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Gerofke A, Lange R, Vogel N, Schmidt P, Weber T, David M, Frederiksen H, Baken K, Govarts E, Gilles L, Martin LR, Martinsone Ž, Santonen T, Schoeters G, Scheringer M, Domínguez-Romero E, López ME, Calvo AC, Koch HM, Apel P, Kolossa-Gehring M. Phthalates and substitute plasticizers: Main achievements from the European human biomonitoring initiative HBM4EU. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114378. [PMID: 38631089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Phthalates and the substitute plasticizer DINCH belong to the first group of priority substances investigated by the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) to answer policy-relevant questions and safeguard an efficient science-to-policy transfer of results. Human internal exposure levels were assessed using two data sets from all European regions and Israel. The first collated existing human biomonitoring (HBM) data (2005-2019). The second consisted of new data generated in the harmonized "HBM4EU Aligned Studies" (2014-2021) on children and teenagers for the ten most relevant phthalates and DINCH, accompanied by a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program for 17 urinary exposure biomarkers. Exposures differed between countries, European regions, age groups and educational levels. Toxicologically derived Human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) were exceeded in up to 5% of the participants of the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. A mixture risk assessment (MRA) including five reprotoxic phthalates (DEHP, DnBP, DiBP, BBzP, DiNP) revealed that for about 17% of the children and teenagers, health risks cannot be excluded. Concern about male reproductive health emphasized the need to include other anti-androgenic substances for MRA. Contaminated food and the use of personal care products were identified as relevant exposure determinants paving the way for new regulatory measures. Time trend analyses verified the efficacy of regulations: especially for the highly regulated phthalates exposure dropped significantly, while levels of the substitutes DINCH and DEHTP increased. The HBM4EU e-waste study, however, suggests that workers involved in e-waste management may be exposed to higher levels of restricted phthalates. Exposure-effect association studies indicated the relevance of a range of endpoints. A set of HBM indicators was derived to facilitate and accelerate science-to-policy transfer. Result indicators allow different groups and regions to be easily compared. Impact indicators allow health risks to be directly interpreted. The presented results enable successful science-to-policy transfer and support timely and targeted policy measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Gerofke
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Phillipp Schmidt
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Weber
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Madlen David
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirsten Baken
- Brabant Advies, Brabantlaan 3, 5216 TV 's, Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Žanna Martinsone
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health, Rīga Stradiņš University, Dzirciema 16, LV-1007, Riga, Latvia
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH), P.O. Box 40, FI-00032, Tyoterveyslaitos, Finland
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Toxicological Center, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Martin Scheringer
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Elena Domínguez-Romero
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Esteban López
- Environmental Toxicology Unit, National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño Calvo
- Environmental Toxicology Unit, National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance - Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Petra Apel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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Payne-Sturges D, De Saram S, Cory-Slechta DA. Cumulative Risk Evaluation of Phthalates Under TSCA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:6403-6414. [PMID: 37043345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently conducting separate Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluations for seven phthalates: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), and diisononyl phthalate (DINP). Phthalates are highly abundant plastic additives used primarily to soften materials and make them flexible, and biomonitoring shows widespread human exposure to a mixture of phthalates. Evidence supports biological additivity of phthalate mixture exposures, including the enhancement of toxicity affecting common biological targets. Risk estimates based on individual phthalate exposure may not be protective of public health. Thus, a cumulative risk approach is warranted. While EPA initially did not signal that it would incorporate cumulative risk assessment (CRA) as part of its current risk evaluation for the seven phthalates, the agency recently announced that it is reconsidering if CRA for phthalates would be appropriate. Based on our review of existing chemical mixtures risk assessment guidance, current TSCA scoping documents for the seven phthalates, and pertinent peer-reviewed literature, we delineate a CRA approach that EPA can easily implement for phthalates. The strategy for using CRA to inform TSCA risk evaluation for existing chemicals is based upon integrative physiology and a common adverse health outcome algorithm for identifying and grouping relevant nonchemical and chemical stressors. We recommend adjustments for how hazard indices (HIs) or margins of exposure (MOEs) based on CRA are interpreted for determining "unreasonable risk" under TSCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Payne-Sturges
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, 255 Valley Drive, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Sulakkhana De Saram
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, 255 Valley Drive, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Deborah A Cory-Slechta
- University of Rochester School of Medicine, Box EHSC, Rochester, New York 14642, United States
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Vogel N, Schmidt P, Lange R, Gerofke A, Sakhi AK, Haug LS, Jensen TK, Frederiksen H, Szigeti T, Csákó Z, Murinova LP, Sidlovska M, Janasik B, Wasowicz W, Tratnik JS, Mazej D, Gabriel C, Karakitsios S, Barbone F, Rosolen V, Rambaud L, Riou M, Murawski A, Leseman D, Koppen G, Covaci A, Lignell S, Lindroos AK, Zvonar M, Andryskova L, Fabelova L, Richterova D, Horvat M, Kosjek T, Sarigiannis D, Maroulis M, Pedraza-Diaz S, Cañas A, Verheyen VJ, Bastiaensen M, Gilles L, Schoeters G, Esteban-López M, Castaño A, Govarts E, Koch HM, Kolossa-Gehring M. Current exposure to phthalates and DINCH in European children and adolescents - Results from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies 2014 to 2021. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 249:114101. [PMID: 36805185 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Exposure to several phthalates is associated with different adverse effects most prominently on the development of reproductive functions. The HBM4EU Aligned Studies (2014-2021) have investigated current European exposure to ten phthalates (DEP, BBzP, DiBP, DnBP, DCHP, DnPeP, DEHP, DiNP, DiDP, DnOP) and the substitute DINCH to answer the open policy relevant questions which were defined by HBM4EU partner countries and EU institutions as the starting point of the programme. The exposure dataset includes ∼5,600 children (6-11 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) from up to 12 countries per age group and covering the North, East, South and West European regions. Study data from participating studies were harmonised with respect to sample size and selection of participants, selection of biomarkers, and quality and comparability of analytical results to provide a comparable perspective of European exposure. Phthalate and DINCH exposure were deduced from urinary excretions of metabolites, where concentrations were expressed as their key descriptor geometric mean (GM) and 95th percentile (P95). This study aims at reporting current exposure levels and differences in these between European studies and regions, as well as comparisons to human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs). GMs for children were highest for ∑DEHP metabolites (33.6 μg/L), MiBP (26.6 μg/L), and MEP (24.4 μg/L) and lowest for∑DiDP metabolites (1.91 μg/L) and ∑DINCH metabolites (3.57 μg/L). In adolescents highest GMs were found for MEP (43.3 μg/L), ∑DEHP metabolites (28.8 μg/L), and MiBP (25.6 μg/L) and lowest for ∑DiDP metabolites (= 2.02 μg/L) and ∑DINCH metabolites (2.51 μg/L). In addition, GMs and P95 stratified by European region, sex, household education level, and degree of urbanization are presented. Differences in average biomarker concentrations between sampling sites (data collections) ranged from factor 2 to 9. Compared to the European average, children in the sampling sites OCC (Denmark), InAirQ (Hungary), and SPECIMEn (The Netherlands) had the lowest concentrations across all metabolites and ESTEBAN (France), NAC II (Italy), and CROME (Greece) the highest. For adolescents, comparably higher metabolite concentrations were found in NEB II (Norway), PCB cohort (Slovakia), and ESTEBAN (France), and lower concentrations in POLAES (Poland), FLEHS IV (Belgium), and GerES V-sub (Germany). Multivariate analyses (Survey Generalized Linear Models) indicate compound-specific differences in average metabolite concentrations between the four European regions. Comparison of individual levels with HBM-GVs revealed highest rates of exceedances for DnBP and DiBP, with up to 3 and 5%, respectively, in children and adolescents. No exceedances were observed for DEP and DINCH. With our results we provide current, detailed, and comparable data on exposure to phthalates in children and - for the first time - in adolescents, and - for the first time - on DINCH in children and adolescents of all four regions of Europe which are particularly suited to inform exposure and risk assessment and answer open policy relevant questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Line S Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- IST - Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Odense, Denmark
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Zsófia Csákó
- National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | | | - Beata Janasik
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Catherine Gabriel
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki-Thermi, Greece
| | - Spyros Karakitsios
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki-Thermi, Greece
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Department of Medicine-DAME, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Valentina Rosolen
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- Santé publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Margaux Riou
