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Yeshoua B, Romero Castillo H, Monaghan M, van Gerwen M. A Review of the Association between Exposure to Flame Retardants and Thyroid Function. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1365. [PMID: 38927574 PMCID: PMC11201907 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Flame retardants have been shown to cause widespread physiological effects, in particular on endocrine organs such as the thyroid. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the association between flame retardants and thyroid function within humans. A search in the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health PubMed database through January 2024 yielded 61 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently analyzed flame retardants across all thyroid hormones were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in particular BDE-47 and BDE-99. Ten studies demonstrated exclusively positive associations between flame retardants and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Six studies demonstrated exclusively negative associations between flame retardants and TSH. Twelve studies demonstrated exclusively positive associations for total triiodothyronine (tT3) and total thyroxine (tT4). Five and eight studies demonstrated exclusively negative associations between flame retardants and these same thyroid hormones, respectively. The effect of flame retardants on thyroid hormones is heterogeneous; however, the long-term impact warrants further investigation. Vulnerable populations, including indigenous people, individuals working at e-waste sites, firefighters, and individuals within certain age groups, such as children and elderly, are especially critical to be informed of risk of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Yeshoua
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (B.Y.); (H.R.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Horacio Romero Castillo
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (B.Y.); (H.R.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Mathilda Monaghan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (B.Y.); (H.R.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Maaike van Gerwen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (B.Y.); (H.R.C.); (M.M.)
- Institute for Translational Epidemiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Chronister BNC, Justo D, Wood RJ, Lopez-Paredes D, Gonzalez E, Suarez-Torres J, Gahagan S, Martinez D, Jacobs DR, Checkoway H, Jankowska MM, Suarez-Lopez JR. Sex and adrenal hormones in association with insecticide biomarkers among adolescents living in ecuadorian agricultural communities. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 259:114386. [PMID: 38703462 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organophosphate, pyrethroid, and neonicotinoid insecticides have resulted in adrenal and gonadal hormone disruption in animal and in vitro studies; limited epidemiologic evidence exists in humans. We assessed relationships of urinary insecticide metabolite concentrations with adrenal and gonadal hormones in adolescents living in Ecuadorean agricultural communities. METHODS In 2016, we examined 522 Ecuadorian adolescents (11-17y, 50.7% female, 22% Indigenous; ESPINA study). We measured urinary insecticide metabolites, blood acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE), and salivary testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17β-estradiol, and cortisol. We used general linear models to assess linear (β = % hormone difference per 50% increase of metabolite concentration) and curvilinear relationships (β2 = hormone difference per unit increase in squared ln-metabolite) between ln-metabolite or AChE and ln-hormone concentrations, stratified by sex, adjusting for anthropometric, demographic, and awakening response variables. Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression was used to assess non-linear associations and interactions. RESULTS The organophosphate metabolite malathion dicarboxylic acid (MDA) had positive associations with testosterone (βboys = 5.88% [1.21%, 10.78%], βgirls = 4.10% [-0.02%, 8.39%]), and cortisol (βboys = 6.06 [-0.23%, 12.75%]. Para-nitrophenol (organophosphate) had negatively-trending curvilinear associations, with testosterone (β2boys = -0.17 (-0.33, -0.003), p = 0.04) and DHEA (β2boys = -0.49 (-0.80, -0.19), p = 0.001) in boys. The neonicotinoid summary score (βboys = 5.60% [0.14%, 11.36%]) and the neonicotinoid acetamiprid-N-desmethyl (βboys = 3.90% [1.28%, 6.58%]) were positively associated with 17β-estradiol, measured in boys only. No associations between the pyrethroid 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and hormones were observed. In girls, bivariate response associations identified interactions of MDA, Para-nitrophenol, and 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (organophosphates) with testosterone and DHEA concentrations. In boys, we observed an interaction of MDA and Para-nitrophenol with DHEA. No associations were identified for AChE. CONCLUSIONS We observed evidence of endocrine disruption for specific organophosphate and neonicotinoid metabolite exposures in adolescents. Urinary organophosphate metabolites were associated with testosterone and DHEA concentrations, with stronger associations in boys than girls. Urinary neonicotinoids were positively associated with 17β-estradiol. Longitudinal repeat-measures analyses would be beneficial for causal inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana N C Chronister
- The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Denise Justo
- The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Robert J Wood
- The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Eduardo Gonzalez
- The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - Sheila Gahagan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | | | - David R Jacobs
- School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | - Harvey Checkoway
- The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Marta M Jankowska
- Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jose R Suarez-Lopez
- The Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Parvez SM, Huda MM, Rahman M, Jahan F, Fujimura M, Hasan SS, Hares A, Islam Z, Raqib R, Knibbs LD, Sly PD. Hormonal, liver, and renal function associated with electronic waste (e-waste) exposure in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Toxicology 2024; 505:153833. [PMID: 38759721 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Electronic waste (e-waste) contains numerous metals and organic pollutants that have detrimental impacts on human health. We studied 199 e-waste recycling workers and 104 non-exposed workers; analyzed blood, urine, and hair samples to measure heavy metals, hormonal, liver, and renal function. We used quantile regression models to evaluate the impact of Pb, Cd, and Hg on hormonal, liver and renal function, and the role of DNA oxidative damage in mediating the relationship between exposures and outcomes. Exposed workers had higher blood lead (Pb) (median 11.89 vs 3.63 µg/dL), similar blood cadmium (Cd) (1.04 vs 0.99 µg/L) and lower total mercury (Hg) in hair (0.38 vs 0.57 ppm) than non-exposed group. Exposed workers also had elevated median concentrations of total triiodothyronine (TT3), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), urinary albumin, albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were significantly higher than non-exposed group (p≤0.05). Sex hormones including luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone concentrations were not significantly different between exposed and non-exposed (all p≥0.05). The median concentration of ALT was 4.00 (95% CI: 0.23, 7.77), urinary albumin was 0.09 (95% CI: 0.06, 0.12) and ACR was 1.31 (95% CI: 0.57, 2.05) units higher in the exposed group compared to non-exposed group. Pb was associated with a 3.67 unit increase in the ALP (95% CI: 1.53, 5.80), 0.01 unit increase in urinary albumin (95% CI: 0.002, 0.01), and 0.07 unit increase in ACR (95% CI: 0.01, 0.13). However, no hormonal, renal, and hepatic parameters were associated with Cd or Hg. Oxidative DNA damage did not mediate exposure-outcome relationships (p≥0.05). Our data indicate e-waste exposure impairs liver and renal functions secondary to elevated Pb levels. Continuous monitoring, longitudinal studies to evaluate the dose-response relationship and effective control measure are required to protect workers from e-waste exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarker Masud Parvez
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia; Environmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
| | - M Mamun Huda
- Rural Health Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Environmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh; Global Health and Migration Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Farjana Jahan
- Environmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Masatake Fujimura
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, National Institute for Minamata Disease, Minamata, Kumamoto 867-0008, Japan
| | - Shaikh Sharif Hasan
- Environmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Abul Hares
- Environmental Health and WASH, Health Systems and Population Studies Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Zahir Islam
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
| | - Rubhana Raqib
- Nutrition Research Division, icddr,b, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia; Public Health Research Analytics and Methods for Evidence, Public Health Unit, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Peter D Sly
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
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Estill CF, Mayer AC, Chen IC, Slone J, LaGuardia MJ, Jayatilaka N, Ospina M, Sjodin A, Calafat AM. Biomarkers of Organophosphate and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants of American Workers and Associations with Inhalation and Dermal Exposures. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8417-8431. [PMID: 38701378 PMCID: PMC11093711 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
This study evaluated workers' exposures to flame retardants, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and other brominated flame retardants (BFRs), in various industries. The study aimed to characterize OPE metabolite urinary concentrations and PBDE serum concentrations among workers from different industries, compare these concentrations between industries and the general population, and evaluate the likely route of exposure (dermal or inhalation). The results showed that workers from chemical manufacturing had significantly higher (p <0.05) urinary concentrations of OPE metabolites compared to other industries. Spray polyurethane foam workers had significantly higher (p <0.05) urinary concentrations of bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) compared to other industries. Electronic scrap workers had higher serum concentrations of certain PBDE congeners compared to the general population. Correlations were observed between hand wipe samples and air samples containing specific flame-retardant parent chemicals and urinary metabolite concentrations for some industries, suggesting both dermal absorption and inhalation as primary routes of exposure for OPEs. Overall, this study provides insights into occupational exposure to flame retardants in different industries and highlights the need for further research on emerging flame retardants and exposure reduction interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander C. Mayer
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA
| | - I-Chen Chen
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Cincinnati, OH, 45226, USA
| | | | - Mark J. LaGuardia
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA,23062, USA
| | - Nayana Jayatilaka
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Maria Ospina
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Andreas Sjodin
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - Antonia M. Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
