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Shi LL, Hang JG, Lou J, Dong JJ, Feng H, Wang Z, Shen B, Nakayama SF, Kido T, Ma C, Sun XL, Jung CR. Multiple exposures to heavy metals and changes in steroid hormones production in 4-year-old children. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:865-873. [PMID: 36973528 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00539-9] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to multiple heavy metals can interfere with early neurodevelopment, lead to changes in sex hormone concentrations in children, and affect female reproductive health. To date, the influence of prenatal exposure to heavy metals on the endocrine system of children in Chinese electronic waste (e-waste) recycling areas has not been elucidated. METHODS Four weeks after delivery, 10 mL of human milk was collected for analysis of three heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)) via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Four serum steroid hormones, including progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione (A-dione), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), were analyzed in 4-year-old children (25 boys and 17 girls). A multiple linear regression (MLR) model was implemented to investigate the association between each individual metal and serum steroid hormone. The exposure-response relationships were explored by generalized additive models (GAMs). Additionally, a Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was used to assess the effects of multiple heavy metal exposures on each steroid hormone. RESULTS The MLR results show a significant positive association between a natural log unit increase in Hg and DHEA levels after adjusting for confounders (β = 65.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.37, 126.62). According to the GAM, the univariate exposure-response relationship of Hg on DHEA was almost linear. However, this association was attenuated based on the multiple metal MLR and BKMR results after accounting for multiple heavy metal exposures. SIGNIFICANCE Prenatal Hg exposure may affect sex hormones in children by affecting DHEA levels. IMPACT STATEMENT Prenatal maternal exposure to Hg may have long-term effects on the next generation. Hence, regulatory measures to reduce Hg exposure and long-term monitoring of children's health in e-waste areas are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li Shi
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Jin Guo Hang
- Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, China
| | - Jianlin Lou
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China
| | | | - Hao Feng
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Bin Shen
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Kido
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Chaochen Ma
- Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
| | - Xian Liang Sun
- School of Medicine, and Huzhou Key Laboratory for Precise Prevention and Control of Major Chronic Diseases, Huzhou University, Huzhou, China.
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, China.
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
| | - Chau-Ren Jung
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Giaganini G, Cifelli M, Biagini D, Ghimenti S, Corti A, Castelvetro V, Domenici V, Lomonaco T. Multi-Analytical Approach to Characterize the Degradation of Different Types of Microplastics: Identification and Quantification of Released Organic Compounds. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031382. [PMID: 36771048 PMCID: PMC9919824 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031382] [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: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics represent one of the major environmental issues nowadays due to their ubiquitous presence on Earth, and their high potential danger for living systems, ecosystems, and human life. The formation of both microplastics and nanoplastics strongly depends on both the type of pristine materials and the degradation processes related to biological and/or abiotic conditions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of two of the most relevant abiotic parameters, namely temperature and light, taken under direct control by using a Solar box, on five types of reference polymers: high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A multi-analytical approach was adopted to investigate in detail the first steps of plastics degradation. Samples of plastic materials at different degradation times were analyzed by means of 1H NMR spectroscopy and thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS) technique. Several minor molecular species released during degradation were consistently identified by both techniques thus providing a comprehensive view of the various degradation products of these five types of microplastics.
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Charitopoulou MA, Kalogiannis KG, Lappas AA, Achilias DS. Novel trends in the thermo-chemical recycling of plastics from WEEE containing brominated flame retardants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:59190-59213. [PMID: 32638300 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09932-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The amount of plastics from waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) has enormously increased nowadays, due to the rapid expansion and consumption of electronic devices and their short lifespan. This, in combination with their non-biodegradability, led to the need to explore environmentally friendly solutions for their safe disposal. One main obstacle when recycling plastics from WEEE is that they usually comprise harmful additives such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) that need to be removed before or during their recycling. This paper reviews existing techniques for the recycling of plastics from WEEE and focuses specifically on the advantages, disadvantages, and challenges of pyrolysis as an environmentally friendly method for the production of value-added materials (monomers, hydrocarbons, phenols, etc.). Current technological trends available for the recycling of plastics containing brominated flame retardants are reviewed in an attempt to provide insights for future research on the sustainable management of plastics from WEEE. Emphasis is given on conventional pyrolysis, where a pretreatment step for the debromination of products is applied. This is required since brominated compounds treated at high temperatures may result in the production of harmful to health compounds such as dioxins. All current pretreatment methods (solvent extraction, supercritical fluid technology, etc.) are presented and compared in detail. Co-pyrolysis is also investigated, as it seems to be a very interesting approach, since no catalysts or solvents are used, and at the same time, more plastic wastes can be consumed as feedstock. Furthermore, catalytic pyrolysis along with key parameters, such as the type of the catalyst or pyrolysis temperature, are fully analyzed. Catalysts affect the products' distribution and enhance the removal of bromine from pyrolysis oils. Finally, an emerging technique, that of microwave-assisted pyrolysis, is also highlighted, as it offers many advantages over conventional pyrolysis. Of course, there are some impediments, such as the operational costs or other difficulties as regards the industrial implementation of the mentioned techniques that need to be overcome through future works.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Anna Charitopoulou
- Laboratory of Polymers and Dyes Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Konstantinos G Kalogiannis
- Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Angelos A Lappas
- Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Dimitriοs S Achilias
- Laboratory of Polymers and Dyes Chemistry and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24, Thessaloniki, Greece.
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