- Santé publique France, Environmental and Occupational Health Division, Saint-Maurice, France
| | | | - Daan Leseman
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | | | | | - Martin Zvonar
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Andryskova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Fabelova
- Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Public Health, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Denisa Richterova
- Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Public Health, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Kosjek
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Denis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki-Thermi, Greece; Environmental Health Engineering, Institute of Advanced Study, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marios Maroulis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece; HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Thessaloniki-Thermi, Greece
| | - Susana Pedraza-Diaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Cañas
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Veerle J Verheyen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; University of Antwerp, Dept of Biomedical Sciences and Toxicological Centre, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany
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Apel P, Lamkarkach F, Lange R, Sissoko F, David M, Rousselle C, Schoeters G, Kolossa-Gehring M. Human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) for priority substances under the HBM4EU initiative - New values derivation for deltamethrin and cyfluthrin and overall results. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114097. [PMID: 36577283 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The European Initiative HBM4EU aimed to further establish human biomonitoring across Europe as an important tool for determining population exposure to chemicals and as part of health-related risk assessments, thus making it applicable for policy advice. Not only should analytical methods and survey design be harmonized and quality assured, but also the evaluation of human biomonitoring data. For the health-related interpretation of the data within HBM4EU, a strategy for deriving health-based human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) for both the general population and workers was agreed on. On this basis, HBM-GVs for exposure biomarkers of 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH), phthalates (diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), butyl benzyl phthalate (BBzP), and bis-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP)), bisphenols A and S, pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cyfluthrin), solvents (1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), 1-ethylpyrrolidin-2-one (NEP), N-dimethylformamide (DMF), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC)), the heavy metal cadmium and the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) were developed and assigned a level of confidence. The approach to HBM-GV derivations, results, and limitations in data interpretation with special focus on the pyrethroids are presented in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Apel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - F Lamkarkach
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, Cedex, France
| | - R Lange
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - F Sissoko
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, Cedex, France
| | - M David
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - C Rousselle
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, Cedex, France
| | - G Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Kolossa-Gehring
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
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Al-Saleh I, Elkhatib R, Alnuwaysir H, Aldhalaan H, Binmanee A, Hawari A, Alhazzani F, Jabr MB. The cumulative risk assessment of phthalates exposure in preterm neonates. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114112. [PMID: 36657281 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are widely used plasticizers in various consumer products and medical devices, with some reporting as having estrogenic and anti-androgenic endocrine-disrupting effects. Premature neonates may be exposed to high levels of specific phthalates during hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) because of reliance on multiple medical procedures that pose a possible health risk. The present study utilized seven urinary phthalate metabolites of dibutyl phthalate isomers [(di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP)], butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) that had been previously measured in 33 preterm neonates sampled at hospital admission (N = 23) and daily during their NICU stay (N = 260). We aimed to perform: (1) cumulative risk assessment (CRA) using the volume and creatinine-adjusted models; (2) examine the temporal variability of CRA from repeated measures and (3) estimate the risk of cumulative exposure to phthalates based on their anti-androgenic and/or estrogenic properties. We multiplied the relative activity of individual phthalates exhibiting estrogenic or anti-androgenic effects by daily intake. For each preterm neonate, CRA was assessed based on the hazard index (HI) metric [the sum of hazard quotients] based on three reference doses for anti-androgenicity: the tolerable daily intake (TDI) from the European Food Safety Authority, the reference dose (RfD-AA) published in 2010 and newly revised published in 2020 (NRfD-AA). The metabolites of BBzP and DEHP were 2-23 fold higher in preterm neonates during their NICU stay. Median HIs increased in the order of HINRfDAA > HIRfDAA > HITDI. In the creatinine-based model, 87% (92%), 87% (96%), and 100% (100%) of preterm neonates at admission (during NICU stay) showed HITDI, HIRfD-AA, and HINRfD-AA exceeding 1, respectively with DEHP the most prevalent. The temporal reproducibility of HI (based on three reference doses) during preterm neonate stay in the NICU was high, with intra-class correlation coefficients ranging between 0.77 and 0.97, suggesting persistent exposure to phthalates. The four phthalates that preterm neonates were exposed to in the NICU exhibited estrogenic binding and anti-androgenic effects with median values (creatinine-based) of 98.7 and 56.9 μg/kg body weight/day, respectively. This was especially true for DEHP. The results indicate that preterm neonates in this NICU setting are probably at high risk of cumulative phthalate exposure with anti-androgenic properties that may have long-term adverse reproductive and developmental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Al-Saleh
- Environmental Health Program, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rola Elkhatib
- Environmental Health Program, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hissah Alnuwaysir
- Environmental Health Program, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham Aldhalaan
- Center for Autism Research, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Binmanee
- Neonatal Critical Care Section, Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amal Hawari
- Neonatal Critical Care Section, Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad Alhazzani
- Neonatal Critical Care Section, Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Bin Jabr
- Neonatal Critical Care Section, Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box: 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Saudi Arabia
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6
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Gerofke A, David M, Schmidt P, Vicente JL, Buekers J, Gilles L, Colles A, Bessems J, Bastiaensen M, Covaci A, Den Hond E, Koppen G, Laeremans M, Verheyen VJ, Černá M, Klánová J, Krsková A, Zvonař M, Knudsen LE, Koch HM, Jensen TK, Rambaud L, Riou M, Vogel N, Gabriel C, Karakitsios S, Papaioannou N, Sarigiannis D, Kakucs R, Középesy S, Rudnai P, Szigeti T, Barbone F, Rosolen V, Guignard C, Gutleb AC, Sakhi AK, Haug LS, Janasik B, Ligocka D, Estokova M, Fabelova L, Kolena B, Murinova LP, Petrovicova I, Richterova D, Horvat M, Mazej D, Tratnik JS, Runkel AA, Castaño A, Esteban-López M, Pedraza-Díaz S, Åkesson A, Lignell S, Vlaanderen J, Zock JP, Schoeters G, Kolossa-Gehring M. From science to policy: How European HBM indicators help to answer policy questions related to phthalates and DINCH exposure. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 247:114073. [PMID: 36434900 PMCID: PMC9758616 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Within the European Human Biomonitoring (HBM) Initiative HBM4EU we derived HBM indicators that were designed to help answering key policy questions and support chemical policies. The result indicators convey information on chemicals exposure of different age groups, sexes, geographical regions and time points by comparing median exposure values. If differences are observed for one group or the other, policy measures or risk management options can be implemented. Impact indicators support health risk assessment by comparing exposure values with health-based guidance values, such as human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs). In general, the indicators should be designed to translate complex scientific information into short and clear messages and make it accessible to policy makers but also to a broader audience such as stakeholders (e.g. NGO's), other scientists and the general public. Based on harmonized data from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies (2014-2021), the usefulness of our indicators was demonstrated for the age group children (6-11 years), using two case examples: one phthalate (Diisobutyl phthalate: DiBP) and one non-phthalate substitute (Di-isononyl cyclohexane-1,2- dicarboxylate: DINCH). For the comparison of age groups, these were compared to data for teenagers (12-18 years), and time periods were compared using data from the DEMOCOPHES project (2011-2012). Our result indicators proved to be suitable for demonstrating the effectiveness of policy measures for DiBP and the need of continuous monitoring for DINCH. They showed similar exposure for boys and girls, indicating that there is no need for gender focused interventions and/or no indication of sex-specific exposure patterns. They created a basis for a targeted approach by highlighting relevant geographical differences in internal exposure. An adequate data basis is essential for revealing differences for all indicators. This was particularly evident in our studies on the indicators on age differences. The impact indicator revealed that health risks based on exposure to DiBP cannot be excluded. This is an indication or flag for risk managers and policy makers that exposure to DiBP still is a relevant health issue. HBM indicators derived within HBM4EU are a valuable and important complement to existing indicator lists in the context of environment and health. Their applicability, current shortcomings and solution strategies are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Gerofke
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany,Corresponding author.
