Consumption of foods of animal origin as determinant of contamination by organochlorine pesticides and polychlorobiphenyls: results from a population-based study in Spain

Contamination Status of Pet Cats in Thailand with Organohalogen Compounds (OHCs) and Their Hydroxylated and Methoxylated Derivatives and Estimation of Sources of Exposure to These Contaminants

In this study, we analyzed serum samples of pet cats from Thailand and estimated the contribution to organohalogen compounds (OHCs) exposure through cat food and house dust intake. BDE-209 was predominant in cat sera and accounted for 76% of all polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a major contaminant in dry cat food and house dust, which has been estimated to be a source of exposure for Thai pet cats. BDE-209 is a major contaminant of OHCs in dry cat food and house dust, which was estimated to be a source of exposure for Thai pet cats. On the other hand, the level of contamination by PCBs was lower than in other countries. Analysis of pet foods suggested that BDE-209 in pet cat serum was attributable to the consumption of dry cat food. On the other hand, house dust also contained high concentrations of BDE-209. Thus, high levels of BDE-209 in pet cat sera can be attributed to the consumption of dry cat food and house dust. These results suggest that pet cats are routinely exposed to non-negligible levels of OHCs.

Human biomonitoring of persistent and non-persistent pollutants in a representative sample of the general population from Cape Verde: Results from the PERVEMAC-II study

International Public Health authorities recommend biomonitoring studies to assess the exposure to chemicals in the general population. The aim of the present study was to analyze the blood concentrations of a total 360 pollutants, including 230 pesticides in current or recent use, 59 persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs), 11 anticoagulant rodenticides and 60 pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), in a cohort of 403 subjects from Cape Verde. The study was performed in the frame of the Pesticide Residues in Vegetables of the Macaronesia project (PERVEMAC-II). A total of 60 out of 360 toxic compounds (16.7%) were detected, at least, in one participant. The three most frequently detected substances were p,p'-DDE (100%), phenanthrene (94.0%) and hexachlobenzene (35.9%). 2-Phenylphenol and imidacloprid were detected in 29.0 and 14.4% of the population. The three substances with the highest serum concentrations were PhACs: naproxen (249.1 ng/mL), metronidazole (115.6 ng/mL) and acetaminophen (25.2 ng/mL). Median blood concentration of p,p'-DDE, HCB and phenanthrene were 1.87, 0.08 and 0.36 ng/mL. Blood concentrations of POPs were influenced by age, although both gender and body mass index may exert an influence in the presence of these substances. Lifestyle has an effect on the concentration of these substances, especially in terms of dietary habits. Both the frequency of detection and the concentration of the studied substances are similar to those of other biomonitored populations. This is the first biomonitoring study carried out in Cape Verde. Our results may be useful for the implementation of public health measures by the competent authorities.

Maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy and exposure to persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals in two European birth cohorts

Food consumption, particularly of animal-based products, is considered the most important contributor to persistent endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposure. This study aims to describe the association between maternal diet during pregnancy and exposure to persistent EDCs using dietary pattern analysis. This study is based on subsamples of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (N=422) and the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) (N=276) which uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). Women in both studies completed food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) during pregnancy, from which consumption data were categorized into 38 aggregated food groups. Maternal blood samples were collected during pregnancy and concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in serum/plasma were measured. Dietary patterns were identified using reduced rank regression, with blood EDC concentrations as response variables. Within ALSPAC, all patterns (PFAS, PCB, and OCP) were characterized by high consumption of meat, poultry, white fish, and biscuits. In MoBa, high consumption of sausages and burgers (representing processed meats), pasta, and chocolate bars characterized PCB and OCP dietary patterns, while high consumption of cheese characterized the PFAS pattern. Across both cohorts, PFAS patterns were characterized by high consumption of cheese, PCB patterns by high consumption of rice, and OCP patterns by poultry. Dietary patterns explained between 8 and 20% of the variation in serum EDC concentrations, with explained variance being the highest for PCBs in both cohorts. In conclusion, dietary patterns high in animal-based products appear to be associated with persistent EDC concentrations among pregnant women. Diet explains more variation in PCB concentrations than for other persistent EDC classes.

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in blood of the Spanish population: Temporal trend

The present article reviews the human biomonitoring studies conducted in Spain to assess exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In general terms, important variations in POPs concentrations between Spanish regions and specific populations were observed, while no associations between exposure to POPs and adverse health outcomes were found. Moreover, occupational exposure seems not to be a risk factor with regards to POPs exposure in the Spanish population. The present review highlights the importance of conducting human biomonitoring studies to find possible associations between POPs and adverse health effects.

Human biomonitoring of persistent organic pollutants in elderly people from the Canary Islands (Spain): A temporal trend analysis from the PREDIMED and PREDIMED-Plus cohorts

The population of the Canary Islands has been exposed to high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Biomonitoring studies are essential to know the temporal trend in residue levels, particularly of substances banned decades ago. The purpose of this study was to analyze the distribution of plasma concentrations of 59 POPs in 175 participants from the PREDIMED-Plus trial (2014-2016), and to compare them with the distribution of these POPs in 343 participants in the PREDIMED trial (2006-2009). All participants had metabolic syndrome. No difference in the distribution of age, gender or BMI was observed between trials. POPs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Density plots -POP Geoffrey Rose curves- were used to represent the full population distribution of each compound. Three out of 59 POPs were detected and quantified in ≥95% of the samples (p,p'-DDE, median = 694.7 ng/g lipid; HCB, median = 57.0 ng/g lipid; and β-HCH, median = 75.7 ng/g lipid). PCB congeners 138, 153 and 180 were detected in 64.6, 40.0 and 88.0% of the samples. Females showed highest concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and those subjects who lost ˃ 5 kg showed significant higher plasma concentrations of POPs. In a range of 6-14 years, plasma concentrations of POPs decreased 3.3-21.6 fold, being notable the decrease of 28.7-fold observed for HCB among women. Despite this sharp decline, levels of POPs are still higher than those reported in other regions, since one third of the subjects included in the present report had high concentration of more than three pollutants. Continuous biomonitoring studies are required to know the evolution of the levels of residues and to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policies.

