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Baalbaki G, Lim V, Gillet AP, Verner MA, Vaillancourt C, Caron-Beaudoin E, Delbes G. Trace elements alone or in mixtures associated with unconventional natural gas exploitation affect rat fetal steroidogenesis and testicular development in vitro. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 357:124393. [PMID: 38901820 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Biomonitoring studies have shown that pregnant women living in regions of unconventional natural gas (UNG) exploitation have higher levels of trace elements. Whether developmental endocrine disruption can be expected at these exposure levels during pregnancy is unclear. In this study, we aimed to test the impact of five trace elements alone or in mixtures using in vitro cell- and tissue-based assays relevant to endocrine disruption and development. Manganese, aluminum, strontium, barium, and cobalt were tested at concentrations including those representatives of human fetal exposure. Using transactivation assays, none of the tested elements nor their mixture altered the human estrogen receptor 1 or androgen receptor genomic signalling. In the rat fetal testis assay, an organ culture system, cobalt (5 μg/l), barium (500 μg/l) and strontium (500 μg/l) significantly increased testosterone secretion. Cobalt and strontium were associated with hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy of fetal Leydig cells. Mixing the five elements at concentrations where none had an effect individually stimulated testosterone secretion by the rat fetal testis paralleled by the significant increase of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase protein level in comparison to the vehicle control. The mechanisms involved may be specific to the fetal testis as no effect was observed in the steroidogenic H295R cells. Our data suggest that some trace elements in mixture at concentrations representative of human fetal exposure can impact testis development and function. This study highlights the potential risk posed by UNG operations, especially for the most vulnerable populations, pregnant individuals, and their fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghida Baalbaki
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Victoria Lim
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Antoine P Gillet
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Université de Montréal, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Cathy Vaillancourt
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada; Research Center, CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Geraldine Delbes
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada.
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Akpo H, Doyle-Waters MM, Ronald LA, Friesen M, Takaro T, Leven K, Meyer U, McGregor MJ. The human health effects of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) chemical exposures: a scoping review of the toxicological literature. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2024; 0:reveh-2024-0076. [PMID: 38985132 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2024-0076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Many chemicals associated with unconventional oil and natural gas (UOG) are known toxicants, leading to health concerns about the effects of UOG. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review of the toxicological literature to assess the effects of UOG chemical exposures in models relevant to human health. We searched databases for primary research studies published in English or French between January 2000 and June 2023 on UOG-related toxicology studies. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts and full texts to determine inclusion. Seventeen studies met our study inclusion criteria. Nine studies used solely in vitro models, while six conducted their investigation solely in animal models. Two studies incorporated both types of models. Most studies used real water samples impacted by UOG or lab-made mixtures of UOG chemicals to expose their models. Most in vitro models used human cells in monocultures, while all animal studies were conducted in rodents. All studies detected significant deleterious effects associated with exposure to UOG chemicals or samples, including endocrine disruption, carcinogenicity, behavioral changes and metabolic alterations. Given the plausibility of causal relationships between UOG chemicals and adverse health outcomes highlighted in this review, future risk assessment studies should focus on measuring exposure to UOG chemicals in human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Health and Society, 33530 University of Toronto Scarborough , Ontario, Canada
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, 33530 University of Toronto Scarborough , Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hélène Akpo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mary M Doyle-Waters
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lisa A Ronald
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Friesen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tim Takaro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Ulrike Meyer
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Margaret J McGregor
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada
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Wang S, Luo J, Zhang F, Zhang R, Ju W, Wu N, Zhang J, Liu Y. Association between blood volatile organic aromatic compound concentrations and hearing loss in US adults. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:623. [PMID: 38413886 PMCID: PMC10897984 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18065-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, collectively referred to as benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BEX), constitute the main components of volatile organic aromatic compounds (VOACs) and can have adverse effects on human health. The relationship between exposure to BEX and hearing loss (HL) in the adult U.S. population was aimed to be assessed. METHODS Cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 2003-2004, 2011-2012, and 2015-2016 were analyzed. This dataset included complete demographic characteristics, pure-tone audiometry measurements, and volatile organic compound detection data from the NHANES database. A weighted multivariate logistic regression model was employed to investigate the associations between blood BEX concentrations HL, low-frequency hearing loss (SFHL), and high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL). RESULTS 2174 participants were included, with weighted prevalence rates of HL, SFHL, and HFHL being 46.81%, 25.23%, and 45.86%, respectively. Exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene, and cumulative BEX concentrations increased the risk of hearing loss (odds ratios [ORs] were 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.23, and 1.31, respectively; all P < 0.05). In the analysis with SFHL as the outcome, ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, benzene, and overall BEX increased the risk (OR 1.26, 1.21, 1.28, 1.20, and 1.25, respectively; all P < 0.05). For HFHL, exposure to ethylbenzene, m-/p-xylene, o-xylene, benzene, and overall BEX increased the risk (OR 1.36, 1.22, 1.42, 1.22, and 1.31, respectively; all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Our study indicated that a positive correlation between individual or cumulative exposure to benzene, ethylbenzene, meta/para-xylene, and ortho-xylene and the risk of HL, SFHL, and HFHL. Further research is imperative to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms by which organic compounds, notably BEX, in causing hearing loss and to validate these findings in longitudinal environmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Wang
- College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
- The Center of Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Luo
- College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Otolaryngology head and neck surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology head and neck surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, China
| | - Ruimin Zhang
- College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
- The Center of Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wantao Ju
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Nianwei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
- Research Center for Obesity and Metabolic Health, College of Medicine, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
- Medical Research Center, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jianhui Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology head and neck surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610031, China.
| | - Yanjun Liu
- The Center of Gastrointestinal and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Third People's Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China.
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Kashani M, Engle MA, Kent DB, Gregston T, Cozzarelli IM, Mumford AC, Varonka MS, Harris CR, Akob DM. Illegal dumping of oil and gas wastewater alters arid soil microbial communities. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0149023. [PMID: 38294246 PMCID: PMC10880632 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01490-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The Permian Basin, underlying southeast New Mexico and west Texas, is one of the most productive oil and gas (OG) provinces in the United States. Oil and gas production yields large volumes of wastewater with complex chemistries, and the environmental health risks posed by these OG wastewaters on sensitive desert ecosystems are poorly understood. Starting in November 2017, 39 illegal dumps, as defined by federal and state regulations, of OG wastewater were identified in southeastern New Mexico, releasing ~600,000 L of fluid onto dryland soils. To evaluate the impacts of these releases, we analyzed changes in soil geochemistry and microbial community composition by comparing soils from within OG wastewater dump-affected samples to unaffected zones. We observed significant changes in soil geochemistry for all dump-affected compared with control samples, reflecting the residual salts and hydrocarbons from the OG-wastewater release (e.g., enriched in sodium, chloride, and bromide). Microbial community structure significantly (P < 0.01) differed between dump and control zones, with soils from dump areas having significantly (P < 0.01) lower alpha diversity and differences in phylogenetic composition. Dump-affected soil samples showed an increase in halophilic and halotolerant taxa, including members of the Marinobacteraceae, Halomonadaceae, and Halobacteroidaceae, suggesting that the high salinity of the dumped OG wastewater was exerting a strong selective pressure on microbial community structure. Taxa with high similarity to known hydrocarbon-degrading organisms were also detected in the dump-affected soil samples. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential for OG wastewater exposure to change the geochemistry and microbial community dynamics of arid soils.IMPORTANCEThe long-term environmental health impacts resulting from releases of oil and gas (OG) wastewater, typically brines with varying compositions of ions, hydrocarbons, and other constituents, are understudied. This is especially true for sensitive desert ecosystems, where soil microbes are key primary producers and drivers of nutrient cycling. We found that releases of OG wastewater can lead to shifts in microbial community composition and function toward salt- and hydrocarbon-tolerant taxa that are not typically found in desert soils, thus altering the impacted dryland soil ecosystem. Loss of key microbial taxa, such as those that catalyze organic carbon cycling, increase arid soil fertility, promote plant health, and affect soil moisture retention, could result in cascading effects across the sensitive desert ecosystem. By characterizing environmental changes due to releases of OG wastewater to soils overlying the Permian Basin, we gain further insights into how OG wastewater may alter dryland soil microbial functions and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Kashani
