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Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, del Mazo J, Grasl‐Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, Hoogenboom L(R, Leblanc J, Nebbia CS, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Schwerdtle T, Wallace H, Benford D, Hart A, Schroeder H, Rose M, Vrijheid M, Kouloura E, Bordajandi LR, Riolo F, Vleminckx C. Update of the scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food. EFSA J 2024; 22:e8859. [PMID: 39010865 PMCID: PMC11247339 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and five derivatives in food. Neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity were considered as the critical effects of TBBPA in rodent studies. The available evidence indicates that the carcinogenicity of TBBPA occurs via non-genotoxic mechanisms. Taking into account the new data, the CONTAM Panel considered it appropriate to set a tolerable daily intake (TDI). Based on decreased interest in social interaction in male mice, a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day was identified and selected as the reference point for the risk characterisation. Applying the default uncertainty factor of 100 for inter- and intraspecies variability, and a factor of 3 to extrapolate from the LOAEL to NOAEL, a TDI for TBBPA of 0.7 μg/kg bw per day was established. Around 2100 analytical results for TBBPA in food were used to estimate dietary exposure for the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary LB exposure to TBBPA were fish and seafood, meat and meat products and milk and dairy products. The exposure estimates to TBBPA were all below the TDI, including those estimated for breastfed and formula-fed infants. Accounting for the uncertainties affecting the assessment, the CONTAM Panel concluded with 90%-95% certainty that the current dietary exposure to TBBPA does not raise a health concern for any of the population groups considered. There were insufficient data on the toxicity of any of the TBBPA derivatives to derive reference points, or to allow a comparison with TBBPA that would support assignment to an assessment group for the purposes of combined risk assessment.
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Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, del Mazo J, Grasl‐Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, (Ron) Hoogenboom L, Leblanc J, Nebbia CS, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Schwerdtle T, Wallace H, Benford D, Fürst P, Hart A, Rose M, Schroeder H, Vrijheid M, Ioannidou S, Nikolič M, Bordajandi LR, Vleminckx C. Update of the risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food. EFSA J 2024; 22:e8497. [PMID: 38269035 PMCID: PMC10807361 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food, focusing on 10 congeners: BDE-28, -47, -49, -99, -100, -138, -153, -154, -183 and ‑209. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour and reproductive/developmental effects are the critical effects in rodent studies. For four congeners (BDE-47, -99, -153, -209) the Panel derived Reference Points, i.e. benchmark doses and corresponding lower 95% confidence limits (BMDLs), for endpoint-specific benchmark responses. Since repeated exposure to PBDEs results in accumulation of these chemicals in the body, the Panel estimated the body burden at the BMDL in rodents, and the chronic intake that would lead to the same body burden in humans. For the remaining six congeners no studies were available to identify Reference Points. The Panel concluded that there is scientific basis for inclusion of all 10 congeners in a common assessment group and performed a combined risk assessment. The Panel concluded that the combined margin of exposure (MOET) approach was the most appropriate risk metric and applied a tiered approach to the risk characterisation. Over 84,000 analytical results for the 10 congeners in food were used to estimate the exposure across dietary surveys and age groups of the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary Lower Bound exposure to PBDEs were meat and meat products and fish and seafood. Taking into account the uncertainties affecting the assessment, the Panel concluded that it is likely that current dietary exposure to PBDEs in the European population raises a health concern.
