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Nicolaou M, Toumba M, Kythreotis A, Daher H, Skordis N. Obesogens in Adolescence: Challenging Aspects and Prevention Strategies. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:602. [PMID: 38790597 PMCID: PMC11120186 DOI: 10.3390/children11050602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Childhood obesity has become a global epidemic, with significant increases in prevalence over recent decades. While excessive calorie consumption and physical inactivity are known factors, emerging research highlights the role of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), particularly obesogens, in obesity's pathogenesis. This review explores the historical context of the environmental obesogens hypothesis, their sources, mechanism of action, impact on prenatal and postnatal development, and epigenetics. Additionally, it discusses the long-term consequences of childhood obesity and proposes prevention strategies that will mitigate negative health effects. Obesogens were found to disrupt hormonal balance and metabolic processes through various mechanisms such as altering gene expression, hormonal interference, and inflammation. Especially significant was exposure during critical windows of development, which correlates with an increased risk of obesity in childhood or adolescence. Long-term effects of childhood obesity include chronic health conditions and psychosocial issues. A comprehensive approach is necessary to address childhood obesity encompassing genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Prevention strategies should focus on reducing obesogen exposure, promoting healthy lifestyles, and implementing regulatory policies. Future research should investigate obesogens-diet interactions, microbiome impacts, and combined obesogens effects. Long-term human studies are also crucial for validating findings from animal models and allowing for informed decision-making to combat the obesity pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Nicolaou
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; (M.N.); (A.K.)
| | - Meropi Toumba
- Paediatric Endocrinology Clinic, Department of Paediatrics, Aretaeio Hospital, 2024 Nicosia, Cyprus;
- School of Medicine, University of Nicosia, 2414 Nicosia, Cyprus;
| | - Alexandros Kythreotis
- Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK; (M.N.); (A.K.)
| | - Habib Daher
- School of Medicine, University of Nicosia, 2414 Nicosia, Cyprus;
| | - Nicos Skordis
- School of Medicine, University of Nicosia, 2414 Nicosia, Cyprus;
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Paedi Center for Specialized Paediatrics, 2025 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Baker BH, Melough MM, Paquette AG, Barrett ES, Day DB, Kannan K, Hn Nguyen R, Bush NR, LeWinn KZ, Carroll KN, Swan SH, Zhao Q, Sathyanarayana S. Ultra-processed and fast food consumption, exposure to phthalates during pregnancy, and socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 183:108427. [PMID: 38194756 PMCID: PMC10834835 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consuming ultra-processed foods may increase exposure to phthalates, a group of endocrine disruptors prevalent in food contact materials. OBJECTIVES Investigate associations between ultra-processed food intake and urinary phthalates during pregnancy, and evaluate whether ultra-processed foods mediate socioeconomic disparities in phthalate exposures. METHODS In a socioeconomically diverse sample of 1031 pregnant women from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) Study in the urban South, the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire was administered and urinary phthalate metabolites were measured in the second trimester. Linear regressions modeled associations between phthalates and overall ultra-processed food consumption, individual ultra-processed foods, and exploratory factor analysis dietary patterns. Causal mediation analyses examined whether ultra-processed food intake mediates relationships between socioeconomic disparities and phthalate exposures. RESULTS Ultra-processed foods constituted 9.8-59.0 % (mean = 38.6 %) of participants' diets. 10 % higher dietary proportion of ultra-processed foods was associated with 13.1 % (95 %CI: 3.4 %-22.9 %) higher molar sum concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP). 10 % higher consumption of minimally-processed foods was associated with lower ΣDEHP (10.8 %: 3.4 %-22.9 %). Ultra- and minimally-processed food consumption were not associated with non-DEHP metabolites. Standard deviation higher consumptions of hamburger/cheeseburger, French fries, soda, and cake were associated with 10.5 % (4.2 %-17.1 %), 9.2 % (2.6 %-16.2 %), 7.4 % (1.4 %-13.6 %), and 6.0 % (0.0 %-12.4 %), respectively, higher ΣDEHP. Exploratory factor analysis corroborated positive associations of processed food with ΣDEHP, and uncovered a healthy dietary pattern associated with lower urinary ΣDEHP, mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) (MEHHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) (MECPP), mono(2-carboxymethylhexyl) (MCMHP), and mono-isononyl (MINP) phthalates. Significant indirect effects indicated that lower income and education levels were associated with 1.9 % (0.2 %-4.2 %) and 1.4 % (0.1 %-3.3 %) higher ΣDEHP, respectively, mediated via increased ultra-processed food consumption. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of ultra-processed foods may increase exposure to phthalates. Policies to reduce dietary phthalate exposures from food packaging and processing are needed, as socioeconomic barriers can preclude dietary recommendations as a sole means to reduce phthalate exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brennan H Baker
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | | | - Alison G Paquette
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Drew B Day
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Shanna H Swan
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qi Zhao
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
