Plastic toys as a source of exposure to bisphenol-A and phthalates at childcare facilities

Correlation between urinary rare earth elements and liver function in a Zhuang population aged 35-74 years in Nanning

BACKGROUND

Animal studies have shown that exposure to REEs can cause severe liver damage, but evidence from population studies is still lacking. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between REEs concentrations in urine and liver function in the population.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study on 1024 participants in Nanning, China. An inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) was used to detect the concentrations of 12 REEs in urine. The relationship between individual exposure to individual REE and liver function was analyzed by multiple linear regression. Finally, the effects of co-exposure to 5 REEs on liver function were assessed by a weighted sum of quartiles (WQS) regression model and a Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model.

RESULTS

The detection rate of 5 REEs, lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), and dysprosium (Dy), is greater than 60%. After multiple factor correction, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, and Dy were positively correlated with serum ALP, Ce, Pr, and Nd were positively correlated with serum AST, while Ce was negatively correlated with serum TBIL and DBIL. Both WQS and BKMR results indicate that the co-exposure of the 5 REEs is positively correlated with serum ALP and AST, while negatively correlated with serum DBIL. There were potential interactions between La and Ce, La and Dy in the association of co-exposure of the 5 REEs with serum ALP.

CONCLUSIONS

The co-exposure of the 5 REEs was positively correlated with serum ALP and AST, and negatively correlated with serum DBIL.

Integrating Post-Ionization Separation via Differential Mobility Spectrometry into Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry for Toy Safety Screening

Direct analysis in real time (DART) enables direct desorption and ionization of analytes, bypassing the time-consuming chromatographic separation traditionally required for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. However, DART-MS suffers from matrix interference of complex samples, resulting in compromised detection sensitivity and quantitation accuracy. In this study, DART-MS was combined with differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) to provide an additional dimension of post-ionization ion mobility separation within a millisecond time scale, compensating for the lack of separation in DART-MS analysis. As proof-of-concept, primary aromatic amines (PAAs), a class of potentially hazardous chemicals, were analyzed in various toy products, including bubble solutions, finger paints, and plush toys. In addition to commercial Dip-it glass rod and metal mesh sampling tools, a customized rapid extractive evaporation device was designed for the accelerated extraction and sensitive analysis of solid toy samples. The incorporation of DMS in DART-MS analysis enabled the rapid separation and differentiation of isomeric analytes, leading to improved accuracy and reliability. The developed protocols were optimized and validated, achieving good linearity with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99 and acceptable repeatability with relative standard deviations less than 10%. Moreover, satisfactory sensitivity was realized with limits of detection and quantitation ranges of 0.2-5 and 1-20 μg/kg (μg/L) for the 11 PAA analytes. The established methodology was applied for the analysis of real toy samples (n = 18), which confirmed its appealing potential for toy safety screening and consumer health protection.

Invisible Hand behind Female Reproductive Disorders: Bisphenols, Recent Evidence and Future Perspectives

Reproductive disorders are considered a global health problem influenced by physiological, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The increased exposure to bisphenols, a chemical used in large quantities for the production of polycarbonate plastics, has raised concerns regarding health risks in humans, particularly their endocrine-disrupting effects on female reproductive health. To provide a basis for future research on environmental interference and reproductive health, we reviewed relevant studies on the exposure patterns and levels of bisphenols in environmental matrices and humans (including susceptible populations such as pregnant women and children). In addition, we focused on in vivo, in vitro, and epidemiological studies evaluating the effects of bisphenols on the female reproductive system (the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and vagina). The results indicate that bisphenols cause structural and functional damage to the female reproductive system by interfering with hormones; activating receptors; inducing oxidative stress, DNA damage, and carcinogenesis; and triggering epigenetic changes, with the damaging effects being intergenerational. Epidemiological studies support the association between bisphenols and diseases such as cancer of the female reproductive system, reproductive dysfunction, and miscarriage, which may negatively affect the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Altogether, this review provides a reference for assessing the adverse effects of bisphenols on female reproductive health.

Concentrations and association between exposure to mixed perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances and glycometabolism among adolescents

BACKGROUND

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely used for industrial and commercial purposes and have received increasing attention due to their adverse effects on health.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship of serum PFAS and glycometabolism among adolescents based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

METHODS

General linear regression models were applied to estimate the relationship between exposure to single PFAS and glycometabolism. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models and Bayesian kernel machine regressions (BKMR) were used to assess the associations between multiple PFASs mixture exposure and glycometabolism.

RESULTS

A total of 757 adolescents were enrolled. Multivariable regression model showed that Me-PFOSA-AcOH exposure was negatively associated with fasting blood glucose. WQS index showed that there was marginal negative correlation between multiple PFASs joint exposure and the homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (β = -0.26, p < .068), and PFHxS had the largest weight. BKMR models showed that PFASs mixture exposure were associated with decreased INS and HOMA-IR, and the exposure-response relationship had curvilinear shape.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in serum PFASs were associated with a decrease in HOMA-IR among adolescents. Mixed exposure models could more accurately and effectively reveal true exposure.Key MessagesThe detection rates of different PFAS contents in adolescent serum remained diverse.Adolescent serum PFASs had negative curvilinear correlation with INS and HOMA-IR levels.PFHxS had the highest weight in the associations between multiple PFASs and adolescent glycometabolism.

