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Yin S, den Ouden F, Cleys P, Klimowska A, Bombeke J, Poma G, Covaci A. Personal environmental exposure to plasticizers and organophosphate flame retardants using silicone wristbands and urine: Patterns, comparisons, and correlations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172187. [PMID: 38582107 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172187] [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: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Plasticizers (PLs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are ubiquitous in the environment due to their widespread use and potential for leaching from consumer products. Environmental exposure is a critical aspect of the human exposome, revealing complex interactions between environmental contaminants and potential health effects. Silicone wristbands (SWBs) have emerged as a novel and non-invasive sampling device for assessing personal external exposure. In this study, SWBs were used as a proxy to estimate personal dermal adsorption (EDdermal) to PLs and OPFRs in Belgian participants for one week; four morning urine samples were also collected and analyzed for estimated daily intake (EDI). The results of the SWBs samples showed that all the participants were exposed to these chemicals, and the exposure was found to be highest for the legacy and alternative plasticizers (LP and AP), followed by the legacy and emerging OPFRs (LOPFR and EOPFR). In urine samples, the highest levels were observed for metabolites of diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) among LPs and di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHT) for APs. Outliers among the participants indicated that there were other sources of exposure that were not identified. Results showed a significant correlation between EDdermal and EDI for DiBP, tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). These correlations indicated their suitability for predicting exposure via SWB monitoring for total chemical exposure. The results of this pilot study advance our understanding of SWB sampling and its relevance for predicting aggregate environmental chemical exposures, while highlighting the potential of SWBs as low-cost, non-invasive personal samplers for future research. This innovative approach has the potential to advance the assessment of environmental exposures and their impact on public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Yin
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention of Zhejiang Province, Interdisciplinary Research Academy (IRA), Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China; Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Fatima den Ouden
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Paulien Cleys
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Anna Klimowska
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jasper Bombeke
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
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Cai FS, Tang B, Zheng J, Yan X, Ding XF, Liao QL, Luo XJ, Ren MZ, Yu YJ, Mai BX. First Insight into Fetal Exposure to Legacy and Emerging Plasticizers Revealed by Infant Hair and Meconium: Occurrence, Biotransformation, and Accumulation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5739-5749. [PMID: 38456395 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c11032] [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: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated the embryonic and developmental toxicity of plasticizers. Thus, understanding the in utero biotransformation and accumulation of plasticizers is essential to assessing their fate and potential toxicity in early life. In the present study, 311 infant hair samples and 271 paired meconium samples were collected at birth in Guangzhou, China, to characterize fetal exposure to legacy and emerging plasticizers and their metabolites. Results showed that most of the target plasticizers were detected in infant hair, with medians of 9.30, 27.6, and 0.145 ng/g for phthalate esters (PAEs), organic phosphate ester (OPEs), and alternative plasticizers (APs), and 1.44, 0.313, and 0.066 ng/g for the metabolites of PAEs, OPEs, and APs, respectively. Positive correlations between plasticizers and their corresponding primary metabolites, as well as correlations among the oxidative metabolites of bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH), were observed, indicating that infant hair retained the major phase-I metabolism of the target plasticizers. While no positive correlations were found in parent compounds or their primary metabolites between paired infant hair and meconium, significant positive correlations were observed among secondary oxidative metabolites of DEHP and DINCH in hair and meconium, suggesting that the primary metabolites in meconium come from hydrolysis of plasticizers in the fetus but most of the oxidative metabolites come from maternal-fetal transmission. The parent compound/metabolite ratios in infant hair showed a decreasing trend across pregnancy, suggesting in utero accumulation and deposition of plasticizers. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report in utero exposure to both parent compounds and metabolites of plasticizers by using paired infant hair and meconium as noninvasive biomonitoring matrices and provides novel insights into the fetal biotransformation and accumulation of plasticizers across pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Shan Cai
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Bin Tang
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Jing Zheng
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Disease Monitoring of Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Yan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
- School of Public Health, Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Disease Monitoring of Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550000, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Fan Ding
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Building E12, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau 999078, P. R. China
| | - Qi-Long Liao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Jun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
| | - Ming-Zhong Ren
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Yun-Jiang Yu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Health Risk Assessment, Research Center of Emerging Contaminants, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, P. R. China
| | - Bi-Xian Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China