| | - Madlen David
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Phillipp Schmidt
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joana Lobo Vicente
- European Environment Agency, Kongens Nytorv 6, 1050, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jurgen Buekers
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ann Colles
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Jos Bessems
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | | | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Michelle Laeremans
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Veerle J. Verheyen
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Milena Černá
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Klánová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Andrea Krsková
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Zvonař
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic,Faculty of Sport Studies, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lisbeth E. Knudsen
- Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen Øster Farimagsgade 5 DK Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Holger M. Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance − Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- Santé publique France, French Public Health Agency (SpFrance), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Margaux Riou
- Santé publique France, French Public Health Agency (SpFrance), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Catherine Gabriel
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Spyros Karakitsios
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Nafsika Papaioannou
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece
| | - Denis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece,HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001, Greece,Environmental Health Engineering, Institute of Advanced Study, Palazzo del Broletto - Piazza Della Vittoria 15, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Réka Kakucs
- National Public Health Center, Albert Flórián út 2-6., 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Középesy
- National Public Health Center, Albert Flórián út 2-6., 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Rudnai
- National Public Health Center, Albert Flórián út 2-6., 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Szigeti
- National Public Health Center, Albert Flórián út 2-6., 1097, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Department of Medicine—DAME, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Valentina Rosolen
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health - IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", 34137, Trieste, Italy
| | - Cedric Guignard
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, 41, rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Arno C. Gutleb
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Environmental Research and Innovation (ERIN) Department, 41, rue du Brill, L-4422 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | | | | | - Beata Janasik
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, St. Teresy 8, Lodz, Poland
| | - Danuta Ligocka
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, St. Teresy 8, Lodz, Poland
| | - Milada Estokova
- Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic, Trnavska cesta 52, 826 45, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Fabelova
- Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Public Health, Limbova 12, 83303 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Branislav Kolena
- Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
| | | | - Ida Petrovicova
- Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Tr. A Hlinku 1, 94901 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Denisa Richterova
- Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Public Health, Limbova 12, 83303 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Agneta Annika Runkel
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Pedraza-Díaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sanna Lignell
- Swedish Food Agency, PO Box 622, SE-751 26, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jelle Vlaanderen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan-Paul Zock
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO – Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
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7
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Escher BI, Lamoree M, Antignac JP, Scholze M, Herzler M, Hamers T, Jensen TK, Audebert M, Busquet F, Maier D, Oelgeschläger M, Valente MJ, Boye H, Schmeisser S, Dervilly G, Piumatti M, Motteau S, König M, Renko K, Margalef M, Cariou R, Ma Y, Treschow AF, Kortenkamp A, Vinggaard AM. Mixture Risk Assessment of Complex Real-Life Mixtures-The PANORAMIX Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph192012990. [PMID: 36293571 PMCID: PMC9602166 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192012990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Humans are involuntarily exposed to hundreds of chemicals that either contaminate our environment and food or are added intentionally to our daily products. These complex mixtures of chemicals may pose a risk to human health. One of the goals of the European Union's Green Deal and zero-pollution ambition for a toxic-free environment is to tackle the existent gaps in chemical mixture risk assessment by providing scientific grounds that support the implementation of adequate regulatory measures within the EU. We suggest dealing with this challenge by: (1) characterising 'real-life' chemical mixtures and determining to what extent they are transferred from the environment to humans via food and water, and from the mother to the foetus; (2) establishing a high-throughput whole-mixture-based in vitro strategy for screening of real-life complex mixtures of organic chemicals extracted from humans using integrated chemical profiling (suspect screening) together with effect-directed analysis; (3) evaluating which human blood levels of chemical mixtures might be of concern for children's development; and (4) developing a web-based, ready-to-use interface that integrates hazard and exposure data to enable component-based mixture risk estimation. These concepts form the basis of the Green Deal project PANORAMIX, whose ultimate goal is to progress mixture risk assessment of chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate I. Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, DE-04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Department Environment & Health, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martin Scholze
- Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Environmental Sciences Division, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Matthias Herzler
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Timo Hamers
- Department Environment & Health, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Marc Audebert
- Toxalim, UMR1331, INRAE, 31027 Toulouse, France
- PrediTox, 31100 Toulouse, France
| | | | | | | | - Maria João Valente
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Henriette Boye
- Odense Child Cohort, Hans Christian Andersen Hospital for Children, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | - Maria König
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, DE-04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, DE-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kostja Renko
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Margalef
- Department Environment & Health, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Yanying Ma
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Environmental Sciences Division, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Anne Marie Vinggaard
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +45-35887549
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8
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Ermler S, Kortenkamp A. Systematic review of associations of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure with declining semen quality in support of the derivation of reference doses for mixture risk assessments. Environ Health 2022; 21:94. [PMID: 36217156 PMCID: PMC9552438 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00904-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mixture risk assessments require reference doses for common health endpoints of all the chemicals to be considered together. In support of a mixture risk assessment for male reproductive health, we conducted a systematic review of the literature on associations between exposures to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and declines in semen quality. PCBs can act as Aryl-hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)-agonists and Androgen Receptor (AR)-antagonists, both mechanisms which can affect sperm parameters. PCBs and other AR-antagonists can produce additive combination effects. Based on these observations our objective was to systematically gather data from animal and human studies to derive a reference dose for declines in semen quality for individual PCB. METHODS We systematically reviewed and evaluated the evidence in human epidemiological and experimental animal studies on associations between PCBs and deteriorations in semen quality. Human data and findings from animal studies with PCB mixtures were considered as supporting evidence. Information for individual congeners from animal studies was required for inclusion in mixture risk assessment. Using a robust confidence rating approach, we identified suitable studies to derive reference doses for individual PCB congeners. RESULTS Evaluation of human epidemiological studies revealed several reports of adverse effects on sperm parameters linked to PCB exposures, although some studies reported improved semen quality. Our review of experimental animal studies found that treatments with PCBs affected semen quality, in most cases adversely. We found robust evidence that PCB-118 and -169 were linked to declines in semen quality. Evidence for adverse effects of PCB-126, -132, -149, and -153 was moderate, whereas for PCB-77 it was slight and for PCB-180 indeterminate. Using widely accepted risk assessment procedures, we estimated reference dose values of 0.0029 µg/kg/day for PCB-118 and 0.00533 µg/kg/day for PCB-169. In addition, we derived values for PCB-126: 0.000073 µg/kg/day, PCB-132: 0.0228 µg/kg/day, PCB-149: 0.656 µg/kg/day, and PCB-153: 0.0058 µg/kg/day. CONCLUSIONS We found robust evidence for links between PCB exposure and deteriorations in semen quality, and derived reference doses for a set of congeners. We intend to use these values in combination with congener-specific exposure data in a mixture risk assessment for declines in semen quality, involving several other antiandrogenic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Ermler
