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Tsai HJ, Wu CF, Hsiung CA, Lee CH, Wang SL, Chen ML, Chen CC, Huang PC, Wang YH, Chen YA, Chen BH, Chuang YS, Hsieh HM, Wu MT. Longitudinal changes in oxidative stress and early renal injury in children exposed to DEHP and melamine in the 2011 Taiwan food scandal. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:107018. [PMID: 34991270 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In 2011, phthalates, mainly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were found to have been added to a variety of foods in Taiwan, increasing the risk of microalbuminuria in children. Exposure to melamine perhaps modifies that risk. This prospective cohort study investigates whether renal injury resulting from exposure to DEHP-tainted foods from the 2011 Taiwan Food Scandal is reversed over time. The temporal and interactive effects of past daily DEHP intake, current daily DEHP intake, and urinary melamine levels on oxidative stress and renal injury were also examined. Two hundred possibly DEHP-affected children (aged < 18 years) were enrolled in the first survey wave (August 2012-January 2013), with 170 and 159 children in the second (July 2014-February 2015) and third waves (May 2016-October 2016), respectively. The first wave comprised questionnaires that were used to collect information about possible past daily DEHP intake from DEHP-tainted foods. One-spot first morning urine samples were collected to measure melamine levels, phthalate metabolites, and markers indicating oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine), and renal injury (albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase) in all three waves. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) modeling revealed that both past daily DEHP intake and time might affect urinary ACR. However, most interactions were negative and significant correlation was observed only during the second wave (P for interaction = 0.014) in the group with the highest past daily DEHP intake (>50 μg/kg/day). Urinary melamine levels were found to correlate significantly with both urinary ACR and oxidative stress markers. The highest impact associated with exposure to DEHP-tainted foods in increasing urinary ACR of children was observed during the first wave, and the effect may partially diminish over time. These results suggest that continuous monitoring of renal health and other long-term health consequences is required in individuals who were affected by the scandal in 2011.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; International Master Program of Translational Medicine, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chao A Hsiung
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Chieng-Hung Lee
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chih Chen
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Han Wang
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Yuh-An Chen
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shiuan Chuang
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Min Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; PhD Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Rapid Screening Research Center for Toxicology and Biomedicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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Tsai HJ, Kuo FC, Wu CF, Sun CW, Hsieh CJ, Wang SL, Chen ML, Hsieh HM, Chuang YS, Wu MT. Association between two common environmental toxicants (phthalates and melamine) and urinary markers of renal injury in the third trimester of pregnant women: The Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS). CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 272:129925. [PMID: 35534976 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to either melamine or phthalate, two common toxicants, during pregnancy may cause adverse health effects, including kidney damage. OBJECTIVES We investigated the independent and interactive effect of exposure to melamine and phthalates, particularly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), on markers of early renal injury in women their third trimester of pregnancy in one nationwide birth cohort, the Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS). METHODS Between October, 2012 and May, 2015, participants were administered questionnaires, physical examinations, and blood and urine tests during their third trimester. One-spot overnight urine specimens were used to simultaneously measure melamine, 11 phthalate metabolites, and two markers of renal injury, microalbumin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidas (NAG). Estimated daily DEHP intake was calculated based on measurement of three urinary DEHP metabolites. Microalbuminuria was defined as having a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) higher than 3.5 mg/mmol. RESULTS Total 1433 pregnant women were analyzed. The median value for urinary melamine was 0.63 μg/mmol Cr and estimated DEHP intake was 1.84 μg/kg/day. We found subjects in the highest quartile of estimated DEHP intake to have significantly higher urinary ACR (β = 0.095, p = 0.043) and the prevalence of microalbuminuria (adjusted OR = 1.752, 95% confidence interval = 1.118-2.746), compared to those in the lowest quartile. In addition, there was a significant interactive effect between urinary melamine and estimated DEHP intake on urinary ACR and NAG. CONCLUSION Our results suggest these two ubiquitous chemicals together may be associated with markers of early kidney injury in pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Chen Kuo
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Sun
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Min Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Shiuan Chuang
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; PhD Program of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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3
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Tsai HJ, Wu PY, Huang JC, Chen SC. Environmental Pollution and Chronic Kidney Disease. Int J Med Sci 2021; 18:1121-1129. [PMID: 33526971 PMCID: PMC7847614 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.51594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality due to end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular disease. Safe and effective medications to reverse or stabilize renal function in patients with CKD are lacking, and hence it is important to identify modifiable risk factors associated with worsening kidney function. Environmental pollutants, including metals, air pollutant, phthalate and melamine can potentially increase the risk of CKD or accelerate its progression. In this review, we discuss the epidemiological evidence for the association between environmental pollution and kidney disease, including heavy metals, air pollution and other environmental nephrotoxicants in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Tsai
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Chi Huang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Chia Chen
