Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in early adulthood and blood lipids over a 23-year follow-up

The association of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls exposure with dyslipidemia and blood lipids: The mediating effect of white blood cell counts

Epidemiological evidence regarding the associations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with lipid metabolism and its potential biological mechanisms remain largely unknown. We intended to explore the associations of OCPs and PCBs with dyslipidemia and blood lipid levels, and further evaluate the mediating role of total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts. We measured the blood lipid levels, the concentration of OCPs/PCBs and WBC counts in serum among 2036 adults in Wuhan city, China. In the multiple-pollutant models, the results showed that β-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), and PCB-153 were positively correlated with increased odds of dyslipidemia. p,p'-DDE and PCB-153 were correlated with elevated triglyceride (TG) and lowered high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). A positive relationship was observed between p,p'-DDE and total cholesterol (TC) as well. Meanwhile, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression analyses revealed that PCB and OCP mixtures were positively related to dyslipidemia risk and TG and negatively associated with HDL-c, to which p,p'-DDE was the major contributor. BMI, gender and age might modify the associations of OCPs and PCBs with dyslipidemia and TG. Furthermore, we found that WBC counts were significantly associated with dyslipidemia and blood lipid levels, and a positive correlation was also found between p,p'-DDE and lymphocyte count. Mediation analysis further indicated that lymphocyte count might mediate the associations of p,p'-DDE with dyslipidemia, TG, and TC. Accordingly, our results showed that OCPs and PCBs were related to abnormal lipid metabolism, which was partially mediated by WBC counts.

PCBs contamination in water and Mytilus edulis along the north Portuguese Atlantic Ocean coastline and analysis of potential carcinogenic risk to human health

Seven seawater polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in water (DAP), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from four beaches in northwest Portugal. PCBs were extracted using solid-phase-extraction, ultrasound-extraction and QuEChERS before GC-MS analysis. The two-year annual average concentrations of PCBs in DAP, SPM and the four-year analysis in mussels were ∼ 4.4 ng/L, ∼15.9 μg/kg, and ∼ 56.0 μg/kg. The results suggest higher concentrations of PCBs in summer for SPM and in spring for mussels, mainly those collected close to the Ave River estuary. The origins of PCBs remain uncertain. Risk assessment shows that PCBs in water are unlikely to harm local biota due to their low thyroid hormone toxicity equivalents (TEQ-TH; ∼1.4E-04 ng/L and ∼ 4.1E-04 μg/kg) and on WHO toxicity equivalents (TEQ-WHO; ∼2.1E-05 ng/L and ∼ 4.9E-05 μg/kg). However, the lifetime carcinogenic risk (LCR) for humans consuming local bivalves is concerning, as it exceeds 1.0E-06.

Association of hair polychlorinated biphenyls and multiclass pesticides with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia in NESCAV study

Obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia are well-established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and have been associated with exposure to persistent organic pollutants. However, studies have been lacking as regards effects of non-persistent pesticides on CVD risk factors. Here, we investigated whether background chronic exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and multiclass pesticides were associated with the prevalence of these CVD risk factors in 502 Belgian and 487 Luxembourgish adults aged 18-69 years from the Nutrition, environment and cardiovascular health (NESCAV) study 2007-2013. We used hair analysis to evaluate the chronic internal exposure to three PCBs, seven organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and 18 non-persistent pesticides. We found positive associations of obesity with hexachlorobenzene (HCB), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) and chlorpyrifos, diabetes with pentachlorophenol (PCP), fipronil and fipronil sulfone, hypertension with PCB180 and chlorpyrifos, and dyslipidemia with diflufenican and oxadiazon, among others. However, we also found some inverse associations, such as obesity with PCP, diabetes with γ-HCH, hypertension with diflufenican, and dyslipidemia with chlorpyrifos. These results add to the existing evidence that OC exposure may contribute to the development of CVDs. Additionally, the present study revealed associations between CVD risk factors and chronic environmental exposure to currently used pesticides such as organophosphorus and pyrethroid pesticides.