Environment-wide association study to identify exposure pathways of bisphenol A in Korean children and adolescents: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2018-2020

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical commonly used in manufacturing plastic products. Despite ongoing efforts and regulatory measures, BPA exposure among children persists. This study aimed to identify the modifiable factors associated with urinary BPA levels in Korean children and adolescents. We conducted an environment-wide association study (EWAS) using data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) Cycle 4. This study included 578 preschoolers, 736 school-aged children, and 828 adolescents. A total of 117, 103, and 102 modifiable factors were selected from KoNEHS Cycle 4. Each modifiable factor associated with urinary BPA levels was tested using a multivariable linear regression model. Subsequently, multiple testing corrections were performed using false discovery rate (FDR) estimation. For the validation phase, we used the iteration of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), a machine learning-based regression analysis. After the validation phase of the LASSO regression, two modifiable factors were identified as being significantly related to urinary BPA levels in preschoolers. Urinary cotinine levels and the use of slime or clay toys were positively associated with urinary BPA levels in preschoolers. However, no significant associations were observed between school-aged children and adolescents. Our results suggest novel exposure pathways to BPA in recent lifestyles and contribute to the development of effective prevention strategies. These modifiable factors provide valuable targets for interventions aimed at reducing BPA exposure in children. Further research is needed to explore additional modifiable factors and confirm our results in larger and more diverse populations.

Single and Joint Associations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure with Liver Function during Early Pregnancy

The individual and combined associations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) metabolites on liver function during pregnancy are still lacking. We aimed to explore the connection between urinary PAH metabolites and liver function in early pregnant women in southwest China based on the Zunyi birth cohort. Ten urinary PAH metabolites and five liver function parameters during early pregnancy were measured. The associations of single PAHs with parameters of liver function were assessed using multiple linear regression. A Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was used to evaluate the joint associations of the PAH mixture with outcomes. We found that each 1% increment of urinary 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OH-PHE) was associated with 3.36% (95% CI: 0.40%, 6.40%) higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and 2.22% (95% CI: 0.80%, 3.67%) higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Each 1% increment in 1-hydroxy-phenanthrene (1-OH-PHE) was significantly associated with 7.04% (95% CI: 1.61%, 12.75%) increased total bile acid (TBA). Additionally, there was a significant positive linear trend between 2-OH-PHE and AST and 1-OH-PHE and TBA. BKMR also showed a significant positive association of PAH mixture with AST. Our results indicate that PAH metabolites were associated with increased parameters of liver function among early pregnant women. Early pregnant women should pay more attention to the adverse relationships between PAHs and liver function parameters to prevent environment-related adverse perinatal outcomes.

Endocrine disrupting compounds in the baby's world - A harmful environment to the health of babies

Globally, there has been a significant increase in awareness of the adverse effects of chemicals with known or suspected endocrine-acting properties on human health. Human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) mainly occurs by ingestion and to some extent by inhalation and dermal uptake. Although it is difficult to assess the full impact of human exposure to EDCs, it is well known that timing of exposure is of importance and therefore infants are more vulnerable to EDCs and are at greater risk compared to adults. In this regard, infant safety and assessment of associations between prenatal exposure to EDCs and growth during infancy and childhood has been received considerable attention in the last years. Hence, the purpose of this review is to provide a current update on the evidence from biomonitoring studies on the exposure of infants to EDCs and a comprehensive view of the uptake, the mechanisms of action and biotransformation in baby/human body. Analytical methods used and concentration levels of EDCs in different biological matrices (e.g., placenta, cord plasma, amniotic fluid, breast milk, urine, and blood of pregnant women) are also discussed. Finally, key issues and recommendations were provided to avoid hazardous exposure to these chemicals, taking into account family and lifestyle factors related to this exposure.

Metals as toxicants in event-based expedited production of children's jewelry

Globally, the hazardous substance in children's goods is of great concern. Toxic chemicals are potentially harmful to the health and growth of infants and children. Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)-contaminated children's jewelry is widely encountered in many countries. This study aims to determine the concentration of metal toxicants (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Co, and Fe) in event-based (Independence Day festival) children's jewelry, considering time-limited and fast production products that may compromise the quality and safety parameters during manufacturing. The determinations are for the time-constraint industrial production of children's jewelry in the context of the toxic substances in a variety of base materials used. This is the first time event-based children's jewelry has been monitored and critically assessed for metal contamination. Forty-two samples, including metallic, wooden, textile, rubber, plastic, and paint-coated plastic children's jewelry, were tested. Seventy-four percent of samples detected Pb and Cd in quantifiable amounts. Ni in 71%, Cu in 67%, Co in 43%, and Zn and Fe were detected in 100% samples with quantifiable amounts. Twenty-two ID-CJ samples exceeded the US regulatory limit for Pb and four samples for Cd. However, twenty-nine samples for Pb, eleven for Cd, five for Co, and one for Cu exceeded the EU regulatory limit. The highest concentration of Pb was found in paint-coated plastic jewelry, and the highest Cd was found in metallic jewelry. These results suggest that the potential hazards of event-based children's jewelry deserve the attention of government agencies seeking to limit children's exposure to toxic chemicals. Intergovernmental organizations and individual countries regulate chemicals in consumer products, but a coordinated international approach is lacking. Some continents and countries still lack in regulations for children's products, especially jewelry, and toys.