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Suen JL, Wu TT, Li YH, Lee CL, Kuo FC, Yan PS, Wu CF, Tran M, Wang CJ, Hung CH, Wu MT, Chan MWY, Huang SK. Environmental Factor-Mediated Transgenerational Inheritance of Igf2r Hypomethylation and Pulmonary Allergic Response via Targeting Dendritic Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:603831. [PMID: 33424850 PMCID: PMC7786300 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.603831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The developmental origin of allergic diseases has been suggested, but the molecular basis remains enigmatic. Exposure to environmental factors, such as di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP; a common plasticizer), is suggested to be associated with increased childhood allergic asthma, but the causal relationship and its underlying mechanism remain unknown. This study explored the transgenerational mechanism of DEHP on allergic asthma and dendritic cell (DC) homeostasis through epigenetic modification. In a murine model, ancestral exposure of C57BL/6 mice to low-dose DEHP led to trans-generational promoter hypomethylation of the insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor (Igf2r), concomitant with enhanced Igf2r expression and increased apoptosis prominently in CD8α+ DCs upon ligand stimulation, with consequent reduction in their IL-12 secretion and subsequent T cell-derived IFN-γ, thereby promoting a default Th2-associated pulmonary allergic response. Increased apoptosis was also noted in circulating IGF2Rhigh human DCs. Further, in human placenta, the methylation level at the orthologous IGF2R promoter region was shown to be inversely correlated with the level of maternal DEHP intake. These results support the importance of ancestral phthalate exposure in conferring the trans-generational risk of allergic phenotypes, featuring hypo-methylation of the IGF2R gene and dysregulated DC homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jau-Ling Suen
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Tai-Ting Wu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yue-Hyuan Li
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Lai Lee
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Chen Kuo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Pearlly S Yan
- Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mita Tran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Jen Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsing Hung
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Community Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Michael W Y Chan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Shau-Ku Huang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan.,State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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5
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Wen HJ, Guo YL, Su PH, Sun CW, Wang SLJ. Prenatal and childhood exposure to phthalic acid esters and vaccination antibodies in children: A 15-year follow-up birth cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 145:106134. [PMID: 33011549 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Phthalic acid esters (PAE) are widely used during chemical synthesis and do not form covalent linkages with products. It has been reported that exposure to PAE affects the immune response. However, their effect on antibody concentrations in children is still under investigation. We aimed to examine the association between early-life phthalate exposure and antibody concentrations in children in a longitudinal birth cohort established in 2000-2001. We recruited 398 neonates in central Taiwan and followed them up every 2-3 years, with various antibody-related studies at 11- and 14-year follow-ups. Seven urinary phthalate metabolites were quantified in mothers during pregnancy and children aged 11 years. Four antibody concentrations were analyzed in children aged 11 and 14 years. The percent change in antibody concentrations from ages 11 to 14 years was calculated and its association with phthalate exposure was evaluated via multivariate regression analysis. Eighty-one followed-up children were with sufficient data. After adjusting for prenatal exposure and other confounders, double concentrations of the urinary sum of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (ΣDEHPm) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) were associated with a 18.06% (95% CI = 3.34%, 32.78%) and 22.53% decrease (95% CI = 3.39%, 41.66%) in antibody concentration against hepatitis B, respectively. Phthalate exposure was found to be related to decreased antibody concentrations against hepatitis B (DEHP, DBnP) in the early teens. This exposure is suggested to be considered for clinical re-booster vaccines among junior high school students. Further verification with additional cohorts and studies on the underlying mechanisms of phthalate exposure are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Wen
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pen-Hua Su
- Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Sun
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Julie Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Defense Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Safety, Health, and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miaoli, Taiwan.
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Wu CF, Hsiung CA, Tsai HJ, Cheng CM, Chen BH, Hu CW, Huang YL, Wu MT. Decreased levels of urinary di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) metabolites and biomarkers of oxidative stress in children exposed to DEHP-tainted foods in Taiwan in 2011: A 44-month follow-up. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115204. [PMID: 32745991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A major health scandal involving DEHP-tainted (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) foodstuffs occurred in Taiwan in 2011. We investigated temporal relationships between urinary DEHP metabolites and biomarkers of oxidative stress in two cohorts of potentially affected children during that food scandal. One cohort was collected from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital in southern Taiwan between May and June of 2011 (the KMUH cohort). This cohort was followed up at 2, 6, and 44 months. The other cohort was collected from a nationwide health survey conducted by Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes (the NHRI cohort) for potentially affected people between August 2012 and January 2013. Both cohorts only included children 10 years old and younger who had provided enough urine for analysis of urinary DEHP oxidative metabolites and two markers of oxidative stress: 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The KMUH cohort had a simultaneous and significant decrease in urinary DEHP metabolites, 8-OHdG, and MDA, with the lowest concentrations found at the 6-month follow up and maintained until the 44-month follow up, consistent with those from NHRI cohort at ∼15-18 months post-scandal (p > 0.05). There were decreases in both DEHP metabolites and oxidative stress markers across the populations, but no association was observed between DEHP metabolites and oxidative stress markers in individuals in the two cohorts. Continued follow-up is needed to determine long-term health consequences in these children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Fang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Chao A Hsiung
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Ju Tsai
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Mei Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Chiung-Wen Hu
- Department of Public Health, Chung Shun Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Yeou-Lih Huang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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7