Systematic mapping of organophosphate contaminant (OPC) research trends between 1990 and 2018

Since the addition of polybrominated diphenyls and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) to the world banned list, toxic organophosphate contaminants (OPCs) such as organophosphate flame retardants and organophosphate pesticides have been, respectively, used as substitutes. These chemicals are reported to be more toxic than their halogenated counterparts. It is rare to find a study that focuses on visualising the publication trends of these chemical classes. In this study, we employed a bibliometric model to systematically map research activities between 1990 and 2018 using OPC articles retrieved from the WoS and Scopus databases. A total of 1090 articles were retrieved from the hybrid databases with an article/author and author/article ratio of 0.33 and 3.02, respectively. Articles on OPC studies were positively correlated with the number of years (r² = 0.96; y = 0.23x² - 3.82x + 27.90) suggesting an increase in the number of articles on this subject in future. The USA ranked first in terms of articles (n = 245) and citations (n = 12,922) followed by China and India (203 and 89 articles, respectively). Articles from China and the USA had strong collaboration with other countries. Research priorities and top author keywords included pesticides (n = 112), organophosphate (n = 83) and acetylcholinesterase (n = 60) and were also well represented in keywords-plus. Developed countries had higher outputs compared to developing countries. It was observed that from our thematic literature classifications, human toxicity, ecotoxicological impacts, and environmental monitoring of OPCs were of greater importance to scholars, thus indicating the direction of future research. Futuristic studies need to foster partnership with policymakers, journalists, consultants, farmers, artisans and community workers on OPC research. This will not only enhance scientific communication and community engagement but will also increase the awareness of these pollutants to the general public.

Dietary habits associated with the presence of organochlorine pesticides in human milk

This study aims to establish the relationship between the consumption of certain foods and the presence of organochlorine pesticides in human milk. A total of 167 samples of breastmilk were collected. Sample analysis was carried out by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Pesticide concentrations (op'DDT, pp'DDT, pp'DDE, Σ-DDT, HCB, β-HCH) were grouped by consumption level of fish, dairy products, meat, eggs, and seafood and then were compared to each other. The odds ratio (OR) was calculated between the concentration of pesticides (higher and/or lower than median) and the exposure variable (high consumption). The results indicated low median concentrations of HCB, β - HCH, op'DDT and pp'DDT, whose fluctuations and trends between different frequencies of food consumption were not significant. pp'DDE and Σ - DDT values according to the increase in consumption of fish were significantly increased. Women with high fish consumption have a higher risk of high concentrations of pp'DDE and Σ-DDT (OR: high consumption: 5.6 (1.3-23.6). A protective effect was observed in the consumption of dairy products (β-HCH and op'DDT), meat (HCB), and seafood (pp'DDT). These results suggest that it is possible that the consumption of fish, dairy products, meat, and seafood influences the presence of organochlorine pesticides in the studied population.

Freshwater seal as a source of direct and indirect increased human exposure to persistent organic pollutants in a background area

The aim of the study is to investigate POP levels in environmental media (air, snow, soil and sediment), certain food items in the Olkhon district (Irkutsk Region, Russia) and Lake Baikal seal (nerpa) fat and meat in order to define the main pathways of elevated human exposure to POPs in the area. POP levels in soil and air samples and in almost all of the food items from the Olkhon district were comparable to levels in background areas of the Lake Baikal region. Only certain chicken eggs, large fish and blubber of nerpa pups exceeded maximum permissible levels of ΣDDTs and ΣHCHs. The combination of elevated levels of POPs in the Baikal nerpa with the use of Baikal nerpa fat (traditional nutritional habits, feed additives, as well as medicine for humans and domestic animals) results in two pathways for POPs to enter the human body: from seals it enters the human body directly, and indirectly from seals to poultry and livestock and then to the human body. Several scenarios of human exposure to POPs including the incidental ingestion of soil, inhalation of air, and ingestion of food were considered. The largest part of POPs enters the human organism through chicken eggs followed by fish and cow's milk in the scenario without the consumption of nerpa meat and blubber. The high consumption rate of fish as well as the consumption of the fat of nerpa pups or melted fat of nerpa increases the daily intake of POPs 1.3-11 times. The indexes of non-cancer risk and total cancer risk were assessed for residents of the Olkhon district and compared with indexes of risk for the average population of Irkutsk Region. Limiting the use of nerpa fat and meat as food and feed supplement reduces the potential human health risk.

