Gender-Related Difference in the Toxicity of Ultraviolet Absorber 2-(3′,5′-Di-tert-butyl-2′-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole in Rats

Preparation of beta-cyclodextrin based nanocomposite for magnetic solid-phase extraction of organic ultraviolet filters

A simple and efficient analytical method for organic UV filters (UV-Fs) in environmental samples has been established in this study. Taking advantage of the hydrophobicity on the inner cavity, hydrophilicity on the outer wall, and host-guest interaction provided by beta-cyclodextrin, a core-shell magnetic extraction material was firstly synthesized by using a facile method. The extractant was utilized in magnetic solid-phase extraction of UV-Fs in complex environmental samples, including beach sand, sediment and river water samples, followed by the quantitation using high-performance liquid chromatography. A series of factors affecting extraction efficiencies of seven UV-Fs were profoundly optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the linear ranges were at 5.0-5.0 × 10² ng mL^-1 for the UV-Fs with regression coefficients (r) at 0.9984-0.9998. The limits of detection were from 0.12 to 1.4 ng mL^-1. The recoveries were in the range of 84.2-109%. Furthermore, the molecular dynamics simulations and independent gradient model analysis were applied to reveal the adsorption configuration and interaction mechanisms between target analytes and the sorbent.

[Determination of UV-327 and UV-328 in mouse plasma by high performance liquid chromatography]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of ultraviolet (UV) absorbers UV-327 and UV-328 in mouse plasma.

METHODS

N-hexane-acetone (volume ratio 1 ∶1) was added to a mouse plasma sample as the extraction solvent for vortex extraction, and the supernatant was dried at 50 ℃ with nitrogen. Thereafter the residue was redissolved with methanol, centrifuged and filtered. The separation was performed on a Waters SymmetryC₁₈ column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm), and the concentrations of UV-327 and UV-328 in the mouse plasma were determined by HPLC with an UV detector. The elution was isocratic at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with a mobile phase composed of 100% methanol, and the UV detection wavelength was 340 nm. The retention time was used for qualitative analysis, and the internal standard method was used for quantitative analysis using UV-320 as the internal standard.

RESULTS

The calibration curves of UV-327 and UV-328 were linear with correlation coefficients of 0.999 7 over the concentration range of 0.05 to 10.0 mg/L. The limit of detection was 0.01 mg/L, and the limit of quantitation was 0.03 mg/L. The average recoveries at low, medium and high three concentrations (0.50, 1.00, 2.00 mg/L) in the mouse plasma were 91.7%-101.0% for UV-327, and 97.5%-103.9% for UV-328. The intra-day precisions (n=6) of UV-327 were 2.9%-6.6%, and 2.7%-7.4% for UV-328. The inter-day precisions (n=3) of UV-327 were 6.0%-9.3%, and 6.6%-8.6% for UV-328. The extraction recoveries of UV-327 were 98.8%-103.8%, and 99.8%-100.9% for UV-328. The measured relative deviations of UV-327 in the mouse plasma samples placed at room temperature for 6 hours and -40 ℃ for 15 days were 0.9%-3.5% and 7.4%-15.0%, and the measured relative deviations of UV-328 were 2.0%-4.3% and 2.1%-13.8%, respectively. The mouse plasma samples could be stored at room temperature for 6 hours at least and -40 ℃ for 15 days at three spiked concentration levels.

CONCLUSION

The method was simple and fast with high accuracy, precision and sensitivity, and could be applied to the determination of UV-327 and UV-328 in mouse plasma.

Substituted diphenylamine antioxidants and benzotriazole UV stabilizers in blood plasma of fish, turtles, birds and dolphins from North America

Substituted diphenylamine antioxidants (SDPAs) and benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BZT-UVs) are additives used in industrial and commercial applications to prevent degradation by oxidation and are contaminants of emerging environmental concern. Little is known about the fate of these contaminants in wildlife, particularly in reptiles, birds and marine mammals. Nine SDPAs and six BZT-UVs were measured in blood plasma of seven fish species, snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from various locations in North America. Plasma SDPAs were more frequently (90-100%) detected and with higher concentrations (median: 25-270 pg g^-1, wet weight (ww)) in organisms from urban areas than rural locations (median: <method limits of quantification -136 pg g^-1). The concentrations of most SDPAs generally followed the order of fish ≥ snapping turtles > double-crested cormorants > bottlenose dolphins. Of the three quantifiable BZT-UVs, 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-pentylphenol (UV328) showed higher detection frequency in most species of fish, bird and turtle (range of 0-67%), indicating the widespread distribution of UV328 in the aquatic environment of lower Great Lakes region.