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, UK
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9
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Stuchlík Fišerová P, Melymuk L, Komprdová K, Domínguez-Romero E, Scheringer M, Kohoutek J, Přibylová P, Andrýsková L, Piler P, Koch HM, Zvonař M, Esteban-López M, Castaño A, Klánová J. Personal care product use and lifestyle affect phthalate and DINCH metabolite levels in teenagers and young adults. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113675. [PMID: 35700762 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Humans are widely exposed to phthalates and their novel substitutes, and considering the negative health effects associated with some phthalates, it is crucial to understand population levels and exposure determinants. This study is focused on 300 urine samples from teenagers (aged 12-17) and 300 from young adults (aged 18-37) living in Czechia collected in 2019 and 2020 to assess 17 plasticizer metabolites as biomarkers of exposure. We identified widespread phthalate exposure in the study population. The diethyl phthalate metabolite monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and three di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites were detected in the urine of >99% of study participants. The highest median concentrations were found for metabolites of low-molecular-weight (LMW) phthalates: mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and MEP (60.7; 52.6 and 17.6 μg/L in young adults). 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH) metabolites were present in 68.2% of the samples with a median of 1.24 μg/L for both cohorts. Concentrations of MnBP and MiBP were similar to other European populations, but 5-6 times higher than in populations in North America. We also observed large variability in phthalate exposures within the study population, with 2-3 orders of magnitude differences in urinary metabolites between high and low exposed individuals. The concentrations varied with season, gender, age, and lifestyle factors. A relationship was found between high levels of MEP and high overall use of personal care products (PCPs). Cluster analysis suggested that phthalate exposures depend on season and multiple lifestyle factors, like time spent indoors and use of PCPs, which combine to lead to the observed widespread presence of phthalate metabolites in both study populations. Participants who spent more time indoors, particularly noticeably during colder months, had higher levels of high-molecular weight phthalate metabolites, whereas participants with higher PCP use, particularly women, tended to have higher concentration of LMW phthalate metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Melymuk
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Klára Komprdová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | | | - Martin Scheringer
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Kohoutek
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Přibylová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Andrýsková
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Piler
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance - Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martin Zvonař
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Sports, Masaryk University, Kamenice, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jana Klánová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
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10
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Lange R, Vogel N, Schmidt P, Gerofke A, Luijten M, Bil W, Santonen T, Schoeters G, Gilles L, Sakhi AK, Haug LS, Jensen TK, Frederiksen H, Koch HM, Szigeti T, Szabados M, Tratnik JS, Mazej D, Gabriel C, Sarigiannis D, Dzhedzheia V, Karakitsios S, Rambaud L, Riou M, Koppen G, Covaci A, Zvonař M, Piler P, Klánová J, Fábelová L, Richterová D, Kosjek T, Runkel A, Pedraza-Díaz S, Verheyen V, Bastiaensen M, Esteban-López M, Castaño A, Kolossa-Gehring M. Cumulative risk assessment of five phthalates in European children and adolescents. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 246:114052. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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11
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Ringbeck B, Bury D, Lee I, Lee G, Alakeel R, Alrashed M, Tosepu R, Jayadipraja EA, Tantrakarnapa K, Kliengchuay W, Brüning T, Choi K, Koch HM. Biomarker-Determined Nonylphenol Exposure and Associated Risks in Children of Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:10229-10238. [PMID: 35801963 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine disruptor and environmental contaminant. Yet, data on individual body burdens and potential health risks in humans, especially among children, are scarce. We analyzed two specific urinary NP metabolites, hydroxy-NP (OH-NP) and oxo-NP. In contrast to parent NP, OH-NP has a much higher urinary excretion fraction (Fue), and both are insusceptible to external contamination. We investigated spot urine samples from school children of Thailand (n = 104), Indonesia (n = 89), and Saudi Arabia (n = 108) and could quantify OH-NP in 100% of Indonesian and Saudi children (median concentrations: 8.12 and 8.57 μg/L) and in 76% of Thai children (1.07 μg/L). Median oxo-NP concentrations were 0.95, 1.10, and <0.25 μg/L, respectively, in line with its lower Fue. Median daily NP intakes (DIs), back-calculated from urinary OH-NP concentrations, were significantly higher in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia [0.47 and 0.36 μg/(kg bw·d), respectively] than in Thailand [0.06 μg/(kg bw·d)]. Maximum DIs were close to the preliminary tolerable DI of 5 μg/(kg bw·d) from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. Dominant sources of exposure or relevant exposure pathways could not be readily identified by questionnaire analyses and also potentially varied by region. The novel biomarkers provide long-needed support to the quantitative exposure and risk assessment of NP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Ringbeck
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Bury
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Inae Lee
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gowoon Lee
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Raid Alakeel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - May Alrashed
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramadhan Tosepu
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, University of Halu Oleo, Kendari 93232, Indonesia
| | | | - Kraichat Tantrakarnapa
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi 10400, Thailand
| | - Wissanupong Kliengchuay
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi 10400, Thailand
| | - Thomas Brüning
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Kyungho Choi
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany
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12