Concentration levels and an assessment of human health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in honey and pollen

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulate in the food chain due to their physical and chemical properties and adversely affect human health. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the PAH and PCB concentration levels in pollen and honey samples in urban and semi-urban areas and to evaluate the risk of cancer that may occur by ingestion in Bursa, Turkey. The average total concentrations of 14 PAH (∑₁₄PAH) compounds in pollen and honey samples were found to be 304.3 ± 192.3 ng/g (average ± standard deviation) and 650.2 ± 118.1 ng/g for the urban area, and 329.6 ± 160.6 ng/g and 464.3 ± 66.4 ng/g for the semi-urban area, respectively. Similarly, ∑₁₄PCB concentrations in pollen and honey samples were found to be 8.7 ± 3.6 ng/g and 13.0 ± 4.8 ng/g for the urban area and 7.7 ± 2.2 ng/g and 17.4 ± 4.0 ng/g for the semi-urban area, respectively. It was determined that the pollen and honey samples in both sampling areas were affected by local PCB sources. The Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) method determined the relationship between pollen and honey samples. According to the PCC values obtained, it was observed that pollen and honey in both sampling regions exhibited a significant relationship with each other. Finally, while there was no cancer risk for PCBs due to ingestion of honey and pollen in both sampling areas, acceptable cancer risk has been calculated for PAHs.

Nano-remediation technologies for the sustainable mitigation of persistent organic pollutants

The absence of novel and efficient methods for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the environment is a serious concern in the society. The pollutants release into the atmosphere by means of industrialization and urbanization is a massive global hazard. Although, the eco-toxicity associated with nanotechnology is still being debated, nano-remediation is a potentially developing tool for dealing with contamination of the environment, particularly POPs. Nano-remediation is a novel strategy to the safe and long-term removal of POPs. This detailed review article presents an important perspective on latest innovations and future views of nano-remediation methods used for environmental decontamination, like nano-photocatalysis and nanosensing. Different kinds of nanomaterials including nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), magnetic and metallic nanoparticles, silica (SiO₂) nanoparticles, graphene oxide, covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have been summarized for the mitigation of POPs. Furthermore, the long-term viability of nano-remediation strategies for dealing with legacy contamination was considered, with a particular emphasis on environmental and health implications. The assessment goes on to discuss the environmental consequences of nanotechnology and offers consensual recommendations on how to employ nanotechnology for a greater present and a more prosperous future.

Plasma concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and pancreatic cancer risk

BACKGROUND

Findings and limitations of previous studies on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and pancreatic cancer risk support conducting further research in prospective cohorts.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Participants were 513 pancreatic cancer cases and 1020 matched controls. Concentrations of 22 POPs were measured in plasma collected at baseline.

RESULTS

Some associations were observed at higher concentrations of p, p'-DDT, trans-nonachlor, β-hexachlorocyclohexane and the sum of six organochlorine pesticides and of 16 POPs. The odds ratio (OR) for the upper quartile of trans-nonachlor was 1.55 (95% confidence interval 1.06-2.26; P for trend = 0.025). Associations were stronger in the groups predefined as most valid (participants having fasted >6 h, with microscopic diagnostic confirmation, normal weight, and never smokers), and as most relevant (follow-up ≥10 years). Among participants having fasted >6 h, the ORs were relevant for 10 of 11 exposures. Higher ORs were also observed among cases with microscopic confirmation than in cases with a clinical diagnosis, and among normal-weight participants than in the rest of participants. Among participants with a follow-up ≥10 years, estimates were higher than in participants with a shorter follow-up (for trans-nonachlor: OR = 2.14, 1.01 to 4.53, P for trend = 0.035). Overall, trans-nonachlor, three PCBs and the two sums of POPs were the exposures most clearly associated with pancreatic cancer risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Individually or in combination, most of the 22 POPs analysed did not or only moderately increased the risk of pancreatic cancer.

An environmentally relevant mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) disrupts mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism and neurotransmission in the brain of exposed zebrafish and their unexposed F2 offspring

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants still present in aquatic environments despite their total or partial ban. Previously, we observed that an environmentally realistic mixture of these compounds affects energy balance, growth, and reproduction in exposed zebrafish (F0), and behavior in their unexposed offspring (F1-F4). In the present work, we performed lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses on brains of zebrafish (F0-F2) from exposed and control lineages to identify molecular changes that could explain the observed phenotypes. The use of both technologies highlighted that F0 zebrafish displayed impaired mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism regulation (depletion in triacylglycerols and phospholipids) which can explain disruption of energy homeostasis. A subset of the regulated biological pathways related to energetic metabolism and neurotransmission were inherited in F2. In addition, there were increasing effects on epigenetic pathways from the F0 to the F2 generation. Altogether, we show that the effects of an environmental exposure to PCBs and PBDEs on energetic metabolism as well as neurotransmission extend over 2 generations of zebrafish, possibly due to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance.

