Body burden of organohalogenated pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Romanian population: Influence of age, gender, body mass index, and habitat

Salt assisted liquid-liquid extraction combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for the determination of 24 regulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human serum

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants of great concern due to their carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. Their determination in human serum, particularly in at-risk populations, is necessary but difficult because they are distributed over a wide range of polarity and are present at trace level. A new method combining salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with solidification of floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO) adapted to a reduced volume of sample (100 µl) was developed to determine 24 PAHs in human serum. Some key parameters of DLLME-SFO (volume of extraction solvent, ratio of extraction/dispersive solvent volumes, and salt addition) were first studied by applying it to spiked pure water. For its application to serum, a sample treatment step involving SALLE was optimized in terms of nature and content of salts and applied upstream of DLLME-SFO. It was applied to the extraction of 24 regulated PAHs from spiked serum followed by an analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with UV and fluorescence detection. The extraction recoveries ranged from 48.2 and 116.0 % (relative standard deviations: 2.0-14.6 %, n=5-9), leading to limits of quantification of PAHs in human serum from 0.04 to 1.03 µg/L using fluorescence detection and from 10 to 40 µg/L using UV detection. This final method combining SALLE and DLLME-SFO showed numerous advantages such as no evaporation step, high efficiency and low solvent-consumption and will be useful for monitoring PAHs in low volumes of serum.

Do Young Consumers Care about Antioxidant Benefits and Resveratrol and Caffeic Acid Consumption?

Resveratrol and caffeic acid are some of the most consumed antioxidants during the day, so their importance as sources and their benefits need to be evaluated and updated. This survey aimed not only to analyze whether young Romanian consumers are informed about the benefits of antioxidants in general, and resveratrol and caffeic acid in particular, but also to observe the degree of nutritional education of these participants. Young consumers know the concept of antioxidants relatively well; they managed to give examples of antioxidants and indicate their effects. The majority of those chosen drink wine and coffee, but many are unaware of their health advantages and antioxidant properties. Students are less familiar with the antioxidant chemicals resveratrol and caffeic acid. It is advised to have a thorough understanding of these significant antioxidants and their nutritional content as they are present in our regular diets, and further studies on different kinds of antioxidants are required to increase the awareness of people concerning their importance in daily life.

An exposome atlas of serum reveals the risk of chronic diseases in the Chinese population

Although adverse environmental exposures are considered a major cause of chronic diseases, current studies provide limited information on real-world chemical exposures and related risks. For this study, we collected serum samples from 5696 healthy people and patients, including those with 12 chronic diseases, in China and completed serum biomonitoring including 267 chemicals via gas and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Seventy-four highly frequently detected exposures were used for exposure characterization and risk analysis. The results show that region is the most critical factor influencing human exposure levels, followed by age. Organochlorine pesticides and perfluoroalkyl substances are associated with multiple chronic diseases, and some of them exceed safe ranges. Multi-exposure models reveal significant risk effects of exposure on hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome and hyperuricemia. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive human serum exposome atlas and disease risk information, which can guide subsequent in-depth cause-and-effect studies between environmental exposures and human health.

Update of the risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food

The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food, focusing on 10 congeners: BDE-28, -47, -49, -99, -100, -138, -153, -154, -183 and ‑209. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour and reproductive/developmental effects are the critical effects in rodent studies. For four congeners (BDE-47, -99, -153, -209) the Panel derived Reference Points, i.e. benchmark doses and corresponding lower 95% confidence limits (BMDLs), for endpoint-specific benchmark responses. Since repeated exposure to PBDEs results in accumulation of these chemicals in the body, the Panel estimated the body burden at the BMDL in rodents, and the chronic intake that would lead to the same body burden in humans. For the remaining six congeners no studies were available to identify Reference Points. The Panel concluded that there is scientific basis for inclusion of all 10 congeners in a common assessment group and performed a combined risk assessment. The Panel concluded that the combined margin of exposure (MOET) approach was the most appropriate risk metric and applied a tiered approach to the risk characterisation. Over 84,000 analytical results for the 10 congeners in food were used to estimate the exposure across dietary surveys and age groups of the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary Lower Bound exposure to PBDEs were meat and meat products and fish and seafood. Taking into account the uncertainties affecting the assessment, the Panel concluded that it is likely that current dietary exposure to PBDEs in the European population raises a health concern.