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Chang CH, Chen CF, Tsai YA, Wang SL, Huang PC, Chen BH, Wu MT, Chen CC, Hsiung CA, Chen ML. The sex-specific association of phthalate exposure with DNA methylation and characteristics of body fat in children. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 737:139833. [PMID: 32526583 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The present study assessed the association between phthalate exposure and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymerase γ (POLG) methylation along with the potential effect on the characteristics of body fat in children. A total of 152 children were enrolled. The urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites were measured using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Genomic DNA was extracted from the buffy coat, and bisulfite-treated DNA was subjected to a pyrosequencing assay. In total, 17 CpG sites in the exon 2 region of POLG were included in the analysis. A multivariable regression model was applied to determine whether characteristics of body fat were associated with phthalate exposure and methylation of POLG. After adjustment for covariates, male children with a ten-fold increase in mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) or mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) concentrations had significantly higher measurements for total body fat (MMP: β = 6.47%; MBzP: β = 3.54%), and trunk fat (MMP: β = 6.67%; MBzP: β = 3.90%). Male children who had hypermethylation at the 2nd CpG site in exon 2 of POLG also had high measurements for BMI (β = 1.66 kg/m2), waist (β = 4.49 cm) and hip (β = 4.81 cm) circumference, total body fat (β = 5.48%), and trunk fat (β = 6.21%). A dose-response relationship existed between methylation at the 2nd CpG site in exon 2 of POLG and characteristics of body fat (p for trend<0.01). This study suggested that male children who are exposed to phthalic acid esters have high body weight, BMI, and body and trunk fat percentages. Methylation of the exon 2 region of POLG is a possible mechanism behind the causal effect of endocrine-disrupting substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Huang Chang
- School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chian-Feng Chen
- VYM Genome Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-An Tsai
- Health Technology Center, College of Health Care and Management, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chih Chen
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chao Agnes Hsiung
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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8
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Yang YN, Yang YCSH, Lin IH, Chen YY, Lin HY, Wu CY, Su YT, Yang YJ, Yang SN, Suen JL. Phthalate exposure alters gut microbiota composition and IgM vaccine response in human newborns. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 132:110700. [PMID: 31356917 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Postnatal exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a common plasticizer, is associated with allergy development in childhood, suggesting that DEHP exposure may dysregulate immune response in infants. We investigated whether DEHP exposure in newborns through medical treatment affected the gut microbiota pattern and vaccine response, which are both related to immune development. In this prospective cohort study from May 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017, newborns with respiratory distress who were given intravenous infusions (IVs) were enrolled as the DEHP group, and newborns who did not receive IVs were enrolled as the control group. We excluded patients with perinatal maternal probiotics, vaginal delivery, antibiotic treatment, and exclusive human milk or formula feeding. Of 118 infants, urinary phthalate metabolite analysis revealed that the calculated DEHP concentrations of the newborns treated with IVs (n = 15) were higher than those in the control group (n = 10) (p = 0.0001). DEHP exposure altered bacterial communities both in composition and diversity, particularly decreases in Rothia sp. and Bifidobacterium longum in the DEHP group. Furthermore, DEHP exposure significantly enhanced anti-HBsAg-IgM responses in the DEHP group (p = 0.013). Early-life DEHP exposure alter gut microbiota of newborns and may change their immune responses in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Ning Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen S H Yang
- Joint Biobank, Office of Human Research, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Hsuan Lin
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Yu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yun Lin
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA; Taipei Cancer Center, Graduate Institute of Cancer Molecular Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Yi Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Tsun Su
- Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Jong Yang
- Departments of Pediatrics and Institutes of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - San-Nan Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jau-Ling Suen
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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9
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Wu CF, Chen HM, Sun CW, Chen ML, Hsieh CJ, Wang SL, Wu MT. Cohort Profile: The Taiwan Maternal and Infant Cohort Study (TMICS) of phthalate exposure and health risk assessment. Int J Epidemiol 2018; 47:1047-1047j. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Fang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ming Chen
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang-Gang Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Sun
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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10
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Wu CF, Hsiung CA, Tsai HJ, Tsai YC, Hsieh HM, Chen BH, Wu MT. Interaction of melamine and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on markers of early renal damage in children: The 2011 Taiwan food scandal. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 235:453-461. [PMID: 29310089 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Melamine and phthalate, mainly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), are ubiquitously present in the general environment. We investigated whether urine melamine levels can modify the relationship between DEHP exposure and markers of early renal damage in children. A nationwide health survey for Children aged ≤12 years possibly exposed to phthalates were enrolled between August 2012 and January 2013. They were administered questionnaires to collect details regarding past DEHP exposure to phthalate-tainted foodstuffs. Urine samples were measured melamine levels, phthalate metabolites and biomarkers of renal damage, including urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), and β2-microglobulin. The study included 224 children who had a median urine melamine level (μg/mmol creatinine) of 1.61 ranging 0.18-47.42. Positive correlations were found between urine melamine levels and urine ACR as well as urine NAG levels (both Spearman correlation coefficients r = 0.24, n = 224, p < .001). The higher the past DEHP exposure or urine melamine levels, the higher the prevalence of microalbuminuria. An interaction effect was also found between urine melamine levels and past DEHP exposure on urine ACR. Melamine levels may further modify the effect of past DEHP exposure on urine ACR in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Fang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chao A Hsiung
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ju Tsai
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Min Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Community Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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11