A review on in-vitro oral bioaccessibility of organic pollutants and its application in human exposure assessment

Generally, human oral exposure assessments of contaminants have not considered the absorption factor in the human gastrointestinal tract, thus overestimating human exposure and associated health risk. Currently, more researchers are adding the absorption factor into human exposure assessment, and bioaccessibility measured by in-vitro methods is generally replacing bioavailability for estimation because of the cheap and rapid determination. However, no single unified in-vitro method is used for bioaccessibility measurement of organic pollutants, although several methods have been developed for these pollutants and have shown good in vitro-in vivo correlation between bioaccessibility and bioavailability. The present review has focused on the development of in-vitro methods, validation of these methods through in-vivo assays, determination of factors influencing bioaccessibility, application of bioaccessibility in human exposure assessment, and the challenges faced. Overall, most in-vitro methods were validated using bioavailability, and better in vitro-in vivo correlations were obtained when absorption sinks were added to the digestion solution to mimic dynamic absorption of organic chemicals by small intestine. Incorporating bioaccessibility into the estimation of human exposure by oral ingestion significantly decreases the estimated exposure dose. However, more investigations on bioaccessibility of hydrophobic organic compounds are urgently needed because many challenges for in-vitro methods remain to be overcome.

Serum levels of novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) in residents of a major BFR-producing region: Occurrence, impact factors and the relationship to thyroid and liver function

Five currently used novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) were determined in 172 serum samples collected from nonoccupational residents of a major BFR-producing region. All the 5 NBFRs presented high detection frequencies (DFs, >90%), and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), a substitute of decabrominated diphenyl ethers (deca-BDE), was the most abundant NBFR. The levels of DBDPE were from <LOD to 1590 ng/g lw, with a median level of 32.5 ng/g lw. The median levels of other NBFRs were from 0.134 to 2.87 ng/g lw, which were at least 10 times lower than that of DBDPE. Moreover, a comparison to other studies showed that our results were significantly higher than studies conducted in background population. The levels of some NBFRs adjusted by serum lipid showed negative and significant correlation with BMI, whereas the difference disappeared when NBFRs levels were calculated based on serum volume. Certain NBFRs in female showed significantly higher concentrations than those in male. No significant effect of age, smoking habit, education level and children birth (in female) on serum NBFR levels was observed. The relationship between the serum levels of NBFRs and a series of thyroid/liver injury biomarkers was further analyzed to evaluate the health effects of these NBFRs to human being. Results showed that a 10-fold increment in the serum DBDPE level was associated with decreased total triiodothyronine (TT3) level (-0.037 nmol/L) [95% CI: -0.070, -0.003]， whereas serum pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) level was associated with increased total triiodothyronine (TT3) level (0.031 nmol/L) [95% CI: 0.001, 0.060]. For liver indicators, a 10-fold increment in the serum level of PBT was associated with decreased Ln aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) level (-0.068) [95% CI: -0.129, -0.007]. A 10-fold increment in the serum level of BTBPE was associated with increased TBIL level (0.869 μmol/L) [95% CI: 0.175, 1.564], direct bilirubin (DBIL) level (0.231 μmol/L) [95% CI: 0.075, 0.388] and IDBIL level (0.638 μmol/L) [95% CI: 0.091, 1.185]. Our findings indicate that BFR production is posing heavy BFR contamination to surrounding environment and human being, and which might relate to thyroid disruption and liver injury.

