Drug industries pollutants

Sulfites occur naturally in very small concentrations in the earth and in the atmosphere, and they are a natural ingredient in certain vegetables, foods and beverages as a result of endogenous fermentation by the yeasts in beer and wine (Taylor et al., 1986). Sulfites also occur naturally in the human body (Taylor et al., 1986 Adams, 1997 Food and Drug Administration [FDA], 2000), and they can be found in greater concentrations in natural waters or wastewaters as a result of industrial pollution, and in treatment plant effluents dechlorinated with sulfur dioxide, or as a consequence of volcanic activity, etc. 

The unique appearance of an infrared spectrum has resulted in the extensive use of infrared spectrometry to characterize such materials as natural products, polymers, detergents, lubricants, fats and resins. It is of particular value to the petroleum and polymer industries, to drug manufacturers and to producers of organic chemicals. Quantitative applications include the quality control of additives in fuel and lubricant blends and to assess the extent of chemical changes in various products due to ageing and use. Non-dispersive infrared analysers are used to monitor gas streams in industrial processes and atmospheric pollution. The instruments are generally portable and robust, consisting only of a radiation source, reference and sample cells and a detector filled with the gas which is to be monitored. 

When an analyte is fluorescent, direct fluorometric detection is possible by means of a spectrofluorometer operating at appropriate excitation and observation wavelengths. This is the case for aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. in crude oils), proteins (e.g. in blood serum, in cow milk), some drugs (e.g. morphine), chlorophylls, etc. Numerous fields of applications have been reported analysis of air and water pollutants, oils, foods, drugs monitoring of industrial processes monitoring of species of clinical relevance criminology etc. 

Environmental chemicals and pollutants are also capable of inducing P450 enzymes. As previously noted, exposure to benzo[a]pyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are present in tobacco smoke, charcoal-broiled meat, and other organic pyrolysis products, is known to induce CYP1A enzymes and to alter the rates of drug metabolism. Other environmental chemicals known to induce specific P450s include the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were once used widely in industry as insulating materials and plasticizers, and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (dioxin, TCDD), a trace byproduct of the chemical synthesis of the defoliant 2,4,5-T (see Chapter 56). 

These include drugs, pesticides, environmental pollutants, industrial chemicals, and food additives about which we need to know much, particularly concerning their safety. Of particular importance, therefore, is the ability to predict, understand, and treat toxicity as shown by examples such as paracetamol hepa to toxicity (see chap. 7). 

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