PCB levels in adipose tissue of dogs from illegal dumping sites in Campania region (Italy)

The aim of the study is to investigate the potential relationship between exposure to PCBs and cancer. In doing so we relied on a sample of dogs coming from a peculiar area of the Campania region (Italy), that has been suffering for illegal waste dumping and open air burning of plastic waste for many years. The latter determined the release of organic and inorganic pollutants, such as the PCBs. By comparing dogs with cancer and healthy dogs, we found much higher PCB concentrations in the former, with a significant difference (p < 0.05) for the non-indicator ∑10NDL-PCB and the DL-PCBs. A regression analysis, controlling for three potentially confounding factors, that are sex, age and weight, confirmed the higher ∑10NDL-PCB concentration in dogs with cancer. Hence, our evidence suggests a potential health hazard for animals and likewise people living in a risky area due to the presence of environmental organic pollutants.

Organochlorine Pesticides and PCBs in Traditionally and Industrially Smoked Pork Meat Products from Bosnia and Herzegovina

The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs): (hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH, β-HCH, δ-HCH), lindane, aldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, endosulfane I, endosulfane II, endosulfane sulfate, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), dieldrin, endrin, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), methoxychlor and endrin ketone and 6 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 153, PCB 138 and PCB 180). The samples were taken from pancetta, dry pork neck (budiola), pork tenderloin and sausages produced in Rakitno (Bosnia and Herzegovina), smoked in both a traditional smokehouse and in an industrial chamber. Instrumental analysis was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The reliability of the results, i.e., quality control is ensured by standard laboratory practice, which involves participation in proficiency test, the use of blank samples, reference materials and implementation of recommendations given by the relevant international organizations. The concentrations of α-HCH, lindane, PCB 28, PCB 52 and PCB 153 were detected and quantified. The concentrations of OCPs and PCBs did not significantly vary depending on product type and the conditions of production. All the examined samples were for human consumption.

Animal Protein Intake Is Associated with General Adiposity in Adolescents: The Teen Food and Development Study

Protein plays a crucial role in the growth and development of adolescents. However, being a secondary energy source, protein’s role in obesity has been sidelined. We examined whether intake of protein (total, animal, plant), branched-chain (BCAAs), and sulfur-containing (SCAAs) amino acids are associated with general body and central obesity and body composition in a cross-sectional study among healthy adolescents. Students aged 12–18 years old (n = 601) in schools near two major Adventist universities in California and Michigan provided dietary data via a validated web-based food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and anthropometric data during school visits. Intakes of total, animal, and plant proteins, and BCAAs and SCAAs were derived from FFQ data. We defined general body obesity with body-mass-index-for-age (BMIz) z-scores and central obesity with waist-to-height ratios (WHtR). After full adjustment for covariates, multiple regression analyses showed significant positive associations between intakes of total protein (β = 0.101, 95% CI: 0.041, 0.161), animal protein (β = 0.118, 95% CI: 0.057, 0.178), BCAAs (β = 0.056, 95% CI: 0.025, 0.087), and SCAAs (β = 0.025, 95% CI: 0.012, 0.038) with general body adiposity. Animal protein (β = 0.017, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.033) and SCAAs (β = 0.004, 95% CI: 0.000, 0.008) were also associated with central obesity. Total and animal protein and BCAA and SCAA were also significantly associated with fat mass. Our findings suggest that high protein intake may pose a possible detriment to adolescent health. Longitudinal and safety evaluation studies are recommended.

Patterns of PCBs and OCPs exposure in a sample of Lebanese adults: The role of diet and physical activity

BACKGROUND

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the general population is 90% from food intake. Dietary patterns provide a global estimation of exposure to POPs, taking into account multiple food sources of environmental contaminants.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association of dietary, socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle-related variables with clusters of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in a sample of students and employees of Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

METHODS

A total of 302 participants were randomly recruited. Questionnaires covering dietary, socio-demographic, and lifestyle-related characteristics were administered. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Serum concentrations of six indicator PCBs (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and four OCPs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexanes (β-HCH), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolite p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were measured, and cluster analysis was applied. We evaluated the association of dietary intake with PCBs/OCPs exposure using two different approaches: food consumption categories and dietary patterns retrieved from principal component analysis (PCA).

RESULTS

Three clusters of PCBs/OCPs were obtained: middle-level, high-level, and low-level. Practicing physical activity was associated with a three times higher risk of having high-level PCBs/OCPs, after adjustment for confounding variables (ORa = 2.97; CI = 1.23-7.19; p < 0.05). The highest tertile of fish and shellfish consumption increased by three-folds the odds of having high-level PCBs/OCPs (ORa = 3.41; CI = 1.07-10.84; p < 0.05). PCA revealed six dietary patterns. A "cereals, fats and oils, and eggs" dietary pattern was associated with 50% increase in the risk of having high-level PCBs/OCPs (ORa = 1.48; CI = 1.03-2.13; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The present results offer a valuable contribution to the understanding of the factors increasing exposure to POPs, namely fish consumption and the "cereals, fats and oils, and eggs" dietary pattern. We also demonstrated that physical activity was positively associated with a higher risk of exposure to PCBs and OCPs, knowing that data on this matter are scarce.

Commercially Available Essential Oil Formulas as Repellents Against the Stored-Product Pest Alphitobius diaperinus

The main aim of the presented paper is to assess the potential repellent effect of selected essential oils (EOs) against the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), which can cause economic losses in storage and in the poultry industry. Due to the development of pesticide resistance in A. diaperinus populations, as well as an attempt to limit extensive use of potentially harmful pesticides in food-related industries, there is a strong need for the development of alternative methods of dealing with A. diaperinus infestations. Because of their cost-effectiveness, availability and low vertebrate toxicity, EOs are promising agents in pest management. In the presented paper four off-the-shelf EOs: mint, vanilla, lemon and citronella (and mixtures of them) were tested as potential repellents. Moreover, a novel preference assay, providing an extended analysis of the preference and the locomotor response, was used. The most effective EOs were: citronella and lemon. EOs mixtures were generally more repellent than individual EOs, with the lemon and vanilla 1:1 mixture acting as the strongest repellent. A few of the tested EOs caused significant alterations to the locomotor activity, although no direct relation was observed. In conclusion, EOs can be potentially used as repellent agents in A. diaperinus management. Additionally, data on the locomotor activity may lead to designing better push-pull strategies in pest management.