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Kortenkamp A, Scholze M, Ermler S, Priskorn L, Jørgensen N, Andersson AM, Frederiksen H. Combined exposures to bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins, paracetamol, and phthalates as drivers of deteriorating semen quality. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107322. [PMID: 35691715 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Semen quality in men continues to decline in Western countries, but the contours of the issue remain obscure, in relation to contributing chemicals. OBJECTIVES To obtain more clarity about the chemicals that drive the deterioration of semen quality, we conducted a mixture risk assessment based on European exposures. METHODS We included chemicals capable of affecting semen quality after prenatal exposures, among them androgen receptor antagonists, substances that disrupt prostaglandin signalling, suppress testosterone synthesis, inhibit steroidogenic enzymes or activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. We employed the Hazard Index approach (HI), based on risk quotients of exposures in Europe and reference doses for reductions in semen quality. By summing up the risk quotients of the 29 chemicals included in the assessment we examined fold-exceedances of "acceptable" mixture exposures relative to an index value of 1. For bisphenols A, F, S, phthalates DEHP, DnBP, BBzP, DiNP, n-butyl paraben and paracetamol we relied on biomonitoring studies in which these 9 chemicals were measured together in the same subjects. This allowed us to construct personalised Hazard Indices. RESULTS Highly exposed subjects experienced combined exposures to the 9 chemicals that exceeded the index value of 1 by more than 100-fold; the median was a 17-fold exceedance. Accounting for median background exposures to the remaining 20 chemicals added a Hazard Index of 1.39. Bisphenol A made the largest contribution to the HI, followed by polychlorinated dioxins, bisphenols S and F and DEHP. Eliminating bisphenol A alone would still leave unacceptably high mixture risks. Paracetamol is also a driver of mixture risks among subjects using the drug. CONCLUSIONS Tolerable exposures to substances associated with deteriorations of semen quality are exceeded by a large margin. Bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins, phthalates and analgesics drive these risks. Dedicated efforts towards lowering exposures to these substances are necessary to mitigate risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Kortenkamp
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
| | - Martin Scholze
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Sibylle Ermler
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
| | - Lærke Priskorn
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Jørgensen
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark; International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej, Copenhagen, Denmark
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13
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Harmon P, Otter R. A review of common non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers for use in food contact materials. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 164:112984. [PMID: 35452769 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.112984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Several non-ortho phthalate plasticizers, including ATBC, DEHA, DINCH, DOTP, and ESBO, are currently used in flexible PVC applications for food packaging and processing. The aim of this review is to summarize the available toxicity, migration, and human biomonitoring data. Available assessments from US CPSC, EFSA, other governmental and non-governmental organizations, and published toxicology studies were used to show that these plasticizers are generally well-studied and demonstrate low toxicity with a focus on potential carcinogenicity, reproductive, developmental, and endocrine related adverse effects as well as biodegradation, aquatic toxicity, and bioaccumulation. Seven other plasticizers, 2EHESBO, ASE, CMCHA, DBT, DEHCH, PETV, and TOTM, have at least some recent but limited food contact clearances; assessments from CPSC, EFSA, and robust summaries in the REACH dossiers were reviewed for these products. Data gaps were found for some of these products; however, there were no concerns raised by the existing data, and they for now have limited use in food contact applications. Migration of ASE, COMGHA, DINCH, DOTP, DEHCH, and TOTM in simulants for aqueous and low alcohol foods ranged from <0.02 to 0.165 mg/kg, which showed they are below established migration limits and well-suited for these applications. Human biomonitoring data are available for DINCH, DOTP, DEHA, DINA, and TOTM, and are essential for determining exposure from all uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Harmon
- BASF Corporation, 11750 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX, 77079, United States.
| | - Rainer Otter
- BASF SE, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, D-67056, Germany
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Kortenkamp A, Martin O, Ermler S, Baig A, Scholze M. Bisphenol A and declining semen quality: A systematic review to support the derivation of a reference dose for mixture risk assessments. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 241:113942. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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15
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Ermler S, Kortenkamp A. Declining semen quality and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): Review of the literature to support the derivation of a reference dose for a mixture risk assessment. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 242:113953. [PMID: 35334436 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To support a mixture risk assessment for chemicals that interfere with male reproductive health, we reviewed the literature to identify studies of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and poor semen quality. Several epidemiological studies have shown associations of PBDE exposures with declining semen quality, non-descending testes and penile malformations. In rodent studies, poor semen quality, changes in testosterone levels and reproductive tissues have been observed. In vitro studies with reporter gene constructs show PBDE congeners as androgen receptor antagonists, and mixture studies in these systems have demonstrated that PBDE congeners act together with other androgen receptor antagonists. These observations led us to attempt the estimation of reference doses for specific PBDE congeners that can be used in a future mixture risk assessment for deteriorations of semen quality. While epidemiological studies provide support for such associations, they were uninformative for derivations of reference doses, due to the incompatibility of dose metrics used in exposure assessments. We therefore based our estimates on animal studies. Using a rigorous confidence rating approach, we found robust evidence that BDE-47 produced reductions in semen quality. We identified only one high confidence study of BDE-99 and accordingly evaluated the strength of evidence as moderate. One high confidence, and several medium confidence experimental studies observed declines in semen quality after BDE-209 exposure. Using established risk assessment procedures, we estimated that BDE-47 exposures below 0.15 μg/kg/d are unlikely to lead to reductions in semen quality. The corresponding exposures for BDE-99 and BDE-209 are 0.003 μg/kg/d and 1000 μg/kg/d. It is planned to use these estimates as reference doses in a mixture risk assessment of deteriorations in semen quality, involving multiple other chemicals also contributing to poor semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Ermler
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Brunel University London, Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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16
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Frederiksen H, Upners EN, Ljubicic ML, Fischer MB, Busch AS, Hagen CP, Juul A, Andersson AM. Exposure to 15 phthalates and two substitutes (DEHTP and DINCH) assessed in trios of infants and their parents as well as longitudinally in infants exclusively breastfed and after the introduction of a mixed diet. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 161:107107. [PMID: 35091377 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Several phthalates have been restricted/banned due to their adverse endocrine disrupting properties. The use of other phthalates and substitutes has increased. Here we examine the current exposure to phthalates in family trios comprised of infants and their parents and in infants exclusive breastfed and following introduction to a mixed diet. METHODS Metabolites of 15 phthalates and two substitutes, di(2-ethylhexyl)-teraphthalate (DEHTP) and diisononyl-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), were measured in urine samples collected from >100 infants and their parents and in paired urine samples collected from 67 infants, while they were exclusively breastfed and when they got mixed diet. RESULTS Among infants and their parents, metabolites of nine out of 15 phthalates and both substitutes were detected in >74% of all samples. Estimated daily intake (DI) calculated as µg/kg/day, showed similar exposure levels among infants and their parents for several of the substances, and infants were more exposed to DEHTP than their mothers. Significantly higher estimated DIs were observed for some low-molecular phthalates in infants exclusively breastfed. In contrast, comparable estimated DIs were observed for many other phthalates and DEHTP regardless of feeding status. For most of the substances, the within-family variation, was lower than the between-family variation. Likewise, the within-infant variation on exclusively breast vs. mixed diet was lower than the between-infant variation. Independent of food status, some infants were concurrently exposed to almost all the measured phthalates and substitutes in higher amounts than others. CONCLUSION Surprisingly, irrespective of diet status infants were exposed to several phthalates and substitutes some of which have been regulated for years. Exposure patterns and levels were similar in infants and their parents. Importantly, risk assessment based on new refined reference doses (RfD-AA) exceeded the safety level for anti-androgenic effects in a number of infants and parents, which is of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Frederiksen
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark.