Prepandemic personal concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other pollutants: Specific and combined effects on the incidence of COVID-19 disease and SARS-CoV-2 infection

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the specific and combined effects of personal concentrations of some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), other persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and chemical elements -measured in individuals' blood several years before the pandemic- on the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease in the general population.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study in 240 individuals from the general population of Barcelona. PFAS, other POPs, and chemical elements were measured in plasma, serum, and whole blood samples, respectively, collected in 2016-2017. PFAS were analyzed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected by rRT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs and/or antibody serology in blood samples collected in 2020-2021.

RESULTS

No individual PFAS nor their mixtures were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity or COVID-19 disease. Previously identified mixtures of POPs and elements (Porta et al., 2023) remained significantly associated with seropositivity and COVID-19 when adjusted for PFAS (all OR > 4 or p < 0.05). Nine chemicals comprised mixtures associated with COVID-19: thallium, ruthenium, lead, benzo[b]fluoranthene, DDD, other DDT-related compounds, manganese, tantalum, and aluminium. And nine chemicals comprised the mixtures more consistently associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity: thallium, ruthenium, lead, benzo[b]fluoranthene, DDD, gold, and (protectively) selenium, indium, and iron.

CONCLUSIONS

The PFAS studied were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity or COVID-19. The results confirm the associations between personal blood concentrations of some POPs and chemical elements and the risk of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in what remains the only prospective and population-based cohort study on the topic. Mixtures of POPs and chemical elements may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 in the general population.

HPLC Analysis and Risk Assessment of 15 Priority PAHs in Human Blood Serum of COPD Patient from Urban and Rural Areas, Iasi (Romania)

One of the leading risk factors for environmental health problems is air pollution. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this risk factor is associated with one of every nine deaths worldwide. Epidemiological studies conducted in this field have shown a solid connection between respiratory pathology and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. COPD and asthma are respiratory diseases that were shown to have a strong association with exposure to PAHs. The purpose of the present study was to assess the serum levels of 15 PAHs in 102 COPD patients and to evaluate the results according to the residence environment of the investigated subjects. Analyses were carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph Nexera X2-Shimadzu Japan, which was equipped with an LC-30AD pump and an SIL-30AC autosampler. Spiked matrices, procedure blanks, spiked controls, and calibration standards in the acetonitrile were used as quality-assurance samples. Benzo(a)pyrene is the main representative of PAHs and was determined in higher concentrations in subjects with COPD versus the control group from the urban area (0.90/0.47 ng/mL) and rural area (0.73/0.44 ng/mL). The values obtained for the Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent factor indicate a higher carcinogenic potential for patients diagnosed with COPD in urban areas compared to those in rural areas. These results could be due to traffic and vehicle emissions. This research identifies the need for legislative action to decrease semi-volatile organic compounds, especially PAHs, mainly in urban cities, in order to improve environmental management and health conditions.

Association between polychlorinated biphenyls exposure and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: A nested case-control study

BACKGROUND

Previous epidemiological studies indicated that the association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was inconclusive.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between PCBs exposure and incident T2DM in a nested case-control study, and further explored the relationship between PCBs and 5-year fasting blood glucose (FBG) changes.

METHODS

Baseline concentrations of seven indicator-PCB (PCB-28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) were measured in 1006 pairs of incident T2DM cases and matched controls nested within the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort. Conditional logistic regression models and pre-adjusted residuals method were used to assess the associations between PCBs and incident T2DM. We further computed beta coefficients (βs) of 5-year FBG changes using multivariable generalized linear regression.

RESULTS

Non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) were significantly associated with higher T2DM incidence after adjustment for all covariates. Significant differences were observed for extreme quartiles comparisons (Q4 vs. Q1) of PCBs except PCB-138, and the incidence of T2DM were 1- to 3-fold higher among those in the highest versus lowest PCBs quartiles. Serum NDL-PCBs were positively associated with changes in FBG (P for overall association ≤0.01). Additionally, triglycerides mediated the associations between PCBs and T2DM incidence.

CONCLUSION

Our findings showed positive associations of NDL-PCBs with incident T2DM and 5-year FBG changes. PCBs increased incident T2DM via lipid metabolic pathways.