Body burden of organohalogenated pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Romanian population: Influence of age, gender, body mass index, and habitat

Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) are highly lipophilic and resistant to degradation, hence these substances are commonly found in the environment even decades after their prohibition. The aim of the present study was to determine human serum concentrations of POPs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Romanian population, investigating the role of demographic variables on the body burden of such chemicals. A cross-sectional study including a total of 121 subjects from Brasov (Transylvania region) was designed. The concentration of 62 chemicals, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) and PAHs, was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the serum of the participants. p,p'-DDE and β-HCH were detected in 100% and 62% of the series (median values = 2.1 and 0.5 μg/L); PCB-153 was detected in 77.7% of the subjects and PCB-28 showed the highest median concentration (0.5 μg/L); BDE-47 was detected at a low concentration in 11.6% of the individuals; phenanthrene and naphthalene were present in 98.3% and 38.8% of the serum samples (median values = 0.9 and 6.5 μg/L, respectively). Age was the main determinant of the total body burden of OCPs and PCBs. A positive correlation was observed between p,p'-DDE and age (Spearman Rho = 0.312, P < 0.0001), suggesting the prevalence of higher levels of pollutants at older ages. The present results showed a significant decrease in serum levels of p,p'-DDE and HCH in Romania -a country which has traditionally reported higher values than other Eastern European countries- as well as low levels of PCBs and BDEs. The presence of PAHs suggests an unknown source of exposure that deserves further investigation.

Estimating acute and chronic exposure of children and adults to chlorpyrifos in fruit and vegetables based on the new, lower toxicology data

This paper presents, for the first time, results for chlorpyrifos (CHLP) in Polish fruits and vegetables over the course of a long period of research, 2007-2016, with toxicological aspects. The challenge of this study was to re-evaluate the impact of chlorpyrifos residues in fruit and vegetables on health risk assessed via acute and chronic exposure based on old and new, lower, established values of: Average Daily Intakes (ADIs)/Acute Reference Doses (ARfDs) and Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). A total of 3 530 samples were collected, and CHLP in the range of 0.005-1.514 mg/kg was present in 10.2% of all samples. The MRL was exceeded in 0.7% of all samples (MRL established in 2009-2015), and recalculation yielded a much greater number of violations for the new MRL (2016), which exceeded 2.9% of all samples. Acute exposure to CHLP calculated according to the old, higher toxicological data (0.10 mg/kg bw/day), does not exceed 14% of its respective ARfDs for adults and both groups of children, but when calculated for incidental cases according to the current value (ARfD 0.005 mg/kg bw) for infants and toddlers, was above 100% of its respective ARfDs in: white cabbage (263.65% and 108.24%), broccoli (216.80% and 194.72%) and apples (153.20% and 167.70%). The chronic exposure calculated for both newly established ADI values (0.001 mg/kg bw/day and 0.100 mg/kg bw/day) appears to be relatively low for adults and children.

Differential contribution of animal and vegetable food items on persistent organic pollutant serum concentrations in Spanish adults. Data from BIOAMBIENT.ES project

Diet is considered the main source of Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) exposure in the general population, although there are still several gaps of knowledge regarding the differential contribution of main food groups. The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns that contribute to human exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs). Study population (n=1880, 18-65years old) was recruited during 2009-2010 in all the main geographical areas of Spain. For this work, exposure was estimated by chemical analyses of serum levels of 6 PCBs (n=1880), 13 OCPs (n=934), and 6 (PFASs) in a subsample of 755 (n=755). Dietary habits and covariates were gathered via self-administered questionnaires. Data analyses were performed by means of multivariable linear regression and weighted quantile sum regression. Both the consumption of animal-based and plant-based food were positively associated with the individual concentrations of p,p´-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, and PCB-congeners -138, -153, and-180. The contribution of animal-based products was 2.1-4.0× stronger except in p,p´-DDE, to which both patterns had similar contributions. In PFASs only animal food was positively associated with the exposure levels. The main animal-based contributors to PCB exposure were fish (49-64%) and eggs (19-36%), while OCP concentrations were mainly influenced by dairy products (32-48%) and fish (47-48%). PFOA and PFHxS were mainly explained by cold-meat (34-37%), fish (25-26%), and eggs (19-21%), while PFOS and PFDA were primarily influenced by fish consumption (44-77%). In the case of plant-based items, fruits (25-82%) and vegetables (18-63%) accounted for the majority of the variability of PCB and OCP concentrations. Our results highlight the relevance of dietary POP exposure as well as the need for the consideration of nutritional interventions in public health programs aiming to reduce POP exposure in the general population.

Serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds and predictors of exposure in children living in agricultural communities from South-Eastern Spain

BACKGROUND

Information on exposure levels to organochlorine compounds (OCs) in child population is limited, despite their greater vulnerability to the adverse health effects of these chemicals.