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Shukla R, Arshee MR, Laws MJ, Flaws JA, Bagchi MK, Wagoner Johnson AJ, Bagchi IC. Chronic exposure of mice to phthalates enhances TGF beta signaling and promotes uterine fibrosis. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 122:108491. [PMID: 37863342 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Phthalates are synthetic chemicals widely used as plasticizers and stabilizers in various consumer products. Because of the extensive production and use of phthalates, humans are exposed to these chemicals daily. While most studies focus on a single phthalate, humans are exposed to a mixture of phthalates on a regular basis. The impact of continuous exposure to phthalate mixture on uterus is largely unknown. Thus, we conducted studies in which adult female mice were exposed for 6 months to 0.15 ppm and 1.5 ppm of a mixture of phthalates via chow ad libitum. Our studies revealed that consumption of phthalate mixture at 0.15 ppm and 1.5 ppm for 6 months led to a significant increase in the thickness of the myometrial layer compared to control. Further investigation employing RNA-sequencing revealed an elevated transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling in the uteri of mice fed with phthalate mixture. TGF-β signaling is associated with the development of fibrosis, a consequence of excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix components, such as collagen fibers in a tissue. Consistent with this observation, we found a higher incidence of collagen deposition in uteri of mice exposed to phthalate mixture compared to unexposed controls. Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging showed disorganized collagen fibers and nanoindentation indicated a local increase in uterine stiffness upon exposure to phthalate mixture. Collectively, our results demonstrate that chronic exposure to phthalate mixture can have adverse effects on uterine homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritwik Shukla
- Departments of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Mahmuda R Arshee
- Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Mary J Laws
- Departments of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jodi A Flaws
- Departments of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Milan K Bagchi
- Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Amy J Wagoner Johnson
- Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Indrani C Bagchi
- Departments of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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Laws MJ, Meling DD, Deviney ARK, Santacruz-Márquez R, Flaws JA. Long-term exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diisononyl phthalate, and a mixture of phthalates alters estrous cyclicity and/or impairs gestational index and birth rate in mice. Toxicol Sci 2023; 193:48-61. [PMID: 36929940 PMCID: PMC10176245 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Phthalates are found in plastic food containers, medical plastics, and personal care products. However, the effects of long-term phthalate exposure on female reproduction are unknown. Thus, this study investigated the effects of long-term, dietary phthalate exposure on estrous cyclicity and fertility in female mice. Adult female CD-1 mice were fed chow containing vehicle control (corn oil) or 0.15-1500 ppm of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), or a mixture of phthalates (Mix) containing DEHP, DiNP, benzyl butyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, and diethyl phthalate. Measurements of urinary phthalate metabolites confirmed effective delivery of phthalates. Phthalate consumption for 11 months did not affect body weight compared to control. DEHP exposure at 0.15 ppm for 3 and 5 months increased the time that the mice spent in estrus and decreased the time the mice spent in metestrus/diestrus compared to control. DiNP exposure (0.15-1500 ppm) did not significantly affect time in estrus or metestrus/diestrus compared to control. Mix exposure at 0.15 and 1500 ppm for 3 months decreased the time the mice spent in metestrus/diestrus and increased the time the mice spent in estrus compared to control. DEHP (0.15-1500 ppm) or Mix (0.15-1500 ppm) exposure did not affect fertility-related indices compared to control. However, long-term DiNP exposure at 1500 ppm significantly reduced gestational index and birth rate compared to control. These data indicate that chronic dietary exposure to phthalates alters estrous cyclicity, and long-term exposure to DiNP reduces gestational index and birth rate in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary J Laws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA
| | - Daryl D Meling
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA
| | - Ashley R K Deviney
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA
| | - Ramsés Santacruz-Márquez
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA
| | - Jodi A Flaws
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA
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5
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Dong W, Lin W, Chen X, Lian X, Shen C, Liu M, Lin F, Sun X, Xu Y, Xiong Y, Deng B. Reducing the background interference of liquid–liquid extraction method during Baijiu aroma analysis. Food Chem 2023; 404:134557. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Özgür A, Aktürk EZ, Köseoğlu D, Onac C, Akdoğan A. Deep Eutectic Solvent-based green extraction and gas chromatography determination of phthalates released from food contact materials. J Food Compost Anal 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2023.105208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
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7