Fabrication, characterization, and performance evaluation of Bi2WO6/TiO2/Fe3O4 photocatalyst responding to visible light for enhancing bisphenol A degradation

A novel magnetic Bi₂WO₆/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ photocatalyst was synthesized by a hydrothermal approach. The pattern, structure, elemental composition, light-absorbing properties, and magnetism of Bi₂WO₆/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ were characterized and analyzed. The performance, influencing factors, and mechanism of Bi₂WO₆/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ towards bisphenol A (BPA) degradation were investigated and deduced. BPA removal up to 95% was achieved with the addition of 1.25 g/L Bi/Ti/Fe2 (molar ratio of Bi₂WO₆:TiO₂:Fe₃O₄ = 2:1:0.17) in the solution containing 10 mg/L BPA at pH 5.6. The performance of Bi/Ti/Fe2 was stable for five cycles at least after extracted from the reacted solution by magnet. Photoexcited h⁺, •OH, and •O₂^- formed in the reaction mainly contributed to BPA degradation. The Bi/Ti/Fe2 composite was composed of a three-layer petal structure from outside to inside to be Bi₂WO₆, TiO₂, and Fe₃O₄. This structure was conducive in forming a heterojunction between TiO₂ and Bi₂WO₆, inhibiting the merging of photoexcited e^- and h⁺, and improving the photocatalytic efficiency.

Understanding plasticiser leaching from polystyrene microplastics

Plastic pollution in our oceans is of growing concern particularly due to the presence of toxic additives, such as plasticisers. Therefore, this work aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the leaching properties of plasticisers from microplastics. This work investigates the leaching of phthalate acid ester (dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)) and diphenol (bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS)) plasticisers from polystyrene (PS) microplastics (mean diameter = 136 μm to 1.4 mm) under controlled aqueous conditions (temperature, agitation, pH and salinity). The leaching behaviours of plasticised polymers were quantified using gel permeation chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and thermal gravimetric analysis, and the particle's plasticisation characterised using differential scanning calorimetry. Leaching rates of phthalate acid ester and diphenol plasticisers were modelled using a diffusion and boundary layer model, whereby these behaviours varied depending on their plasticisation efficiency of PS, the size of the microplastic particle and the surrounding abiotic conditions. Leaching behaviours of DEHT and DEHP were strongly influenced by the microplastic-surface water boundary layer properties, thus wave action (i.e., water agitation) increased the leaching rate of these plasticiser up to 66 % over 21-days, whereas BPA and BPS plasticisers displayed temperature- and size-dependent leaching and were limited by molecular diffusion throughout the bulk polymer (i.e., the microplastic). This information will improve predictions of plasticiser concentration (both that remain in the plastic and released into the surrounding water) at specific time points during the lifetime of a plastic, ultimately ensuring greater accuracy in the assessment of toxicity responses and environmental water quality.

Association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and hypertension among the U.S. adults in the NHANES 2003-2016: A cross-sectional study

The global burden of hypertension, the major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally, remains unresolved. Exposure to PM2.5 has been linked to hypertension (HTN) in adults and the elderly globally according to previous studies. Nonetheless, evidence on the association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure and HTN risk in the general adult population in the United States was limited. To investigate the relationship between PAH exposure and HTN in adults in the United States, cross-sectional data during 2003 and 2016 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) on a stratified multistage random sample of the civilian non-institutionalized population were utilized. After eliminating individuals with incomplete information of interest, the final analysis contained 8951 subjects aged ≥20. In the multivariate logistic regression model, 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 2-hydroxyfluorene were found positively associated with increased risk of HTN among overall participants after adjusting for the covariates. 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 2-hydroxynaphthalene showed positive associations with HTN risk among overweight participants. In the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model, 1-hydroxynaphthalene and 2-hydroxyfluorene presented great importance to HTN risk among overall individuals. In the male subgroup analyses by BKMR, 2-hydroxyfluorene presented a positive effect on HTN risk when the remaining OH-PAHs were set at their 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile. Our findings highlight the complexities of estimating the risk of HTN associated with mixed PAH exposure, and additional longitudinal studies are required to determine the exact link between PAH exposure and HTN risk, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Temporal trends in risk of bisphenol A, benzophenone-3 and triclosan exposure among U.S. children and adolescents aged 6-19 years: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2016

BACKGROUND

Phenolic compounds with potential adverse health effects are gradually being replaced. Little is known about the potential health risks of BPA, BP3, and TCS exposure in children and adolescents aged 6-19 years in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

To determine trends and rates of change in hazard indices (HI) for three phenolics in U.S. children and adolescents for BPA, BP3, TCS, and to assess changes in gender, race/ethnicity, age, and potential health risks.

METHODS

Metabolic biomonitoring data from field-collected urine samples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized. Daily intake of three phenols (bisphenol A, benzophenone-3, and triclosan) between 2005 and 2016 in children and adolescents were obtained. Cumulative risk indicators, including hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and maximum cumulative ratio (MCR), were used for the health risk assessment of the three phenols.

RESULTS

During this period, the change in LSGM HI was -2.9% per cycle [95% Cl: (-3.7%, -2.2%)], and the percentage of participants with HI > 0.1 decreased from 15.6% to 10.5%. Children (6-11 years) had higher mean HI values than adolescents (12-19 years), while female had higher LSGM HI values than male. MCR values were generally low and negatively correlated with HI. However, the average value of MCR increased from 1.722 to 2.107 during this period.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to phenolics among U.S. children and adolescents has changed in recent decades. However, gaps in data limit the interpretation of trends but legislative activity and advocacy campaigns by nongovernmental organizations may play a role in changing trends. Moreover, there are growing concerns about the potential health risks associated with exposure to multiple phenols in children and adolescents.