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark A Engle
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Douglas B Kent
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Systems Processes Division, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | | | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Adam C Mumford
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matthew S Varonka
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Cassandra R Harris
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
| | - Denise M Akob
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Reston, Virginia, USA
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Buyukdere Y, Akyol A. From a toxin to an obesogen: a review of potential obesogenic roles of acrylamide with a mechanistic approach. Nutr Rev 2023; 82:128-142. [PMID: 37155834 PMCID: PMC10711450 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad041] [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] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity and obesity-related disorders such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver have become a global health problem. It is well known that the primary cause of obesity is positive energy balance. In addition, obesity is the consequence of complex gene and environment interactions that result in excess calorie intake being stored as fat. However, it has been revealed that there are other factors contributing to the worsening of obesity. The presence of nontraditional risk factors, such as environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals, has recently been associated with obesity and comorbidities caused by obesity. The aim of this review was to examine the evidence and potential mechanisms for acrylamide having endocrine-disrupting properties contributing to obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. Recent studies have suggested that exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting obesogens may be a risk factor contributing to the current obesity epidemic, and that one of these obesogens is acrylamide, an environmental and industrial compound produced by food processing, particularly the processing of foods such as potato chips, and coffee. In addition to the known harmful effects of acrylamide in humans and experimental animals, such as neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity, acrylamide also has an obesogenic effect. It has been shown in the literature to a limited extent that acrylamide may disrupt energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, adipocyte differentiation, and various signaling pathways, and may exacerbate the disturbances in metabolic and biochemical parameters observed as a result of obesity. Acrylamide exerts its main potential obesogenic effects through body weight increase, worsening of the levels of obesity-related blood biomarkers, and induction of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis. Additional mechanisms may be discovered. Further experimental studies and prospective cohorts are needed, both to supplement existing knowledge about acrylamide and its effects, and to clarify its established relationship with obesity and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yucel Buyukdere
- are with the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Asli Akyol
- are with the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Arnold C. From Canaries to Cats: Domestic Animals as Sentinels for Human Exposure Effects. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:112001. [PMID: 37966804 PMCID: PMC10650500 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
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Duh-Leong C, Maffini MV, Kassotis CD, Vandenberg LN, Trasande L. The regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to minimize their impact on health. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2023; 19:600-614. [PMID: 37553404 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-023-00872-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances generated by human industrial activities that are detrimental to human health through their effects on the endocrine system. The global societal and economic burden posed by EDCs is substantial. Poorly defined or unenforced policies can increase human exposure to EDCs, thereby contributing to human disease, disability and economic damage. Researchers have shown that policies and interventions implemented at both individual and government levels have the potential to reduce exposure to EDCs. This Review describes a set of evidence-based policy actions to manage, minimize or even eliminate the widespread use of these chemicals and better protect human health and society. A number of specific challenges exist: defining, identifying and prioritizing EDCs; considering the non-linear or non-monotonic properties of EDCs; accounting for EDC exposure effects that are latent and do not appear until later in life; and updating testing paradigms to reflect 'real-world' mixtures of chemicals and cumulative exposure. A sound strategy also requires partnering with health-care providers to integrate strategies to prevent EDC exposure in clinical care. Critical next steps include addressing EDCs within global policy frameworks by integrating EDC exposure prevention into emerging climate policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Duh-Leong
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Christopher D Kassotis
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- New York University Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York, NY, USA.