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Tsai YA, Tsai MS, Hou JW, Lin CL, Chen CY, Chang CH, Liao KW, Wang SL, Chen BH, Wu MT, Hsieh CJ, Chen ML. Evidence of high di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure due to tainted food intake in Taiwanese pregnant women and the health effects on birth outcomes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 618:635-644. [PMID: 29055577 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of a clouding agent with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a substitute emulsifier-containing compound used in a variety of foods was announced on May 23, 2011. The aims of this study were as follows (1) compare the urine phthalates (PAE) metabolites concentration and estimate the daily intake (DI) of PAEs in pregnant women before and after the tainted food scandal and (2) examine the effect of relatively high PAEs exposure on birth outcome. One-hundred twelve pregnant women in Northern Taiwan participated in this study from March to December 2010, i.e., before the tainted food scandal. After the tainted food scandal, we collected 69, 73, and 180 urine specimens (January 2013 to August 2014) from women whom were in their first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. We measure urinary DEHP metabolite concentrations to estimate the DI of DEHP and the hazard quotient (HQ) of subjects. This was the first study to assess the effects of DEHP-tainted food scandal exposure in pregnant women across the three trimesters of pregnancy. After the tainted food report, the concentrations of urine PAE metabolite were significantly decreased, especially those of DEHP metabolites. Based on different reference limit values, the percentages of pregnant women whose HQDEHP value exceeded the limit ranged from 0.53% to 8.93%. Despite this low frequency, the higher ΣPAE exposure during the second trimester may significantly increase the risk of relatively low birth height compared to the lower exposure group (β=-0.63 (-1.20 to -0.06)). Our results support the hypothesis that exposure to relatively high concentrations of DEHP in pregnant Taiwanese women may have an adverse effect on birth outcomes. The percentage of subjects whose exposure level exceeded the exposure limit was low; however, high PAEs exposure appears to be significantly associated with birth outcomes. Therefore, we suggest that reference dose for PAEs should be revised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-An Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Song Tsai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Woei Hou
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ling Lin
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yao Chen
- Division of Obstetrics and High Risk Pregnancy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Huang Chang
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Wei Liao
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Hsieh
- Department of Public Health, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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12
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Huang CF, Wang IJ. Changes in Urinary Phthalate Metabolite Levels Before and After the Phthalate Contamination Event and Identification of Exposure Sources in a Cohort of Taiwanese Children. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14080935. [PMID: 28825610 PMCID: PMC5580637 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14080935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Revised: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In 2011, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration inadvertently discovered that, for decades, manufacturers had replaced expensive natural emulsifiers in food products with diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). We wanted to compare urinary phthalate metabolite levels of children before and after the DEHP food contamination event and identify source(s) of phthalate exposure in addition to the illegal food additives. In the present study, morning urine samples were collected from a cohort of 453 children in 2010 in Taipei. After the DEHP food contamination event, there were 200 cohort children left at follow-up in 2013. The geometric means (GMs) of urinary mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5OH-MEHP) levels before and after the event were 9.39 and 13.34 µg/g of creatinine, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.093). After the DEHP food contamination event, we found that urinary phthalate metabolite levels were significantly higher in people who frequently consumed microwave-heated food and used fragrance-containing products (p < 0.05). In addition, children who did not frequently wash hands before eating had significantly higher urinary phthalate metabolite levels than those who did (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that urinary phthalate metabolite levels did not decrease after the DEHP food contamination event, thus, other sources must contribute to phthalate exposure in daily life. Public awareness of approaches to reducing phthalate exposure is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chian-Feng Huang
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, Taiwan.
- Taoyuan Psychiatric Center, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan 33058, Taiwan.
| | - I-Jen Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei 11267, Taiwan.
- Institute of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 100044, Taiwan.
- Department of Health Risk Management, China Medical University, Taichung 110001, Taiwan.
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13
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Chen CC, Wang YH, Wang SL, Huang PC, Chuang SC, Chen MH, Chen BH, Sun CW, Fu HC, Lee CC, Wu MT, Chen ML, Hsiung CA. Exposure sources and their relative contributions to urinary phthalate metabolites among children in Taiwan. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2017; 220:869-879. [PMID: 28457892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Phthalate exposure is omnipresent and known to have developmental and reproductive effects in children. The aim of this study was to determine the phthalate exposure sources and their relative contributions among children in Taiwan. During the first wave of the Risk Assessment of Phthalate Incident in Taiwan (RAPIT), in 2012, we measured 8 urinary phthalate metabolites in 226 children aged 1-11 years old and in 181 children from the same cohort for the wave 2 study in 2014. A two-stage statistical analysis approach was adopted. First, a stepwise regression model was used to screen 80 questions that explored the exposure frequency and lifestyle for potential associations. Second, the remaining questions with positive regression coefficients were grouped into the following 6 exposure categories: plastic container/packaging, food, indoor environment, personal care products, toys, and eating out. A mixed model was then applied to assess the relative contributions of these categories for each metabolite. The use of plastic container or food packaging were dominant exposure sources for mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl phthalate (MEHHP), mono-2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl phthalate (MEOHP), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP). The indoor environment was a major exposure source of mono-methyl phthalate (MMP), mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), and mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP). The consumption of seafood showed a significant correlation with MEHP. The children's modified dietary behavior and improved living environment in the second study wave were associated with lower phthalate metabolite levels, showing that phthalate exposures can be effectively reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chu-Chih Chen
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Yin-Han Wang
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Chun Chuang
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Huei Chen
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Sun
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Chun Fu
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chang Lee
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Trace Toxic Substance, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao A Hsiung
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
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14