Characterization and quantification of endocrine disruptors in female menstrual blood samples

Selected endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) were measured in adult female menstrual blood for the first time in Ghana, Africa, taking into account the importance of non-invasive means of matrices sampling in vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, the elderly or chronically ill people. The menstrual blood samples of twenty (20) female adults between the ages of 25-45 years were sampled. The Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe (QuEChERS) method was applied for the extraction and clean up, while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to measure the selected EDCs in adult female menstrual blood, taking into account the composition of menstrual discharge. Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were detected in all samples, whereas bisphenol A (BPA) was found in 13 participants. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP) was detected in 7 participants, Di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) was detected in 3 participants, Bis (2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) and pyrimidine were detected in 2 participants, while benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) was detected in only 1 participant. The maximum concentration of DEP measured was 115.6 µg.L^-1and the minimum was 439 µg.L^-1. DEHP was the next most abundant phthalate with a maximum measured concentration of 982 µg.L^-1 and minimum of 95 µg.L^-1. The presence of parent phthalates (rather than metabolites) in menstrual blood of all participants studied suggests that bioaccumulation of selected phthalate compounds such as DEHP, DEP and DBP may be occurring with appreciable human toxicity though the carcinogenic exposure risks of DEHP via various routes were much lower than 1 × 10^-6 considered to be very low.

Association of urinary phthalate metabolites with renal function among 9989 US adults

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between phthalate metabolites and renal function.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 9989 participants who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018. Renal function was reflected by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and hypertension. We used generalized linear regression to estimate the correlation between covariate-adjusted creatinine-normalized phthalate metabolites and renal function. In addition, subgroup analysis was used to further compare the effect differences between various populations.

RESULTS

In the adjusted model, we found differential associations between phthalates and plasticizers metabolites and renal function. We found that Mono-benzyl phthalate, Mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, and Mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate were positively associated with lower eGFR with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.38 (1.14, 1.67), 1.30 (1.09, 1.57), and 1.27 (1.04, 1.53). While Mono-ethyl phthalate, Mono-(2-ethyl)-hexyl phthalate, Mono-isononyl phthalate and Mono-isobutyl phthalate were negatively associated with lower eGFR with OR values of 0.79 (0.69, 0.90), 0.64 (0.52, 0.78), 0.65 (0.51, 0.82) and 0.80 (0.63, 1.00), respectively. In addition, we found that Mono(carboxyoctyl) phthalate and Mono-isobutyl phthalate were negatively associated with hypertension with ORs of 0.86 (0.78, 0.96) and 0.84 (0.72, 0.98). But phthalates and plasticizers metabolites were not associated with UACR.

CONCLUSION

This study found differences in the effects of phthalates and plasticizers metabolites on kidney function, which may raise concerns about possible changes in kidney function resulting from exposure to current levels of plasticizers.

Migration of hazardous contaminants from WEEE contaminated polymeric toy material by mouthing

This study evaluated the migration of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), phosphate flame retardants (PFRs), bisphenols (BPA, BPF), and phthalate ester-based plasticizers from recycled polymeric toy material, containing waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), in artificial saliva simulating 1 h of mouthing. In total 12 parts of 9 different toys were tested in triplicate after confirming WEEE specific contamination. Up to 11 contaminants were detected in saliva from one toy sample. The highest migration rate up to 128 ng/(cm² x h) was found for BPA followed by bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) with migration rates up to 25.5 and 8.27 ng/(cm² x h), respectively. In addition to DecaBDE, which was detected in 3 saliva samples at migration rates between 0.09 and 0.31 ng/(cm² x h), the decaBDE replacements 2,4,6-tris(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)-1,3,5-triazine (TTBP-TAZ), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) were detected as well with comparable migration rates. 2,4,6-tribromphenol (246-TBP) reached migration rates up to 1.15 ng/(cm² x h) in correspondence to the presence of TTBP-TAZ. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), BPA, 246-TBP, DEHP, DIBP and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) were predominantly observed in saliva with a detection frequency between 50 and 75%. Daily intake (DI) values were calculated for relevant analytes and compared to tolerable daily intake (TDI) values. The highest DI values of 72.4, 14.3, 5.74, 2.28 and 2.09 ng/(kg BW x day), were obtained for BPA, DEHP, DIBP, TBBPA, and TPHP, respectively. None of them exceed the TDI value or respective reference dose (RfD).

Can Antioxidants Reduce the Toxicity of Bisphenol?

BPA is still the subject of extensive research due to its widespread use, despite its significant toxicity resulting not only from its negative impact on the endocrine system but also from disrupting the organism’s oxidative homeostasis. At the molecular level, bisphenol A (BPA) causes an increased production of ROS and hence a change in the redox balance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and modulation of cell signaling pathways. Importantly, these changes accumulate in animals and humans, and BPA toxicity may be aggravated by poor diet, metabolic disorders, and coexisting diseases. Accordingly, approaches using antioxidants to counteract the negative effects of BPA are being considered. The preliminary results that are described in this paper are promising, however, it should be emphasized that further studies are required to determine the optimal dosage and treatment regimen to counteract BPA toxicity. It also seems necessary to have a more holistic approach showing, on the one hand, the influence of BPA on the overall human metabolism and, on the other hand, the influence of antioxidants in doses that are acceptable with the diet on BPA toxicity. This is due in part to the fact that in many cases, the positive effect of antioxidants in in vitro studies is not confirmed by clinical studies. For this reason, further research into the molecular mechanisms of BPA activity is also recommended.