OBJECTIVE

To determine serum concentrations of 10 OCs (including organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls -PCBs-) in children living in agricultural communities from Almería (South-Eastern Spain), and to identify the main predictors of exposure related to socio-economic characteristics, diet and lifestyle.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 133 children aged 6-11 years selected from public schools of the study area. OCs compounds were determined in serum samples by GC/ECD. Anthropometric measures were obtained during sample collection. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, parental occupation, residential history, lifestyle and frequency of food consumption, among other relevant factors, was obtained by questionnaires administered to the mothers.

RESULTS

Geometric means of serum concentrations (ng/ml) were 0.11 for β-hexachloro-cyclohexane (β-HCH), 0.09 for endosulfan, 0.20 for endosulfan-ether, 0.51 for hexachorobenzene (HCB), 0.08 for mirex, 0.06 for oxychlordane, 0.36 for p,p'-DDE, 0.20 for PCB 138, 0.36 for PCB 153, and 0.45 for PCB 180. Percentage of samples above the limit of detection (0.05 ppb) ranged from 32 (β-HCH) to 100 (HCB). A high variability in OC levels depending on the compound was observed between our results and others found in similar studies carried out in children. Variables related to fish consumption were found to be the major dietary determinant of PCB 138, p,p´-DDE, endosulfan-α, β-HCH, mirex and oxychlordane levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Children participating in this study showed detectable levels of many OC, despite these compounds are no longer used. Their presence in children serum can be explained by their high lipophilicity and environmental persistence, leading to contamination of fatty food. In this line, fish consumption seemed to be the most relevant determinant of OC levels found in our study.

Current status of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure among mothers and their babies of Korea-CHECK cohort study

Despite the global ban, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been a persistent and significant environmental health issue worldwide. Prenatal exposure to these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been identified as a major route of exposure among developing fetuses and newborn infants. Among Children's Health and Environmental Health of Korea (CHECK) cohort population, pregnant females (n=148) and their matching newborn infants (n=117) recruited from four cities of Korea in 2011 were investigated. The blood serum and cord blood serum were sampled at delivery, and measured for 19 OCPs and 19 PCBs. In addition, a questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics, and dietary habits were conducted. The most frequently detected POPs in both maternal blood and cord blood were p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) (99% detection in maternal, and 98% in cord blood serum) and PCB153 (95% in maternal, 74% in cord blood serum). The levels of dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethanes (DDTs) in both maternal (average 82.5ng/g lw) and cord blood serum (average 77.5ng/g lw) were comparable to or greater than those reported in Japan about a decade ago. Approximately two thirds of the pregnant women and newborn infants showed the p,p'-DDE concentrations exceeding the biological equivalent (BE) corresponding to 10^-6 excess cancer risk. In addition, less chlorinated PCBs were detected higher in both maternal and cord serum. Less chlorinated PCBs also showed greater transplacental ratio. Dairy consumption among the subjects was positively associated, and tea consumption was negatively associated with serum levels of several POPs. Our results show that the exposure to legacy POPs, especially DDTs, among pregnant women and newborn infants is still prevailing, thus warrants measures for exposure mitigation among these vulnerable populations.

Persistent organic pollutants and risk of diabetes and obesity on healthy adults: Results from a cross-sectional study in Spain

Environmental exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has been reported to be relevant in the population of the Canary Islands (Spain), especially that of organochlorine pesticides. On the other hand, the population of this archipelago presents a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and it has been recently reported that environmental chemical contamination could play a role in the development of this disease. We performed a cross-sectional study in a representative sample from this archipelago to evaluate whether serum levels of selected POPs could be considered as risk factors for diabetes in this population. Serum levels of 30 POPs were determined in 429 adults (9.3% with T2D). We found that serum levels of p,p'-DDE (DDE), PCB-153 and PCB-118 were significantly higher among subjects having diabetes than in non-diabetic subjects (p=0.001, p=0.046, and p<0.0001, respectively). We observed a positive correlation between serum p,p'-DDE and glucose levels. Serum p,p'-DDE was identified as a risk factor for diabetes in univariate analysis in the whole series, and it remained as an independent risk factor for diabetes in subjects with serum glucose <126mg/dL (multivariate analysis, Exp(B)=1.283, CI 95% (1.023-1.611), p=0.031). Those normoglycemic subjects that are most exposed to p,p'-DDE (95th percentile: serum p,p'-DDE>5μg/L) seem to be those people at higher risk. Our results showed that p,p'-DDE levels were significantly higher among subjects having diabetes. These findings should be considered by public health Authorities to implement measures devoted to minimize human exposure to pollutants that could be harmful to the population.

Concentrations of environmental organic contaminants in meat and meat products and human dietary exposure: A review

Meat and meat products is one of the most relevant food groups in an important number of human diets. Recently, the IARC, based on results of a number of epidemiological studies, classified the consumptions of red meat and processed meat as "probably carcinogenic to humans" and as "carcinogenic to humans", respectively. It was suggested that the substances responsible of the potential carcinogenicity would be mainly generated during meat processing, such as curing and smoking, or when meat is heated at high temperatures. However, the exposure to environmental pollutants through meat consumption was not discussed. The purpose of the present paper was to review recent studies reporting the concentrations of PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs and PAHs in meat and meat products, as well as the human exposure to these pollutants through the diet. It is concluded that the health risks derived from exposure to carcinogenic environmental contaminants must be considered in the context of each specific diet, which besides meat and meat products, includes other foodstuffs containing also chemical pollutants, some of them with carcinogenic potential. Anyhow, meat and meat products are not the main food group responsible of the dietary exposure to carcinogenic (or probably carcinogenic) environmental organic pollutants.