| | - Emmie N Upners
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - Marie Lindhardt Ljubicic
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - Margit Bistrup Fischer
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - Alexander Siegfried Busch
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - Casper P Hagen
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
| | - Anders Juul
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark; University of Copenhagen, Department of Clinical Medicine, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Department of Growth and Reproduction, Denmark; Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Denmark
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17
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Skakkebæk NE, Lindahl-Jacobsen R, Levine H, Andersson AM, Jørgensen N, Main KM, Lidegaard Ø, Priskorn L, Holmboe SA, Bräuner EV, Almstrup K, Franca LR, Znaor A, Kortenkamp A, Hart RJ, Juul A. Environmental factors in declining human fertility. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2022; 18:139-157. [PMID: 34912078 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00598-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A severe decline in child births has occurred over the past half century, which will lead to considerable population declines, particularly in industrialized regions. A crucial question is whether this decline can be explained by economic and behavioural factors alone, as suggested by demographic reports, or to what degree biological factors are also involved. Here, we discuss data suggesting that human reproductive health is deteriorating in industrialized regions. Widespread infertility and the need for assisted reproduction due to poor semen quality and/or oocyte failure are now major health issues. Other indicators of declining reproductive health include a worldwide increasing incidence in testicular cancer among young men and alterations in twinning frequency. There is also evidence of a parallel decline in rates of legal abortions, revealing a deterioration in total conception rates. Subtle alterations in fertility rates were already visible around 1900, and most industrialized regions now have rates below levels required to sustain their populations. We hypothesize that these reproductive health problems are partially linked to increasing human exposures to chemicals originating directly or indirectly from fossil fuels. If the current infertility epidemic is indeed linked to such exposures, decisive regulatory action underpinned by unconventional, interdisciplinary research collaborations will be needed to reverse the trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels E Skakkebæk
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Hagai Levine
- School of Public Health, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Jørgensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katharina M Main
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Øjvind Lidegaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Gynecology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lærke Priskorn
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine A Holmboe
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Elvira V Bräuner
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Almstrup
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luiz R Franca
- Department of Morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ariana Znaor
- Cancer Surveillance Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Andreas Kortenkamp
- Division of Environmental Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Roger J Hart
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Fertility Specialists of Western Australia, Bethesda Hospital, Claremont, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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18
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Proficiency and Interlaboratory Variability in the Determination of Phthalate and DINCH Biomarkers in Human Urine: Results from the HBM4EU Project. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10020057. [PMID: 35202244 PMCID: PMC8878211 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10020057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
A quality assurance/quality control program was implemented in the framework of the EU project HBM4EU to assess and improve the comparability of biomarker analysis and to build a network of competent laboratories. Four rounds of proficiency tests were organized for 15 phthalate and two DINCH urinary biomarkers (0.2–138 ng/mL) over a period of 18 months, with the involvement of 28 laboratories. A substantial improvement in performance was observed after the first round in particular, and by the end of the program, an average satisfactory performance rate of 90% was achieved. The interlaboratory reproducibility as derived from the participants’ results varied for the various biomarkers and rounds, with an average of 24% for the biomarkers of eight single-isomer phthalates (e.g., DnBP and DEHP) and 43% for the more challenging biomarkers of the mixed-isomer phthalates (DiNP, DiDP) and DINCH. When the reproducibility was based only on the laboratories that consistently achieved a satisfactory performance, this improved to 17% and 26%, respectively, clearly demonstrating the success of the QA/QC efforts. The program thus aided in building capacity and the establishment of a network of competent laboratories able to generate comparable and accurate HBM data for phthalate and DINCH biomarkers in 14 EU countries. In addition, global comparability was ensured by including external expert laboratories.
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Runkel AA, Mazej D, Snoj Tratnik J, Tkalec Ž, Kosjek T, Horvat M. Exposure of men and lactating women to environmental phenols, phthalates, and DINCH. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131858. [PMID: 34399256 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates and 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH), bisphenols (BPs), parabens (PBs), and triclosan (TCS) are high-production-volume chemicals of pseudo-persistence that are concerning for the environment and human health. This study aims to assess the exposure to 10 phthalates, DINCH, and environmental phenols (3 BPs, 7 PBs, and TCS) of Slovenian men (n = 548) and lactating primiparous women (n = 536). We observed urinary concentrations comparable to studies from other countries and significant differences among the sub-populations. In our study, men had significantly higher levels of phthalates, DINCH, and BPs, whereas the concentrations of PBs in urine were significantly higher in women. The most significant determinant of exposure was the area of residence and the year of sampling (2008-2014) that mirrors trends in the market. Participants from urban or industrialized sampling locations had higher levels of almost all monitored analytes compared to rural locations. In an attempt to assess the risk of the population, hazard quotient (HQ) values were calculated for individual compounds and the chemical mixture. Individual analytes do not seem to pose a risk to the studied population at current exposure levels, whereas the HQ value of the chemical mixture is near the threshold of 1 which would indicate a higher risk. We conclude that greater emphasis on the risk resulting from cumulative exposure to chemical mixtures and additional studies are needed to estimate the exposure of susceptible populations, such as children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneta A Runkel
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Žiga Tkalec
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tina Kosjek
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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20
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Qu J, Xia W, Qian X, Wu Y, Li J, Wen S, Xu S. Geographic distribution and time trend of human exposure of Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate among different age groups based on global biomonitoring data. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132115. [PMID: 34826892 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite being restricted by many authorities, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is still widely detected in the environment and biospecimens. To indentify populations of high risk and evaluate the effects of DEHP restrictions, we elucidated the geographic distribution of DEHP exposure levels among pregnant women and different age groups, and compared the time trend of exposure levels with the time course of productions/restrictions. The estimated daily intake (EDI) was calculated based on biomonitoring data in published epidemiological studies, and then the group EDI (EDIG) was calculated for one particular population, region, or period by weighting EDIs by sample sizes. Overall, 144,965 samples from 45 nations were included, with the sampling time ranging from 1982 to 2017. Children had the highest exposure level (5.50 μg/kg bw/day) worldwide, while infants and pregnant women had low levels (2.13 and 1.89 μg/kg bw/day, respectively). The EDIGs varied considerably between countries, and the majority of corresponding hazard quotients were less than 1; however, the risk behind can not be ignored. In the general population, the DEHP exposure level showed a downtrend from 4.40 μg/kg bw/day before 2000 to 2.23 μg/kg bw/day in 2015-2017. In the European Union, the annual trend of DEHP EDIGs of children and adults fitted the production and consumption volume, and the EDIGs decreased more sharply in children. The EDIGs of children decreased with a delay along with the regulations on the use of DEHP. Cutting productions/consumptions and restrictions are effective to reduce DEHP exposure, but current efforts are far from enough on a worldwide scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Qu
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xia
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Qian
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongning Wu
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, 100022, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingguang Li
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing, 100022, People's Republic of China
| | - Sheng Wen
- Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Shunqing Xu
