choice oviposition experiments, larval feeding trials, targeted metabolomics, and VOC analyses. There was a significant preference for oviposition on corn plants that lacked larval feeding damage, and larvae fed tissue from damaged plants exhibited reduced weights and head capsule widths. All larval feeding promoted significantly increased metabolite and VOC concentrations compared to corn plants without any feeding. Metabolite differences were driven primarily by linoleic acid (which is directly toxic to fall armyworm) and tricarboxylic acids. Several VOCs with significantly increased concentrations in damaged corn plants were known oviposition deterrents that warrant further investigation in an integrated pest management context.

Sniffer dogs can identify lung cancer patients from breath and urine samples

BackgroundLung cancer is the most common oncological cause of death in the Western world. Early diagnosis is critical for successful treatment. However, no effective screening methods exist. A promising approach could be the use of volatile organic compounds as diagnostic biomarkers. To date there are several studies, in which dogs were trained to discriminate cancer samples from controls. In this study we evaluated the abilities of specifically trained dogs to distinguish samples derived from lung cancer patients of various tumor stages from matched healthy controls.MethodsThis single center, double-blind clinical trial was approved by the local ethics committee, project no FF20/2016. The dog was conditioned with urine and breath samples of 36 cancer patients and 150 controls; afterwards, further 246 patients were included: 41 lung cancer patients comprising all stages and 205 healthy controls. From each patient two breath and urine samples were collected and shock frozen. Only samples from new subjects were presented to the dog during study phase randomized, double-blinded. This resulted in a specific conditioned reaction pointing to the cancer sample.ResultsUsing a combination of urine and breath samples, the dog correctly predicted 40 out of 41 cancer samples, corresponding to an overall detection rate of cancer samples of 97.6% (95% CI [87.1, 99.9%]). Using urine samples only the dog achieved a detection rate of 87.8% (95% CI [73.8, 95.9%]). With breath samples, the dog correctly identified cancer in 32 of 41 samples, resulting in a detection rate of 78% (95% CI [62.4, 89.4%]).ConclusionsIt is known from current literature that breath and urine samples carry VOCs pointing to cancer growth. We conclude that olfactory detection of lung cancer by specifically trained dogs is highly suggestive to be a simple and non-invasive tool to detect lung cancer. To translate this approach into practice further target compounds need to be identified.