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Radović B, Baralić K, Ćurčić M, Marić Đ, Živanović J, Antonijević Miljaković E, Buha Djordjevic A, Ćosić DĐ, Bulat Z, Antonijević B. Endocrine disruptors in e-waste dismantling dust: In silico prediction of mixture-induced reproductive toxicity mechanisms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170437. [PMID: 38290670 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170437] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The constant exposure of humans to a mixture of low doses of toxic substances, emerging from the daily emission of toxic dust containing various metals and organic compounds in electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling areas, poses potential harmful effects on health and the environment. While individually recognized as endocrine disruptors affecting hormonal balance, the combined impact of these toxic substances in a mixture remains insufficiently explored, particularly in relation to reproductive health. Thus, the aim of this in silico analysis was to: (i) assess the relationship between the exposure to a mixture of DBDE, DBDPE, TBBPA, Pb, Cd and Ni and development of male and female reproductive system disorders; and (ii) demonstrate the ability of in silico toxicogenomic tools in revealing the potential molecular mechanisms involved in the mixture toxicity. As the main data-mining tool, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) was used, along with the ToppGene Suite portal and GeneMANIA online server. Our analysis identified 5 genes common to all the investigated substances and linked to reproductive system disorders. Notably, the most prominent interactions among these genes were physical interactions (77.64 %). Pathway enrichment analysis identified oxidative stress response as the central disrupted molecular pathway linked to reproductive pathology in the investigated mixture, while our chemical-phenotype CTD analysis uncovered additional affected pathways - apoptosis, hormonal regulation, and developmental functions. These findings highlight an increased risk of reproductive system disorders associated with the exposure to the investigated mixture of toxic substances in electronic waste recycling areas, emphasizing the urgent need for attention to address this environmental health concern. Hence, future laboratory studies should prioritize investigating the specific genes and common mechanisms identified in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biljana Radović
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Baralić
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Marijana Ćurčić
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Đurđica Marić
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jovana Živanović
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Evica Antonijević Miljaković
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Buha Djordjevic
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danijela Đukić Ćosić
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zorica Bulat
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Biljana Antonijević
- Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia
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Raja A, Costa P, Blum JL, Doherty-Lyons S, Igbo JK, Meltzer G, Orem W, McCawley M, Zelikoff JT. In vivo exposure to electronic waste (e-waste) leachate and hydraulic fracturing fluid adversely impacts the male reproductive system. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 124:108533. [PMID: 38160783 PMCID: PMC10922462 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Human health effects can arise from unregulated manual disassembly of electronic waste (e-waste) and/or hydraulic fracturing fluid spills. There is limited literature on the effects of e-waste and hydraulic fracturing wastewater exposure on the male reproductive system. Thus, this proof-of-concept study begins to address the question of how wastewater from two potentially hazardous environmental processes could affect sperm quality. Therefore, three groups of eight-week-old adult mice were exposed (5 d/wk for 6 wks) via a mealworm (Tenebrio molitor and Zophabas morio) feeding route to either: (1) e-waste leachate (50% dilution) from the Alaba Market (Lagos, Nigeria); (2) West Virginia hydraulic fracturing flowback (HFF) fluid (50% dilution); or, (3) deionized water (control). At 24-hours (hr), 3 weeks (wk), or 9-wk following the 6-wk exposure period, cohorts of mice were necropsied and adverse effects/persistence on the male reproductive system were examined. Ingestion of e-waste leachate or HFF fluid decreased number and concentration of sperm and increased both chromatin damage and numbers of morphological abnormalities in the sperm when compared to control mice. Levels of serum testosterone were reduced post-exposure (3- and 9-wk) in mice exposed to e-waste leachate and HFF when compared to time-matched controls, indicating the long-term persistence of adverse effects, well after the end of exposure. These data suggest that men living around or working in vicinity of either e-waste or hydraulic fracturing could face harmful effects to their reproductive health. From both a human health and economic standpoint, development of prevention and intervention strategies that are culturally relevant and economically sensitive are critically needed to reduce exposure to e-waste and HFF-associated toxic contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amna Raja
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patricia Costa
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason L Blum
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Product Safety Labs, Dayton, NJ, USA
| | - Shannon Doherty-Lyons
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Juliet K Igbo
- Department of Biological Oceanography, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Gabriella Meltzer
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - William Orem
- United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Michael McCawley
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, West Virginia University, South Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Judith T Zelikoff
- Division of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Lin Y, Lin R, Wang W, Xie M, Li Y, Zhang Q. Association between urinary organophosphate ester metabolite exposure and thyroid disease risk among US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1329247. [PMID: 38405137 PMCID: PMC10884265 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1329247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Organophosphate esters (OPEs) may interfere with thyroid function, but the relationship between OPEs and thyroid disease remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between OPEs exposure and thyroid disease risk in the general population in the United States. Method Data were obtained from the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycle. All participants were tested for seven OPE metabolites in their urine and answered questions about whether they had thyroid disease through questionnaires. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the association between exposure to individual OPE metabolites and thyroid disease. Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression modeling was utilized to assess exposure to mixed OPE metabolites and risk of thyroid disease. Bayesian kernel machine regression(BKMR) models to analyze the overall mixed effect of OPE metabolites. Result A total of 2,449 participants were included in the study, 228 of whom had a history of thyroid disease. Bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phos (BDCPP), Diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) and Bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) were the top three metabolites with the highest detection rates of 91.75%, 90.77% and 86.57%, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression models, after adjustment for confounding variables, individuals with the highest tertile level of BCEP were significantly and positively associated with increased risk of thyroid disease (OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.04-2.36), using the lowest tertile level as reference. In the positive WQS regression model, after correcting for confounding variables, mixed exposure to OPE metabolites was significantly positively associated with increased risk of thyroid disease (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.01-1.06), with BCEP and DPHP having high weights. In the BKMR model, the overall effect of mixed exposure to OPE metabolites was not statistically significant, but univariate exposure response trends showed that the risk of thyroid disease decreased and then increased as BCEP exposure levels increased. Conclusion The study revealed a significant association between exposure to OPE metabolites and an increased risk of thyroid disease, with BCEP emerging as the primary contributor. The risk of thyroid disease exhibits a J-shaped pattern, whereby the risk initially decreases and subsequently increases with rising levels of BCEP exposure. Additional studies are required to validate the association between OPEs and thyroid diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Ruipeng Lin
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Weikang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Manling Xie
- Laboratory Center, The Major Subject of Environment and Health of Fujian Key Universities, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yun Li
- Food and Chemical Institute, Anhui Province Institute of Product Quality Supervision & Inspection, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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8
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Jiang D, Xu Y, Han X, Yang L, Li Q, Yang Y, Wang Y, Guo A, Li H, Fan Z, Chao L. Cresyl Diphenyl Phosphate exposure induces reproductive functional defects in men and male mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 271:116003. [PMID: 38286103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116003] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Cresyl Diphenyl Phosphate (CDP), as a novel organophosphate esters (OPEs), achieves widely used and exposed in multiple industries. However, its male reproductive toxicity and underlying mechanism remains unclear. In vivo, male mice were gavaged with CDP (0, 4, 20, or 100 mg/kg/d) for 8 weeks. And we treated TM3, TM4 and GC-2 cells with 0, 10, 25, and 50 μM CDP for 24 h to detect its reproductive toxicity effect in vitro. In our study, we revealed that CDP inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in mice testis and GC-2 cells, thereby leading to the decreased sperm quality. In mechanism, CDP trigger the oxidative stress and ROS production, thus partially causing DNA damage and cell apoptosis. Moreover, CDP exposure causes injury to Ledyig cells and Sertoli cells, thus disturbing the testicular microenvironment and inhibiting spermatogonia proliferation. In conclusion, this research reveals multiple adverse impacts of CDP on the male reproductive system and calls for further study of the toxicological effects of CDP on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Jiang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, Linyi People's Hospital, Shandong University, No. 27, East Section of Jiefang Road, Lin'yi, Shandong 276003, China
| | - Xiaojuan Han
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Qianni Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Anliang Guo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Zhihao Fan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Lan Chao
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, 107 Wenhua West Road, Ji'nan, Shandong 250012, China.
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Shoukat A, Nurulain SM, Hussain S, Khan SA, Ahmed H, Muneer Z, Abbas Shah ST, Raza S, Eqani SAMS. Chronic exposure to electronic waste poses risk to liver toxicity with molecular interaction of GSTM1, GSTT1 null variants, and GSTP1. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 334:122204. [PMID: 37453685 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122204] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to electronic waste (e-waste) is becoming a serious concern for health among individuals exposed to it. E-waste has been reported to contain heavy metals, trace elements, and persistent organic pollutants which can trigger health issues through different biological pathways. The liver is a major metabolic and detoxifying organ in the body. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) is a liver enzyme for phase II detoxification that catalyzes glutathione (GSH) conjugation with environmental pollutants. This research aimed to investigate the liver toxicity caused by long-term exposure to e-wastes, exploring the potential association with null variants of GSTT1 and GSTMI, as well as GSTP1. The study was designed as a cross-sectional investigation, in which 256 adult males who were chronically exposed to e-waste and 200 non-exposed control participants, matched for age and gender, were recruited randomly. Standard colorimetric and enzymatic methods were used to analyze biochemical parameters such as serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (T. Bil), albumin, and reduced glutathione. Genotypic analysis of the null variant GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes was conducted by standard molecular methods. The study findings indicated a notable surge in ALP, ALT, and albumin levels while T. Bil and GSH levels showed a reduction, suggesting a potential risk of liver toxicity. Additionally, analysis of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genotypes revealed a possible association with GSH levels and the hepatotoxicity risk. The study concluded that the individuals exposed to e-waste exhibited dysregulation of liver enzymes that results in liver toxicity. Moreover, analysis of GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 at a molecular level revealed that these genes could potentially serve as risk factors for liver toxicity in e-waste chronic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aneela Shoukat
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Syed Muhammad Nurulain
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan.