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Lee I, Pälmke C, Ringbeck B, Ihn Y, Gotthardt A, Lee G, Alakeel R, Alrashed M, Tosepu R, Jayadipraja EA, Tantrakarnapa K, Kliengchuay W, Kho Y, Koch HM, Choi K. Urinary Concentrations of Major Phthalate and Alternative Plasticizer Metabolites in Children of Thailand, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, and Associated Risks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:16526-16537. [PMID: 34846872 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are widely used in consumer products and are well-known for adverse endocrine outcomes. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), one of the most extensively used phthalates, has been rapidly substituted with alternative plasticizers in many consumer products. The aim of this study was to assess urinary phthalate and alternative plasticizer exposure and associated risks in children of three Asian countries with different geographical, climate, and cultural characteristics. Children were recruited from elementary schools of Saudi Arabia (n = 109), Thailand (n = 104), and Indonesia (n = 89) in 2017-2018, and their urine samples were collected. Metabolites of major phthalates and alternative plasticizers were measured in the urine samples by HPLC-MS/MS. Urinary metabolite levels differed substantially between the three countries. Metabolite levels of diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP), di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP), and 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH) were the highest in Saudi children: Median urinary concentrations of oxo-MiNP, OH-MiDP, 5cx-MEPTP, and OH-MINCH were 8.3, 8.4, 128.0, and 2.9 ng/mL, respectively. Urinary DEHP metabolite concentrations were the highest in the Indonesian children. The hazard index (HI) derived for the plasticizers with antiandrogenicity based reference doses (RfDAA) was >1 in 86%, 80%, and 49% of the Saudi, Indonesian, and Thai children, respectively. DEHP was identified as a common major risk driver for the children of all three countries, followed by DnBP and DiBP depending on the country. Among alternative plasticizers, urinary DEHTP metabolites were detected at levels comparable to those of DEHP metabolites or higher among the Saudi children, and about 4% of the Saudi children exceeded the health based human biomonitoring (HBM)-I value. Priority plasticizers that were identified among the children of three countries warrant refined exposure assessment for source identification and relevant exposure reduction measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inae Lee
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Claudia Pälmke
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Benedikt Ringbeck
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Yunchul Ihn
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Alexandra Gotthardt
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Gowoon Lee
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Raid Alakeel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - May Alrashed
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Medical and Molecular Genetics Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ramadhan Tosepu
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, University of Halu Oleo, Kendari 93232, Indonesia
| | | | - Kraichat Tantrakarnapa
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi 10400, Thailand
| | - Wissanupong Kliengchuay
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Ratchathewi 10400, Thailand
| | - Younglim Kho
- Department of Health, Environment and Safety, Eulji University, Seongnam 13135, Republic of Korea
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Kyungho Choi
- School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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22
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Ma YB, Manzoor R, Jia PP, Bian WP, Hamid N, Xie ZY, Pei DS. Transcriptome and in silico approaches provide new insights into the mechanism of male reproductive toxicity induced by chronic exposure to DEHP. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 289:117944. [PMID: 34391046 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) can affect the male reproductive system in vertebrates, but the underlying molecular mechanism is still elusive. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to dig the in-depth mechanism of DEHP-induced reproductive toxicity on male zebrafish via testicular transcriptome using embryo exposed at the environmentally relevant concentration (ERC) of 100 μg/L for 111 days. Moreover, our results were further confirmed via in silico technique and bioassay experimental in vitro (cell lines) and in vivo (zebrafish). The results showed DEHP exposure could affect male spermatogenesis, altered gonad histology, and reduced egg fertilization rate. Transcriptome analysis identified 1879 significant differentially expressed genes enriched in the exposure group. Twenty-seven genes related to three pathways of reproduction behavior were further validated by qPCR. In silico molecular docking revealed that DEHP and its metabolism bind to the zebrafish progesterone receptor (Pgr), suggesting the potential disruption of DEHP to the normal Pgr signaling. To further validate it, a wild-type Pgr plasmid and its mutants on specific binding sites were constructed. The transfection and microinjection experiment demonstrated that these binding sites mutations of Pgr affected the expression levels of male reproductive toxicity. Taken together, our study provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms of male reproductive toxicity induced by DEHP, and Pgr may serve as an important target binding by DEHP pollution, which needs further study in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Bo Ma
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Rakia Manzoor
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Development Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Pan-Pan Jia
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Wan-Ping Bian
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Naima Hamid
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhuo-Yuan Xie
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - De-Sheng Pei
- School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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23
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Lemke N, Murawski A, Lange R, Weber T, Apel P, Dębiak M, Koch HM, Kolossa-Gehring M. Substitutes mimic the exposure behaviour of REACH regulated phthalates - A review of the German HBM system on the example of plasticizers. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 236:113780. [PMID: 34126298 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The population is constantly exposed to potentially harmful substances present in the environment, including inter alia food and drinking water, consumer products, and indoor air. Human biomonitoring (HBM) is a valuable tool to determine the integral, internal exposure of the general population, including vulnerable subgroups, to provide the basis for risk assessment and policy advice. The German HBM system comprises of five pillars: (1) the development of suitable analytical methods for new substances of concern, (2) cross-sectional population-representative German Environmental Surveys (GerES), (3) time trend analyses using archived samples from the Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB), (4) the derivation of health-based guidance values as a risk assessment tool, and (5) transfer of data into the European cooperation network HBM4EU. The goal of this paper is to present the complementary elements of the German HBM system and to show its strengths and limitations on the example of plasticizers. Plasticizers have been identified by EU services and HBM4EU partners as priority substances for chemical policy at EU level. Using the complementary elements of the German HBM system, the internal exposure to classical phthalates and novel alternative plasticizers can be reliably monitored. It is shown that market changes, due to regulation of certain phthalates and the rise of substitutes, are rapidly reflected in the internal exposure of the population. It was shown that exposure to DEHP, DiBP, DnBP, and BBzP decreased considerably, whereas exposure to the novel substitutes such as DPHP, DEHTP, and Hexamoll®DINCH has increased significantly. While health-based guidance values for several phthalates (esp. DnBP, DiBP, DEHP) were exceeded quite often at the turn of the millennium, exceedances today have become rarer. Still, also the latest GerES reveals the ubiquitous and concurrent exposures to many plasticizers. Of concern is that the youngest children showed the highest exposures to most of the investigated plasticizers and in some cases their levels of DiBP and DnBP still exceeded health-based guidance values. Over the last years, mixture exposures are increasingly recognized as relevant, especially if the toxicological modes of action are similar. This is supported by a cumulative risk assessment for four endocrine active phthalates which confirms the still concerning cumulative exposure in many young children. Given the adverse health effects of some phthalates and the limited toxicological knowledge of substitutes, exposure reduction and surveillance are needed on German and EU-level. Substitutes need to be monitored, to intervene if exposures are threatening to exceed acceptable levels, or if new toxicological data question their appropriateness. It is strongly recommended to reconsider the use of plastics and plasticizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Lemke
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Till Weber
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Apel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance (IPA), Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
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24
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New Analytical Method for Determination of Phthalates in Wastewater by on Line LC-GC-MS Using the TOTAD Interface and Fraction Collector. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9060920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an increasing demand for automatic, reliable and sensitive analytical methods for determining trace levels of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in environmental samples. While on line coupled liquid chromatography-gas chromatography (LC-GC) has been proof to be a powerful tool for trace-level analyses in complex matrices, the present work presents a new totally automated on line LC-GC method, using the Through Oven Transfer Adsorption Desorption (TOTAD) interface, for the analysis of four of the main phthalates, dibuthyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), in a matrix as complex as leachate. The sample is directly injected into the LC injector valve with no sample pretreatment other than simple filtration. The LC step separates the target analytes from matrix interference. Two different LC fractions are collected in a purposely designed fraction collector and then transferred to the TOTAD interface, which concentrates the analytes, totally eliminates the solvent and transfers the analytes to the GC-MS system, where the analysis is carried out. The LOD of the method varied from 0.1 µg/L (DEHP) to 1.4 µg/L (DMP), RSD for retention time below 0.14% and for absolute peak areas below 12% and linearity from 1 µg/L to 1000 µg/L (R2 > 0.99), except in the case of DEHP (linearity from 1 to 250 µg/L, R2 = 0.94). The method was applied to the analysis of the target analytes in samples collected from a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill in Rosario (Argentina).