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Krauss M, Huber C, Schulze T, Bartel-Steinbach M, Weber T, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lermen D. Assessing background contamination of sample tubes used in human biomonitoring by non-targeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108426. [PMID: 38228043 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Controlling and minimising background contamination is crucial for maintaining a high quality of samples in human biomonitoring targeting organic chemicals. We assessed the contamination of three previous types and one newly introduced medical-grade type of sample tubes used for storing human body fluids at the German Environmental Specimen Bank. Aqueous extracts from these tubes were analysed by non-targeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) before and after a dedicated cleaning procedure. After peak detection using MZmine, Bayesian hypothesis testing was used to group peaks into those originating either from instrumental and laboratory background contamination, or actual tube contaminants, based on if their peak height was reduced, increased or not affected by the cleaning procedure. For all four tube types 80-90% of the 2475 peaks (1549 in positive and 926 in negative mode) were assigned to laboratory/instrumental background, which we have to consider as potential sample tube contaminants. Among the tube contaminants, results suggest a considerable difference in the contaminant peak inventory and the absolute level of contamination among the different sample tube types. The cleaning procedure did not affect the largest fraction of peaks (50-70%). For the medical grade tubes, the removal of contaminants by the cleaning procedure was strongest compared to the previous tubes, but in all cases a small fraction increased in intensity after cleaning, probably due to a release of oligomers or additives. The identified laboratory background contaminants were mainly semi-volatile polymer additives such as phthalates and phosphate esters. A few compounds could be assigned solely as tube-specific contaminants, such as N,N-dibutylformamide and several constituents of the oligomeric light stabiliser Tinuvin-622. A cleaning procedure before use is an effective way to standardise the used sample tubes and minimises the background contamination, and therefore increases sample quality and therewith analytical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Krauss
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Exposure Science, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Carolin Huber
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Exposure Science, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Ecology, Diversity and Evolution, Goethe University Frankfurt Biologicum, Campus Riedberg, Max-von-Laue-Str. 13, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tobias Schulze
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department Exposure Science, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martina Bartel-Steinbach
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, 66280 Sulzbach, Germany
| | - Till Weber
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Corrensplatz 1, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Dominik Lermen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-Weg 1, 66280 Sulzbach, Germany.
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Rosolen V, Giordani E, Mariuz M, Parpinel M, Mustieles V, Gilles L, Govarts E, Rodriguez Martin L, Baken K, Schoeters G, Sepai O, Sovcikova E, Fabelova L, Kohoutek J, Jensen TK, Covaci A, Roggeman M, Melymuk L, Klánová J, Castano A, Esteban López M, Barbone F. Cognitive Performance and Exposure to Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Children: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Analysis of Two European Mother-Child Cohorts. TOXICS 2023; 11:878. [PMID: 37999530 PMCID: PMC10675051 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11110878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The knowledge of the effects of organophosphate flame retardants on children's neurodevelopment is limited. The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the association between exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and children's neurodevelopment in two European cohorts involved in the Human Biomonitoring Initiative Aligned Studies. The participants were school-aged children belonging to the Odense Child Cohort (Denmark) and the PCB cohort (Slovakia). In each cohort, the children's neurodevelopment was assessed through the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient score of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, using two different editions. The children's urine samples, collected at one point in time, were analyzed for several metabolites of organophosphate flame retardants. The association between neurodevelopment and each organophosphate flame retardant metabolite was explored by applying separate multiple linear regressions based on the approach of MM-estimation in each cohort. In the Danish cohort, the mean ± standard deviation for the neurodevelopment score was 98 ± 12; the geometric mean (95% confidence interval (95% CI)) of bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP) standardized by creatinine (crt) was 0.52 µg/g crt (95% CI = 0.49; 0.60), while that of diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) standardized by crt was 1.44 µg/g crt (95% CI = 1.31; 1.58). The neurodevelopment score showed a small, negative, statistically imprecise trend with BDCIPP standardized by crt (β = -1.30; 95%CI = -2.72; 0.11; p-value = 0.07) and no clear association with DPHP standardized by crt (β = -0.98; 95%CI = -2.96; 0.99; p-value = 0.33). The neurodevelopment score showed a negative trend with BDCIPP (β = -1.42; 95% CI = -2.70; -0.06; p-value = 0.04) and no clear association with DPHP (β = -1.09; 95% CI = -2.87; 0.68; p-value = 0.23). In the Slovakian cohort, the mean ± standard deviation for the neurodevelopment score was 81 ± 15; the geometric mean of