| | - Sabir Hussain
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Sosan Andleeb Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Hussain Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Zahid Muneer
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Syed Tahir Abbas Shah
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
| | - Saqlain Raza
- Respiratory Care Department, College of Applied Medical Science in Jubail, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Jubail, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Ali Musstjab Shah Eqani
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad Campus, Park Road Tarlai, Islamabad, 45550, Pakistan
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Balachandar R, Viramgami A, Bagepally BS, Upadhyay K. Association Between Blood Lead Levels and Thyroid Function: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Indian J Clin Biochem 2023; 38:426-436. [PMID: 37746535 PMCID: PMC10516803 DOI: 10.1007/s12291-023-01113-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Chronic Lead (Pb) exposure is associated with disrupting certain endocrine levels and is referred to as an endocrine disruptor. Thyroid hormones, involved in regulating numerous physiological functions, are reported with conflicting associations with chronic Pb exposure. This study broadly evaluated the association between long-term lead exposure and thyroid function parameters. In this systematic review, the observational studies documenting the changes in thyroid function parameters between the chronically Pb-exposed and controls were systematically identified from PubMed-Medline, Scopus, and Embase digital databases from the beginning to March 31, 2022. The protocol was previously registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022315520) and executed following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The random-effects model was used to analyze the mean differences in thyroid function parameters between groups. The classical I2 statistic was applied to assess heterogeneity, while the Newcastle Ottawa Scale was used to assess the risk of various biases. Where data allowed, sub-group, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were carried out. The current systematic review included fifteen observational studies. The Pb-exposed have a higher mean blood Pb level [i.e. 28.07 (95% CI 21.43-34.72) µg/dl], significantly higher free T3 [(i.e. 0.48 pg/dl (95% CI 0.05-0.95)] and trend of higher T3. T4, FT4, and TSH levels than controls with high heterogeneity (I2 > 85%). Considering the important role of thyroid hormone in multiple biological functions, the present findings emphasize the requisite for high-quality studies to investigate the association between levels of thyroid function parameters among individuals known for cumulative exposure to Pb. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12291-023-01113-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Balachandar
- ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, 380016 India
| | - Ankit Viramgami
- ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, 380016 India
| | | | - Kuldip Upadhyay
- ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health, Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, 380016 India
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11
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Kazim M, Hussain Syed J, Binnur Kurt-Karakus P, Ozkaleli Akcetin M, Akram S, Birgul A, Kara M, Dumanoglu Y, Odabasi M, Saqib Z, Nasir J, Mahar A, Shah T, Gulzar Burq M, Jones KC, Wania F. Gaseous elemental mercury emissions from informal E-Waste recycling facilities in Pakistan. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 170:261-269. [PMID: 37729843 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m-3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean ± s.d: 17 ± 22, range: 4.2-92 ng m-3), Lahore (16 ± 4.2, 8.2-22 ng m-3) and Peshawar (15 ± 17, 4.9-80 ng m-3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 ± 6.2, 3.1-25 ng m-3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 ± 16: 3.3-92 ng m-3) and summer (13 ± 8.7: 1.8-80 ng m-3) than in winter (12 ± 8.4: 2.5-49 ng m-3) and spring (9.2 ± 7.3: 1.8-80 ng m-3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mureed Kazim
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jabir Hussain Syed
- Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Tarlai Kalan Park Road, 45550 Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Perihan Binnur Kurt-Karakus
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey.
| | - Merve Ozkaleli Akcetin
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Sumaira Akram
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Bahria University Islmabad Campus, Pakistan; Department of Environmental Sciences, Forman Christian College University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Askin Birgul
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Melik Kara
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Yetkin Dumanoglu
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Odabasi
- Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Zafeer Saqib
- Department of Environmental Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Jawad Nasir
- Earth Sciences Directorate, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARC), P.O. Box 8402, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
| | - Amanullah Mahar
- Centre for Environmental Science, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Pakistan
| | - Taimoor Shah
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Mohsin Gulzar Burq
- Department of Microbiology, University of Central Punjab, Johar Town Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Kevin C Jones
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Wania
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
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12
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Gravel S, Roberge B, Calosso M, Gagné S, Lavoie J, Labrèche F. Occupational health and safety, metal exposures and multi-exposures health risk in Canadian electronic waste recycling facilities. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 165:140-149. [PMID: 37121052 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Electronic waste recycling (e-recycling) involves manual operations that expose workers to toxic metals. We aim to describe occupational health and safety practices and workers' exposures to metals in the Canadian formal e-recycling industry, and to estimate the health risk associated with multiple exposures. This cross-sectional study documented practices through observations and questionnaires, and assessed metal exposures using personal air samples and biomarkers. Health risks were estimated relative to recognised occupational exposure guidelines, and using an additive approach for consideration of multiple exposures. Six e-recycling and one commercial recycling facilities were investigated, and the metal exposures of 99 workers (23 women) were measured. In most facilities, dust control was inadequate and personal protective equipment was improperly worn. In e-recycling, lead was detected in all air samples and in most blood samples, up to 48 µg/m3 and 136 µg/l, respectively. Other quantified metals included beryllium, mercury, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chrome, cobalt, copper, indium, manganese, nickel and yttrium. When handling cathode ray tube screens, workers were 4.9 times and 8.5 times more likely to be exposed to lead and yttrium, respectively, than workers who were not assigned to a specific type of electronics. Overall, exposures were largely associated with facility size and airborne dust concentration. The additive hazard indices for airborne exposures raised concerns for kidney disorders, for peripheral and central nervous systems, and for the male reproductive system. Minimizing airborne dust through collective control methods and adequately using personal protection should reduce metal exposures and associated health risks in this growing industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Gravel
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Canada; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada.
| | - Brigitte Roberge
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Canada
| | - Mickaël Calosso
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Canada
| | - Sébastien Gagné
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Canada
| | - Jacques Lavoie
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Canada
| | - France Labrèche
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Montréal, Canada; Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Canada; Centre de recherche en santé publique (CReSP), University of Montréal and CIUSSS Centre-Sud, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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13
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Wang Y, Wang X, Sui S, Liu Z. Endocrine disrupting and carcinogenic effects of decabromodiphenyl ether. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1183815. [PMID: 37334308 PMCID: PMC10272517 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1183815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE209), an essential industrial flame retardant that is widely used, has recently been reported to be increasing in human serum. Due to the structural similarity between BDE209 and thyroid hormones, its toxic effects on the thyroid are of particular concern. Methods Original articles in the PubMed database were collected using the terms "BDE209", "decabromodiphenyl ether", "endocrine disrupting", "thyroid", "carcinogenesis", "polybrominated diphenyl ethers", "PBDEs," and their synonyms from inception up to October of 2022. Results Of the 748 studies initially identified, 45 were selected, which emphasized the adverse effects of BDE209 on endocrine system. BDE209 may have a toxic effect not only on thyroid function but also on thyroid cancer tumorigenesis at multiple levels, such as by directly interfering with the TR, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, enzyme activity, and methylation. However, it is impossible to draw a definitive conclusion on the exact pathway of thyroid toxicity from BDE209. Conclusions Although the toxic effects of BDE209 on the thyroid have been well investigated, its tumorigenic effects remain unclear and further research is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinpei Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- The Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shaofeng Sui
- Department of Environmental Health, Division of Health Risk Factors Monitoring and Control, Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impact Assessment of Emerging Contaminants, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyan Liu
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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14
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Hu L, Zhou B, Li Y, Song L, Wang J, Yu M, Li X, Liu L, Kou J, Wang Y, Hu X, Mei S. Independent and combined effects of exposure to organophosphate esters on thyroid hormones in children and adolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:3833-3846. [PMID: 36592286 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Toxicological studies suggest that organophosphate esters (OPEs) may impair thyroid function. Epidemiological evidence, related to children and adolescents, has not been reported, and little is known about the combined effects of exposure to OPE mixtures. In this study, we collected information of 1156 children and adolescents (aged 6-18 years, 48.4% males) from a cross-sectional study in Liuzhou, China, and measured the levels of 15 urinary OPE metabolites and 5 serum thyroid hormones. Multivariate linear regression and quantile g-computation (QGC) approach were used to examine the associations which adjusted for demographic and lifestyle characteristics. Few participants had levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and free thyroxine (FT4) outside age-specific pediatric ranges. QGC analyses showed that individuals in the second, third, and fourth quartiles (Q2-Q4) of exposure had 3.93% (2.14%, 5.75%), 8.01% (4.32%, 11.8%), and 12.3% (6.54%, 18.3%) higher T3 than those in the first quartile (Q1), with similar pattern for free triiodothyronine (FT3). Individuals in Q2 and Q3 had higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) than those in Q1, but no differences were observed in TSH between Q1-Q4. In contrast, compared to the lowest quartile, FT4 was lower for those in Q2 (- 1.54%; 95% CI: - 3.02%, -0.04%), Q3 (-3.07%; 95% CI: -5.95%, -0.09%), and Q4 (-4.56%; 95% CI: - 8.80%, - 0.13%). These associations were consistent with the results from multivariate linear regression. When stratified by sex, OPE exposure (individual or mixtures) was associated with increased T3 and FT3 in males and decreased FT4 in females. This study provides the first evidence to characterize the thyroid-disrupting effects of OPE exposure in children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Hu
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yaping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Lulu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Meng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Ling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xijiang Hu
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Surong Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
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15
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Li Y, Hu L, Zhou B, Zheng Z, Xu Q, Liu J, Song L, Wang Y, Mei S. The association between organophosphate esters exposure and body mass index in children and adolescents: The mediating effect of sex hormones. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 324:138305. [PMID: 36871798 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138305] [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: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Organophosphate esters (OPEs), used as flame retardants and plasticizers, have been indicated to impair growth and development in toxicological studies, but current epidemiological data on their associations with body mass index (BMI) are limited and the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the association of OPE metabolites with BMI z-score, and assess whether sex hormones mediate the relationships between OPE exposure and BMI z-score. We measured weight and height, and determined OPE metabolites in spot urine samples and sex hormones in serum samples among 1156 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years in Liuzhou city, China. The results showed that di-o-cresyl phosphate and di-pcresyl phosphate (DoCP & DpCP) levels were associated with lower BMI z-score of all participants and a similar pattern of associations were presented in prepubertal boys stratified by sex-puberty groups and male children stratified by sex-age groups. In addition, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were related to reduced BMI z-score among all subgroups including prepubertal boys, prepubertal girls, pubertal boys, and pubertal girls (all Ptrend<0.05). We also found that DoCP & DpCP showed positive associations with SHBG among prepubertal boys. Mediation analysis further showed that SHBG mediated 35.0% of the association between DoCP & DpCP and reduced BMI z-score in prepubertal boys. Our results indicated that OPEs may impair growth and development by disrupting the sex hormones in prepubertal boys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Liqin Hu
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bin Zhou
- Wuhan Children's Hospital (Wuhan Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital), Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiyi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Qitong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China
| | - Lulu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China; Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China; Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
| | - Surong Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China.