Urinary phthalate metabolites mixture, serum cytokines and renal function in children: A panel study

Epidemiological evidence regarded the relations of phthalates with children's renal function and its underlying mechanism were largely unknown. We conducted a panel study using 287 paired urine-blood samples by repeated measurements of 103 children (4-13 years) across 3 seasons to explore effects of urinary phthalate metabolites on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the potential role of multiple cytokines. We found that mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), monobutyl phthalate (MBP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and mono-n-octyl phthalate (MOP) were significantly associated with eGFR reduction. Compared with the lowest quartile, MBP, MBzP and MEP in the third and fourth quartiles exhibited a graded decrease in eGFR. Meanwhile, weighted quantile sum regression analyses showed an inverse association of metabolites mixture with eGFR, to which MEP, MBzP, MOP were the major contributors. MEP also remained robust in multiple-phthalate model. Age and weight status might modify such relationships with significant interactions. Furthermore, eGFR related phthalate metabolites were associated with increased multiple cytokines, and CCL27, CXCL1 might be potential mediators between MEP and eGFR with mild mediated proportions. Accordingly, urinary phthalate metabolites were related to eGFR reduction in dose-response manner and multiple cytokines elevation, of which CCL27 and CXCL1 might partly mediate phthalate-associated decreased renal function among children.

Bisphenol S is present in culture media used for ART and cell culture

STUDY QUESTION

Do plastic laboratory consumables and cell culture media used in ART contain bisphenols?

SUMMARY ANSWER

The majority of human embryo culture media assessed contained bisphenol S close to the nanomolar concentration range, while no release of bisphenols by plastic consumables was detected under routine conditions.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

The deleterious effect of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) on female fertility raised concerns regarding ART outcome. BPA was detected neither in media nor in the majority of plastic consumables used in ART; however, it might have already been replaced by its structural analogs, including bisphenol S (BPS).

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Seventeen plastic consumables and 18 cell culture and ART media were assessed for the presence of bisphenols.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

Ten different bisphenols (bisphenol A, S, AF, AP, B, C, E, F, P and Z) were measured using an isotopic dilution according to an on-line solid phase extraction/liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

While the plastic consumables did not release bisphenols under routine conditions, 16 of the 18 cell culture and ART media assessed contained BPS. Six media exhibited BPS concentrations higher than 1 nM and reached up to 6.7 nM (1693 ng/l).

LARGE SCALE DATA

N/A.

LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION

Further studies are required to investigate a greater number of ART media to identify less potentially harmful ones, in terms of bisphenol content.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

As BPS has already been reported to impair oocyte quality at nanomolar concentrations, its presence in ART media, at a similar concentration range, could contribute to a decrease in the ART success rate. Thus far, there has been no regulation of these compounds in the ART context.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS

This study was financially supported by the ‘Centre-Val de Loire’ Region (Bemol project, APR IR 2017), INRAE, BRGM, the French National Research Agency (project ANR-18-CE34-0011-01 MAMBO) and the BioMedicine Agency (Project 18AMP006 FertiPhenol). The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the reported research.

What Do Childcare Providers Know about Environmental Influences on Children's Health? Implications for Environmental Health Literacy Efforts

Children are uniquely vulnerable to toxicant exposures in their environment, which can have long-lasting impacts on their health. Childcare providers are an important population to target for environmental health literacy, as most children in the United States under five years of age spend a significant number of waking hours in non-parental care. There is an increasing body of evidence that children are exposed to toxicants in the childcare environment, and yet little is known about what childcare providers know about environmental influences on the health of children in their care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 home- and center-based Illinois childcare providers to better understand their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors as they relate to environmental influences on children’s health. We found that the majority of providers had a low level of understanding of potential sources of exposure in the childcare environment, and they did not feel that environmental exposures posed a significant risk to children. Future efforts to increase environmental health literacy should focus on raising awareness and knowledge of environmental health issues for childcare providers before addressing ways that providers can reduce or prevent toxicant exposures to children in their care.

Adsorption of bisphenol A by activated carbon developed from PET waste by KOH activation

This study deals with the preparation of activated carbon (AC) from poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) waste and with the physicochemical characterization of AC and its use as adsorbent of bisphenol A (BPA) in aqueous solution. AC was prepared by chemical activation with KOH and by physical activation in steam. The activation with KOH was carried out by impregnation first of PET by wet and dry routes at the PET/KOH weight ratios of 1:1, 1:3, and 1:5 and by carbonization then of the resulting products at 850 °C for 2 h in N₂ atmosphere. The activation in steam was performed by heating at 900 °C for 1 h. The ACs were characterized by N₂ adsorption at - 196 °C, mercury porosity, mercury density measurements, FT-IR spectroscopy, and measurement of pH of the point of zero charge (pH_pzc). The activation yield is 58.4-49.4% with KOH in aqueous solution, 75.8-23.9% with solid KOH, and 5.9% with steam. Using solid KOH, greater developments of a more heterogeneous porosity with increasing impregnation PET/KOH ratio are achieved. For SK1:5, S_BET is 1990 m² g^-1 and the pore volumes are 0.71 cm³ g^-1, micropores; 0.81 cm³ g^-1, mesopores; and 1.77 cm³ g^-1, macropores. The data of BPA adsorption fit better to the Ho and Mckay second order kinetic model than to the Lagergren first-order kinetic model and to the Langmuir equation than to the Freundlich equation. From the kinetic and thermodynamic standpoints, the adsorption process of BPA is more favorable for SK1:5.