BDCIPP standardized by crt was 0.18 µg/g crt (95% CI = 0.16; 0.20), while that of DPHP standardized by crt was 2.24 µg/g crt (95% CI = 2.00; 3.52). The association of the neurodevelopment score with BDCIPP standardized by crt was -0.49 (95%CI = -1.85; 0.87; p-value = 0.48), and with DPHP standardized by crt it was -0.35 (95%CI = -1.90; 1.20; p-value = 0.66). No clear associations were observed between the neurodevelopment score and BDCIPP/DPHP concentrations that were not standardized by crt. No clear associations were observed with bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPP) in either cohort, due to the low detection frequency of this compound. In conclusion, this study provides only limited evidence of an inverse association between neurodevelopment and exposure to BDCIPP and DPHP. The timing of exposure and effect modification of other organophosphate flame retardant metabolites and other substances should be the subject of further investigations that address this scientific hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Rosolen
- Central Directorate for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Via Cassa Di Risparmio 10, 34121 Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Giordani
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marika Mariuz
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Maria Parpinel
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Via Colugna 50, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Kirsten Baken
- BrabantAdvies, Brabantlaan 3, 5216 TV ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Department of Biomedical Sciences & Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp—Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ovnair Sepai
- Toxicology Department, Science Group, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Eva Sovcikova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, 83303 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lucia Fabelova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, 83303 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jiři Kohoutek
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten Roggeman
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lisa Melymuk
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Klánová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Argelia Castano
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Rodriguez Martin L, Gilles L, Helte E, Åkesson A, Tägt J, Covaci A, Sakhi AK, Van Nieuwenhuyse A, Katsonouri A, Andersson AM, Gutleb AC, Janasik B, Appenzeller B, Gabriel C, Thomsen C, Mazej D, Sarigiannis D, Anastasi E, Barbone F, Tolonen H, Frederiksen H, Klanova J, Koponen J, Tratnik JS, Pack K, Gudrun K, Ólafsdóttir K, Knudsen LE, Rambaud L, Strumylaite L, Murinova LP, Fabelova L, Riou M, Berglund M, Szabados M, Imboden M, Laeremans M, Eštóková M, Janev Holcer N, Probst-Hensch N, Vodrazkova N, Vogel N, Piler P, Schmidt P, Lange R, Namorado S, Kozepesy S, Szigeti T, Halldorsson TI, Weber T, Jensen TK, Rosolen V, Puklova V, Wasowicz W, Sepai O, Stewart L, Kolossa-Gehring M, Esteban-López M, Castaño A, Bessems J, Schoeters G, Govarts E. Time Patterns in Internal Human Exposure Data to Bisphenols, Phthalates, DINCH, Organophosphate Flame Retardants, Cadmium and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons in Europe. TOXICS 2023; 11:819. [PMID: 37888670 PMCID: PMC10610666 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring (HBM) data in Europe are often fragmented and collected in different EU countries and sampling periods. Exposure levels for children and adult women in Europe were evaluated over time. For the period 2000-2010, literature and aggregated data were collected in a harmonized way across studies. Between 2011-2012, biobanked samples from the DEMOCOPHES project were used. For 2014-2021, HBM data were generated within the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. Time patterns on internal exposure were evaluated visually and statistically using the 50th and 90th percentiles (P50/P90) for phthalates/DINCH and organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in children (5-12 years), and cadmium, bisphenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in women (24-52 years). Restricted phthalate metabolites show decreasing patterns for children. Phthalate substitute, DINCH, shows a non-significant increasing pattern. For OPFRs, no trends were statistically significant. For women, BPA shows a clear decreasing pattern, while substitutes BPF and BPS show an increasing pattern coinciding with the BPA restrictions introduced. No clear patterns are observed for PAHs or cadmium. Although the causal relations were not studied as such, exposure levels to chemicals restricted at EU level visually decreased, while the levels for some of their substitutes increased. The results support policy efficacy monitoring and the policy-supportive role played by HBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rodriguez Martin
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
| | - Emilie Helte
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (E.H.); (A.Å.); (J.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Agneta Åkesson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (E.H.); (A.Å.); (J.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Jonas Tägt
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (E.H.); (A.Å.); (J.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Amrit K. Sakhi
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456 Oslo, Norway; (A.K.S.); (C.T.)
| | - An Van Nieuwenhuyse
- Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Rue Louis Rech 1, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg;
| | | | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (A.-M.A.); (H.F.)
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arno C. Gutleb
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg;
| | - Beata Janasik
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland; (B.J.); (W.W.)
| | | | - Catherine Gabriel
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.G.); (D.S.)
- HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456 Oslo, Norway; (A.K.S.); (C.T.)
| | - Darja Mazej
- Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (D.M.); (J.S.T.)
| | - Denis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.G.); (D.S.)
- HERACLES Research Center on the Exposome and Health, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Balkan Center, Bldg. B, 10th km Thessaloniki-Thermi Road, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
- Environmental Health Engineering, Institute of Advanced Study, Palazzo del Broletto–Piazza Della Vittoria 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Elena Anastasi
- State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, 2081 Nicosia, Cyprus; (A.K.); (E.A.)
| | - Fabio Barbone
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume, 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Hanna Tolonen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271 Helsinki, Finland; (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (A.-M.A.); (H.F.)
| | - Jana Klanova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (P.P.)
| | - Jani Koponen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), 00271 Helsinki, Finland; (H.T.); (J.K.)
| | | | - Kim Pack
- Department of Toxicology, Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, German Environment Agency (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (K.P.); (N.V.); (P.S.); (R.L.); (T.W.)
| | - Koppen Gudrun
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
| | - Kristin Ólafsdóttir
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Hofsvallagata 53, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland; (K.Ó.); (T.I.H.)
| | - Lisbeth E. Knudsen
- Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé Publique France, 94410 Saint Maurice, France (M.R.)
| | - Loreta Strumylaite
- Neuroscience Institute, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, LT-50161 Kaunas, Lithuania;
| | - Lubica Palkovicova Murinova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.P.M.)
| | - Lucia Fabelova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia; (L.P.M.)
| | - Margaux Riou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé Publique France, 94410 Saint Maurice, France (M.R.)
| | - Marika Berglund
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (E.H.); (A.Å.); (J.T.); (M.B.)
| | - Maté Szabados
- National Public Health Center, Albert Florian 2-6, 1097 Budapest, Hungary; (M.S.); (S.K.); (T.S.)
| | - Medea Imboden
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.I.); (N.P.-H.)
| | - Michelle Laeremans
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
| | - Milada Eštóková
- Department of Environment and Health, Public Health Authority, 83105 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Natasa Janev Holcer
- Division for Environmental Health, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Rockefellerova 7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Bráce Branchetta 20/1, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Nicole Probst-Hensch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; (M.I.); (N.P.-H.)
| | - Nicole Vodrazkova
- Centre for Health and Environment, National Institute of Public Health, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (N.V.); (V.P.)
| | - Nina Vogel
- Department of Toxicology, Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, German Environment Agency (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (K.P.); (N.V.); (P.S.); (R.L.); (T.W.)
| | - Pavel Piler
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (P.P.)
| | - Phillipp Schmidt
- Department of Toxicology, Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, German Environment Agency (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (K.P.); (N.V.); (P.S.); (R.L.); (T.W.)
| | - Rosa Lange
- Department of Toxicology, Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, German Environment Agency (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (K.P.); (N.V.); (P.S.); (R.L.); (T.W.)
| | - Sónia Namorado
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Doctor Ricardo Jorge, Avenida Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Szilvia Kozepesy
- National Public Health Center, Albert Florian 2-6, 1097 Budapest, Hungary; (M.S.); (S.K.); (T.S.)
| | - Tamás Szigeti
- National Public Health Center, Albert Florian 2-6, 1097 Budapest, Hungary; (M.S.); (S.K.); (T.S.)
| | - Thorhallur I. Halldorsson
- Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Hofsvallagata 53, 107 Reykjavik, Iceland; (K.Ó.); (T.I.H.)
| | - Till Weber
- Department of Toxicology, Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, German Environment Agency (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (K.P.); (N.V.); (P.S.); (R.L.); (T.W.)
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Valentina Rosolen
- Central Directorate for Health, Social Policies and Disability, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, Via Cassa di Risparmio 10, 34121 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Vladimira Puklova
- Centre for Health and Environment, National Institute of Public Health, 100 00 Prague, Czech Republic; (N.V.); (V.P.)
| | - Wojciech Wasowicz
- Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland; (B.J.); (W.W.)
| | - Ovnair Sepai
- UKHSA UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Science Park, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK; (O.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Lorraine Stewart
- UKHSA UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Science Park, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK; (O.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- Department of Toxicology, Health-Related Environmental Monitoring, German Environment Agency (UBA), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (K.P.); (N.V.); (P.S.); (R.L.); (T.W.)