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16
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Landrigan PJ, Raps H, Cropper M, Bald C, Brunner M, Canonizado EM, Charles D, Chiles TC, Donohue MJ, Enck J, Fenichel P, Fleming LE, Ferrier-Pages C, Fordham R, Gozt A, Griffin C, Hahn ME, Haryanto B, Hixson R, Ianelli H, James BD, Kumar P, Laborde A, Law KL, Martin K, Mu J, Mulders Y, Mustapha A, Niu J, Pahl S, Park Y, Pedrotti ML, Pitt JA, Ruchirawat M, Seewoo BJ, Spring M, Stegeman JJ, Suk W, Symeonides C, Takada H, Thompson RC, Vicini A, Wang Z, Whitman E, Wirth D, Wolff M, Yousuf AK, Dunlop S. The Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health. Ann Glob Health 2023; 89:23. [PMID: 36969097 PMCID: PMC10038118 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.4056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Plastics have conveyed great benefits to humanity and made possible some of the most significant advances of modern civilization in fields as diverse as medicine, electronics, aerospace, construction, food packaging, and sports. It is now clear, however, that plastics are also responsible for significant harms to human health, the economy, and the earth's environment. These harms occur at every stage of the plastic life cycle, from extraction of the coal, oil, and gas that are its main feedstocks through to ultimate disposal into the environment. The extent of these harms not been systematically assessed, their magnitude not fully quantified, and their economic costs not comprehensively counted. Goals The goals of this Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health are to comprehensively examine plastics' impacts across their life cycle on: (1) human health and well-being; (2) the global environment, especially the ocean; (3) the economy; and (4) vulnerable populations-the poor, minorities, and the world's children. On the basis of this examination, the Commission offers science-based recommendations designed to support development of a Global Plastics Treaty, protect human health, and save lives. Report Structure This Commission report contains seven Sections. Following an Introduction, Section 2 presents a narrative review of the processes involved in plastic production, use, and disposal and notes the hazards to human health and the environment associated with each of these stages. Section 3 describes plastics' impacts on the ocean and notes the potential for plastic in the ocean to enter the marine food web and result in human exposure. Section 4 details plastics' impacts on human health. Section 5 presents a first-order estimate of plastics' health-related economic costs. Section 6 examines the intersection between plastic, social inequity, and environmental injustice. Section 7 presents the Commission's findings and recommendations. Plastics Plastics are complex, highly heterogeneous, synthetic chemical materials. Over 98% of plastics are produced from fossil carbon- coal, oil and gas. Plastics are comprised of a carbon-based polymer backbone and thousands of additional chemicals that are incorporated into polymers to convey specific properties such as color, flexibility, stability, water repellence, flame retardation, and ultraviolet resistance. Many of these added chemicals are highly toxic. They include carcinogens, neurotoxicants and endocrine disruptors such as phthalates, bisphenols, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, and organophosphate flame retardants. They are integral components of plastic and are responsible for many of plastics' harms to human health and the environment.Global plastic production has increased almost exponentially since World War II, and in this time more than 8,300 megatons (Mt) of plastic have been manufactured. Annual production volume has grown from under 2 Mt in 1950 to 460 Mt in 2019, a 230-fold increase, and is on track to triple by 2060. More than half of all plastic ever made has been produced since 2002. Single-use plastics account for 35-40% of current plastic production and represent the most rapidly growing segment of plastic manufacture.Explosive recent growth in plastics production reflects a deliberate pivot by the integrated multinational fossil-carbon corporations that produce coal, oil and gas and that also manufacture plastics. These corporations are reducing their production of fossil fuels and increasing plastics manufacture. The two principal factors responsible for this pivot are decreasing global demand for carbon-based fuels due to increases in 'green' energy, and massive expansion of oil and gas production due to fracking.Plastic manufacture is energy-intensive and contributes significantly to climate change. At present, plastic production is responsible for an estimated 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the contribution of Brazil. This fraction is projected to increase to 4.5% by 2060 if current trends continue unchecked. Plastic Life Cycle The plastic life cycle has three phases: production, use, and disposal. In production, carbon feedstocks-coal, gas, and oil-are transformed through energy-intensive, catalytic processes into a vast array of products. Plastic use occurs in every aspect of modern life and results in widespread human exposure to the chemicals contained in plastic. Single-use plastics constitute the largest portion of current use, followed by synthetic fibers and construction.Plastic disposal is highly inefficient, with recovery and recycling rates below 10% globally. The result is that an estimated 22 Mt of plastic waste enters the environment each year, much of it single-use plastic and are added to the more than 6 gigatons of plastic waste that have accumulated since 1950. Strategies for disposal of plastic waste include controlled and uncontrolled landfilling, open burning, thermal conversion, and export. Vast quantities of plastic waste are exported each year from high-income to low-income countries, where it accumulates in landfills, pollutes air and water, degrades vital ecosystems, befouls beaches and estuaries, and harms human health-environmental injustice on a global scale. Plastic-laden e-waste is particularly problematic. Environmental Findings Plastics and plastic-associated chemicals are responsible for widespread pollution. They contaminate aquatic (marine and freshwater), terrestrial, and atmospheric environments globally. The ocean is the ultimate destination for much plastic, and plastics are found throughout the ocean, including coastal regions, the sea surface, the deep sea, and polar sea ice. Many plastics appear to resist breakdown in the ocean and could persist in the global environment for decades. Macro- and micro-plastic particles have been identified in hundreds of marine species in all major taxa, including species consumed by humans. Trophic transfer of microplastic particles and the chemicals within them has been demonstrated. Although microplastic particles themselves (>10 µm) appear not to undergo biomagnification, hydrophobic plastic-associated chemicals bioaccumulate in marine animals and biomagnify in marine food webs. The amounts and fates of smaller microplastic and nanoplastic particles (MNPs <10 µm) in aquatic environments are poorly understood, but the potential for harm is worrying given their mobility in biological systems. Adverse environmental impacts of plastic pollution occur at multiple levels from molecular and biochemical to population and ecosystem. MNP contamination of seafood results in direct, though not well quantified, human exposure to plastics and plastic-associated chemicals. Marine plastic pollution endangers the ocean ecosystems upon which all humanity depends for food, oxygen, livelihood, and well-being. Human Health Findings Coal miners, oil workers and gas field workers who extract fossil carbon feedstocks for plastic production suffer increased mortality from traumatic injury, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer. Plastic production workers are at increased risk of leukemia, lymphoma, hepatic angiosarcoma, brain cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, neurotoxic injury, and decreased fertility. Workers producing plastic textiles die of bladder cancer, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and interstitial lung disease at increased rates. Plastic recycling workers have increased rates of cardiovascular disease, toxic metal poisoning, neuropathy, and lung cancer. Residents of "fenceline" communities adjacent to plastic production and waste disposal sites experience increased risks of premature birth, low birth weight, asthma, childhood leukemia, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.During use and also in disposal, plastics release toxic chemicals including additives and residual monomers into the environment and into people. National biomonitoring surveys in the USA document population-wide exposures to these chemicals. Plastic additives disrupt endocrine function and increase risk for premature births, neurodevelopmental disorders, male reproductive birth defects, infertility, obesity, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and cancers. Chemical-laden MNPs formed through the environmental degradation of plastic waste can enter living organisms, including humans. Emerging, albeit still incomplete evidence indicates that MNPs may cause toxicity due to their physical and toxicological effects as well as by acting as vectors that transport toxic chemicals and bacterial pathogens into tissues and cells.Infants in the womb and young children are two populations at particularly high risk of plastic-related health effects. Because of the exquisite sensitivity of early development to hazardous chemicals and children's unique patterns of exposure, plastic-associated exposures are linked to increased risks of prematurity, stillbirth, low birth weight, birth defects of the reproductive organs, neurodevelopmental impairment, impaired lung growth, and childhood cancer. Early-life exposures to plastic-associated chemicals also increase the risk of multiple non-communicable diseases later in life. Economic Findings Plastic's harms to human health result in significant economic costs. We estimate that in 2015 the health-related costs of plastic production exceeded $250 billion (2015 Int$) globally, and that in the USA alone the health costs of disease and disability caused by the plastic-associated chemicals PBDE, BPA and DEHP exceeded $920 billion (2015 Int$). Plastic production results in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to 1.96 gigatons of carbon dioxide (CO2e) annually. Using the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) social cost of carbon metric, we estimate the annual costs of these GHG emissions to be $341 billion (2015 Int$).These costs, large as they are, almost certainly underestimate the full economic losses resulting from plastics' negative impacts on human health and the global environment. All of plastics' economic costs-and also its social costs-are externalized by the petrochemical and plastic manufacturing industry and are borne by citizens, taxpayers, and governments in countries around the world without compensation. Social Justice Findings The adverse effects of plastics and plastic pollution on human health, the economy and the environment are not evenly distributed. They disproportionately affect poor, disempowered, and marginalized populations such as workers, racial and ethnic minorities, "fenceline" communities, Indigenous groups, women, and children, all of whom had little to do with creating the current plastics crisis and lack the political influence or the resources to address it. Plastics' harmful impacts across its life cycle are most keenly felt in the Global South, in small island states, and in disenfranchised areas in the Global North. Social and environmental justice (SEJ) principles require reversal of these inequitable burdens to ensure that no group bears a disproportionate share of plastics' negative impacts and that those who benefit economically from plastic bear their fair share of its currently externalized costs. Conclusions It is now clear that current patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal are not sustainable and are responsible for significant harms to human health, the environment, and the economy as well as for deep societal injustices.The main driver of these worsening harms is an almost exponential and still accelerating increase in global plastic production. Plastics' harms are further magnified by low rates of recovery and recycling and by the long persistence of plastic waste in the environment.The thousands of chemicals in plastics-monomers, additives, processing agents, and non-intentionally added substances-include amongst their number known human carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants, and persistent organic pollutants. These chemicals are responsible for many of plastics' known harms to human and planetary health. The chemicals leach out of plastics, enter the environment, cause pollution, and result in human exposure and disease. All efforts to reduce plastics' hazards must address the hazards of plastic-associated chemicals. Recommendations To protect human and planetary health, especially the health of vulnerable and at-risk populations, and put the world on track to end plastic pollution by 2040, this Commission supports urgent adoption by the world's nations of a strong and comprehensive Global Plastics Treaty in accord with the mandate set forth in the March 2022 resolution of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).International measures such as a Global Plastics Treaty are needed to curb plastic production and pollution, because the harms to human health and the environment caused by plastics, plastic-associated chemicals and plastic waste transcend national boundaries, are planetary in their scale, and have disproportionate impacts on the health and well-being of people in the world's poorest nations. Effective implementation of the Global Plastics Treaty will require that international action be coordinated and complemented by interventions at the national, regional, and local levels.This Commission urges that a cap on global plastic production with targets, timetables, and national contributions be a central provision of the Global Plastics Treaty. We recommend inclusion of the following additional provisions:The Treaty needs to extend beyond microplastics and marine litter to include all of the many thousands of chemicals incorporated into plastics.The Treaty needs to include a provision banning or severely restricting manufacture and use of unnecessary, avoidable, and problematic plastic items, especially single-use items such as manufactured plastic microbeads.The Treaty needs to include requirements on extended producer responsibility (EPR) that make fossil carbon producers, plastic producers, and the manufacturers of plastic products legally and financially responsible for the safety and end-of-life management of all the materials they produce and sell.The Treaty needs to mandate reductions in the chemical complexity of plastic products; health-protective standards for plastics and plastic additives; a requirement for use of sustainable non-toxic materials; full disclosure of all components; and traceability of components. International cooperation will be essential to implementing and enforcing these standards.The Treaty needs to include SEJ remedies at each stage of the plastic life cycle designed to fill gaps in community knowledge and advance both distributional and procedural equity.This Commission encourages inclusion in the Global Plastic Treaty of a provision calling for exploration of listing at least some plastic polymers as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) under the Stockholm Convention.This Commission encourages a strong interface between the Global Plastics Treaty and the Basel and London Conventions to enhance management of hazardous plastic waste and slow current massive exports of plastic waste into the world's least-developed countries.This Commission recommends the creation of a Permanent Science Policy Advisory Body to guide the Treaty's implementation. The main priorities of this Body would be to guide Member States and other stakeholders in evaluating which solutions are most effective in reducing plastic consumption, enhancing plastic waste recovery and recycling, and curbing the generation of plastic waste. This Body could also assess trade-offs among these solutions and evaluate safer alternatives to current plastics. It could monitor the transnational export of plastic waste. It could coordinate robust oceanic-, land-, and air-based MNP monitoring programs.This Commission recommends urgent investment by national governments in research into solutions to the global plastic crisis. This research will need to determine which solutions are most effective and cost-effective in the context of particular countries and assess the risks and benefits of proposed solutions. Oceanographic and environmental research is needed to better measure concentrations and impacts of plastics <10 µm and understand their distribution and fate in the global environment. Biomedical research is needed to elucidate the human health impacts of plastics, especially MNPs. Summary This Commission finds that plastics are both a boon to humanity and a stealth threat to human and planetary health. Plastics convey enormous benefits, but current linear patterns of plastic production, use, and disposal that pay little attention to sustainable design or safe materials and a near absence of recovery, reuse, and recycling are responsible for grave harms to health, widespread environmental damage, great economic costs, and deep societal injustices. These harms are rapidly worsening.While there remain gaps in knowledge about plastics' harms and uncertainties about their full magnitude, the evidence available today demonstrates unequivocally that these impacts are great and that they will increase in severity in the absence of urgent and effective intervention at global scale. Manufacture and use of essential plastics may continue. However, reckless increases in plastic production, and especially increases in the manufacture of an ever-increasing array of unnecessary single-use plastic products, need to be curbed.Global intervention against the plastic crisis is needed now because the costs of failure to act will be immense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip J. Landrigan
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Hervé Raps
- Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Medical Biology Department, MC
| | - Maureen Cropper
- Economics Department, University of Maryland, College Park, US
| | - Caroline Bald
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrick Fenichel
- Université Côte d’Azur
- Centre Hospitalier, Universitaire de Nice, FR
| | - Lora E. Fleming
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, UK
| | | | | | | | - Carly Griffin
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Mark E. Hahn
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
- Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, US
| | - Budi Haryanto
- Department of Environmental Health, Universitas Indonesia, ID
- Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia, ID
| | - Richard Hixson
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, UK
| | - Hannah Ianelli
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Bryan D. James
- Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Department of Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | | | - Amalia Laborde
- Department of Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of the Republic, UY
| | | | - Keith Martin
- Consortium of Universities for Global Health, US
| | - Jenna Mu
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | - Adetoun Mustapha
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria
- Lead City University, NG
| | - Jia Niu
- Department of Chemistry, Boston College, US
| | - Sabine Pahl
- University of Vienna, Austria
- University of Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Maria-Luiza Pedrotti
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche sur mer (LOV), Sorbonne Université, FR
| | | | | | - Bhedita Jaya Seewoo
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
| | | | - John J. Stegeman
- Biology Department and Woods Hole Center for Oceans and Human Health, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, US
| | - William Suk
- Superfund Research Program, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US
| | | | - Hideshige Takada
- Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry (LOG), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, JP
| | | | | | - Zhanyun Wang
- Technology and Society Laboratory, WEmpa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials and Technology, CH
| | - Ella Whitman
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | | | | | - Aroub K. Yousuf
- Global Observatory on Planetary Health, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, US
| | - Sarah Dunlop
- Minderoo Foundation, AU
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, AU
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Xie B, Lin X, Wu K, Chen J, Qiu S, Luo J, Huang Y, Peng L. Adipose tissue levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in relation to prognostic biomarkers and progression-free survival time of breast cancer patients in eastern area of southern China: A hospital-based study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114779. [PMID: 36370816 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114779] [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: 06/04/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Evidence indicates that individual or groups of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are associated with risk of breast cancer (BC). Epidemiological studies of PBDEs and BC progression are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between PBDE burdens in adipose tissues and prognostic biomarkers of BC as well as progression-free survival (PFS) of patients for the first time. The concentrations of 14 PBDE congeners in breast adipose tissues of 183 cases from the eastern area of southern China were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression models for the associations between PBDE levels and prognostic biomarkers. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify the correlations between PBDEs and PFS. The results showed that BDE-99 and 190 levels were positively associated with clinical stage and N stage respectively (OR = 2.61 [1.26-5.40], OR = 2.78 [1.04-7.46]). Concentrations of BDE-28 and BDE-183 were negatively associated with the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) (OR = 0.30 [0.11-0.81]; 0.39 [0.15-0.99]) and progesterone receptor (PR) (OR = 0.36 [0.14-0.92]; 0.37 [0.15-0.91]), and increased BDE-47 was associated with lower human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression (OR = 0.44 [0.23-0.86]). Adipose levels of BDE-71, 99, 138, 153, 154 and total PBDEs were positively associated with p53 expression (all P < 0.05). Finally, BDE-47, 99 and 183 were considered as independent prognostic factors for shorter PFS in the Cox models (adjusted hazard ratios = 3.14 [1.26-7.82]; 2.25 [1.03-4.94]; 2.60 [1.08-6.25], respectively). The recurrence risk and prognosis of BC may be closely bound to the body burdens of certain PBDE congeners. Further epidemiological and experimental studies are needed for confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingmeng Xie
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China; School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China.
| | - Xueqiong Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Kusheng Wu
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Jiongyu Chen
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
| | - Shuyi Qiu
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China; School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, China
| | - Jianan Luo
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
| | - Yiteng Huang
- Health Care Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, PR China.
| | - Lin Peng
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China.