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Wen HJ, Chen CC, Wu MT, Chen ML, Sun CW, Wu WC, Huang IW, Huang PC, Yu TY, Hsiung CA, Wang SL. Phthalate exposure and reproductive hormones and sex-hormone binding globulin before puberty - Phthalate contaminated-foodstuff episode in Taiwan. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175536. [PMID: 28410414 PMCID: PMC5391940 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In May 2011, a major incident involving phthalates-contaminated foodstuffs occurred in Taiwan. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was added to foodstuffs, mainly juice, jelly, tea, sports drink, and dietary supplements. Concerns arose that normal pubertal development, especially reproductive hormone regulation in children, could be disrupted by DEHP exposure. Objective To investigate the association between phthalate exposure and reproductive hormone levels among children following potential exposure to phthalate-tainted foodstuffs. Methods A total of 239 children aged <12 years old were recruited from 3 hospitals in north, central, and south Taiwan after the episode. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the frequency and quantity of exposures to 5 categories of phthalate-contaminated foodstuffs to assess phthalate exposure in children. Urine samples were collected for the measurement of phthalate metabolites. The estimated daily intake of DEHP exposure at the time of the contamination incident occurred was calculated using both questionnaire data and urinary DEHP metabolite concentrations. Multiple regression analyses were applied to assess associations between phthalate exposure and reproductive hormone levels in children. Results After excluding children with missing data regarding exposure levels and hormone concentrations and girls with menstruation, 222 children were included in the statistical analyses. After adjustment for age and birth weight, girls with above median levels of urinary mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, and sum of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate concentrations had higher odds of above median follicle-stimulating hormone concentrations. Girls with above median estimated average daily DEHP exposures following the contamination episode also had higher odds of sex hormone-binding globulin above median levels. Conclusions Phthalate exposure was associated with alterations of reproductive hormone levels in girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Wen
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chih Chen
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wen Sun
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chiu Wu
- Taipei Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - I-Wen Huang
- Department of gynecology and obstetrics, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yun Yu
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Chao A. Hsiung
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Division of Health Policy Translation, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (CAH); (SLW)
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (CAH); (SLW)
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15
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Cai QY, Xiao PY, Zhao HM, Lü H, Zeng QY, Li YW, Li H, Xiang L, Mo CH. Variation in accumulation and translocation of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) among rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes and selection of cultivars for low DBP exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:7298-7309. [PMID: 28102498 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8365-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a typical endocrine-disrupting chemical with higher detection frequency and concentration in agricultural soil (particularly in paddy-field soil of Guangdong Province) of China. In this study, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate variation in uptake and accumulation of DBP by 20 rice cultivars and to screen low DBP-accumulating cultivars. DBP concentrations in plants varied greatly with rice cultivars, growth stages, and tissues. The highest DBP concentrations in both roots and shoots were observed at the ripening stage, with concentrations 2-100-fold higher than those at tillering, jointing, and flowering stages. At the ripening stage, DBP concentrations decreased in the order of leaf > root > stem > grain, and significant differences of DBP concentrations were observed among various rice cultivars. Moreover, the magnitude of variation in DBP concentrations among various cultivars was greater in stems and grains than in roots and leaves. The translocation factors of DBP from roots to stems and from shoots to grains were <1.0, and those from stems to leaves were almost >1.0. Overall, cultivars Yuxiangyouzhan, Jinnongsimiao, Tianyou 122, and Wuyou 380 accumulated relatively lower DBP in grains, resulting in lower DBP exposure. The DBP uptake and translocation pathways in rice require further investigation. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan-Ying Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Pei-Yun Xiao
- Management School, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Hai-Ming Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Huixiong Lü
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Waste Reuse in Agriculture of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Qiao-Yun Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Waste Reuse in Agriculture of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yan-Wen Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Hui Li
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Ce-Hui Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Environment Pollution Control and Remediation Materials, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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16
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Tsai YA, Lin CL, Hou JW, Huang PC, Lee MC, Chen BH, Wu MT, Chen CC, Wang SL, Lee CC, Hsiung CA, Chen ML. Effects of high di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure due to tainted food intake on pre-pubertal growth characteristics in a Taiwanese population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 149:197-205. [PMID: 27209343 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
On May 23, 2011, a major scandal involving the illegal use of phthalates as clouding agents in food products was reported. Specifically, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was purposefully added to foods as a substitute emulsifier. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of DEHP exposure on the growth characteristics of the child victims of this scandal. Eighty-eight victims, originating from northern, central, and southern Taiwan and ranging in age from 6.0 to 10.5 years, were invited to participate in this study during clinic visits. The participants underwent follow-up health examinations from August 2012 to February 2013. We collected information on each participant's history of exposure to tainted food products using a questionnaire, and we analyzed their urinary concentrations of DEHP metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. These data were then used to estimate their daily DEHP intake (DIAll) during the scandal. We also measured physical development parameters (height, weight, and bone age) and hormone levels (thyroid, sex and growth hormones) to evaluate their overall growth characteristics. The average (SD) duration of DEHP intake from tainted nutrition supplements was 1.39 (1.01) years. The median DIAll values were 19.93 and 20.69μg/kg bw/day for boys and girls, respectively. Among the enrolled children, the DIAll values of 46.9% of boys and 51.3% of girls exceeded the reference dose (RfD) of 20μg/kg bw/day established by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Our results demonstrate that DIAll is negatively associated with the height percentile, weight percentile, bone age/chronological age, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels but not with IGF binding protein 3 (IGF-BP3) level, IGF-1/IGF-BP3, sex hormones, or thyroid hormone levels. The DEHP DIAll value exceeded the RfD at high rates among children of both genders. Our results suggest that high levels of DEHP exposure due to the consumption of tainted food products are negatively associated with body weight, height, bone age, and IGF-1 levels in children. The likelihood of delayed puberty among the affected children is therefore a reasonable concern, and further follow-up is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-An Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ling Lin
- Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Woei Hou
- School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chih Lee
- Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chih Chen
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chang Lee
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Trace Toxic Substance, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chao Agnes Hsiung
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Tsai HJ, Wu CF, Tsai YC, Huang PC, Chen ML, Wang SL, Chen BH, Chen CC, Wu WC, Hsu PS, Hsiung CA, Wu MT. Intake of Phthalate-tainted Foods and Serum Thyroid Hormones in Taiwanese Children and Adolescents. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30589. [PMID: 27470018 PMCID: PMC4965773 DOI: 10.1038/srep30589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
On April-May, 2011, phthalates, mainly Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were deliberately added to a variety of foodstuff as a substitute emulsifier in Taiwan. This study investigated the relationship between DEHP-tainted foodstuffs exposure and thyroid function in possibly affected children and adolescents. Two hundred fifty participants <18 years possibly exposed to DEHP were enrolled in this study between August 2012 and January 2013. Questionnaires were used to collect details on their past exposure to DEHP-tainted food items. Blood and urine samples were collected for biochemical workups to measure current exposure derived from three urinary DEHP metabolites using a creatinine excretion-based model. More than half of 250 participants were estimated to be exposed to DEHP-tainted foods found to exceed the recommend tolerable daily intake of DEHP established by the European Food Safety Authority (<50 μg/kg/day). The median daily DEHP intake (DDI) among those 250 participants was 46.52 μg/kg/day after multiple imputation. This value was ~10-fold higher than the current median DEHP intake (4.46 μg/kg/day, n = 240). Neither past nor current DEHP exposure intensity was significantly associated with serum thyroid profiles. Future studies may want to follow the long-term health effects of this food scandal in affected children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Tsai
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Tsai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chu-Chih Chen
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chiu Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pi-Shan Hsu
- Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung
| | - Chao A. Hsiung
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Research Center for Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Tsai HJ, Chen BH, Wu CF, Wang SL, Huang PC, Tsai YC, Chen ML, Ho CK, Hsiung CA, Wu MT. Intake of phthalate-tainted foods and microalbuminuria in children: The 2011 Taiwan food scandal. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 89-90:129-37. [PMID: 26827184 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A major threat to public health involving phthalate-tainted foodstuffs occurred in Taiwan in 2011. Phthalates, mainly di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), were intentionally added to several categories of food commonly consumed by children. This study investigated the relationship between intake of the phthalate-tainted foods and renal function in children. METHODS Children aged ≤10years with possible phthalate exposure were enrolled in this study between August 2012 and January 2013. Questionnaires were used to collect details of exposure to phthalate-tainted foodstuffs, and blood and urine samples were collected for clinical biochemical workup. The clinical biomarkers of renal injury, including urinary microalbumin, N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase (NAG), and β2-microglobulin were measured. Exposure was categorized based on recommended tolerable daily intake level defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (0.02mg/kg/day) and the European Food Safety Authority (0.05mg/kg/day). RESULTS We analyzed intake and renal function of 184 children whose intake of DEHP-tainted foods was known. Higher DEHP exposure to DEHP-tainted foods was significantly associated with increase of urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). Children in the high-exposed group (daily DEHP intake (DDI)>0.05mg/kg/day) had 10.395 times the risk of microalbuminuria than the low-exposed group (DDI≤0.02 and >0mg/kg/day) and no-exposed group combined after adjustment (95% CI=1.096-98.580, P=0.04). CONCLUSION Intake of DEHP from phthalate-tainted foods may be a potential risk factor for microalbuminuria, a marker of glomerular injury in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ju Tsai
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiun Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Li Wang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chin Huang
- National Environmental Health Research Center, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Tsai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Lien Chen
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Kung Ho
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Health, Kaohsiung City Government, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chao A Hsiung
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Institute of Population Health Sciences, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Research Center of Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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19
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Exposure Estimation for Risk Assessment of the Phthalate Incident in Taiwan. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151070. [PMID: 26960145 PMCID: PMC4784747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In May 2011, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalates (DEHP) and, to a lesser extent, di-iso-nonyl phthalate (DiNP) were found to have been illegally used for many years in Taiwan as clouding agents in foods including sports drinks, juice beverages, tea drinks, fruit jam/nectar/jelly, and health or nutrient supplements. Objective To estimate the DEHP exposure for the study participants for the follow-up epidemiological study and health risk assessment. Methods A total of 347 individuals possibly highly exposed to phthalate-tainted foods participated in the study. Exposure assessment was performed based on the participants' responses to a structured questionnaire, self-report of exposure history, urinary metabolite concentrations, and DEHP concentration information in 2449 food records. A Bayesian statistical approach using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation was employed to deal with the uncertainties in the DEHP concentrations of the contaminated foods and the participants' likelihood of being exposed. Results An estimated 37% and 15% of children younger than 12 years old were exposed to DEHP at medium (20–50 μg / kg_bw / day) and high AvDIs (50–100 μg / kg_bw / day), respectively, prior to the episode (9% and 3% in adults, respectively). Moreover, 11% of children and 1% of adults were highly exposed (> 100 μg / kg_bw / day), with a maximum of 414.1 μg / kg_bw / day and 126.4 μg / kg_bw / day, respectively. Conclusions The phthalate exposure-associated adverse health effects for these participants warrant further investigation. The estimation procedure may be applied to other exposure assessment with various sources of uncertainties.