Removal of gaseous DiBP and DnBP by ionizer-assisted filtration with an external electrostatic field

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) have been widely used in indoor applications and cause severe sicknesses. In this study, we developed an ionizer-assisted filtration method with an external electrostatic field to efficiently remove gaseous DiBP (Diisobutyl phthalate) and DnBP (Dibutyl phthalate). We used low-pressure drop polyurethane (PU) foams as substrate filters, and loaded fine activated carbon powder into PU foams as PU-C foams. The pressure drop of new filters ranged from 5.28 Pa to 14.3 Pa at the face velocity of 1 m/s. We investigated the influence of filter materials and electrostatic charging on the single-pass filtration efficiency of PAEs and net ozone production. The filtration efficiency of 30 ppi (pores per inch) filter increased from 15.4% (PU) to 29.3% (PU-C) for DiBP. Only pollutant pre-charging cannot enhance the filtration efficiency of PAEs. It may be because negative ions accumulate on the filter surface and cause electrostatic repulsive forces between the charged gaseous PAEs and filters, which lowers the electrostatic filtration efficiency. When charging the pollutants at -8.0 kV and the filter at +10.0 kV simultaneously, the filtration efficiency of 30 ppi PU-C filter increased from 29.3% to 45.5% for DiBP. However, the simultaneous charging on pollutants and filters did not improve the efficiency of 40 ppi PU-C filter. The reason may be that the specific resistance of 40 ppi PU-C filter was 6 times larger than that of 30 ppi PU-C filter, which leads to more negative ions accumulating on the filter surface. The tendency for the removal of DnBP is similar. The net ozone productions of all experiments were less than 0.38 mg/h. Overall, this study developed an ionizer-assisted filtration method with an external electrostatic field, which is based on inexpensive, low pressure drop coarse filters, and is efficient for the active control of gaseous PAEs.

Determination of Very Low Concentration of Bisphenol A in Toys and Baby Pacifiers Using Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction by In Situ Ionic Liquid Formation and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical compound used in the manufacturing of plastics and resins whose presence in the body in low concentrations can cause serious health problems. Due to this, there is a growing interest in the scientific community to develop analytical methods that allow quantifying trace concentrations of BPA in different types of samples. The determination of this compound in toys made of plastics that can be manipulated by children leads to an extra concern, because it is possible for BPA to enter the body by introducing these toys into the mouth. This work presents a novel procedure to the quickly and easily quantification of trace levels of BPA in samples of toys and pacifiers according to the current demanding regulations. The determination of very low levels of BPA was carried out by ionic liquid dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The formation in situ of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bis((trifluoromethane)sulfonyl)imide ([C8MIm] [NTf2]), was achieved by mixing 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C8MIm]Cl) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([NTf2]Li) aqueous solutions, reaching an instant dispersion whose cloud of microdrops allows the total extraction of BPA in the IL from aqueous solutions. After centrifugation, BPA concentration in the sedimented phase was determined by HPLC. The optimal experimental conditions for the microextraction and determination of BPA in the IL were studied. The total extraction was achieved at pH 4, heating the sample at 30 °C for 5 min, using 100 µL of IL precursor volume, and spinning after the formation of dispersion at 3000 rpm for 10 min. The enrichment factor (EF) and detection limit (LOD) reached with the procedure were 299 and 0.19 µg L-1, respectively. The relative standard deviation for ten replications at the 0.5 µg L-1 level was 5.2%. Recovery studies showed a mean value for BPA recovery percentage in the samples of 99%. Additionally, a hybrid model was applied to characterize the extraction kinetics. This simple, low cost and fast method simplifies traditional microextraction techniques, representing an outstanding alternative.

Exposure to New Emerging Bisphenols Among Young Children in Switzerland

Restrictions on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products led to its replacement by various bisphenol (BP) analogues, yet young children's exposure to these analogues has been poorly characterized so far. This study aimed to characterize infants' and toddlers' exposure to BPA and 14 emerging BP analogues (i.e., bisphenol AF, bisphenol AP, bisphenol B, bisphenol BP, bisphenol C (BPC), bisphenol E, bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol G, bisphenol M (BPM), bisphenol P, bisphenol PH, bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol TMC, and bisphenol Z). We extracted infants' and toddlers' urine from diapers (n = 109) collected in Swiss daycare centers as a practical and noninvasive alternative approach to urinary biomonitoring. Bisphenols were present in 47% of the samples, with BPC and BPM being the most frequently detected (23% and 25% of all samples, respectively). The mean concentrations of urinary BPS and BPF were greater than that of BPA. This contrasts with data reported previously. Furthermore, statistical analysis revealed a significant and negative correlation between urinary BPM concentration and the population's age. Our results provide a first characterization of infants' and toddlers' exposure to bisphenols in Switzerland. This knowledge can be used to support ongoing biomonitoring studies and to prioritize exposure reduction and prevention strategies.