Individual blood concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and chemical elements, and COVID-19: A prospective cohort study in Barcelona

BACKGROUND

There is wide, largely unexplained heterogeneity in immunological and clinical responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Numerous environmental chemicals, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and chemical elements (including some metals, essential trace elements, rare earth elements, and minority elements), are immunomodulatory and cause a range of adverse clinical events. There are no prospective studies on the effects of such substances on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of blood concentrations of POPs and elements measured several years before the pandemic on the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 in individuals from the general population.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study in 154 individuals from the general population of Barcelona. POPs and elements were measured in blood samples collected in 2016-2017. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected by rRT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs and/or by antibody serology using eighteen isotype-antigen combinations measured in blood samples collected in 2020-2021. We analyzed the associations between concentrations of the contaminants and SARS-CoV-2 infection and development of COVID-19, taking into account personal habits and living conditions during the pandemic.

RESULTS

Several historically prevalent POPs, as well as arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and zinc, were not associated with COVID-19, nor with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, DDE (adjusted OR = 5.0 [95% CI: 1.2-21]), lead (3.9 [1.0-15]), thallium (3.4 [1.0-11]), and ruthenium (5.0 [1.8-14]) were associated with COVID-19, as were tantalum, benzo(b)fluoranthene, DDD, and manganese. Thallium (3.8 [1.6-8.9]), and ruthenium (2.9 [1.3-6.7]) were associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and so were lead, gold, and (protectively) iron and selenium. We identified mixtures of up to five substances from several chemical groups, with all substances independently associated to the outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results provide the first prospective and population-based evidence of an association between individual concentrations of some contaminants and COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection. POPs and elements may contribute to explain the heterogeneity in the development of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 in the general population. If the associations are confirmed as causal, means are available to mitigate the corresponding risks.

Dietary exposure to thyroid disrupting chemicals: a community-based study in Canada

The marine ecosystem around the Island of Newfoundland is contaminated by thyroid disrupting chemicals (TDCs). Coastal inhabitants may be exposed to TDCs through consumption of contaminated local seafood products and affecting thyroid functions. The aim of this study was to explore: (1) consumption frequency of local seafood products consumed by rural residents, (2) thyroid hormones (THs) and TDCs concentrations in residents, (3) relationships between local seafood consumption, TDC concentrations, and THs. Participants (n = 80) were recruited from two rural Newfoundland communities. Seafood consumption was measured through a validated seafood consumption questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from all participants and tested for THs (thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, free triiodothyronine) and TDCs, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE). Cod was the most frequently consumed local species, but there was a wide range of other local species consumed. Older participants (>50 years) had greater plasma concentrations of PBB-153, PCBs and p,p'-DDE, and males had higher concentrations of all TDCs than females. The consumption frequency of local cod was found to be positively associated with several PCB congeners, p,p'-DDE and ∑14TDCs. There was no significant relationship between TDCs and THs in either simple or multivariate linear regression analyses.

Differences in mirex [dechlorane] and dechlorane plus [syn- and anti-] concentrations observed in Canadian human milk

As part of the pan-Canadian Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study, human milk samples were collected between 2008 and 2011, and analyzed for mirex, an organochlorine insecticide and flame retardant, in addition to dechlorane plus (syn- and anti-DDC-CO), the flame retardant replacement for mirex. Mirex was analyzed separately, using a method for the analysis of existing organochlorine insecticides, while the presence of DDC-CO isomers was determined using a method developed for the detection of emerging flame retardants. Mirex was detected in all samples analyzed (n = 298), while syn- and anti-DDC-CO were present in 61.0% and 79.5% of the samples, respectively (n = 541). Mirex concentrations have declined in human milk since the 1990s. Since this is the first pan-Canadian dataset reporting DDC-CO concentrations in human milk, no temporal comparisons can be made. Maternal age was correlated with concentrations of both compounds although parity did not impact concentrations of either analyte. Given the presence of this relatively recently identified flame retardant (DDC-CO) in human milk from women across Canada, studies to identify dominant sources of this compound are critical. Despite low concentrations of environmental chemicals in human milk from Canadian women, Health Canada supports breastfeeding of infants because of the important health benefits to both the mothers and their infants.

Organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in serum of Beijing population: Exposure and health risk assessment

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread environmental contaminants, but large-scale human biomonitoring and health risk assessment data on these contaminants remain limited. In this study, concentrations of 6 OCPs and 5 PAHs were determined by GC-MS/MS in 1268 human serum samples which were collected from the participants in 2017 Beijing Chronic Disease and Risk Factor Surveillance. The detection frequencies of OCPs and PAHs ranged from 64.7 % to 96.5 % and 89.4 % to 99.6 %, respectively. The most abundant contaminants in OCPs and PAHs were pentachlorophenol (PCP) and pyrene (Pyr) with median concentrations reaching up to 3.13 and 8.48 μg/L, respectively. Nonparametric tests were employed to assess the correlations among contaminants levels, demographic characteristics (age, gender, body mass index, residence) and serum biochemical indexes. Significantly higher serum levels of all PAHs were observed in suburb residents than that in urban residents (P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that exposure to benzo(a)pyrene (OR 2.17 [1.29, 3.63]), phenanthrene (OR 1.06 [1.02, 1.11]), fluoranthene (OR 1.04 [1.02, 1.07]) and Pyr (OR 1.02 [1.01, 1.03]) might increase the occurrence of hyperglycemia, and exposure to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (OR 1.53 [1.05, 2.22]) and pentachlorobenzene (OR 1.14 [1.02, 1.27]) were positively associated with hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the hazard quotients (HQs) for serum HCB, PCP and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene were calculated based on health-based guidance values to predict health risks. 0.2 % and 4.3 % of serum samples showed HQ values exceeding 1 for HCB and PCP, respectively, in case of the non-carcinogenic risk, while 23.1 % of HQs for HCB were above 1 in case of the carcinogenic risk for a risk level 10^-5. Our study reveals that the body burden of the Beijing general population relative to OCPs and PAHs was nonnegligible. The past exposure of HCB and PCP might adversely affect the health status of the Beijing population.

Mixture of environmental pollutants in breast milk from a Spanish cohort of nursing mothers

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, with several benefits for both the infants and their mothers. However, breast milk can contain environmental pollutants with endocrine disruption capacity, neurotoxicity and/or potential to alter microbiota. Monitoring breast milk provides information on the current chemical exposure of breastfed infants and, in addition, on the current and historical exposure of nursing mothers. In this study, the levels of a wide range of pollutants were measured in breast milk of Spanish nursing mothers. Target chemicals were dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxy-chlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)), chlorpyrifos, bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and a number of toxic and essential elements. Traces of most chemicals were found. A correlation between the levels of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and maternal characteristics (age and body mass index) was observed, while smoking was associated to higher concentrations of some toxic elements. Higher levels of PCBs were detected in samples from Spanish primiparous mothers compared to non-Spanish multiparous women. Breast milk from low-income mothers showed higher content of DDT and DDE than high-income mothers. Although breastfeeding is clearly beneficial for babies, the exposure to this mixture of hazardous substances, as well as their interaction and combined effects must not be disregarded.

Human biomonitoring of persistent and non-persistent pollutants in a representative sample of the general population from Cape Verde: Results from the PERVEMAC-II study

International Public Health authorities recommend biomonitoring studies to assess the exposure to chemicals in the general population. The aim of the present study was to analyze the blood concentrations of a total 360 pollutants, including 230 pesticides in current or recent use, 59 persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs), 11 anticoagulant rodenticides and 60 pharmaceutical active compounds (PhACs), in a cohort of 403 subjects from Cape Verde. The study was performed in the frame of the Pesticide Residues in Vegetables of the Macaronesia project (PERVEMAC-II). A total of 60 out of 360 toxic compounds (16.7%) were detected, at least, in one participant. The three most frequently detected substances were p,p'-DDE (100%), phenanthrene (94.0%) and hexachlobenzene (35.9%). 2-Phenylphenol and imidacloprid were detected in 29.0 and 14.4% of the population. The three substances with the highest serum concentrations were PhACs: naproxen (249.1 ng/mL), metronidazole (115.6 ng/mL) and acetaminophen (25.2 ng/mL). Median blood concentration of p,p'-DDE, HCB and phenanthrene were 1.87, 0.08 and 0.36 ng/mL. Blood concentrations of POPs were influenced by age, although both gender and body mass index may exert an influence in the presence of these substances. Lifestyle has an effect on the concentration of these substances, especially in terms of dietary habits. Both the frequency of detection and the concentration of the studied substances are similar to those of other biomonitored populations. This is the first biomonitoring study carried out in Cape Verde. Our results may be useful for the implementation of public health measures by the competent authorities.