Relationship of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with parasitism, iron homeostasis, and other health outcomes: Results from a cross-sectional study on recently arrived African immigrants

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic and persistent chemicals produced between 1930s and 1980s, which accumulate in humans and wildlife. Although a decreasing trend of PCB levels in humans has been described in developed countries, mainly as a consequence of strict regulations and remediation plans, an inverse trend has been recently reported in people from developing countries. We had the opportunity of sampling a series of African immigrants recently arrived to the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands, in which high levels of PCBs have been described, and we studied the relationships between their level of contamination and health status. A total of 570 subjects who underwent a complete medical examination and a face-to-face interview were recruited for this study. Hematological and biochemical parameters (blood and urine) were determined in all participants. Serology for the diagnostic of infectious diseases was also performed, and direct identification of parasites was performed in feces, urine or blood samples when appropriate. It is remarkable that up to 26.0% of the population had intestinal parasites, and we found an inverse relationship between PCB levels and parasitism and parasitic diseases: median values of PCBs were lower in parasitized subjects than in subjects without parasites in stool (237.6ng/g fat vs. 154.4ng/g fat for marker PCBs, p=0.015) and median values of dioxin-like PCBs were lower in subjects carrying pathogen parasites than among subjects showing non-pathogen parasites in stool (0.0 ng/g fat vs. 13.1ng/g fat, respectively; p=0.001). Although this inverse association had been described in some vertebrates this is the first study reporting such an association in humans. Furthermore, it has been also recently described that PCBs may disrupt iron metabolism, and we found a direct relationship between serum iron and total PCBs burden (r=0.231, p=0.025), suggesting that PCBs, although at subclinical level, could play a role on iron homeostasis. Although the role of PCBs in parasitism and in the iron metabolism needs future research, our findings may help to understand the adverse health outcomes associated to environmental exposure to PCBs and they might be used in exposed populations as indicators of subtle effects due to environmental insult.

Influence of parasitism in dogs on their serum levels of persistent organochlorine compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals, which accumulate in humans and animals, as only few species have the capability of eliminating them. However, some authors have pointed to the possibility that certain species of invertebrates (i.e. nematodes) could metabolize this type of compounds. As certain species of nematodes act as parasites of vertebrates, this research was designed to explore the influence of some of the most common parasites of the dogs in their serum levels of 56 common POPs. The study included three groups of dogs (n=64), which were prospectively recruited in the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain): a) control animals, non-parasitized (serologically tested negative, n=24); b) dogs tested positive for intestinal parasites and negative for other parasites (n=24); and c) dogs tested positive for heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) and negative for other parasites (n=16). The presence of Dirofilaria immitis was strongly associated with lower serum levels of a wide range of pollutant in their hosts (PCB congeners 28, 52, 118, 138, 153, and 180; hexachlorobenzene, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, anthracene and pyrene). We also found an inverse association between the hosts' serum levels of PCBs and intestinal parasites. We did not find any association with DDT or its metabolites, but this might be explained by the recently suggested ability of dogs for the efficient metabolization of these compounds. According to the results of this study certain forms of parasitism would reduce the bioavailability of the major classes of POPs in dogs. However, further studies are needed to elucidate whether this phenomenon is due to a competence between parasites and hosts or could respond to a possible capability of parasitic nematodes for the metabolization of these POPs.

Assessment of human health hazards associated with the dietary exposure to organic and inorganic contaminants through the consumption of fishery products in Spain

In this work we have evaluated the potential carcinogenic and acutely toxic risks associated to the exposure to highly prevalent organic and inorganic contaminants through the consumption of fishery products by the Spanish population. The concentrations of 8 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 18 polychlorinated biphenils (PCBs), 7 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (expressed as benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalents (B[a]Peq)), and three inorganic toxic elements [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)] were determined in 93 samples of the most consumed species of white fish, blue fish, cephalopods and seafood species, which were acquired directly in markets and supermarkets in the Canary Islands, Spain. The chemical concentration data were combined with the pattern of consumption of these foodstuffs in order to calculate the daily intake of these contaminants, and on this basis the risk quotients for carcinogenicity and acute toxicity were determined for Spanish adults and children. Our results showed that the daily intake of OCPs, PCBs and B[a]Peq, which is associated to blue fish consumption was the highest within the fish group. The estimated intake of pollutants can be considered low or very low for the individual contaminants, when compared to reference values, except in the case of HCB and As. All the estimated intakes were below the reported Tolerable Daily Intakes. Considering the additive effects of multiple contaminants, the risk of acute toxic effects can also be considered as low or very low. However, our results reflect that the current consumption of white fish in adults and children, and also the blue fish in the case of adults, poses a moderate carcinogenic risk to Spanish consumers, mainly related to their concentrations of As. The conclusions of this research may be useful for the design of appropriate risk communication campaigns.

Carcinogenicity of consumption of red and processed meat: What about environmental contaminants?