Soil Microbiome Response to Contamination with Bisphenol A, Bisphenol F and Bisphenol S

The choice of the study objective was affected by numerous controversies and concerns around bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS)—analogues of bisphenol A (BPA). The study focused on the determination and comparison of the scale of the BPA, BPF, and BPS impact on the soil microbiome and its enzymatic activity. The following parameters were determined in soil uncontaminated and contaminated with BPA, BPF, and BPS: the count of eleven groups of microorganisms, colony development (CD) index, microorganism ecophysiological diversity (EP) index, genetic diversity of bacteria and activity of dehydrogenases (Deh), urease (Ure), catalase (Cat), acid phosphatase (Pac), alkaline phosphatase (Pal), arylsulphatase (Aryl) and β-glucosidase (Glu). Bisphenols A, S and F significantly disrupted the soil homeostasis. BPF is regarded as the most toxic, followed by BPS and BPA. BPF and BPS reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria and increased that of Actinobacteria. Unique types of bacteria were identified as well as the characteristics of each bisphenol: Lysobacter, Steroidobacter, Variovorax, Mycoplana, for BPA, Caldilinea, Arthrobacter, Cellulosimicrobium and Promicromonospora for BPF and Dactylosporangium Geodermatophilus, Sphingopyxis for BPS. Considering the strength of a negative impact of bisphenols on the soil biochemical activity, they can be arranged as follows: BPS > BPF > BPA. Urease and arylsulphatase proved to be the most susceptible and dehydrogenases the least susceptible to bisphenols pressure, regardless of the study duration.

Effect of Exposure of Plastic Infant Feeding Bottle Leached Water on Biochemical, Morphological and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) is leached out from plastic infant feeding bottles that are filled with warm milk/water due to high temperatures, exposing the infants to BPA. The present study aims to understand the effects of ingestion of BPA leached from plastic infant feeding bottle and delineate the underlying mechanisms in rats. In this study, adult rats of Wistar strain were divided into 3 groups. In the first group, the rats consumed normal food and tap water ad libitum. In the second group, the rats ingested BPA (20 µg/kg bodyweight/day, orally). In the third group, the rats drank water leached from plastic infant feeding bottles. After 30days, tests involving biochemical parameters, histopathological examination, and oxidative stress enzyme markers were performed, and the levels of BPA in plastic-leached water were estimated by HPLC analysis. There were significant biochemical changes in the form of increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in both treated groups as compared to control group, accompanied by structural damage to the vital organs, and lipid peroxidation, glutathione reductase, and catalase activity were also high in the treated groups. Further, the BPA concentration in plastic leached water was estimated to be 0.1 ± 0.02 µg/mL.

Potential endocrine disrupting properties of toys for babies and infants

Plastic toys mouthed by children may be a source of exposure to endocrine active substances. The purpose of this study was to measure hormonal activity of substances leaching from toys and to identify potential endocrine disruptors causing that activity. For this purpose, migration experiments of toys were conducted in saliva simulants. The CALUX® assays were used to detect (anti-) estrogenic and (anti-) androgenic activity of 18 toys. Chemical trace analysis-namely, GC-MS and HPLC-MS- was used to identify which compounds may be responsible for endocrine activity in the sample migrates. Nine out of 18 tested toys showed significant estrogenic activity. For two samples, the detected estrogenic activity could be well explained by detecting the known endocrine active substance bisphenol A (BPA). For all identified substances, including BPA, a risk assessment for human health was performed by comparing the exposure dose, calculated based on the determined substance concentration, to toxicological reference values. Using worst-case scenarios, the exposure to BPA by mouthing of the two estrogen active, BPA-containing toys could be above the temporary TDI that EFSA has calculated. This demonstrates that some toys could significantly contribute to the total exposure to BPA of babies and infants. For seven out of nine estrogen active samples, the source of the estrogen activity could not be explained by analysis for 41 known or suspected endocrine active substances in plastic, indicating that the estrogen activities were caused by currently unknown endocrine active substances, or by endocrine active substances that would currently not be suspected in toys.

The influence of polyphenols on metabolic disorders caused by compounds released from plastics - Review

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) released from plastics into water, soil and air are significant environmental and health problem. Continuous exposure of humans to these substances results not only from the slow biodegradation of plastics but also from their ubiquitous use as industrial materials and everyday products. Exposure to POPs may lead to neurodegenerative disorders, induce inflammation, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, insulin resistance, allergies, metabolic diseases, and carcinogenesis. This has spurred an increasing intense search for natural compounds with protective effects against the harmful components of plastics. In this paper, we discuss the current state of knowledge concerning the protective functions of polyphenols against the toxic effects of POPs: acrylonitrile, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, phthalates and bisphenol A. We review in detail papers from the last two decades, analyzing POPs in terms of their sources of exposure and demonstrate how polyphenols may be used to counteract the harmful environmental effects of POPs. The protective effect of polyphenols results from their impact on the level and activity of the components of the antioxidant system, enzymes involved in the elimination of xenobiotics, and as a consequence - on the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polyphenols present in daily diet may play a protective role against the harmful effects of POPs derived from plastics, and this interaction is related, among others, to the antioxidant properties of these compounds. To our knowledge, this is the first extensive review of in vitro and in vivo studies concerning the molecular mechanisms of interactions between selected environmental toxins and polyphenols.