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Mechanisms of Male Reproductive Toxicity of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232214229. [PMID: 36430706 PMCID: PMC9693139 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232214229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are a group of flame retardants used in a variety of artificial materials. Despite being phased out in most industrial countries, they remain in the environment and human tissues due to their persistence, lipophilicity, and bioaccumulation. Populational and experimental studies demonstrate the male reproductive toxicity of PBDEs including increased incidence of genital malformations (hypospadias and cryptorchidism), altered weight of testes and other reproductive tissues, altered testes histology and transcriptome, decreased sperm production and sperm quality, altered epigenetic regulation of developmental genes in spermatozoa, and altered secretion of reproductive hormones. A broad range of mechanistic hypotheses of PBDE reproductive toxicity has been suggested. Among these hypotheses, oxidative stress, the disruption of estrogenic signaling, and mitochondria disruption are affected by PBDE concentrations much higher than concentrations found in human tissues, making them unlikely links between exposures and adverse reproductive outcomes in the general population. Robust evidence suggests that at environmentally relevant doses, PBDEs and their metabolites may affect male reproductive health via mechanisms including AR antagonism and the disruption of a complex network of metabolic signaling.
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Sarzo B, Ballester F, Soler-Blasco R, Lopez-Espinosa MJ, Lozano M, Iriarte G, Beneito A, Riutort-Mayol G, Murcia M, Llop S. Pre and postnatal exposure to mercury and sexual development in 9-year-old children in Spain: The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113620. [PMID: 35697081 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Early exposure to mercury has been related to endocrine disruption. Steroid hormones play a crucial role in neural cell migration, differentiation, etc., as well as protecting against several neurotoxic compounds. We investigate the relation between mercury exposure and children's sexual development, and we evaluate the possible influence of different brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphisms on this association. Our study sample comprised 412 9-year-old children participating in the INMA cohort (2004-2015). Mercury concentrations were measured at birth (cord blood) and at 4 and 9 years of age (hair). Sexual development was assessed by levels of sex steroid hormones (estradiol and testosterone) in saliva and the Tanner stages of sex development at 9 years (categorized as 1: prepuberty and >1: pubertal onset). Covariates and confounders were collected through questionnaires during pregnancy and childhood. Polymorphisms in the BDNF gene were genotyped in cord blood DNA. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed between mercury levels and children's sexual development by sex. Effect modification by genetic polymorphisms and fish intake was assessed. We found marginally significant inverse associations between postnatal exposure to mercury (at 9 years) and testosterone levels (β[95%CI] = -0.16[-0.33,0.001], and -0.20[-0.42,0.03], for boys and girls, respectively). Additionally, we found that prenatal mercury was negatively associated with Tanner stage >1 in boys. Finally, we found significant genetic interactions for some single nucleotide polymorphisms in the BDNF gene. In conclusion, pre and postnatal exposure to mercury seems to affect children's sexual development and BDNF may play a role in this association, but further research would be needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Sarzo
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Department of Microbiology and Ecology, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ferran Ballester
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Raquel Soler-Blasco
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Nursing and Chiropody, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Lozano
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Food Sciences, Toxicology and Forensic Medicine Department, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gorka Iriarte
- Laboratorio de Salud Pública, Vitoria Gasteiz, Alava, Spain
| | - Andrea Beneito
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Gabriel Riutort-Mayol
- Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research in the Valencian Region, FISABIO-Public Health, Spain
| | - Mario Murcia
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Health Information Systems Analysis Service, Conselleria de Sanitat, Generalitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sabrina Llop
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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Siddique S, Farhat I, Kubwabo C, Chan P, Goodyer CG, Robaire B, Chevrier J, Hales BF. Exposure of men living in the greater Montreal area to organophosphate esters: Association with hormonal balance and semen quality. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 166:107402. [PMID: 35839669 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) is extensive, yet few studies have investigated their association with hormone levels or semen quality. Here, we studied the association between urinary concentrations of OPEs and their metabolites with hormone levels and semen parameters in men (n = 117) predominantly in the 20-29 years age range who were recruited from the greater Montreal area between 2009 and 2012. Urine, serum, and semen samples were analyzed for OPEs, hormones, and semen quality, respectively. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (BEHP), bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) hydrogen phosphate (B2,4DtBPP), tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), bis (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP) and di-cresyl phosphate (DCPs) were detected in urine at a frequency ≥ 95%. The highest geometric mean concentration was observed for DPHP (18.54 ng/mL) and the second highest was B2,4DtBPP (6.23 ng/mL). Associations between a doubling in analyte concentrations in urine and hormone levels and semen quality parameters were estimated using multivariable linear regression. B2,4DtBPP levels were positively associated with total T3 (β = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.17). DPHP was inversely associated with estradiol (β = -2.56; 95% CI: -5.00, -0.17), and TCIPP was inversely associated with testosterone (β = -0.78; 95% CI: -1.40, -0.17). Concentrations of BCIPP were inversely associated with sperm concentrations (β = -7.76; 95% CI: -14.40, -0.61), progressive motility (β = - 4.98; 95% CI: -8.71, -1.09), and the sperm motility index (β = -9.72; 95% CI: -17.71, -0.96). In contrast, urinary DPHP concentrations were positively associated with the sperm motility (β = 4.37; 95% CI: 0.76, 8.12) and fertility indices (β = 6.64; 95% CI: 1.96, 11.53). Thus, OPE detection rates were high and exposure to several OPEs was associated with altered hormone levels and semen parameters. The possibility that OPEs affect male reproduction warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabana Siddique
- Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Imen Farhat
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cariton Kubwabo
- Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Chan
- Division of Urology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cynthia G Goodyer
- Research Institute of McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bernard Robaire
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jonathan Chevrier
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Barbara F Hales
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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Singh V, Cortes-Ramirez J, Toms LM, Sooriyagoda T, Karatela S. Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on Hormonal and Reproductive Health in E-Waste-Exposed Population: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19137820. [PMID: 35805479 PMCID: PMC9265575 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19137820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Electronic waste management is a global rising concern that is primarily being handled by informal recycling practices. These release a mix of potentially hazardous chemicals, which is an important public health concern. These chemicals include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), used as flame retardants in electronic parts, which are persistent in nature and show bioaccumulative characteristics. Although PBDEs are suspected endocrine disruptors, particularly targeting thyroid and reproductive hormone functions, the relationship of PBDEs with these health effects are not well established. We used the Navigation Guide methodology to conduct a systematic review of studies in populations exposed to e-waste to better understand the relationships of these persistent flame retardants with hormonal and reproductive health. We assessed nineteen studies that fit our pre-determined inclusion criteria for risk of bias, indirectness, inconsistency, imprecision, and other criteria that helped rate the overall evidence for its quality and strength of evidence. The studies suggest PBDEs may have an adverse effect on thyroid hormones, reproductive hormones, semen quality, and neonatal health. However, more research is required to establish a relationship of these effects in the e-waste-exposed population. We identified the limitations of the data available and made recommendations for future scientific work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Singh
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.-M.T.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Javier Cortes-Ramirez
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia;
- Children’s Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Universidad de Santander, Cúcuta 540003, Colombia
| | - Leisa-Maree Toms
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.-M.T.); (T.S.)
| | - Thilakshika Sooriyagoda
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia; (L.-M.T.); (T.S.)