Differential Bioaccumulation Patterns of α, β-Hexachlorobenzene and Dicofol in Adipose Tissue from the GraMo Cohort (Southern Spain)

To identify bioaccumulation patterns of α-, β- hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dicofol in relation to sociodemographic, dietary, and lifestyle factors, adipose tissue samples of 387 subjects from GraMo cohort in Southern Spain were analyzed. Potential predictors of these organochlorine pesticides (OCP) levels were collected by face-to-face interviews and assessed by multivariable linear and logistic regression. OCPs were detected in 84.2% (β-HCH), 21.7% (α-HCH), and 19.6% (dicofol) of the population. β-HCH levels were positively related to age, body mass index (BMI), mother's occupation in agriculture during pregnancy, living in Poniente and Alpujarras, white fish, milk and water consumption, and negatively related to being male, living near to an agricultural area, working ≥10 years in agriculture, and beer consumption. Detectable α-HCH levels were positively related to age, BMI, milk consumption, mother's occupation in agriculture during pregnancy, and negatively with residence in Poniente and Alpujarras, Granada city, and Granada Metropolitan Area. Residence near to an agricultural area, smoking habit, white fish and water consumption, and living in Poniente and Alpujarras, Granada city and Granada Metropolitan Area were negatively associated with detectable dicofol levels. Our study revealed different bioaccumulation patterns of α, β-HCH and dicofol, probably due to their dissimilar period of use, and emphasize the need for assessing the exposure to frequently overlooked pollutants.

Human Biomonitoring of Environmental and Occupational Exposures by GC-MS and Gas Sensor Systems: A Systematic Review

Environmental chemicals and contaminants coming from multiple external sources enter the human body, determining a potential risk for human health. Human biomonitoring (HBM), measuring the concentrations of biomarkers in human specimens, has become an emerging approach for assessing population-wide exposure to hazardous chemicals and health risk through large-scale studies in many countries. However, systematic mapping of HBM studies, including their characteristics, targeted hazardous pollutants, analytical techniques, and sample population (general population and occupationally exposed workers), has not been done so far. We conducted a systematic review of the literature related to airborne hazardous pollutants in biofluids to answer the following questions: Which main chemicals have been included in the literature, which bodily fluids have been used, and what are the main findings? Following PRISMA protocol, we summarized the publications published up to 4 February 2021 of studies based on two methods: gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and electronic noses (e-noses). We screened 2606 records and 117 publications were included in the analysis, the most based on GC/MS analysis. The selected HBM studies include measurements of biomarkers in different bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, breast milk, and human semen as well as exhaled air. The papers cover numerous airborne hazardous pollutants that we grouped in chemical classes; a lot of hazardous and noxious compounds, mainly persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have been detected in biological fluids at alarming levels. The scenario that emerged from this survey demonstrates the importance of HBM in human exposure to hazardous pollutants and the need to use it as valid tool in health surveillance. This systematic review represents a starting point for researchers who focus on the world of pollutant biomonitoring in the human body and gives them important insights into how to improve the methods based on GC/MS. Moreover, it makes a first overview of the use of gas sensor array and e-noses in HBM studies.

Diet, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during pregnancy, and fetal growth: A comparative study of mothers and their fetuses in industrial and urban areas in Southwest Iran