Fish consumption is an indicator of exposure to non-dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls in cumulative risk assessments based on a probabilistic and sensitive approach

The health effects of non-dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) include liver, immune, neurodevelopmental, and neurobehavioral effects in addition to hormone alteration. Among 209 PCB congeners, six indicator PCBs (ICES-6) account for about half of NDL-PCBs present in feed and food. The objectives of the current study were first to examine the levels of total PCBs, NDL-PCBs, and ICES-6 PCBs in 200 foods commonly consumed in Taiwan and, second, to estimate the cumulative health risks of NDL-PCB consumption. We suggest a risk management strategy that identifies foodstuffs with particularly high NDL-PCB content. In 200 food samples, which were grouped into 12 categories and 64 food types, 51 PCB congeners were detected. The concentrations of ICES-6 PCBs in all samples were lower than the maximum levels for NDL-PCBs in foodstuffs set by the European Union. PCB-153, PCB-138, and PCB-180 were the major congeners in all food, indicating that the food was contaminated in the past. ICES-6 PCBs contributed 42.2%-52.9% of total NDL-PCBs in all tested foodstuffs. The average estimated daily intake (EDI) of PCBs ranged from 1.22 ng/kg bw/day to 2.89 ng/kg bw/day in different age groups (95th quantile [P95]: 4.12-10.28 ng/kg bw/day). The P95 EDI in 3-6-year-olds was higher than 10 ng/kg/day. A qualitative sensitivity analysis in ICES-6 PCBs exposure showed that for the 3- to 6-year-old group, the highest sensitivity was how much fish they ate (37.6%) and its concentration (32.5%). The consumption of pork, eggs, fish, and other seafood accounts for over 90% of ICES-6 PCBs intake, and these foods should be highlighted in guidelines regarding NDL-PCB intake.

Serum level of PCBs and OCPs and leukocyte telomere length among adults in Tehran, Iran

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) may change leukocyte telomere length (TL) at the end of the DNA sequence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between PCBs and OCPs exposure with TL in Tehran adult males. Whole-blood samples were randomly taken from three hundred adult males in population-based cross-section study from October 2016 to November 2017. We studied the serum levels of PCBs, OCPs as well as socio-demographic characteristics of individuals. The quantitative PCR was used to investigate the number of the telomere (T) repeats to the number of a single copy gene. We measured the effect of each PCBs and OCPs congeners on TL using linear regressions adjusted for age, BMI, smoking, and dietary patterns. The median level of the six non-dioxin-likes, five dioxin-likes PCBs three OCPs and TL in the study population were 344.5, 306.0, 45.0 ng/g lipid and 5377.7 ± 573.4 base pairs, respectively. In the adjusted model, the percent difference in the TLs with exposure to Σnon-dioxin-like PCBs, Σdioxin-like PCBs, and OCPs were 1.93 (-0.70 to 5.4), 3.4 (1.8-8.3) and -2.4 (-0.80 to -6.2), respectively. In the fourth quartile compared to the first quartile, the percent difference in the TLs due to Σnon-dioxin-like PCBs, Σdioxin-like PCBs, and OCP exposure were 0.01 (-0.01 to 0.05), 10.3 (2.9-18.1) and -0.20 (-0.10 to -4.5), respectively. Exposures to ndl-PCBs and dl-PCBs (except for PCB28) were related to longer TLs, but OCPs exposure can be related to telomere shortening.

Garbage in garbage out: the contribution of our industrial advancement to wastewater degeneration

Natural water sources are habitually marred by insidious anthropogenic practices and municipal wastewater discharges that contain either of xenobiotic pollutants and their sometimes more toxic degradation products, or both. Although wastewater is considered as both a resource and a problem, as explained in this review, it is however daunting that, while the global village is still struggling to decipher the mode of proper handling, subsequent discharge and regulation of already established aromatic contaminants in wastewater, there emanates some more aggressive, stealth and sinister groups of compounds. It is quite ironic that majority of these compounds are the 'go through' consumables in our present society and have been suspected to pose several health risks to the aquatic ecosystem, eliciting unfavourable clinical manifestations in aquatic animals and humans, which has heightened the uncertainties conferred on freshwater use and consumption of some aquatic foods. This review therefore serves to give a brief account on the metamorphosis of approach in detection of aromatic pollutants and ultimately their implications along the trophic chains in the community.

Synthetic Chemicals and Cardiometabolic Health Across the Life Course Among Vulnerable Populations: a Review of the Literature from 2018 to 2019

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Although vulnerable populations are disproportionately exposed to synthetic chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties, few recent reviews have summarized the impact of synthetic chemicals on cardiometabolic health among these groups.