| | - Shamshad Karatela
- School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Mackay, QLD 4740, Australia
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22
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Nephrotoxicity of Flame Retardants: An Understudied but Critical Toxic Endpoint. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2022.100359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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23
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Murro I, Lisco G, Di Noia C, Lampignano L, Zupo R, Giagulli VA, Guastamacchia E, Triggiani V, De Pergola G. Endocrine Disruptors and Obesity: an Overview. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2022; 22:798-806. [PMID: 35346017 DOI: 10.2174/1871530322666220328122300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is a growing pandemic. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are widespread in the environment. In this perspective, the authors examine the issue related to the exposure to several chemicals with endocrine-disrupting properties as promoting factors to obesity. Data show that Phthalates, Bisphenol compounds, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), solvents, and personal care products can modify metabolic properties in a dose-response and sex-specific manner. Phthalates and bisphenol compounds increase body mass index, waist circumference, waist to height ratio, and the sum of skinfold thicknesses in women and not in men. Low-dose exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants is strongly associated with increased body mass index in men and decreased this parameter in women. The mechanism through which these compounds act on anthropometric parameters is not entirely understood. Several studies suggest a possible interference in gonadotropin secretion and the thyroid axis. These inspire a decrease of both total and free testosterone levels in men and FT3 and FT4 levels in women, particularly after a pregnancy. The impact of endocrine disruptor chemicals on adipose tissue inflammation and future cardio-metabolic disorders remains to be elucidated. Therefore, studies involving both healthy and obese individuals are needed to unambiguously confirm results from in vitro and animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isanna Murro
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lisco
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine - Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari
| | - Carmen Di Noia
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
| | - Luisa Lampignano
- Population Health Unit - \'Salus in Apulia Study" National Institute of Gastroenterology \'Saverio de Bellis\', Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Roberta Zupo
- Population Health Unit - \'Salus in Apulia Study" National Institute of Gastroenterology \'Saverio de Bellis\', Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine - Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine - Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine - Section of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Endocrinology and Rare Diseases. School of Medicine, University of Bari
| | - Giovanni De Pergola
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, School of Medicine, Policlinico, Bari, Italy
- Internal Medicine and Geriatrics Unit - National Institute of Gastroenterology \'Saverio de Bellis\', Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
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24
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Trowbridge J, Gerona R, McMaster M, Ona K, Clarity C, Bessonneau V, Rudel R, Buren H, Morello-Frosch R. Organophosphate and Organohalogen Flame-Retardant Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Disruption in a Cross-Sectional Study of Female Firefighters and Office Workers from San Francisco. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:440-450. [PMID: 34902963 PMCID: PMC9037981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Occupational exposures to flame retardants (FRs), a class of suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds, are of health concern for firefighters. We sought to characterize exposure to FR compounds and evaluate their association with thyroid hormone levels, a biomarker of early effect, in female firefighters and office workers in San Francisco. In a cross-sectional study, we measured replacement organophosphate and organohalogen FRs in spot urine samples from firefighters (N = 86) and office workers (N = 84), as well as total thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone in plasma for 84 firefighters and 81 office workers. Median bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (BDCPP) levels were 5 times higher in firefighters than office workers. Among firefighters, a doubling of BDCPP was associated with a 2.88% decrease (95% confidence interval -5.28, -0.42) in T4. We did not observe significant associations between FRs and T4 among office workers. In the full group, intermediate body mass index and a college education were associated with higher FR levels. The inverse association observed between FRs and T4 coupled with the lack of studies on women workers and evidence of adverse health effects from FR exposure─including endocrine disruption and breast cancer risk─warrant further research on occupational exposures and identification of opportunities for exposure reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Trowbridge
- Department
of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- School
of Public Health, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Roy Gerona
- Clinical
Toxicology and Environmental Biomonitoring Laboratory, Department
of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Michael McMaster
- Department
of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of
California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- Center
for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and
Reproductive Sciences, University of California,
San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Katherine Ona
- Center
for Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and
Reproductive Sciences, University of California,
San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Cassidy Clarity
- Department
of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- School
of Public Health, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | | | - Ruthann Rudel
- Silent Spring
Institute, Newton, Massachusetts 02460, United States
| | - Heather Buren
- United
Fire Service Women, San Francisco, California 94140-0487, United States
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department
of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- School
of Public Health, University of California,
Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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25
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Patisaul HB, Behl M, Birnbaum LS, Blum A, Diamond ML, Rojello Fernández S, Hogberg HT, Kwiatkowski CF, Page JD, Soehl A, Stapleton HM. Beyond Cholinesterase Inhibition: Developmental Neurotoxicity of Organophosphate Ester Flame Retardants and Plasticizers. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:105001. [PMID: 34612677 PMCID: PMC8493874 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, the toxicity of organophosphate esters has primarily been studied regarding their use as pesticides and their effects on the neurotransmitter acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Currently, flame retardants and plasticizers are the two largest market segments for organophosphate esters and they are found in a wide variety of products, including electronics, building materials, vehicles, furniture, car seats, plastics, and textiles. As a result, organophosphate esters and their metabolites are routinely found in human urine, blood, placental tissue, and breast milk across the globe. It has been asserted that their neurological effects are minimal given that they do not act on AChE in precisely the same way as organophosphate ester pesticides. OBJECTIVES This commentary describes research on the non-AChE neurodevelopmental toxicity of organophosphate esters used as flame retardants and plasticizers (OPEs). Studies in humans, mammalian, nonmammalian, and in vitro models are presented, and relevant neurodevelopmental pathways, including adverse outcome pathways, are described. By highlighting this scientific evidence, we hope to elevate the level of concern for widespread human exposure to these OPEs and to provide recommendations for how to better protect public health. DISCUSSION Collectively, the findings presented demonstrate that OPEs can alter neurodevelopmental processes by interfering with noncholinergic pathways at environmentally relevant doses. Application of a pathways framework indicates several specific mechanisms of action, including perturbation of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid and disruption of the endocrine system. The effects may have implications for the development of cognitive and social skills in children. Our conclusion is that concern is warranted for the developmental neurotoxicity of OPE exposure. We thus describe important considerations for reducing harm and to provide recommendations for government and industry decision makers. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9285.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather B. Patisaul
- College of Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mamta Behl
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Linda S. Birnbaum
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Arlene Blum
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | | | - Helena T. Hogberg
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carol F. Kwiatkowski
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jamie D. Page
- Cancer Prevention & Education Society, Meads House, Leighterton, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, UK
| | - Anna Soehl
- Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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26
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Jensen M, Combariza Bayona DA, Sripada K. Mercury Exposure among E-Waste Recycling Workers in Colombia: Perceptions of Safety, Risk, and Access to Health Information. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:9295. [PMID: 34501885 PMCID: PMC8430711 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18179295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Exposures to the toxic element mercury (Hg) are exceptionally high among recycling workers globally. Recycling is a growing sector in Colombia, yet workers who directly handle e-waste are often unaware of the risks of exposure to mercury from post-consumer lighting products (e.g., fluorescent lamps). This qualitative study aimed to understand how recycling workers perceive their own risks from mercury exposure and how they find information about these risks, through interviews (n = 35) at the three largest formal recycling facilities in Colombia. Workers' risk perception was generally disconnected from their likely actual exposure to mercury, instead often seen juxtaposed to co-workers who worked more directly with hazardous waste. Recycling workers, who were predominantly men from lower-income socioeconomic backgrounds, had limited knowledge of health risks due to mercury exposure and were more likely to receive health-related information from informal sources. Over a third of interviewees had searched online for information about occupational health risks of mercury, but these searches were perceived as unsatisfactory due to information being difficult to find, not available in Spanish, or related to mercury exposure via seafood or mining rather than recycling. Workers expressed (over)confidence in personal protective equipment and concern about frequent employee turnover. This study points to weaknesses in environmental health literacy and public health communication around toxic exposures to mercury in the workplace. Stronger regulation and enforcement are needed to prevent toxic exposures and promote worker health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jensen
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway;
| | | | - Kam Sripada
- Centre for Global Health Inequalities Research (CHAIN), NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
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27
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Paliya S, Mandpe A, Bombaywala S, Kumar MS, Kumar S, Morya VK. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the environment: a wake-up call for concerted action in India. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:44693-44715. [PMID: 34227009 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15204-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) used as flame retardants in the products utilized in day-to-day life. Their bioaccumulation, low volatility, and high persistence in the environment have led to their global spread even to remote and distant regions. The present study identifies gaps in the investigation of the neurotoxic potential of PBDEs, their effects on brain development, toxicokinetic, and their potential as a carcinogen. In India, to date, only human breast milk was assessed for levels of PBDEs, and it is suggested that other human tissues can also be explored. No data on the reproductive toxicity of PBDEs are reported from Indian cohorts. Long-range transport and deposition of PBDEs in colder regions necessitates monitoring of Himalayan regions in India. An inventory of PBDEs is required to be made for addressing the worrisome situation of the unregulated import of E-waste from the developed countries in India. The study also emphasizes providing guidelines for the articulation of policies regarding sound surveillance and management of PBDE production, consumption, and release in the Indian context. It is recommended that a separate cell for monitoring and follow-up of PBDEs should be established in India. Also, the development of better alternatives and environment-friendly remediation technologies for PBDEs is the need of the hour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Paliya
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, India
| | - Ashootosh Mandpe
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, India
| | - Sakina Bombaywala
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, India
| | - Manukonda Suresh Kumar
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, India
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India.