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the fetal environment is a high-priority concern due to the fetus being more sensitive than adults to these ubiquitous xenobiotics. The aim of the present study was to compare the maternal and fetal serum levels of ΣPAHs and their effects on fetal growth in an industrial and an urban area in Southwest Iran. The industrial area was the petrochemical and gas area (PGA) of the Central District of Asaluyeh County and the urban area (UA) was the Central District of Bushehr County, Ninety-nine maternal serum (MS) and 99 cord serum (CS) samples from the PGA and 100 MS and 100 CS samples from the UA were collected during May 2018 to February 2019. The mean concentrations of ΣPAHs were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the PGA than the UA in both MS (157.71 vs. 93.56 μg/L) and CS (155.28 vs. 93.19 μg/L) samples. Naphthalene (NAP) was the predominant PAH detected in all the studied samples. Significant negative associations were found between birth weight and anthracene (ANT) level in MS (β = -22.917, p = 0.032; weight decrement = 22.917 g for a 1 μg/L increase in ANT); head circumference and chrysene (CHR) level in MS (β = -0.206, p = 0.023; head circumference decrement = 0.206 cm for a 1 μg/L increase in CHR); and birth height and NAP level in CS (β = -0.20, p = 0.005; height decrement = 0.20 cm for a 1 μg/L increase in NAP). Maternal diet had a significant effect on the serum levels of PAHs. The results of this study showed that transmission of PAHs from mother to fetus through the cord blood is an important issue and mothers who live in industrial areas and consume PAH-containing foodstuffs, and their fetuses, are more at risk than those living in a non-industrial urban area.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds may be associated with oxidative DNA damage-mediated childhood asthma

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important and ubiquitous air pollutants, which may lead to a significant increase in the prevalence of respiratory diseases. To investigate the relationships between VOCs exposure and childhood asthma, 252 asthmatic children and 69 healthy children were recruited. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage), trans-3'-hydroxycotinine (OH-Cot, a biomarker of passive smoking) and 27 VOC metabolites were simultaneously determined by an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer. Results showed that levels of 8-OHdG and most VOC metabolites in asthmatic children were significantly higher than those in healthy children. More than half of the VOC metabolites were significantly and positively associated with OH-Cot with maximal β coefficient of 0.169, suggesting that second-hand smoking is one important source of VOCs exposure for children in Guangzhou. Significant dose-response relationships between most VOC metabolites and 8-OHdG were observed. Each unit increase in ln-transformed VOC metabolite levels was significantly associated with 5.5-32% increase in ln-transformed 8-OHdG level. Moreover, each unit increase in ln-transformed 8-OHdG level was associated with an 896% increased odd ratios (OR) of asthma in children (OR = 9.96, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.75, 20.9), indicating that oxidative stress induced by VOCs exposure may have a significant impact on childhood asthma. Urinary 3-&4-Methylhippuric acid (3-&4-MHA, OR: 5.78, 95% CI: 3.50, 9.54), rac 2-Aminothiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATCA, OR: 2.90, 95% CI: 1.69, 4.99) and N-Acetyl-S-(3,4-dihydroxybutyl)-L-cysteine (DHBMA, OR: 2.76, 95% CI: 1.73, 4.43) which may derive from m/p-xylene, cyanide and 1,3-butadiene exposure, respectively, could significantly and maximally increase the odds of asthma. Interestingly, they also had the strongest associations with 8-OHdG among all investigated VOC metabolites. Moreover, DHBMA strongly correlated with most VOC metabolites. Hence, DHBMA is a suitable biomarker to indicate not only VOCs exposure profile, but also the DNA damage-mediated asthma induced by VOCs.

Serum concentration of toxic metals and rare earth elements in children and adolescent

Biomonitoring studies are important for quantifying the body burden of pollutants and their possible effects on health. Serum concentration of 42 elements was assessed by ICP-MS in 89 children (7.2 ± 3.4 years old) from Bucharest (Romania). Levels of pollutants were compared with the clinical data obtained from routine blood tests. Clinical parameters were in the physiological range. Deficiencies of manganese, selenium, and zinc were discovered. Blood levels of elements were low. The highest levels were observed among children younger than six years. The sum of iron, selenium, barium, nickel, antimony, and cerium was positively associated with hemoglobin (Spearman rho = 0.217, P-value = 0.041), while the sum of copper, thallium, niobium, and tantalum was negatively associated (Spearman rho = -0.228, P-value = 0.032). Given the inherent sensitivity of the child population, additional studies are needed to assess the effects of these elements on their health.