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (M.E.-L.); (A.C.)
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Spain; (M.E.-L.); (A.C.)
| | - Jos Bessems
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), 2400 Mol, Belgium; (L.G.); (K.G.); (M.L.); (J.B.); (G.S.); (E.G.)
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6
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Vorkamp K, Esteban López M, Gilles L, Göen T, Govarts E, Hajeb P, Katsonouri A, Knudsen LE, Kolossa-Gehring M, Lindh C, Nübler S, Pedraza-Díaz S, Santonen T, Castaño A. Coordination of chemical analyses under the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU): Concepts, procedures and lessons learnt. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 251:114183. [PMID: 37148759 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) ran from 2017 to 2022 with the aim of advancing and harmonizing human biomonitoring in Europe. More than 40,000 analyses were performed on human samples in different human biomonitoring studies in HBM4EU, addressing the chemical exposure of the general population, temporal developments, occupational exposure and a public health intervention on mercury in populations with high fish consumption. The analyses covered 15 priority groups of organic chemicals and metals and were carried out by a network of laboratories meeting the requirements of a comprehensive quality assurance and control system. The coordination of the chemical analyses included establishing contacts between sample owners and qualified laboratories and monitoring the progress of the chemical analyses during the analytical phase, also addressing status and consequences of Covid-19 measures. Other challenges were related to the novelty and complexity of HBM4EU, including administrative and financial matters and implementation of standardized procedures. Many individual contacts were necessary in the initial phase of HBM4EU. However, there is a potential to develop more streamlined and standardized communication and coordination in the analytical phase of a consolidated European HBM programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Marta Esteban López
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, National Centre for Environmental Health, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
| | - Thomas Göen
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
| | - Parvaneh Hajeb
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Roskilde, Denmark
| | | | - Lisbeth E Knudsen
- University of Copenhagen, Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Christian Lindh
- Lund University, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stefanie Nübler
- Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susana Pedraza-Díaz
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, National Centre for Environmental Health, Majadahonda, Spain
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Argelia Castaño
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, National Centre for Environmental Health, Majadahonda, Spain
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7
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Harmonized human biomonitoring in European children, teenagers and adults: EU-wide exposure data of 11 chemical substance groups from the HBM4EU Aligned Studies (2014-2021). Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 249:114119. [PMID: 36773580 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
As one of the core elements of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey was conducted in 23 countries to generate EU-wide comparable HBM data. This survey has built on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies, referred to as the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. The HBM4EU Aligned Studies included a total of 10,795 participants of three age groups: (i) 3,576 children aged 6-12 years, (ii) 3,117 teenagers aged 12-18 years and (iii) 4,102 young adults aged 20-39 years. The participants were recruited between 2014 and 2021 in 11-12 countries per age group, geographically distributed across Europe. Depending on the age group, internal exposure to phthalates and the substitute DINCH, halogenated and organophosphorus flame retardants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), cadmium, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic species, acrylamide, mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol (total DON)), benzophenones and selected pesticides was assessed by measuring substance specific biomarkers subjected to stringent quality control programs for chemical analysis. For substance groups analyzed in different age groups higher average exposure levels were observed in the youngest age group, i.e., phthalates/DINCH in children versus teenagers, acrylamide and pesticides in children versus adults, benzophenones in teenagers versus adults. Many biomarkers in teenagers and adults varied significantly according to educational attainment, with higher exposure levels of bisphenols, phthalates, benzophenones, PAHs and acrylamide in participants (from households) with lower educational attainment, while teenagers from households with higher educational attainment have higher exposure levels for PFASs and arsenic. In children, a social gradient was only observed for the non-specific pyrethroid metabolite 3-PBA and di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP), with higher levels in children from households with higher educational attainment. Geographical variations were seen for all exposure biomarkers. For 15 biomarkers, the available health-based HBM guidance values were exceeded with highest exceedance rates for toxicologically relevant arsenic in teenagers (40%), 3-PBA in children (36%), and between 11 and 14% for total DON, Σ (PFOA + PFNA + PFHxS + PFOS), bisphenol S and cadmium. The infrastructure and harmonized approach succeeded in obtaining comparable European wide internal exposure data for a prioritized set of 11 chemical groups. These data serve as a reference for comparison at the global level, provide a baseline to compare the efficacy of the European Commission's chemical strategy for sustainability and will give leverage to national policy makers for the implementation of targeted measures.