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Gong M, Weschler CJ, Liu L, Shen H, Huang L, Sundell J, Zhang Y. Phthalate metabolites in urine samples from Beijing children and correlations with phthalate levels in their handwipes. INDOOR AIR 2015; 25:572-81. [PMID: 25557639 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Little attention has been paid to dermal absorption of phthalates even though modeling suggests that this pathway may contribute meaningfully to total uptake. We have concurrently collected handwipe and urine samples from 39 Beijing children (5-9 years) for the purpose of measuring levels of five phthalates in handwipes, corresponding concentrations of eight of their metabolites in urine, and to subsequently assess the contribution of dermal absorption to total uptake. In summer sampling, DEHP was the most abundant phthalate in handwipes (median: 1130 μg/m(2) ), while MnBP was the most abundant metabolite in urine (median: 232 ng/ml). We found significant associations between the parent phthalate in handwipes and its monoester metabolite in urine for DiBP (r = 0.41, P = 0.01), DnBP (r = 0.50, P = 0.002), BBzP (r = 0.48, P = 0.003), and DEHP (r = 0.36, P = 0.03). Assuming that no dermal uptake occurred under clothing-covered skin, we estimate that dermal absorption of DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEHP contributed 6.9%, 4.6%, 6.9%, and 3.3%, respectively, to total uptake. Assuming that somewhat attenuated dermal uptake occurred under clothing-covered skin, these estimates increase to 19%, 14%, 17%, and 10%. The results indicate that absorption from skin surfaces makes a meaningful contribution to total phthalate uptake for children and should be considered in future risk assessments. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS This study indicates that children’s hands acquire substantial amounts of various phthalates. The levels measured in handwipes, although higher, are somewhat representative of levels on other body locations. Via dermal absorption, as well as hand-to-mouth activity, phthalates on hands and other body locations contribute to the overall body burden of these compounds. Dermal absorption from air and contact transfer from surfaces is expected to occur for many SVOCs commonly found indoors (e.g. bisphenols, synthetic musks, organophosphates). However, the dermal pathway has often been neglected in exposure assessments of indoor pollutants. Knowledge regarding phthalates and other SVOCs in handwipes can facilitate our understanding of risks and aid in the mitigation of adverse health effects resulting from indoor exposures. To make progress toward these goals, further studies are necessary, including investigations of phthalate level variability in skinwipes collected at different locations on the body and the impact of clothing on dermal absorption from air.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gong
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - C J Weschler
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - L Liu
- Institute of Urban Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - H Shen
- Institute of Urban Environment, Key Lab of Urban Environment Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - L Huang
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - J Sundell
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Y Zhang
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Jornet-Martínez N, Antón-Soriano C, Campíns-Falcó P. Estimation of the presence of unmetabolized dialkyl phthalates in untreated human urine by an on-line miniaturized reliable method. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 532:239-44. [PMID: 26071965 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
At present, human exposure to dialkyl phthalates is assessed through urinary measurement of their metabolites due mainly to contamination in their analysis by their ubiquitous presence. An on-line miniaturized method and the processing of the untreated urine samples have been the key factors for minimizing contamination and achieving unbiased results. Di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), diethyl (DEP), dibutyl (DBP) and mono-ethylhexyl (MEHP) phthalates in urine samples have been included in the study; MEHP as metabolite of the main dialkyl phthalate such as DEHP. On-line in-tube solid-phase microextraction (IT-SPME)-capillary liquid chromatography (CapLC) with diode array detection (DAD) is employed. The detection limits (LODs) achieved in urine were between 0.5 and 1.5 μg/L. Eighteen urines were processed. DBP and DEHP were found in nine and five samples, respectively and DEP in three of them. MEHP was only detected in one of the eighteen samples analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Jornet-Martínez
- MINTOTA Group, Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - C Antón-Soriano
- MINTOTA Group, Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain
| | - P Campíns-Falcó
- MINTOTA Group, Departament de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain.