Human biomonitoring of persistent organic pollutants in elderly people from the Canary Islands (Spain): A temporal trend analysis from the PREDIMED and PREDIMED-Plus cohorts

The population of the Canary Islands has been exposed to high levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Biomonitoring studies are essential to know the temporal trend in residue levels, particularly of substances banned decades ago. The purpose of this study was to analyze the distribution of plasma concentrations of 59 POPs in 175 participants from the PREDIMED-Plus trial (2014-2016), and to compare them with the distribution of these POPs in 343 participants in the PREDIMED trial (2006-2009). All participants had metabolic syndrome. No difference in the distribution of age, gender or BMI was observed between trials. POPs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Density plots -POP Geoffrey Rose curves- were used to represent the full population distribution of each compound. Three out of 59 POPs were detected and quantified in ≥95% of the samples (p,p'-DDE, median = 694.7 ng/g lipid; HCB, median = 57.0 ng/g lipid; and β-HCH, median = 75.7 ng/g lipid). PCB congeners 138, 153 and 180 were detected in 64.6, 40.0 and 88.0% of the samples. Females showed highest concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and those subjects who lost ˃ 5 kg showed significant higher plasma concentrations of POPs. In a range of 6-14 years, plasma concentrations of POPs decreased 3.3-21.6 fold, being notable the decrease of 28.7-fold observed for HCB among women. Despite this sharp decline, levels of POPs are still higher than those reported in other regions, since one third of the subjects included in the present report had high concentration of more than three pollutants. Continuous biomonitoring studies are required to know the evolution of the levels of residues and to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental policies.

Inevitable human exposure to emissions of polybrominated diphenyl ethers: A perspective on potential health risks

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) serve as flame retardants in many household materials such as electrical and electronic devices, furniture, textiles, plastics, and baby products. Though the use of PBDEs like penta-, octa- and deca-BDE greatly reduces the fire damage, indoor pollution by these toxic emissions is ever-growing. In fact, a boom in the global market projections of PBDEs threatens human health security. Therefore, efforts are made to minimize PBDEs pollution in USA and Europe by encouraging voluntary phasing out of the production or imposing compelled regulations through Stockholm Convention, but >500 kilotons of PBDEs still exist globally. Both 'environmental persistence' and 'bioaccumulation tendencies' are the hallmarks of PBDE toxicities; however, both these issues concerning household emissions of PBDEs have been least addressed theoretically or practically. Critical physiological functions, lipophilicity and toxicity, trophic transfer and tissue specificities are of utmost importance in the benefit/risk assessments of PBDEs. Since indoor debromination of deca-BDE often yields many products, a better understanding on their sorption propensity, environmental fate and human toxicities is critical in taking rigorous measures on the ever-growing global deca-BDE market. The data available in the literature on human toxicities of PBDEs have been validated following meta-analysis. In this direction, the intent of the present review was to provide a critical evaluation of the key aspects like compositional patterns/isomer ratios of PBDEs implicated in bioaccumulation, indoor PBDE emissions versus human exposure, secured technologies to deal with the toxic emissions, and human toxicity of PBDEs in relation to the number of bromine atoms. Finally, an emphasis has been made on the knowledge gaps and future research directions related to endurable flame retardants which could fit well into the benefit/risk strategy.

Molecular mechanisms linking environmental toxicants to cancer development: Significance for protective interventions with polyphenols

Human exposure to environmental toxicants with diverse mechanisms of action is a growing concern. In addition to well-recognized carcinogens, various chemicals in environmental and occupational settings have been suggested to impact health, increasing susceptibility to cancer by inducing genetic and epigenetic changes. Accordingly, in this review, we have discussed recent insights into the pathological mechanisms of these chemicals, namely their effects on cell redox and calcium homeostasis, mitochondria and inflammatory signaling, with a focus on the possible implications for multi-stage carcinogenesis and its reversal by polyphenols. Plant-derived polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin-gallate, resveratrol, curcumin and anthocyanins reduce the incidence of cancer and can be useful nutraceuticals for alleviating the detrimental outcomes of harmful pollutants. However, development of therapies based on polyphenol administration requires further studies to validate the biological efficacy, identifying effective doses, mode of action and new delivery forms. Innovative microphysiological testing models are presented and specific proposals for future trials are given. Merging the current knowledge of multifactorial actions of specific polyphenols and chief environmental toxicants, this work aims to potentiate the delivery of phytochemical-based protective treatments to individuals at high-risk due to environmental exposure.