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8
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Kumari K, Swamy S. Field validated biomarker (ValidBIO) based assessment of impacts of various pollutants in water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:5347-5370. [PMID: 36414892 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24006-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The sensitivity of fish towards pollutants serves as an excellent tool for the analysis of water pollution. The effluents generated from various anthropogenic activities may contain heavy metals, pesticides, microplastics, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and ultimately find its way to aquatic environment. The enzymatic activities of fish collected from water bodies near major cities, oil spillage sites, agricultural land, and intensively industrialized areas have been reported to be significantly impacted in various field studies. These significant alterations in enzymatic activities act as a biomarker for monitoring purposes. The use of biomarkers not only helps in the identification of known and unknown pollutants and their detrimental health impacts, but also identifies the interaction between pollutants and organisms. The conventional method majorly used is physicochemical analysis, which is recognized as the backbone of the system for monitoring water quality. In physicochemical monitoring, major problems exist in assessing or predicting biological effects from chemical or physical data. Xenobiotic-induced enzymatic changes in fish may serve as an intuitive and efficient biomarker for determining contaminants in water bodies. Therefore, field validated biomarker (ValidBIO) approach needs to be integrated in water quality monitoring program for environmental health risk assessment of aquatic life impacted due to various point and non-point sources of water pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanchan Kumari
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Kolkata Zonal Centre, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700107, India.
| | - Senerita Swamy
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, 440020, India
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9
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van der Schyff V, Kalina J, Govarts E, Gilles L, Schoeters G, Castaño A, Esteban-López M, Kohoutek J, Kukučka P, Covaci A, Koppen G, Andrýsková L, Piler P, Klánová J, Jensen TK, Rambaud L, Riou M, Lamoree M, Kolossa-Gehring M, Vogel N, Weber T, Göen T, Gabriel C, Sarigiannis DA, Sakhi AK, Haug LS, Murinova LP, Fabelova L, Tratnik JS, Mazej D, Melymuk L. Exposure to flame retardants in European children - Results from the HBM4EU aligned studies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 247:114070. [PMID: 36442457 PMCID: PMC9758617 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.114070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Many legacy and emerging flame retardants (FRs) have adverse human and environmental health effects. This study reports legacy and emerging FRs in children from nine European countries from the HBM4EU aligned studies. Studies from Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Norway conducted between 2014 and 2021 provided data on FRs in blood and urine from 2136 children. All samples were collected and analyzed in alignment with the HBM4EU protocols. Ten halogenated FRs were quantified in blood, and four organophosphate flame retardants (OPFR) metabolites quantified in urine. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) were infrequently detected (<16% of samples). BDE-47 was quantified in blood from Greece, France, and Norway, with France (0.36 ng/g lipid) having the highest concentrations. BDE-153 and -209 were detected in <40% of samples. Dechlorane Plus (DP) was quantified in blood from four countries, with notably high median concentrations of 16 ng/g lipid in Slovenian children. OPFR metabolites had a higher detection frequency than other halogenated FRs. Diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) was quantified in 99% of samples across 8 countries at levels ∼5 times higher than other OPFR metabolites (highest median in Slovenia of 2.43 ng/g lipid). FR concentrations were associated with lifestyle factors such as cleaning frequency, employment status of the father of the household, and renovation status of the house, among others. The concentrations of BDE-47 in children from this study were similar to or lower than FRs found in adult matrices in previous studies, suggesting lower recent exposure and effectiveness of PBDE restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiři Kalina
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, 2400, Belgium
| | - Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, 2400, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, 2400, Belgium,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban-López
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jiři Kohoutek
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kukučka
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, 2400, Belgium
| | - 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
| | - Jana Klánová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, 5000, Denmark
| | - Loic Rambaud
- Santé Publique France, French Public Health Agency (ANSP), Saint-Maurice, 94415, France
| | - Margaux Riou
- Santé Publique France, French Public Health Agency (ANSP), Saint-Maurice, 94415, France
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment, Section Chemistry for Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Till Weber
- German Environment Agency (UBA), 06844 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Thomas Göen
- IPASUM - Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Henkestrasse 9-11, 91054, Erlangen, 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
| | - Dimosthenis A. 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
| | - Amrit Kaur Sakhi
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Line Småstuen Haug
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Lucia Fabelova
- Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, 833 03, Slovakia
| | - Janja Snoj Tratnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Darja Mazej
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Lisa Melymuk
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic,Corresponding author.