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22
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Hou JW, Lin CL, Tsai YA, Chang CH, Liao KW, Yu CJ, Yang W, Lee MJ, Huang PC, Sun CW, Wang YH, Lin FR, Wu WC, Lee MC, Pan WH, Chen BH, Wu MT, Chen CC, Wang SL, Lee CC, Hsiung CA, Chen ML. The effects of phthalate and nonylphenol exposure on body size and secondary sexual characteristics during puberty. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2015; 218:603-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Cai H, Zheng W, Zheng P, Wang S, Tan H, He G, Qu W. Human urinary/seminal phthalates or their metabolite levels and semen quality: A meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 142:486-94. [PMID: 26275958 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2014] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Health concerns surrounding human exposure to phthalates include diminished semen quality. Epidemiological findings remain inconsistent. We have performed a quality appraisal and meta-analysis to quantitatively summarize evidence for associations between phthalate exposures and human semen quality. Pubmed and Web of Science were searched for pertinent studies through October 2014. Cited references were reviewed to identify secondary studies. Studies that reported quantitative estimates of the association between phthalates or their metabolite levels in humans and semen quality were eligible. Random effects models were used to calculate pooled effects estimates. Overall, 20 studies met our inclusion criteria. Subsequently, 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Urinary monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP) were associated with reduced sperm concentration (MBP [7.4-25.3 µg/L], pooled odds ratio [OR]=2.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.32-5.15; MBzP [14.0-540.2 µg/L], pooled OR=2.23, 95% CI=1.16-4.30). Both MBP (24.6-14,459.0 µg/L) and MEHP (3.1-208.1 µg/L) were inversely associated with straight line velocity (VSL; MBP, pooled β=-2.51, 95% CI=-4.44, -0.59; MEHP, pooled β=-1.06, 95% CI=-1.99, -0.12). An IQR increase in MBzP and MEP levels (MBzP, IQR=11.35 µg/L; MEP, IQR=449.4 µg/L) was associated with an increase in comet extent (CE; MBzP, pooled β=3.57, 95% CI=0.89-6.25; MEP, pooled β=4.22, 95% CI=1.66-6.77). No associations were observed between monomethyl phthalate and any semen parameters. Our meta-analysis strengthens the evidence that specific phthalates or their metabolite levels may affect semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongquan Cai
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Pai Zheng
- Chinese Medical Association, No. 42 Dongsi Xidajie, Beijing 100710, PR China
| | - Shu Wang
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Hui Tan
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Childhood and Adolescent, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Gengsheng He
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Childhood and Adolescent, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China
| | - Weidong Qu
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, PR China.
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24
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Kuo FC, Su SW, Wu CF, Huang MC, Shiea J, Chen BH, Chen YL, Wu MT. Relationship of urinary phthalate metabolites with serum thyroid hormones in pregnant women and their newborns: a prospective birth cohort in Taiwan. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123884. [PMID: 26042594 PMCID: PMC4456348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of phthalates exposure with thyroid function in pregnant women and their newborns. Methods One hundred and forty-eight Taiwanese maternal and infant pairs were recruited from E-Da hospital in southern Taiwan between 2009 and 2010 for analysis. One-spot urine samples and blood samples in the third trimester of pregnant women and their cord blood samples at delivery were collected. Nine phthalate metabolites in urine were determined by triple quadrupole liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, whereas serum from pregnant women and their cord blood were used to measure thyroid profiles (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH], thyroxine, free thyroxine, and triiodothyronine) by radioimmunoassay. Results Median levels of urinary mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-ethyl phthalate, and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (μg/g creatinine) were the three highest phthalate metabolites, which were 37.81, 34.51, and 21.73, respectively. Using Bonferroni correction at a significance of < 0.006, we found that urinary mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) levels were significantly and negatively associated with serum TSH in cord blood (β = -2.644, p = 0.003). Conclusions Maternal urinary MBzP, of which the parental compound is butylbenzyl phthalate, may affect TSH activity in newborns. The alteration of thyroid homeostasis by certain phthalates in the early life, a critical period for neurodevelopment, is an urgent concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Chen Kuo
- Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Wen Su
- Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fang Wu
- Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chuan Huang
- Department of Nutrition, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jentaie Shiea
- Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Bai-Hsiu Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tsang Wu
- Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Center of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Cai QY, Xiao PY, Chen T, Lü H, Zhao HM, Zeng QY, Li YW, Li H, Xiang L, Mo CH. Genotypic variation in the uptake, accumulation, and translocation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate by twenty cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2015; 116:50-58. [PMID: 25768422 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2015.02.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural soil in China contains high levels of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), especially in paddy-field soil of Guangdong province of China, but the accumulation and translocation of DEHP by rice (Oryza sativa L.) remains unknown. In the present study, twenty rice cultivars were cultivated in paddy soil spiked with DEHP, and variations in DEHP accumulation and translocation among various cultivars were investigated. Our results showed that DEHP concentrations in roots and shoots of different rice cultivars at four growth stages (i.e., ripening, tillering, jointing, and flowering stages) varied greatly from 0.26 to 11.8 mg/kg (dry weight, dw) and 0.40 to 7.58 mg/kg (dw), respectively. No obvious change over time was observed. The greatest variation in DEHP concentrations among the rice cultivars occurred at ripening stage, whereas the lowest variation at flowering stage. During ripening stage, the largest variation in DEHP concentrations among cultivars were observed in stems (varying from 0.35 to 13.2 mg/kg), whereas the least one was observed in roots (ranging from 1.01 to 5.72 mg/kg). Significant differences in DEHP concentrations in the roots, stems, leaves and grains of most rice cultivars were found. The translocation factors of DEHP from roots to stems or stems to leaves were higher than those from shoots to grains. Overall, cultivars Tianfengyou 316, Wuyou 308, and Peizataifeng, which contained low levels of DEHP in grains but high levels in shoots, were ideal cultivars for simultaneous production of safe food and phytoremediation of contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan-Ying Cai
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Pei-Yun Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Waste Reuse in Agriculture of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Tong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Waste Reuse in Agriculture of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Huixiong Lü
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Waste Reuse in Agriculture of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Hai-Ming Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Qiao-Yun Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Waste Reuse in Agriculture of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, College of Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yan-Wen Li
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Lei Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Ce-Hui Mo
- Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutions, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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