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Adenuga MD. Occurrence and dietary exposure to phthalates in the US population - a contextual review. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2023; 40:169-179. [PMID: 36318880 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2022.2136408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Esters of 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid (or phthalates) are general purpose plasticizers used in multiple polyvinyl chloride (PVC) consumer applications. Some of these plasticizers are permitted for safe use in a narrow subset of food packaging applications by global regulatory agencies, including the US FDA. Several US studies have reported the presence of trace concentrations of phthalates (parts per billion) in the diet. These findings have prompted calls for regulatory action based on the potential for adverse impacts on public health. These claims are misguided. Global food safety regulatory frameworks are designed with the expectation that low concentrations of food contact materials may be present in food. These frameworks include guardrails (in the form of content limits and/or migration limits) to minimize the potential for dietary risk. This concept of exposure and risk is often missing in many studies identifying low concentrations of phthalates in food. Dietary risk assessments, based on total diet studies, have been published by food safety agencies in the EU, Australia, New Zealand, UK, and Canada. Without exception, all risk assessments confirm that concentrations of phthalates in food are low and do not pose a public health concern. In this review, we calculate dietary risk estimates for concentrations of high molecular weight phthalates reported in some US food articles. The results confirm that dietary exposures, even in the most conservative scenarios, are below levels of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- M David Adenuga
- ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company, a division of ExxonMobil Corporation, Spring, TX, USA
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8
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Aimuzi R, Wang Y, Luo K, Jiang Y. Exposure to phthalates, phenols, and parabens mixture and alterations in sex steroid hormones among adolescents. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 302:134834. [PMID: 35533932 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to phthalates (PAEs), phenols, and parabens has been linked with sex hormone imbalance; however, previous studies were predominantly limited to adults and failed to examine the combined effects of these chemicals mixture among adolescents. Thus, we used the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2016) to explore the associations of urinary PAEs, phenols, and parabens biomarkers with sex hormones among participants aged 12-19 years old (n = 613). Latent class analysis (LCA) and quantile-based g-computation (QGC) were applied to assess the associations of the latent exposure profiles and chemicals mixture with sex hormone indicators, including steroid hormones and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), in adolescents and by sex. Using LCA, four latent classes were identified among all participants. Compared with the class characterized by "Low exposure", the class represented by "High PAEs" [mono (2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), and monobenzyl phthalate (MBZP)] had lower level of estradiol (E2) [β = -0.249, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.419, -0.08], free androgen index (FAI) (β = -0.258, 95%CI: -0.512, -0.005) and free testosterone (FT) (β = -0.248, 95%CI: -0.496, -0.001) among male adolescents. These results were echoed by the results in QGC analyses, where PAEs mixture was negatively associated with E2 (β = -0.137, 95% CI: -0.263, -0.011), FAI (β = -0.198, 95%CI: -0.387, -0.008) and FT (β = -0.189, 95%CI: -0.375, -0.002) among male adolescents. By contrast, the associations of the identified latent classes or chemicals mixture with sex hormone indicators were generally nonsignificant among female counterparts, except for a positive association between PAEs mixture and SHBG (β = 0.121, 95%CI: 0.012, 0.23). Our study demonstrated that exposure to PAEs, particularly MECPP, MEHHP, and MBZP, would be a threat to the sex hormone homeostasis of male adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxianguli Aimuzi
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Kai Luo
- Ministry of Education-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China; Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Yu Jiang
- School of Population Medicine and Public Health, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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9
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Geueke B, Groh KJ, Maffini MV, Martin OV, Boucher JM, Chiang YT, Gwosdz F, Jieh P, Kassotis CD, Łańska P, Myers JP, Odermatt A, Parkinson LV, Schreier VN, Srebny V, Zimmermann L, Scheringer M, Muncke J. Systematic evidence on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals: Most chemicals detected in food contact materials are not listed for use. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 63:9425-9435. [PMID: 35585831 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2067828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Food packaging is important for today's globalized food system, but food contact materials (FCMs) can also be a source of hazardous chemicals migrating into foodstuffs. Assessing the impacts of FCMs on human health requires a comprehensive identification of the chemicals they contain, the food contact chemicals (FCCs). We systematically compiled the "database on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals" (FCCmigex) using information from 1210 studies. We found that to date 2881 FCCs have been detected, in a total of six FCM groups (Plastics, Paper & Board, Metal, Multi-materials, Glass & Ceramic, and Other FCMs). 65% of these detected FCCs were previously not known to be used in FCMs. Conversely, of the more than 12'000 FCCs known to be used, only 1013 are included in the FCCmigex database. Plastic is the most studied FCM with 1975 FCCs detected. Our findings expand the universe of known FCCs to 14,153 chemicals. This knowledge contributes to developing non-hazardous FCMs that lead to safer food and support a circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Geueke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ksenia J Groh
- Department Environmental Toxicology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Yu-Ting Chiang
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Phoenix Jieh
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christopher D Kassotis
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Paulina Łańska
- Centre for Pollution Research and Policy, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK
| | - John Peterson Myers
- Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alex Odermatt
- Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Verena N Schreier
- Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Srebny
- Biointerfaces Lab, EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | - Martin Scheringer
- Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jane Muncke
- Food Packaging Forum Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland
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10
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Edwards L, McCray NL, VanNoy BN, Yau A, Geller RJ, Adamkiewicz G, Zota AR. Phthalate and novel plasticizer concentrations in food items from U.S. fast food chains: a preliminary analysis. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:366-373. [PMID: 34702987 PMCID: PMC9119856 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00392-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fast food consumption is associated with biomarkers of ortho-phthalates exposures. However, the chemical content of fast food is unknown; certain ortho-phthalates (i.e., di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) have been phased out and replaced with other plasticizers (e.g., dioctyl terephthalate (DEHT)). OBJECTIVE We conducted a preliminary study to examine ortho-phthalate and replacement plasticizer concentrations in foods and food handling gloves from U.S. fast food restaurants. METHODS We obtained hamburgers, fries, chicken nuggets, chicken burritos, cheese pizza (n = 64 food samples) and gloves (n = 3) from restaurants and analyzed them for 11 chemicals using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. RESULTS We found DEHT at the highest concentrations in both foods (n = 19; median = 2510 µg/kg; max = 12,400 µg/kg) and gloves (n = 3; range: 28-37% by weight). We detected DnBP and DEHP in 81% and 70% of food samples, respectively. Median DEHT concentrations were significantly higher in burritos than hamburgers (6000 µg/kg vs. 2200 µg/kg; p < 0.0001); DEHT was not detected in fries. Cheese pizza had the lowest levels of most chemicals. SIGNIFICANCE To our knowledge, these are the first measurements of DEHT in food. Our preliminary findings suggest that ortho-phthalates remain ubiquitous and replacement plasticizers may be abundant in fast food meals. IMPACT STATEMENT A selection of popular fast food items sampled in this study contain detectable levels of replacement plasticizers and concerning ortho-phthalates. In addition, food handling gloves contain replacement plasticizers, which may be a source of food contamination. These results, if confirmed, may inform individual and regulatory exposure reduction strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lariah Edwards
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nathan L McCray
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brianna N VanNoy
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alice Yau
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ruth J Geller
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gary Adamkiewicz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ami R Zota
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, USA.
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11
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Yakes BJ, Moskowitz J, Crump E, Ellsworth Z, Carlos K, Begley T. Evaluation of portable vibrational spectroscopy for identifying plasticizers in dairy tubing. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2022; 39:817-827. [PMID: 35107413 DOI: 10.1080/19440049.2022.2025461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Plasticisers are commonly used to increase the flexibility of a wide variety of food contact materials including the plastic tubing, liners, and gaskets used in the dairy industry. In recent years, some classes of plasticisers have come under scrutiny due to the potential for transfer of these compounds into the milk itself, which can then be further processed into foods such as powdered milks and cheeses, infant formula, and baked goods. One such set of plasticisers that is being evaluated for frequency of use, potential routes of exposure, and risk to consumers is ortho-phthalates, hereafter referred to as phthalates. In order to better understand the actual use of phthalate versus non-phthalate plasticised tubing, a robust, rapid, and portable analytical method is necessary for on-site screening. Laboratory Raman and near-infrared spectrometers have been used extensively for polymer and additive evaluation, and advances in portable/hand-held technology could lead to feasible plasticiser evaluation in the field. This research overviews efforts to evaluate six portable spectroscopy devices for their ability to identify phthalate versus non-phthalate plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PVC) dairy tubing, liners, and gaskets. The most successful method, a hand-held Raman spectrometer along with a plasticiser spectral library or a chemometric model, can rapidly and accurately identify phthalate containing PVC and has the potential to be employed as a future field screening technique for regulators and the dairy industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betsy Jean Yakes
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua Moskowitz
- Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric Crump
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Zachary Ellsworth
- Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Katherine Carlos
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Timothy Begley
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
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12