Bisphenol A Exposure Enhances Endometrial Stromal Cell Invasion and Has a Positive Association with Peritoneal Endometriosis

Results of previous epidemiology studies on BPA exposure and endometriosis (EMs) risk were inconsistent, and were limited by inappropriate control selection, incorrect BPA detection method, and the generalization of different subtypes of EMs. Upregulated matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP9 are involved in the development of EMs. We conducted a case-control study among 120 EMs patients and 100 healthy women to evaluate the relationships between BPA exposure and MMP2, MMP9 expressions, and the risk of EMs subtypes. Besides, we used human endometrial stromal cell lines (HESCs) to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Creatinine-adjusted urinary BPA concentrations were positively correlated with serum MMP2, MMP9 levels, and the risk of peritoneal EMs (third vs lowest quartile: OR 4.92, 95% CI 1.47, 16.50; fourth versus lowest quartile: OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.07, 12.74, P_trend = 0.030). The risk of peritoneal EMs increased approximately tenfold when creatinine-adjusted urinary BPA concentration was 2 μg/g. In vitro study found that BPA exposure increased MMP2, MMP9 expressions in a dose-dependent manner. The effects of BPA on HESCs could be blocked by G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) inhibitor or mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) inhibitor. This study provides evidence that BPA exposure promotes peritoneal EMs, and raises a concern about the potential toxicity of BPA on the female reproductive system.

Determination of volatile non intentionally added substances coming from a starch-based biopolymer intended for food contact by different gas chromatography-mass spectrometry approaches

The rapid growth of polymer technology in the field of food contact materials (FCMs) needs to be supported by continuous improvement in material testing, in order to ensure the safety of foodstuff. In this work, a range of different starch-based biopolymer samples, in the shape of pellets and retail samples (cups and dishes) were studied. The optimized extraction process was performed on three different pellet shapes: pellets with no modification (spherical), pellets shattered under high pressure (lentils), and pellets cryogenically ground (powder). The analysis of unknown volatile and semi-volatile compounds was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using both electron ionization with a single quadrupole mass analyzer (GC-EI-MS), and atmospheric pressure gas chromatography with a quadrupole/time of flight mass analyzer (APGC-Q/ToF). The identification process was implemented using the latest advances in the understanding of APGC ionization pathways. Chemical migration was also assessed on prototype samples using the food simulants: ethanol 10% v/v, acetic acid 3% w/V, ethanol 95% v/v, isooctane, and vegetable oil. Each migration test was performed three consecutive times, as recommended for materials intended for repeated use.

Preliminary study on bisphenol A levels and possible exposure history of mother and exclusively breastfed infant pairs

The aims of this study were to determine bisphenol A (BPA) levels in breast milk and urine specimens of healthy mother and exclusively breastfed infant pairs having no known BPA exposure, and also to examine the relationship between BPA levels and possible BPA exposure history. Forty mothers and their 1-2-month-old exclusively breastfeed infant were included in the study. The questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics and possible BPA exposure history were filled out. Breast milk and urine samples were taken. BPA analyses of these samples were conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. All mother-infant pairs showed detectable BPA concentrations. The geometric means of BPA levels in breast milk, maternal urine, and infant urine were determined as 0.12 μg/L (0.03-0.59), 0.12 μg/L (0.03-0.73), and 0.13 μg/L (0.02-0.44), respectively. Infants whose mothers were consuming yoghurt in plastic containers had relatively higher urinary BPA levels (p = 0.00). Mothers consuming hot beverages in plastic glass showed higher breast milk BPA levels (p = 0.033). There were no statistical associations between BPA levels and the use of plastic materials and tools (p > 0.05).Conclusion: The measurable BPA concentrations in all breast milk specimens of healthy mothers may reflect possible exposure from dietary or non-dietary sources. Exclusively, breastfed healthy infants without any known BPA exposure may be exposed to BPA from their mothers through breastfeeding. What is Known: • Fetuses, neonates and infants are exposed to BPA from their mothers through placental transfer and breastfeeding. • Breast milk is considered a continuous low-level exposure to BPA. What is New: • BPA was detected in 100% of maternal urine, infant urine, and breast milk in healthy mother-infant pairs having no known BPA exposure. • The measurable amount of BPA in breast milk and infant urine may reflect possible BPA exposure of mother-infant pairs.

Cationic gemini surfactant-resorcinol-aldehyde resin and its application in the extraction of endocrine disrupting compounds from food contacting materials

A new cationic gemini surfactant-resorcinol/formaldehyde resin was designed and synthesized. Cationic gemini surfactant was introduced into the resorcinol/formaldehyde resin for the first time and led to the retention of negatively charged endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) through electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions. The synthesized material showed good performance in the dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) of EDCs such as alkylphenol and phenoxy acid herbicides from food packaging migrants. Extraction parameters such as pH, adsorbent dose, extraction time and salting out effect were optimized. The limits of detections were in the range of 0.5-0.8 ng/mL, and the recoveries were in the range of 90-100%. The developed method was applied to the analysis of EDCs from food contacting materials migrants with pentachlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and bisphenol A detected in the concentration range of 0.2-1.2 mg/kg. It also showed great potential in the D-μ-SPE of other compounds with negative charge or high hydrophobicity.