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Gaughan C, Sorrentino KM, Liew Z, Johnson NP, Clark CJ, Soriano M, Plano J, Plata DL, Saiers JE, Deziel NC. Residential proximity to unconventional oil and gas development and birth defects in Ohio. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115937. [PMID: 37076028 PMCID: PMC10198955 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemicals used or emitted by unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) include reproductive/developmental toxicants. Associations between UOGD and certain birth defects were reported in a few studies, with none conducted in Ohio, which experienced a thirty-fold increase in natural gas production between 2010 and 2020. METHODS We conducted a registry-based cohort study of 965,236 live births in Ohio from 2010 to 2017. Birth defects were identified in 4653 individuals using state birth records and a state surveillance system. We assigned UOGD exposure based on maternal residential proximity at birth to active UOG wells and a metric specific to the drinking-water exposure pathway that identified UOG wells hydrologically connected to a residence ("upgradient UOG wells"). We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all structural birth defects combined and specific birth defect types using binary exposure metrics (presence/absence of any UOG well and presence/absence of an upgradient UOG well within 10 km), adjusting for confounders. Additionally, we conducted analyses stratified by urbanicity, infant sex, and social vulnerability. RESULTS The odds of any structural defect were 1.13 times higher in children born to mothers living within 10 km of UOGD than those born to unexposed mothers (95%CI: 0.98-1.30). Odds were elevated for neural tube defects (OR: 1.57, 95%CI: 1.12-2.19), limb reduction defects (OR: 1.99, 95%CI: 1.18-3.35), and spina bifida (OR 1.93; 95%CI 1.25-2.98). Hypospadias (males only) was inversely related to UOGD exposure (OR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.43-0.91). Odds of any structural defect were greater in magnitude but less precise in analyses using the hydrological-specific metric (OR: 1.30; 95%CI: 0.85-1.90), in areas with high social vulnerability (OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 0.99-1.60), and among female offspring (OR: 1.28, 95%CI: 1.06-1.53). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest a positive association between UOGD and certain birth defects, and findings for neural tube defects corroborate results from prior studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Gaughan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale College, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Keli M Sorrentino
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nicholaus P Johnson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Cassandra J Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mario Soriano
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; High Meadows Environmental Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Julie Plano
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Desiree L Plata
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - James E Saiers
- Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Castro Wersäll O, Razumova Z, Govorov I, Mints M. Dietary Habits and Daily Routines as Prognostic Factors in Endometrial Cancer: A Machine Learning Approach. Nutr Cancer 2022; 75:310-319. [PMID: 36104928 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2022.2112241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is becoming more common worldwide, primarily due to an increase in life expectancy and obesity. As several modifiable factors may affect EC incidence and progression, we aimed to elucidate how dietary habits and daily routines influence recurrence and survival among women with EC, using a Random Survival Forest (RSF) approach. 481 women who previously underwent hysterectomy due to EC completed two extensive questionnaires on dietary habits and daily routines, and we used RSF to identify risky or protective variables. Among the 186 variables considered, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and fried potatoes increased the risk of EC recurrence and death, while physical activity decreased the risk of death. We conclude that RSF is a suitable approach to study survival in multivariable datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ofra Castro Wersäll
- Division of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Zoia Razumova
- Division of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Igor Govorov
- Division of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Institute of Perinatology and Pediatrics, Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Miriam Mints
- Division of Neonatology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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10
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Cox C, Zeiss M. Health, Pesticide Adjuvants, and Inert Ingredients: California Case Study Illustrates Need for Data Access. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:85001. [PMID: 35920661 PMCID: PMC9347270 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many pesticide products are mixtures of multiple chemicals. These include active ingredients intended to kill pests, and so-called inert ingredients intended to improve the physical characteristics of the product. In addition, shortly before applying a pesticide product, applicators often mix adjuvants into the sprayer tank. Adjuvants are products designed to improve the performance or physical properties of a pesticide spray mixture. Manufacturers may use a particular chemical compound both as an inert ingredient within pesticide products and as a component of adjuvant products. Nonetheless, regulations dictate that data on use are publicly available only for the portion used in adjuvants. Adjuvants are exempt from federal registration, but are defined as pesticides in California. Based on that definition, California has identified α-(p-nonylphenyl)-ω-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene) (APNOHO) as the most widely used pesticide in the