Database of persistent organic pollutants in umbilical cord blood: Concentration of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, BDEs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been banned over the last decades for being damaged to the environment and to the health of humans and animals. However, due to their lipophilic nature and resistance to degradation, they are frequently detected in biological samples. Its presence has been associated with the increased risk of suffering from different diseases in human series, being newborns and children especially sensitive. The present data reports umbilical cord blood levels of twenty organochlorine pesticides (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, endosulfan alfa, endosulfan beta, endosulfan sulphate, heptachlor, HCB, αHCH, βHCH, δHCH, lindane, methoxychlor and mirex), eighteen polychlorinated biphenyls (congeners 28, 52, 77, 81, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 138, 153, 156, 157, 167, 169, 180 and 189), eight bromodiphenyl ethers (congeners 28, 47, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183), and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (acenaphthalene, acenaphthene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorine, indene(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene). A total of 447 samples, representing 86.6% of the total births during the recruited period (March 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016), were available for POP analyses. POPs were determined in a Gas Chromatography (GC) system equipped with an automated sampler (Models 7890B and 7693; Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) for gas chromatographic separations. The detection of the analytes was performed using a Triple Quad 7010 mass spectrometer (Agilent Technologies). All of the measurements were performed as triplicate measurements, and the means were used for the calculations. Data are reported in ng/mL. The present data also includes birth parameters, including weight, length, cranial perimeter, Apgar score and congenital malformations, and data referred to mothers (harmful habits, chronic diseases, and anthropometric/demographic characteristics).

Distribution characteristics of Cd in different types of leaves of Festuca arundinacea intercropped with Cicer arietinum L.: A new strategy to remove pollutants by harvesting senescent and dead leaves

Although cost-effective, phytoremediation is too expensive when considering the large-scale pollution. Relative to harvesting the whole plant, it is more practicable to remove and dispose of senescent and dead leaves after phytoremediation. The phytoremediation efficiency of Festuca arundinacea for Cd was evaluated in this study, because over about 7% of the land area in China was contaminated with Cd. The accumulation, redistribution, and extraction of Cd were evaluated in different leaves of F. arundinacea intercropped with N-fixing species at different densities (Cicer arietinum L). The results showed that coordinate and malposed intercropping systems increased the dry weight of the senescent and dead leaves of F. arundinacea by 30-41% and 103-168% compared to the monoculture system, respectively. More Cd was redistributed to the senescent and dead leaves of F. arundinacea under both intercropping systems. Occupying only 22-30% of the total leaf biomass, senescent and dead leaves accumulated 74-88% of leaf Cd under different cultivation conditions. Relative to the monoculture system, intercropping decreased the amount of time needed to reduce soil Cd by 44-53%. The biomass production and Cd accumulation of F. arundinacea were higher in the malposed intercropping system, and it had higher remediation efficiency than the coordinate intercropping system. This study demonstrated that intercropping, especially malposed intercropping of F. arundinacea and C. arietinum L., is a practicable technology for leaf harvesting phytoremediation.

Determinants of persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations in human breast milk of a cross-sectional sample of primiparous mothers in Belgium

BACKGROUND

Bio-accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment and in the food chain can lead to high pollutant concentrations in human fat-containing tissues and breast milk.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify the maternal characteristics that determined POP concentrations in breast milk of primiparous mothers in Belgium.

METHODS

Breast milk samples were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of 206 primiparous mothers in 2014. POP concentrations in breast milk samples were determined by GC-ECNI-MS and GC-EI-MS/MS depending on the analytes' sensitivity. Associations between POP concentrations in breast milk and potential determinants were investigated using two-way contingency tables and multivariable generalized linear models.

RESULTS

Fifteen of the 23 screened POPs were detected in the breast milk samples. Four organochlorine compounds (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, HCB and β-HCH) and two brominated flame retardant congeners (BDE-47, BDE-153) were detected at concentrations above the limit of quantification in >50% of the breast milk samples. Maternal age and BMI were usually associated with higher POP concentrations. Rural residency and consumption of home-produced eggs, fatty fish and fish oil supplements were associated with higher concentrations of DDT and DDE. Consumption of fatty fish and being breastfed during childhood were associated with higher concentrations of HCB and β-HCH. Fish oil supplements and home-produced eggs were associated with higher concentrations of BDEs, but for BDE congeners exposure routes other than diet require further investigation.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary and non-dietary determinants predict individual POP concentrations in breast milk.