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Panneel L, Cleys P, Poma G, Ait Bamai Y, Jorens PG, Covaci A, Mulder A. Ongoing exposure to endocrine disrupting phthalates and alternative plasticizers in neonatal intensive care unit patients. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108605. [PMID: 38569425 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108605] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Due to endocrine disrupting effects, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer used to soften plastic medical devices, was restricted in the EU Medical Devices Regulation (EU MDR 2017/745) and gradually replaced by alternative plasticizers. Neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are vulnerable to toxic effects of plasticizers. From June 2020 to August 2022, urine samples (n = 1070) were repeatedly collected from premature neonates (n = 132, 4-10 samples per patient) born at <31 weeks gestational age and/or <1500 g birth weight in the Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium. Term control neonates (n = 21, 1 sample per patient) were included from the maternity ward. Phthalate and alternative plasticizers' metabolites were analyzed using liquid-chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Phthalate metabolites were detected in almost all urine samples. Metabolites of alternative plasticizers, di-(2-ethylhexyl)-adipate (DEHA), di-(2-ethylhexyl)-terephthalate (DEHT) and cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic-di-isononyl-ester (DINCH), had detection frequencies ranging 30-95 %. Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were significantly higher in premature compared to control neonates (p = 0.023). NICU exposure to respiratory support devices and blood products showed increased phthalate metabolite concentrations (p < 0.001). Phthalate exposure increased from birth until four weeks postnatally. The estimated phthalate intake exceeded animal-derived no-effect-levels (DNEL) in 10 % of samples, with maximum values reaching 24 times the DNEL. 29 % of premature neonates had at least once an estimated phthalate intake above the DNEL. Preterm neonates are still exposed to phthalates during NICU stay, despite the EU Medical Devices Regulation. NICU exposure to alternative plasticizers is increasing, though currently not regulated, with insufficient knowledge on their hazard profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Panneel
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - Paulien Cleys
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Giulia Poma
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Yu Ait Bamai
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Philippe G Jorens
- Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Intensive Care Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Antwerp University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Antonius Mulder
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium; Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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Liu X, Na J, Liu X, Jia X, Ren M, Chen J, Han B, Xu J, Li N, Li Z, Wang B. Co-exposure to phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of gestational hypertension in Chinese women. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108562. [PMID: 38460239 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108562] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Phthalates (PAEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are frequently detected in females of reproductive age. Many studies have found that environmental PAE and PAH levels are independent risk factors for gestational hypertension. However, exposure to both components is a more realistic scenario. To better assess the health effects of PAEs and PAHs in pregnant women, we explored the associations of exposure to both individual and combined PAEs and PAHs with gestational hypertension. This nested case-control study was a component of a prospective cohort study conducted in Beijing, China. We included 206 women with gestational hypertension and 214 pregnant controls. We used gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) to detect 8 PAEs and 13 PAHs in > 80 % of all collected hair samples. Multiple linear regression models were employed to test the individual associations between each component and gestational hypertension. A quantile-based g-computation (qgcomp) model and a weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model were used to estimate whether exposure to both PAEs and PAHs increased the risk of gestational hypertension. The individual exposure analyses revealed that diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) (both PAEs), benzo(k)fluoranthene (BKF), anthracene, (ANT), and benzo(a)pyrene (BAP) (all PAHs) were positively associated with increased risk of gestational hypertension. In mixed-effect analyses, the qgcomp model indicated that co-exposure to PAEs and PAHs increased the risk of gestational hypertension (odds ratio = 2.01; 95 % confidence interval: 1.02, 3.94); this finding was verified by the WQS regression model. Our findings support earlier evidence that both PAEs and PAHs increase the risk of gestational hypertension, both individually and in combination. This suggests that reductions in exposure to endocrine system-disrupting chemicals such as PAEs and PAHs might reduce the risk of gestational hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Liu
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jigen Na
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaojing Liu
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaoqian Jia
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Mengyuan Ren
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Junxi Chen
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Bin Han
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Jia Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China.
| | - Zhiwen Li
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; Institute of Reproductive and Child Health, Peking University/ Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, Beijing 100191, China; Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, China
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Lallmahomed A, Mercier F, Costet N, Fillol C, Bonvallot N, Le Bot B. Characterization of organic contaminants in hair for biomonitoring purposes. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108419. [PMID: 38185045 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108419] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Biological monitoring is one way to assess human exposure to contaminants. Blood and urine are often used as biological matrices, but hair is an innovative and effective tool for quantifying more biomarkers over a wider exposure window. In order to improve the use of hair in exposure assessment, this article identifies relevant compounds in the literature to investigate hair contamination. Statistical analysis was performed to correlate the physical-chemical properties of the relevant compounds and their concentration levels in hair. Phthalates, pyrethroids and organophosphate flame retardants were chosen for further study of the interpretation of hair measurements for exposure assessment. No significant correlation was found between the average concentration levels in the literature and the physical-chemical properties of the selected compounds. This work also explores the properties of hair and the analytical process that may impact the quantification of organic contaminants in hair. The sample preparation method (sampling, storage, washing) were also studied and adaptations were suggested to improve the existing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashna Lallmahomed
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Fabien Mercier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Nathalie Costet
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Clémence Fillol
- Direction of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé publique France, Saint Maurice Cedex, France
| | - Nathalie Bonvallot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Barbara Le Bot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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