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10
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Vaccher V, Lopez ME, Castaño A, Mol H, Haji-Abbas-Zarrabi K, Bury D, Koch HM, Dvorakova D, Hajslova J, Nübler S, Kaur Sakhi A, Thomsen C, Vorkamp K, Göen T, Antignac JP. European interlaboratory comparison investigations (ICI) and external quality assurance schemes (EQUAS) for the analysis of bisphenol A, S and F in human urine: Results from the HBM4EU project. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112933. [PMID: 35182598 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The Human Biomonitoring for Europe initiative (HBM4EU) aims to study the exposure of citizens to chemicals and potentially associated health effects. One objective of this project has been to build a network of laboratories able to answer to the requirements of European human biomonitoring studies. Within the HBM4EU quality assurance and quality control scheme (QA/QC), a number of interlaboratory comparison investigations (ICIs) and external quality assurance schemes (EQUASs) were organized to ensure data consistency, comparability and reliability. Bisphenols are among the prioritized substance groups in HBM4EU, including bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) in human urine. In four rounds of ICI/EQUAS, two target concentration levels were considered, related to around P25 and P95 of the typical exposure distribution observed in the European general population. Special attention was paid to the conjugated phase II metabolites known to be most dominant in samples of environmentally exposed individuals, through the analysis of both native samples and samples fortified with glucuronide forms. For the low level, the average percentage of satisfactory results across the four rounds was 83% for BPA, 71% for BPS and 62% for BPF. For the high level, the percentages of satisfactory results increased to 93% for BPA, 89% for BPS and 86% for BPF. 24 out of 32 participating laboratories (75%) were approved for the analyses of BPA in the HBM4EU project according to the defined criterion of Z-scores for both low and high concentration levels in at least two ICI/EQUAS rounds. For BPS and BPF, the number of qualified laboratories was 18 out of 27 (67%) and 13 out of 28 (46%), respectively. These results demonstrate a strong analytical capability for BPA and BPS in Europe, while improvements may be needed for BPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Vaccher
- Oniris, INRAE, UMR 1329, Laboratoire d'Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), F-44307, Nantes, France
| | - Marta Esteban Lopez
- National Center for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda a Pozuelo km 2,2, 28220, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Center for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ctra. Majadahonda a Pozuelo km 2,2, 28220, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hans Mol
- Wageningen Food Safety Research - part of, Wageningen University and Research, Akkermaalsbos 2, WB, 6708, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Karin Haji-Abbas-Zarrabi
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054, Erlangen, 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
| | - 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
| | - Darina Dvorakova
- University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Technicka 5, 16000, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Hajslova
- University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Technicka 5, 16000, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Stefanie Nübler
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Amrit Kaur Sakhi
- Section for Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Section for Food Safety, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Katrin Vorkamp
- Aarhus University, Department of Environmental Science, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Thomas Göen
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Henkestraße 9-11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jean-Philippe Antignac
- Oniris, INRAE, UMR 1329, Laboratoire d'Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), F-44307, Nantes, France.