Interactions of benzotriazole UV stabilizers with human serum albumin: Atomic insights revealed by biosensors, spectroscopies and molecular dynamics simulations

Benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BZTs) belong to one prominent group of ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers and are widely used in various plastics materials. Their large production volumes, frequent detections in the environment and potential toxicities have raised increasing public concern. BZTs can be transported in vivo by transport proteins in plasma and the binding association to transport proteins may serve as a significant parameter to evaluate the bioaccumulative potential. We utilized a novel HSA biosensor, circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy to detect the dynamic interactions of six BZTs (UV-326, UV-327, UV-328, UV-329, UV-P, and BZT) with human serum albumin (HSA), and characterized the corresponding structure-activity relationships (SAR) by molecular dynamics simulations. All test BZTs potently bind at Sudlow site I of HSA with a binding constant of 10(4) L/mol at 298 K. Minor changes in the moieties of BZTs affect their interactions with HSA and differently induce conformations of HSA. Their binding reduced electrochemical impedance spectra and α-helix content of HSA, caused slight red-shifted emission, and changed fluorescence lifetime components of HSA in a concentration-dependent mode. UV-327 and UV-329 form hydrogen bonds with HSA, while UV-329, UV-P and BZT bind HSA with more favorable electrostatic interactions. Our in vitro and in silico study offered a significant framework toward the understanding of risk assessment of BZTs and provides guide for future design of environmental benign BZTs-related materials.

Occurrence and removal of benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in a wastewater treatment plant in China

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BZT-UVs) have previously been found in sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which might be potential sources of BZT-UVs to the surrounding environment. In this work, the occurrence and fate of seven emerging 2-hydroxyphenyl substituted BZT-UVs were investigated in a Chinese WWTP. This group of hydrophobic BZT-UVs possess log Kow values ranging from 4.31 to 7.67 which could be associated with their fate in WWTPs. Field samples including 24 h flow composites of influent, effluent and grab sludge samples from different treatment processes were collected and analyzed. Concentrations of BZT-UVs dissolved in aqueous-phases were in the range of 4.88±1.35 (UV-234) to 34.5±12.4 ng L(-1) (UV-P) in the primary influent, while only UV-P and UV-328 were detected in the final effluent at concentrations of 10.5±6.59 and 2.74±1.73 ng L(-1), respectively. Considering the amount of target BZT-UVs adsorbed to total suspended solids (TSS), the daily mass flux in the primary influent of the WWTP ranged from 22.3 g day(-1) (UV-P, 7.99%) to 74.0 g day(-1) (UV-234, 26.5%). Total removal efficiency of the integrated treatment process ranged from 89.7% for UV-P to 99.7% for UV-234 suggesting nearly complete removal. Organic solid sedimentation in primary and secondary clarifiers was the dominant elimination route for BZT-UV analogues, which constituted 96.3% of the total removal efficiency. Advanced treatment (using ultraviolet disinfection) in this plant might further contribute to the high removal efficiencies (ranging from 19.6% to 77.3%).

Field dissipation and plant uptake of benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers in biosolid-amended soils

Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) have been commonly used in industrial and household product formulations, and have been detected in biosolids from wastewater treatment plants. However, little is known about their occurrence and dissipation behavior in the soil environment associated with biosolid application. This study investigated the occurrence and dissipation of five typical BUVSs (UV-326, UV-327, UV-328, UV-329 and UV-P) in biosolid-amended soils, and the uptake of these biocides by plants. The field trial includes two treatment groups: old groups with biosolid application at rates of 5, 10, 20 and 40 t ha(-1) every year within 5 years, and new groups with only one biosolid application. The results showed that the five BUVSs could be detected in most biosolid-amended soils at a few to tens of ng g(-1) levels, but not detected in the control soils. These chemicals were not found in the crop plants collected from the trial plots. Moreover, high biosolid application rates and repeated biosolid applications resulted in high accumulation of these BUVSs in soil. During one year monitoring, the five BUVSs were significantly dissipated in the biosolid-amended soils with their half-lives ranging from 79 to 223 days, which were comparable with the modeling results. The results from this study demonstrated the persistence of BUVSs in soil environments with quite slow dissipation rates.

Concentration of organic sun-blocking agents in seawater of beaches and coral reefs of Okinawa Island, Japan

The concentration of UV filters (UVFs) and UV light stabilizers (UVLSs) were measured in seawater and river water collected from sites at four beaches, two reefs, and one river on Okinawa Island, Japan. UVFs and/or UVLSs of 8-10 types were detected in beaches samples and 6-9 types were detected in reef samples. The total UVF concentrations at the beach sites were highest either in July or August with a maximum of 1.4 μg L(-1). The concentrations at the reef sites did not show peaks in summer and the maximum values were close to 10 ng L(-1). The detected UVF profiles reflected the ingredients of sunscreens used in each region. The highest UVLS concentrations at the reefs were observed not only in summer but also in June and September. The UVLS concentrations at the reefs were similar to or even higher than that at the beaches or in the river.

Occurrence and profiles of organic sun-blocking agents in surface waters and sediments in Japanese rivers and lakes

Sun-blocking agents including eight UV filters (UVF) and 10 UV light stabilizers (UVLS) were measured in water and sediment collected from 22 rivers, four sewage treatment plant effluents (STPE) and three lakes in Japan. Total sun blocking agents levels ranged from N.D. to 4928 ng/L and from 2.0 to 3422 μg/kg dry wt in surface water and in sediment, respectively. Benzyl salicylate, benzophenone-3, 2-ethyl hexyl-4-methoxycinnamte (EHMC) and octyl salicylate were dominant in surface water receiving wastewater effluents and STPE, although UV-328, benzophenone and EHMC were dominant in other surface water except background sites. Three UVF and nine UVLS were observed from all sediment and their compositions showed similar patterns with UV-328 and UV-234 as the most prevalent compounds. Homosalate, octocrylene, UV-326, UV-327, UV-328 and UV-234 were significantly correlated with Galaxolide® in sediments. Concentrations of UV-327 and UV-328 also had strong correlation between those of UV-326 in sediment.