In October 26, 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) issued a press release informing of the recent evaluation of the carcinogenicity of red and processed meat consumption. The consumption of red meat and processed meat was classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans", and as "carcinogenic to humans", respectively. The substances responsible of this potential carcinogenicity would be generated during meat processing, such as curing and smoking, or when meat is heated at high temperatures (N-nitroso-compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocyclic aromatic amines). However, in its assessments, the IARC did not make any reference to the role that may pose some carcinogenic environmental pollutants, which are already present in raw or unprocessed meat. The potential role of a number of environmental chemical contaminants (toxic trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated naphthalenes and perfluoroalkyl substances) on the carcinogenicity of consumption of meat and meat products is discussed in this paper. A case-study, Catalonia (Spain), is specifically assessed, while the influence of cooking on the concentrations of environmental pollutants is also reviewed. It is concluded that although certain cooking processes could modify the levels of chemical contaminants in food, the influence of cooking on the pollutant concentrations depends not only on the particular cooking process, but even more on their original contents in each specific food item. As most of these environmental pollutants are organic, cooking procedures that release or remove fat from the meat should tend to reduce the total concentrations of these contaminants in the cooked meat.

Levels and predictors of persistent organic pollutants in an adult population from four Spanish regions

This research aimed to assess serum concentrations of a group of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in a sample of adults recruited in four different regions from Spain and to assess socio-demographic, dietary, and lifestyle predictors of the exposure. The study population comprised 312 healthy adults selected from among controls recruited in the MCC-Spain multicase-control study. Study variables were collected using standardized questionnaires, and pollutants were analyzed by means of gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Multivariable analyses were performed to identify predictors of log-transformed pollutant concentrations, using combined backward and forward stepwise multiple linear regression models. Detection rates ranged from 89.1% (hexachlorobenzene, HCB) to 93.6% (Polychlorinated biphenyl-153 [PCB-153]); p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) showed the highest median concentrations (1.04ng/ml), while HCB showed the lowest (0.24ng/ml). In the multivariable models, age was positively associated with HCB, p,p'-DDE, and PCB-180. BMI was associated positively with p,p'-DDE but negatively with PCB-138. Total accumulated time residing in an urban area was positively associated with PCB-153 concentrations. The women showed higher HCB and lower p,p'-DDE concentrations versus the men. Notably, POP exposure in our study population was inversely associated with the breastfeeding received by participants and with the number of pregnancies of their mothers but was not related to the participants' history of breastfeeding their children or parity. Smoking was negatively associated with HCB and PCB-153 concentrations. Consumption of fatty foods, including blue fish, was in general positively associated with POP levels. Although POP environmental levels are declining worldwide, there is a need for the continuous monitoring of human exposure in the general population. The results of the present study confirm previous findings and point to novel predictors of long-term exposure to persistent organic pollutants.

In vitro evaluation of oestrogenic/androgenic activity of the serum organochlorine pesticide mixtures previously described in a breast cancer case-control study

Some organochlorine pesticides (OCs) have been individually linked to breast cancer (BC) because they exert oestrogenic effects on mammary cells. However, humans are environmentally exposed to more or less complex mixtures of these organochlorines, and the biological effects of these mixtures must be elucidated. In this work we evaluated the in vitro effects exerted on human BC cells by the OC mixtures that were most frequently detected in two groups of women who participated in a BC case-control study developed in Spain: healthy women and women diagnosed with BC. The cytotoxicity, oestrogenicity, and androgenicity of the most prevalent OC mixtures found in healthy women (H-mixture) and in BC patients (BC-mixture) were tested at concentrations that resembled those found in the serum of the evaluated women. Our results showed that both OC mixtures presented a similar oestrogenic activity and effect on cell viability, but BC-mixture showed an additional anti-androgenic effect. These results indicate that although the proliferative effect exerted by these mixtures on human breast cells seems to depend mainly on their oestrogenic action, the BC-mixture might additionally induce cell proliferation due to its anti-androgenic activity, therefore increasing the carcinogenic potential of this mixture. The findings of this study demonstrate that subtle variations in the composition of a mixture may induce relevant changes in its biological action.

The assessment of daily dietary intake reveals the existence of a different pattern of bioaccumulation of chlorinated pollutants between domestic dogs and cats

Pet dogs and cats have been proposed as sentinel species to assess environmental contamination and human exposure to a variety of pollutants, including POPs. However, some authors have reported that dogs but not cats exhibit intriguingly low levels of some of the most commonly detected POPs, such as DDT and its metabolites. This research was designed to explore these differences between dogs and cats. Thus, we first determined the concentrations of 53 persistent and semi-persistent pollutants (16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) in samples of the most consumed brands of commercial feed for dogs and cats, and we calculated the daily dietary intake of these pollutants in both species. Higher levels of pollutants were found in dog food and our results showed that the median values of intake were about twice higher in dogs than in cats for all the three groups of pollutants (ΣPAHs: 274.8 vs. 141.8; ΣOCPs: 233.1 vs. 83; ΣPCBs: 101.8 vs. 43.8 (ng/kg bw/day); respectively). Additionally, we determined the plasma levels of the same pollutants in 42 and 35 pet dogs and cats, respectively. All these animals lived indoors and were fed on the commercial brands of feed analyzed. As expected (considering the intake), the plasma levels of PAHs were higher in dogs than in cats. However, for organochlorines (OCPs and PCBs) the plasma levels were much higher in cats than in dogs (as much as 23 times higher for DDTs), in spite of the higher intake in dogs. This reveals a lower capacity of bioaccumulation of some pollutants in dogs, which is probably related with higher metabolizing capabilities in this species.

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene, semen quality and testicular cancer risk

PURPOSE

We carried out a case-control study to investigate the possible role of occupational and environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors in the onset of testicular cancer (TC).