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Baranenko D, Boulkrane MS, Borisova I, Astafyeva B, Lu W, Abd El-Aty AM. Translocation of Phthalates From Food Packaging Materials Into Minced Beef. Front Nutr 2022; 8:813553. [PMID: 35127794 PMCID: PMC8811533 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.813553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been increased concern regarding the potential human health risks associated with exposure to phthalates. Research indicates that food intake is the most critical exposure pathway for phthalates. This study aimed to investigate packaged beef samples for the presence of dimethyl terephthalate (DMTP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and diisooctyl phthalate (DiOP) and to assess their translocation from the common form of food packaging procured from various Saint-Petersburg and Leningrad region shops. The packaging samples include paper and different types of plastic. Phthalates were extracted by dichloromethane and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). While DnBP had the highest mean values in beef from 34.5 to 378.5 μg·kg−1, DiOP displayed the lowest mean values from LOD to 37 μg·kg−1. The larger contact area and the presence of distributed fat on the surface of the minced meat resulted in significantly higher phthalate translocation than beef slices. Further, DMTP was not detected in any samples. However, the examined food packages do not meet the requirements of Russian, EU and USA legislation, as DnBP migrates to meat. Calculated maximum DnBP daily intake of 0.167 μg·kg−1·day−1 for chilled minced beef in vacuum packaging did not exceed tolerable daily intake (TDI) level. The most alarming results are concerning the phthalates presence in beef farmed in the Leningrad region and not subjected to any plastic packaging. A full-scale study is warranted to determine the pathways and sources of phthalates migration in the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Baranenko
- International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
- *Correspondence: Denis Baranenko
| | - Mohamed Said Boulkrane
- International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Irina Borisova
- International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Bazhena Astafyeva
- International Research Centre “Biotechnologies of the Third Millennium”, Faculty of Biotechnologies (BioTech), ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - Weihong Lu
- Institute of Extreme Environment Nutrition and Protection, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - A. M. Abd El-Aty
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
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Analysis of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in processed foods from FDA's Total Diet Study. Anal Bioanal Chem 2021; 414:1189-1199. [PMID: 34435208 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-021-03610-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Additional occurrence data are needed to better understand human exposure to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from commercially available foods in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Total Diet Study (TDS) collects foods that are both nationally and regionally distributed. In 2018, 172 processed foods were collected from grocery stores around Lenexa, KS, as part of the TDS national collection. A previously developed method for the analysis of PFAS in foods as part of the TDS regional collection was modified and optimized for these samples. This method was single lab validated using 5 different matrices and method detection limits were calculated. During the analysis of these samples, challenges arose with method blanks and further investigation into statistical methods to distinguish between blank and sample concentrations were done. The confirmation of two short chain PFAS, perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA), was not possible using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and a confirmation method was developed using high-resolution mass spectrometry. This technique was also used to investigate potential detections and interferents that fell within the retention time criteria for positive detections. In the national collection, positive detections of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were found in frozen fish sticks/patties, PFOS and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) in canned tuna, and PFOS in protein powder. Concentrations were all below 150 ppt, and no other detects were confirmed above the method detection limits in any other foods.
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14
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Luís C, Algarra M, Câmara JS, Perestrelo R. Comprehensive Insight from Phthalates Occurrence: From Health Outcomes to Emerging Analytical Approaches. TOXICS 2021; 9:toxics9070157. [PMID: 34357900 PMCID: PMC8309855 DOI: 10.3390/toxics9070157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in a multitude of important industrial products (e.g., medical devices, children's toys, and food packages), mainly as plasticizers to improve mechanical properties such as flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The wide occurrence of phthalates in many consumer products, including foods (e.g., bottled water, soft drinks, wine, milk, and meat) brings that most people are exposed to phthalates every day, which raises some concerns. Adverse health outcomes from phthalates exposure have been associated with endocrine disruption, deformities in the human reproductive system, increased risk of preterm birth, carcinogen exposure, among others. Apprehension related to the health risks and ubiquitous incidence of phthalates in foods inspires the development of reliable analytical approaches that allow their detection and quantification at trace levels. The purpose of the current review is to provide information related to the presence of phthalates in the food chain, highlighting the health risks associated with their exposure. Moreover, an overview of emerging extraction procedures and high-resolution analytical approaches for a comprehensive quantification of phthalates is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Luís
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal; (C.L.); (J.S.C.)
- Faculdade de Ciências da Vida, Unidade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
| | - Manuel Algarra
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Campus de Teatinos s/n, University of Málaga, 29071 Malaga, Spain;
| | - José S. Câmara
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal; (C.L.); (J.S.C.)
- Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Engenharia, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal
| | - Rosa Perestrelo
- CQM-Centro de Química da Madeira, Campus da Penteada, Universidade da Madeira, 9020-105 Funchal, Portugal; (C.L.); (J.S.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-291-705-224
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