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25
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Lange R, Apel P, Rousselle C, Charles S, Sissoko F, Kolossa-Gehring M, Ougier E. The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU): Human biomonitoring guidance values for selected phthalates and a substitute plasticizer. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 234:113722. [PMID: 33711757 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ubiquitous use of plasticizers has led to a widespread internal exposure of the European population. Until today, metabolites are detected in almost every urine sample analysed. This raised the urgent need for a toxicological interpretation of the internal exposure levels. The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) contributes substantially to the knowledge on the actual exposure of European citizens to chemicals prioritised within HBM4EU, on their potential impact on health and on the interpretation of these data to improve policy making. On that account, human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs) are derived for the general population and the occupationally exposed population agreed at HBM4EU consortium level. These values can be used to assess phthalate exposure levels measured in HBM studies in a health risk assessment context. HBM-GVs were derived for five phthalates (DEHP, DnBP, DiBP, BBzP and DPHP) and for the non-phthalate substitute Hexamoll® DINCH. For the adult general population, the HBM-GVs for the specific metabolite(s) of the respective parent compounds in urine are the following: 0.5 mg/L for the sum of 5-oxo-MEHP and 5-OH-MEHP; 0.19 mg/L for MnBP, 0.23 mg/L for MiBP; 3 mg/L for MBzP; 0.5 mg/L for the sum of oxo-MPHP and OH-MPHP and 4.5 mg/L for the sum of OH-MINCH and cx-MINCH. The present paper further specifies HBM-GVs for children and for workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Lange
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Petra Apel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christophe Rousselle
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France
| | - Sandrine Charles
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France
| | - Fatoumata Sissoko
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France
| | | | - Eva Ougier
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 14 Rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France
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26
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Huang Q, Jiang K, Tang Z, Fan K, Meng J, Nie D, Zhao Z, Wu Y, Han Z. Exposure Assessment of Multiple Mycotoxins and Cumulative Health Risk Assessment: A Biomonitoring-Based Study in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:103. [PMID: 33535530 PMCID: PMC7912756 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The extensive exposure to multiple mycotoxins has been demonstrated in many countries; however, realistic assessments of the risks related to cumulative exposure are limited. This biomonitoring study was conducted to investigate exposure to 23 mycotoxins/metabolites and their determinants in 227 adults (aged 20-88 years) in the Yangtze River Delta, China. Eight mycotoxins were detected in 110 urine samples, and multiple mycotoxins co-occurred in 51/227 (22.47%) of urine samples, with deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin B1 (FB1), and zearalenone (ZEN) being the most frequently occurring. For single mycotoxin risk assessment, FB1, ZEN, aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), and ochratoxin A (OTA) all showed potential adverse effects. However, for the 12 samples containing DON and ZEN, in which none had a hazard risk, the combination of both mycotoxins in two samples was considered to pose potential endocrine disrupting risks to humans by hazard index (HI) method. The combined margin of exposure (MOET) for AFB1 and FB1 could constitute a potential health concern, and AFB1 was the main contributor. Our approach provides a blueprint for evaluating the cumulative risks related to different types of mycotoxins and opens a new horizon for the accurate interpretation of epidemiological health outcomes related to multi-mycotoxin exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingwen Huang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Q.H.); (K.J.)
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Keqiu Jiang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Q.H.); (K.J.)
| | - Zhanmin Tang
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Kai Fan
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Jiajia Meng
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Dongxia Nie
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zhihui Zhao
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Yongjiang Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (Q.H.); (K.J.)
| | - Zheng Han
- Institute for Agro-Food Standards and Testing Technology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Protected Horticultural Technology, Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Agro-Products (Shanghai), Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China; (Z.T.); (K.F.); (J.M.); (D.N.); (Z.Z.)
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27
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Endocrine Disruption: Structural Interactions of Androgen Receptor against Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Its Metabolites. TOXICS 2020; 8:toxics8040115. [PMID: 33302356 PMCID: PMC7762550 DOI: 10.3390/toxics8040115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is a commonly used plasticizer in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride plastics for household and commercial use. DEHP is a ubiquitous ecocontaminant and causes developmental and reproductive problems in children and adults. After exposure, DEHP is metabolized by endogenous hydrolysis and oxidation into the primary metabolite, mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), and the secondary metabolites, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxhexyl)phthalate (5-OH-MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (5-oxo-MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (5-cx-MEPP), and mono-[(2-carboxymethyl)hexyl] phthalate (2-cx-MMHP). Very few studies have been reported on the adverse effects of DEHP metabolites, and the available information indicates that the metabolites might also be equally or more active as compared to the parent compound. In the present study, induced fit docking was used for structural binding characterization of the above five DEHP metabolites with androgen receptor (AR) to predict the potential endocrine-disrupting effects of these metabolites in AR signaling. All the DEHP metabolites interacted with the ligand-binding pocket of AR forming amino-acid residue interactions, hydrogen bonding, and pi-pi interactions. The binding energy of DEHP with AR was similar to that of native ligand testosterone. The amino-acid residue interactions of DEHP metabolites had 91-100% similarity compared to that of testosterone. In addition, all the DEHP metabolites and testosterone showed a common hydrogen bonding interaction with amino-acid Arg-752 of AR. Taken together, the structural binding data in the present study suggested the potential for DEHP metabolites to disrupt AR signaling, which may lead to androgen-related reproductive dysfunction.
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28
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Kotowska U, Kapelewska J, Sawczuk R. Occurrence, removal, and environmental risk of phthalates in wastewaters, landfill leachates, and groundwater in Poland. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 267:115643. [PMID: 33254702 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates or phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are chemical compounds whose use is exceptionally widespread in everyday materials but, at the same time, have been proven to have harmful effects on living organisms. Effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and leachates from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are important sources of phthalates with respect to naturally occurring waters. The main aim of this research was determination, mass loads, removal rates and ecological risk assessment of eight phthalates in municipal wastewaters, landfill leachates and groundwater from Polish WWTPs and MSW landfills. Solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry were used for the extraction and determination of analytes. Summed up concentrations of eight phthalates ranged from below LOD to 596 μg/L in influent wastewater with the highest concentration found for bis-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) (143 μg/L). The average degree of phthalate removal varies depending on the capacity of a given treatment plant with larger treatment plants coping better than smaller ones. The highest treatment efficiency for all tested treatment plants, over 90%, was reported for dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Overall concentrations of phthalates in leachates ranged from below LOD to 303 μg/L while the highest maximum concentration was registered for DEHP (249 μg/L). Overall concentrations of phthalic acid esters in groundwater from upstream monitoring wells ranged from below LOD to 1.8 μg/L and from LOD to 27.9 μg/L in samples from wells downstream of MSW landfills. The obtained data shows that diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), DEHP, and diisononyl phthalate (DINP) pose a high risk for all trophic levels being considered in effluent wastewaters. In the case of groundwater high environmental risk was recorded for DBP and DEHP for all tested trophic levels. Phthalates, in concentrations that pose a high environmental risk, are present in Polish municipal after-treatment wastewater as well as in groundwater under municipal solid waste landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urszula Kotowska
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245, Bialystok, Poland.
| | - Justyna Kapelewska
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Róża Sawczuk
- Department of Analytical and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bialystok, Ciołkowskiego 1K Street, 15-245, Bialystok, Poland
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29
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Schwedler G, Rucic E, Koch HM, Lessmann F, Brüning T, Conrad A, Schmied-Tobies MI, Kolossa-Gehring M. Metabolites of the substitute plasticiser Di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP) in urine of children and adolescents investigated in the German Environmental Survey GerES V, 2014–2017. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2020; 230:113589. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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