Determination of benzotriazole and benzophenone UV filters in sediment and sewage sludge

Benzophenones and benzotriazoles are widely used as ultraviolet (UV) light filters and stabilizers in cosmetics, skin creams, and body lotions and as corrosion inhibitors in building materials, automobile components, and automotive antifreeze cooling systems. Benzophenones and benzotriazoles have been reported to occur in the environment. Some of these UV filters have been reported to possess significant estrogenic activity. Despite this, very few studies have examined their occurrence and profiles in the environment. In this work, we determined five benzophenone-type UV filters and two benzotriazole-type corrosion inhibitors, namely, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (2OH-4MeO-BP), 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (2,4OH-BP), 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (2,2'OH-4MeO-BP), 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone (2,2',4,4'OH-BP), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4OH-BP), 1H-benzotriazole (1H-BT), and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (5Me-1H-BT), in sediment and sewage sludge samples, using liquid-liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, four benzotriazole-type UV stabilizers, namely, 2-(3-t-butyl-2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole (UV-326), 2,4-di-t-butyl-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazole-2-yl) phenol (UV-327), 2-(2H-benzotriazole-2yl)-4,6-di-t-pentylphenol (UV-328), and 2-(5-t-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl) benzotriazole (TBHPBT) were determined by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS). The limits of quantitation (LOQ) were in the ranges of 0.06-0.33 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) and 0.1-1.65 ng g⁻¹ dw for sediment and sludge samples, respectively. Recoveries of target compounds spiked into sample matrices and passed through the entire analytical procedure ranged from 70% to 116% (RSD: 3.32-13.8%) and from 82% to 106% (RSD: 2.89-8.09%) for the compounds analyzed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS, respectively. The methods were applied to the analysis of sediment samples from the Songhua, Saginaw, and Detroit Rivers; the sum concentrations of target compounds were 3.29-9.93, 5.81-22.5, and 190-389 ng g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Five sludge samples collected from five wastewater treatment plants in northeastern China contained the sum concentrations of target compounds in the range of 104-6370 ng g⁻¹ dw. The concentration of UV-328 in sludge was the highest (mean: 1300 ng g⁻¹ dw) among the target compounds. To our knowledge, this is the first work to report the occurrence of 2OH-4MeO-BP, 2,4OH-BP, 2,2'OH-4MeO-BP, 2,2',4,4'OH-BP, and 4OH-BP in sediment and sludge samples.

Nutrition and human health from a sex-gender perspective

Nutrition exerts a life-long impact on human health, and the interaction between nutrition and health has been known for centuries. The recent literature has suggested that nutrition could differently influence the health of male and female individuals. Until the last decade of the 20th century, research on women has been neglected, and the results obtained in men have been directly translated to women in both the medicine and nutrition fields. Consequently, most modern guidelines are based on studies predominantly conducted on men. However, there are many sex-gender differences that are the result of multifactorial inputs, including gene repertoires, sex steroid hormones, and environmental factors (e.g., food components). The effects of these different inputs in male and female physiology will be different in different periods of ontogenetic development as well as during pregnancy and the ovarian cycle in females, which are also age dependent. As a result, different strategies have evolved to maintain male and female body homeostasis, which, in turn, implies that there are important differences in the bioavailability, metabolism, distribution, and elimination of foods and beverages in males and females. This article will review some of these differences underlying the impact of food components on the risk of developing diseases from a sex-gender perspective.

Occurrence and concentrations of benzotriazole UV stabilizers in marine organisms and sediments from the Ariake Sea, Japan

The benzotriazole UV stabilizers, which are used in a variety of plastic products, were analyzed in marine organisms and sediments collected from the Ariake Sea, Japan. The UV stabilizers, such as UV-320, UV-326, UV-327, and UV-328 were detected in all of the samples analyzed, suggesting the production and use of these compounds in Japan. High concentrations of UV stabilizers were found in clams, oysters, and gastropods collected from the tidal flat at concentrations on the order of several hundreds of ng/g on a lipid weight (wt.) basis. The higher trophic species, such as hammerhead sharks and coastal birds, accumulated UV stabilizers, with mean concentrations of 190 ng/g and 74 ng/g (lipid wt.), respectively. These results indicate that benzotriazole UV stabilizers are persistent and bioaccumulative in the marine food-chains. The benzotriazole UV stabilizers were also detected in coastal and river sediments around the Ariake Sea, at concentrations in the range of 7.9-720 ng/g (dry weight basis). Significant correlations were found between concentrations of UV stabilizers and organic carbon content in sediments, implying adsorption of these compounds to organic matter. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ubiquitous contamination and bioaccumulation of benzotriazole UV stabilizers in the marine environment.