METHODS

We evaluated 125 TC patients and 103 controls. Seminal fluid examination and organochlorine analysis were performed in all subjects. Cases and controls were also interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect demographic information, residence, andrological medical history and dietary information.

RESULTS

We found that a higher level of reproductive tract birth defects was associated with a higher risk of TC. With regard to diet, cases reported a higher consumption of milk and dairy products than controls. Overall, there was a statistically significant increase in TC risk in cases with detectable values of total polychlorinated organic compounds against controls (14.4 vs. 1.0 %; p < 0.001). TC patients with detectable levels of organochlorines had lower mean semen parameters than those with undetectable levels, although this difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently included dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Group 1 of known human carcinogens. Our study confirmed and identified various risk factors for testicular cancer: cryptorchidism, consumption of milk and dairy products, parents' occupation and serum concentration of hexachlorobenzene and PCBs and, for the first time, we showed the correlation between semen quality and the serum concentration of these pollutants.

Pesticide residues in chicken eggs - A sample preparation methodology for analysis by gas and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A sample preparation method was developed for the analysis of chicken eggs to determine 97 GC and 81 LC amenable residues, including organophosphates, organochlorines, pyrethroids, triazoles, carboxyl-containing compounds, and the indicator PCBs. Hereby, considerations were given to the recoveries of the analytes, the method's suitability for routine analysis, and the assessment of the clean-up effect, for which a simple thin layer chromatography was implemented to visualize the most important lipid classes. The procedure consisted of (I) the extraction by matrix solid phase dispersion, and the clean-up by means of (II) small-scale gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and (III) two different solid phase extractions (SPE) for GC and LC amenable analytes, as well as (IV) the quantification using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. Cyclohexane/ethyl acetate was chosen as extraction solvent due to its suitability for extracting strong non-polar but also more polar analytes. The classical GPC was scaled down to ensure a 50% lower solvent consumption. The comprehensive investigation of conventional and modern zirconium-oxide-coated SPE materials resulted in the selection of octadecyl-modified silica (C18) combined with primary secondary amine using acetonitrile as elution solvent for GC amenable analytes and pure C18 in combination with acidified methanol for LC amenable pesticides. Compared to the currently established EN 1528 method the sample preparation proposed offered a higher sample throughput and a lower solvent consumption. Furthermore, for the first time the clean-up effectiveness of the sample preparation steps was documented as shown by means of thin-layer chromatography. The validation of chicken eggs proved the fulfillment of the quality control criteria for 164 of the 178 analytes tested, mostly at the lowest validated level of 5μg/kg for pesticides and 0.5μg/kg for the single indicator PCBs. However, the analysis of strongly polar analytes was still problematic, which could be attributed to the extraction and the GPC step. Nevertheless, the successful investigation of EU proficiency test materials (EUPT AO 07-09) confirmed the comparability of the results with the currently established sample preparation procedures and demonstrated the potential of the applicability of the presented method to other matrices as exemplified for lean poultry meat and fatty liquid cream.

An estimation of the carcinogenic risk associated with the intake of multiple relevant carcinogens found in meat and charcuterie products

Numerous epidemiological studies have demonstrated a link between excessive meat consumption and the incidence of various cancers, especially colorectal cancer, and it has been suggested that environmental carcinogens present in meat might be related to the increased risk of cancer associated with this food. However, there are no studies evaluating the carcinogenic potential of meat in relation to its content of carcinogens. Our purpose was to emphasize the relevance of environmental carcinogens existing in meat as a determinant of the association between cancer and meat consumption. Because within Europe, Spain shows high consumption of meat and charcuterie, we performed this study focusing on Spanish population. Based on the preferences of consumers we acquired 100 samples of meat and charcuterie that reflect the variety available in the European market. We quantified in these samples the concentration of 33 chemicals with calculated carcinogenic potential (PAHs, organochlorine pesticides, and dioxin-like PCBs). The carcinogenic risk of these contaminants was assessed for each food using a risk ratio based on the current consumption of meat and charcuterie and the maximum tolerable intake of these foods depending on the level of contamination by the carcinogens they contain. Our results indicate that the current consumption of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and "chorizo", represents a relevant carcinogenic risk for consumers (carcinogenic risk quotient between 1.33 and 13.98). In order to reduce carcinogenic risk, the study population should halve the monthly consumption of these foods, and also not to surpass the number of 5 servings of beef/pork/chicken (considered together).

Persistent organochlorine pesticides in internal organs of coypu, Myocastor coypus

A highly selective and sensitive method based on gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) to identify and quantify persistent organochlorine pesticides, (18 compounds including primary compounds and metabolites), in animal internal organs (kidneys, liver, and brain) has been developed. Tandem mass spectrometric conditions were individually optimized for each target compound in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode to obtain maximum sensitivity. Prior to instrumental analysis, a sample preparation method based on matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) followed by acidic digestion with sulfuric acid to reduce matrix co-extractives was employed. Analyses of real samples were carried out on coypus (Myocastor coypus) from the autumn slaughter of 19 animals. In the analyzed samples, three of the target compounds, namely DDE-pp' (DDT metabolite), HCB and lindane, were detected. Their concentration levels fell in the ranges of 0.003-0.007, 0.003-0.025, and 0.003-0.021 mg kg(-1) (0.005, 0.010, and 0.010 mg kg(-1) on average) in the case of DDE-pp', HCB and lindane, respectively. Although low quantities of organochlorine pesticides do not pose an immediate danger to consumers' health, they should be of public health concern considering long-term, low-dose exposure.