RECENT FINDINGS

Of 37 eligible epidemiological studies among vulnerable populations published between January 2018 and April 2019 in which over half were prospective, the most investigated populations were pregnant women and children. Racial/ethnic minorities, individuals of low socioeconomic status (SES), and those occupationally exposed were studied the least. The most studied persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were per-/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and the most studied non-POPs were phenols. Across chemical classes, studies found certain POPs (e.g., PFAS) and non-POPs (i.e., phenols, phthalates, and parabens) to be associated with gestational diabetes and dysregulated glucose metabolism. Results for other cardiometabolic health outcomes were inconsistent but suggested certain chemicals may negatively affect cardiometabolic health. Synthetic chemicals likely adversely affect cardiometabolic health, but current findings were inconclusive. Few recent studies focused on racial/ethnic minorities, low SES, and occupationally exposed populations. To address poor cardiometabolic health and related disparities, more studies across vulnerable populations are warranted.

Chlorinated persistent organic pollutants and type 2 diabetes - A population-based study with pre- and post- diagnostic plasma samples

BACKGROUND

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but causality is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

Within longitudinal population-based data from northern Sweden, we assessed how POPs associated with T2D prospectively and cross-sectionally, and further investigated factors related to individual changes in POP concentrations.

METHODS

For 129 case-controls pairs matched by age, sex and date of sampling, plasma concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), dioxin-like (DL) polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCB-118 and PCB-156), and non-dioxin like (NDL-PCB: PCB-74, -99, -138 -153, -170, -180, -183 and PCB-187) were analyzed twice (baseline and follow-up, 9-20 years apart). The cases received their T2D diagnose between baseline and follow-up. Prospective (using baseline data) and cross-sectional (using follow-up data) odds ratios (ORs) for T2D on lipid standardized POPs (HCB, p,p'-DDE, ∑DL-PCBs, ∑NDL-PCBs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and plasma lipids. The influence of BMI, weight-change, and plasma lipids on longitudinal changes in POP concentrations were evaluated among non-diabetic individuals (n = 306).

RESULTS

POPs were associated with T2D in both the prospective and cross-sectional assessments. Of a standard deviation increase in POPs, prospective ORs ranged 1.42 (95% CI: 0.99, 2.06) for ∑NDL-PCBs to 1.55 (95% CI: 1.01, 2.38) for HCB (p < 0.05 only for HCB), and cross-sectional ORs ranged 1.62 (95% CI: 1.13; 2.32) for p,p'-DDE to 2.06 (95% CI: 1.29, 3.28) for ∑DL-PCBs (p < 0.05 for all POPs). In analyses of non-diabetic individuals, higher baseline BMI, decreased weight and decreased plasma lipid concentrations were associated with a slower decrease of POPs. Cases had, besides a higher BMI, reduced cholesterol and weight gain at follow-up compared to controls, which can explain the higher ORs in the cross-sectional assessments.

DISCUSSION

The association between POPs and T2D was confirmed, but an indication that individuals body fat history might influence POP-T2D associations weakens the epidemiological support for a causal association. It also warrants studies based on other exposure metrics than biomonitoring. In addition, we note that a cross-sectional design overestimates the ORs if T2D cases have successfully intervened on weight and/or blood lipids, as changes in these factors cause changes in POPs.

Summary data of serum concentrations of 32 persistent organic pollutants in young adults in relation to summary scores of persistent organic pollutants

This data article presents mean serum concentrations (wet weight and lipid standardized) of 32 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) detected in >75% of participants of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study across levels of POPs scores, and their corresponding coefficients of determination. POPs scores were calculated as: A) the sum of each participant's log-transformed POPs concentrations (∑ of log Pops], or B) as the sum of the participants' log-transformed concentrations of each POP divided by the groups' standard deviation of the corresponding log-transformed POP (POPs summary score. Scores were calculated for both wet weight and lipid standardized concentrations and for all 32 POPs and for PCBs and organochlorine pesticides separately. POPs summary scores analyses were used in the article "Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in early adulthood and blood lipids over a 23-year follow-up" [Suarez-Lopez et al., 2018].