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11
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Critical review of analytical methods for the determination of flame retardants in human matrices. Anal Chim Acta 2022; 1193:338828. [PMID: 35058002 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring is a powerful approach in assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. Flame retardants (FRs) are of particular concern due to their wide distribution in the environment and adverse health effects. This article reviews studies published in 2009-2020 on the chemical analysis of FRs in a variety of human samples and discusses the characteristics of the analytical methods applied to different FR biomarkers of exposure, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), novel halogenated flame retardants (NHFRs), bromophenols, incl. tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and organophosphorous flame retardants (PFRs). Among the extraction techniques, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) were used most frequently due to the good efficiencies in the isolation of the majority of the FR biomarkers, but with challenges for highly lipophilic FRs. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is mainly applied in the instrumental analysis of PBDEs and most NHFRs, with recent inclusions of GC-MS/MS and high resolution MS techniques. Liquid chromatography-MS/MS is mainly applied to HBCD, bromophenols, incl. TBBPA, and PFRs (including metabolites), however, GC-based analysis following derivatization has also been used for phenolic compounds and PFR metabolites. Developments are noticed towards more universal analytical methods, which enable widening method scopes in the human biomonitoring of FRs. Challenges exist with regard to sensitivity required for the low concentrations of FRs in the general population and limited sample material for some human matrices. A strong focus on quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) measures is required in the analysis of FR biomarkers in human samples, related to their variety of physical-chemical properties, low levels in most human samples and the risk of contamination.
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12
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HBM4EU Occupational Biomonitoring Study on e-Waste-Study Protocol. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182412987. [PMID: 34948598 PMCID: PMC8701897 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182412987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals. If exposure occurs, this may result in uptake and potential adverse health effects. Thus, exposure surveillance is an important requirement for health risk management and prevention of occupational disease. Human biomonitoring by measurement of specific biomarkers in body fluids is considered as an effective method of exposure surveillance. The aim of this study is to investigate the internal exposure of workers processing e-waste using a human biomonitoring approach, which will stimulate improved work practices and contribute to raising awareness of potential hazards. This exploratory study in occupational exposures in e-waste processing is part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU). Here we present a study protocol using a cross sectional survey design to study worker’s exposures and compare these to the exposure of subjects preferably employed in the same company but with no known exposure to industrial recycling of e-waste. The present study protocol will be applied in six to eight European countries to ensure standardised data collection. The target population size is 300 exposed and 150 controls. Biomarkers of exposure for the following chemicals will be used: chromium, cadmium and lead in blood and urine; brominated flame retardants and polychlorobiphenyls in blood; mercury, organophosphate flame retardants and phthalates in urine, and chromium, cadmium, lead and mercury in hair. In addition, the following effect biomarkers will be studied: micronuclei, epigenetic, oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and telomere length in blood and metabolomics in urine. Occupational hygiene sampling methods (airborne and settled dust, silicon wristbands and handwipes) and contextual information will be collected to facilitate the interpretation of the biomarker results and discuss exposure mitigating interventions to further reduce exposures if needed. This study protocol can be adapted to future European-wide occupational studies.
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13
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Gilles L, Govarts E, Rambaud L, Vogel N, Castaño A, Esteban López M, Rodriguez Martin L, Koppen G, Remy S, Vrijheid M, Montazeri P, Birks L, Sepai O, Stewart L, Fiddicke U, Loots I, Knudsen LE, Kolossa-Gehring M, Schoeters G. HBM4EU combines and harmonises human biomonitoring data across the EU, building on existing capacity - The HBM4EU survey. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2021; 237:113809. [PMID: 34455198 PMCID: PMC8504197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
As part of the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) initiative a human biomonitoring (HBM) survey is conducted in 21 countries. This survey builds on existing HBM capacity in Europe by aligning national or regional HBM studies. The survey targets 3 age groups (i) children aged 6-11 years, (ii) teenagers aged 12-19 years and (iii) young adults aged 20-39 years and includes a total of 9493 participants (3151 children, 2953 teenagers and 3389 young adults). Depending on the age group, internal exposure to phthalates and substitute Hexamoll® DINCH, brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants, per-/poly-fluorinated compounds, cadmium, bisphenols and/or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are assessed. The main goal of the programme is to obtain quality controlled and comparable HBM data of exposure to chemicals, prioritized under HBM4EU, with European wide coverage to inform the development of environment and health policies. This paper describes the framework of the HBM4EU survey and the approach that has been applied to align European HBM initiatives across Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liese Gilles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Loïc Rambaud
- Santé Publique France, French Public Health Agency (ANSP), Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Center for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban López
- National Center for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Parisa Montazeri
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Birks
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Ilse Loots
- Department of Sociology (CRESC) and IMDO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense, Denmark
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