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nehru Marg, Nagpur, 440 020, India.
| | - Vivek Kumar Morya
- Adhita Biosciences Pvt. Ltd, SIIC Extension, IIT Kanpur, Kanpur, 208 016, India
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28
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Choi G, Keil AP, Villanger GD, Richardson DB, Daniels JL, Hoffman K, Sakhi AK, Thomsen C, Herring AH, Drover SSM, Nethery R, Aase H, Engel SM. Pregnancy exposure to common-detect organophosphate esters and phthalates and maternal thyroid function. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 782:146709. [PMID: 33839654 PMCID: PMC8222630 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contemporary human populations are exposed to elevated concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and phthalates. Some metabolites have been linked with altered thyroid function, however, inconsistencies exist across thyroid function biomarkers. Research on OPEs is sparse, particularly during pregnancy, when maintaining normal thyroid function is critical to maternal and fetal health. In this paper, we aimed to characterize relationships between OPEs and phthalates exposure and maternal thyroid function during pregnancy, using a cross-sectional investigation of pregnant women nested within the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort (MoBa). METHODS We included 473 pregnant women, who were euthyroid and provided bio-samples at 17 weeks' gestation (2004-2008). Four OPE and six phthalate metabolites were measured from urine; six thyroid function biomarkers were estimated from blood. Relationships between thyroid function biomarkers and log-transformed concentrations of OPE and phthalate metabolites were characterized using two approaches that both accounted for confounding by co-exposures: co-pollutant adjusted general linear model (GLM) and Bayesian Kernal Machine Regression (BKMR). RESULTS We restricted our analysis to common-detect OPE and phthalate metabolites (>94%): diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), di-n-butyl phosphate (DNBP), and all phthalate metabolites. In GLM, pregnant women with summed di-isononyl phthalate metabolites (∑DiNP) concentrations in the 75th percentile had a 0.37 ng/μg lower total triiodothyronine (TT3): total thyroxine (TT4) ratio (95% credible interval: [-0.59, -0.15]) as compared to those in the 25th percentile, possibly due to small but diverging influences on TT3 (-1.99 ng/dL [-4.52, 0.53]) and TT4 (0.13 μg/dL [-0.01, 0.26]). Similar trends were observed for DNBP and inverse associations were observed for DPHP, monoethyl phthalate, mono-isobutyl phthalate, and mono-n-butyl phthalate. Most associations observed in co-pollutants adjusted GLMs were attenuated towards the null in BKMR, except for the case of ∑DiNP and TT3:TT4 ratio (-0.48 [-0.96, 0.003]). CONCLUSIONS Maternal thyroid function varied modestly with ∑DiNP, whereas results for DPHP varied by the type of statistical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giehae Choi
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Alexander P Keil
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - David B Richardson
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Julie L Daniels
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Amy H Herring
- Department of Statistical Science and Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Samantha S M Drover
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Rachel Nethery
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Heidi Aase
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephanie M Engel
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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29
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Hu Q, Han X, Dong G, Yan W, Wang X, Bigambo FM, Fang K, Xia Y, Chen T, Wang X. Association between mercury exposure and thyroid hormones levels: A meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110928. [PMID: 33640496 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between mercury (Hg) exposure and thyroid hormones (THs) levels in the general population has been inconclusive. We conducted a random effects model meta-analysis to identify the association between Hg exposure and THs levels in the general population. METHODS This meta-analysis were performed based on the PECO questions (P = general population; E =1ug/L Hg in blood and urine; C =1ug/L incremental increase on; and O = variation of THs levels). We searched four electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies published on or before 20th July 2020. Prospective and cross-sectional studies that evaluated the association between Hg exposure and the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) were included. We also assessed aggregate risks for the reliability of the included studies. RESULTS Initially, we retrieved 4889 articles. 18 studies met our inclusion criteria after screening and 13 articles were eligible to be included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis results suggest that blood Hg may be significantly associated with THs levels. The presence of Hg in blood may significantly increase the levels of TSH (β=0.55; 95%CI: 0.20,0.90; p < 0.001) and FT4 (β=0.47; 95%CI: 0.11,0.82; p < 0.001), with the opposite association in T4 (β=-0.02; 95%CI: 0.02, -0.01; p < 0.001). For the subgroup analysis, blood Hg was positively correlated with TSH levels in children and adolescents (β=0.62; 95%CI: 0.09, 1.15; p < 0.001) and FT4 levels in pregnant women (β=1.00; 95%CI: 0.99, 1.00; p < 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis indicates that exposure to Hg in blood could significantly corrrelate with the levels of TSH, T4, and FT4 in the general population. Therefore, it is crucial to control the use of Hg and strengthen protection of the thyroid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiumei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Guangzhu Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Wu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Children's hospital of Nanjing medical university, Nanjing, China
| | - Francis Manyori Bigambo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Kacey Fang
- Department of Cognitive Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yankai Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210004, China.
| | - Xinru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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30
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Lavoue J, Burstyn I. Evidence of Absence: Bayesian Way to Reveal True Zeros Among Occupational Exposures. Ann Work Expo Health 2021; 65:84-95. [PMID: 32914163 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Workplace exposure measurements typically contain some observations below limit of detection. The current paradigm for exposure data interpretation relies on the lognormal distribution, where censored observation are assumed to be present but not quantifiable. However, there are setting were such assumptions are untenable and true zero exposures cannot be ruled out. This issue can be non-trivial because decisions about compliance depend on the adequacy of the lognormal model. METHODS We adapted previously described statistical models for mixture of true zeros and lognormal distribution to function within Bayesian procedure that overcomes historical limitations that precluded them from being used in practice. We compared the performance of the new models and the traditional lognormal model in simulation. Their implementation is illustrated in diverse datasets. RESULTS The approach we propose involves estimating the proportion of true zeroes, and the geometric mean and standard deviation of the lognormal component of the mixture. This can be implemented in practice either based on the truncated lognormal model fit to the observed data, or on the censored Bernoulli-lognormal mixture model, which has the advantage of allowing for multiple censoring points. Both models can be implemented via a free online application. In simulations, when none of the censored values were zeros, all estimation procedures led to similar risk assessment. However, when all or most of the censored values were zeros, the traditional approach that assumes lognormal distribution performed noticeably worse than newly proposed methods, typically overestimating noncompliance. Application to real data suggests that we cannot rule out presence of true zero exposures in typical measurement series gathered by occupational hygienists. CONCLUSIONS Forcing the usual lognormal model to data containing a large proportion of censored values can bias risk assessment if a substantial part of the censored points are true zeroes. The Bernoulli-lognormal model is a suitable and accessible model that can account for such challenging data, and leads to unbiased risk assessments regardless of the presence of true zeros in the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Lavoue
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Igor Burstyn
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Ma Y, Stubbings WA, Cline-Cole R, Harrad S. Human exposure to halogenated and organophosphate flame retardants through informal e-waste handling activities - A critical review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115727. [PMID: 33010546 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Informal electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) handling activities constitute a potentially important source of halogenated (HFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) to the environment and humans. In this review, two electronic databases (ScienceDirect and Web of Science Core Collection) were searched for papers that addressed this topic. A total of 82 relevant studies (including 72 studies selected from the two databases and 10 studies located from the references of the first 72 selected studies) were identified that reported on human external and internal exposure to HFRs and OPFRs arising as a result of informal e-waste handling activities. Compared to the general population, higher levels of external exposure (i.e., inhalation, ingestion, and dermal absorption) and internal exposure (i.e., blood serum, hair, breast milk, urine, and other human matrices) to HFRs and OPFRs were identified for e-waste recyclers and residents inhabiting e-waste dismantling and recycling zones, especially for younger adults and children. Food intake and dust ingestion were the dominant exposure pathways for the majority of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and dechlorane plus (DP); while inhalation was identified as the most significant pathway of human exposure to OPFRs in informal e-waste sites. The majority of research to date has focused on China and thus future studies should be conducted in other regions such as Africa and South Asia. Other suggested foci of future research are: examination of exposure via dermal contact with e-waste, dietary exposure of local populations to OPFRs, confirmation of the existence of and cause(s) of the higher body burdens of females compared with males amongst populations impacted by informal e-waste handling, and characterisation of exposure of such populations to chlorinated paraffins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Ma
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - William A Stubbings
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Reginald Cline-Cole
- Centre of West African Studies, Department of African Studies & Anthropology, School of History and Cultures, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Stuart Harrad
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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Nguyen LV, Gravel S, Labrèche F, Bakhiyi B, Verner MA, Zayed J, Jantunen LM, Arrandale VH, Diamond ML. Can Silicone Passive Samplers be Used for Measuring Exposure of e-Waste Workers to Flame Retardants? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15277-15286. [PMID: 33196172 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Silicone passive samplers were assessed for measuring personal exposure to 37 flame retardants at three Québec e-waste recycling facilities. Silicone brooches (n = 45), wristbands (n = 28), and armbands (n = 9) worn during a ∼8 h work shift accumulated detectable amounts of 95-100% of the target compounds. Brooch concentrations were significantly correlated with those from active air samplers from which we conclude that the brooches could be used to approximate inhalation exposure and other exposures related to air concentrations such as dermal exposure. The generic sampling rate of the brooch (19 ± 11 m3 day-1 dm-2) was 13 and 22 times greater than estimated for home and office environments, respectively, likely because of the dusty work environment and greater movement of e-waste workers. BDE-209 concentrations in brooches and wristbands were moderately and significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with levels in blood plasma; organophosphorus esters in brooches and wristbands were weakly and insignificantly correlated with their metabolite biomarkers in post-shift spot urine samples. Silicone brooches and wristbands deployed over a single shift in a dusty occupational setting can be useful for indicating the internal exposure to compounds with relatively long biological half-lives, but their use for compounds with relatively short half-lives is not clear and may require either a longer deployment time or an integrated biomarker measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh V Nguyen
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Sabrina Gravel
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montréal, Québec H3A 3C2, Canada
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec H3T 1A8, Canada
| | - France Labrèche
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montréal, Québec H3A 3C2, Canada
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec H3T 1A8, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Bouchra Bakhiyi
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec H3T 1A8, Canada
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec H3T 1A8, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Joseph Zayed
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Québec H3T 1A8, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3N 1X9, Canada
| | - Liisa M Jantunen
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment and Climate Change, Egbert, Ontario L0L 1N0, Canada
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Victoria H Arrandale
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M7, Canada
- Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Ontario Health, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X3, Canada
| | - Miriam L Diamond
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M7, Canada
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