state, applied to more than 10 million acres annually. That quantified use includes only agricultural acres treated with adjuvants containing APNOHO. Total APNOHO use is likely higher because manufacturers also use the chemical as an inert ingredient within pesticide products, although data on such use are shielded by regulation. OBJECTIVES We use APNOHO as a case study to demonstrate that the use of adjuvants and inert ingredients is difficult to track because relevant information is not publicly available. We synthesize information that suggests widespread agricultural use of alkylphenol ethoxylates, such as APNOHO, may pose significant human and environmental health risks. We then make recommendations for future research and policy. METHODS We used information from California's pesticide use reporting system and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to estimate use of APNOHO. We used U.S. EPA and European databases, as well as published research, to identify human and environmental health hazards of APNOHO. We focused on research showing that APNOHO is an endocrine-disrupting chemical. DISCUSSION Within California, APNOHO is applied in more than 150 adjuvant products. Nationwide, it is used as an inert ingredient in at least 650 pesticide products. Exposure to APNOHO is associated with endocrine disruption, birth defects, and aquatic toxicity. We suggest that the case of APNOHO illustrates the larger problem of a lack of publicly available data on use and toxicity of many adjuvants and pesticide inert ingredients. We recommend that researchers and regulators include adjuvants and inert ingredients when evaluating pesticide hazards, including endocrine disruption. We also recommend regulatory requirements to identify all ingredients on product labels. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10634.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Cox
- Center for Environmental Health (retired), Oakland, California, USA
| | - Michael Zeiss
- California Department of Pesticide Regulation (retired), Sacramento, California, USA
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11
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Heindel JJ, Howard S, Agay-Shay K, Arrebola JP, Audouze K, Babin PJ, Barouki R, Bansal A, Blanc E, Cave MC, Chatterjee S, Chevalier N, Choudhury M, Collier D, Connolly L, Coumoul X, Garruti G, Gilbertson M, Hoepner LA, Holloway AC, Howell G, Kassotis CD, Kay MK, Kim MJ, Lagadic-Gossmann D, Langouet S, Legrand A, Li Z, Le Mentec H, Lind L, Monica Lind P, Lustig RH, Martin-Chouly C, Munic Kos V, Podechard N, Roepke TA, Sargis RM, Starling A, Tomlinson CR, Touma C, Vondracek J, Vom Saal F, Blumberg B. Obesity II: Establishing causal links between chemical exposures and obesity. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 199:115015. [PMID: 35395240 PMCID: PMC9124454 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a multifactorial disease with both genetic and environmental components. The prevailing view is that obesity results from an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure caused by overeating and insufficient exercise. We describe another environmental element that can alter the balance between energy intake and energy expenditure: obesogens. Obesogens are a subset of environmental chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors affecting metabolic endpoints. The obesogen hypothesis posits that exposure to endocrine disruptors and other chemicals can alter the development and function of the adipose tissue, liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and brain, thus changing the set point for control of metabolism. Obesogens can determine how much food is needed to maintain homeostasis and thereby increase the susceptibility to obesity. The most sensitive time for obesogen action is in utero and early childhood, in part via epigenetic programming that can be transmitted to future generations. This review explores the evidence supporting the obesogen hypothesis and highlights knowledge gaps that have prevented widespread acceptance as a contributor to the obesity pandemic. Critically, the obesogen hypothesis changes the narrative from curing obesity to preventing obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrold J Heindel
- Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies, Commonweal, Bolinas, CA 92924, USA.
| | - Sarah Howard
- Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies, Commonweal, Bolinas, CA 92924, USA
| | - Keren Agay-Shay
- Health and Environment Research (HER) Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Israel
| | - Juan P Arrebola
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Karine Audouze
- Department of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, Paris France
| | - Patrick J Babin
- Department of Life and Health Sciences, University of Bordeaux, INSERM, Pessac France
| | - Robert Barouki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Amita Bansal
- College of Health & Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Etienne Blanc
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Matthew C Cave
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40402, USA
| | - Saurabh Chatterjee
- Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Nicolas Chevalier
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cote d'Azur, Cote d'Azur, France
| | - Mahua Choudhury
- College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - David Collier
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Lisa Connolly
- The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Xavier Coumoul
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Paris, INSERM, T3S, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Gabriella Garruti
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Bari "Aldo Moro," Bari, Italy
| | - Michael Gilbertson
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - Lori A Hoepner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Alison C Holloway
- McMaster University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamilton, Ontario, CA, USA
| | - George Howell
- Center for Environmental Health Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Christopher D Kassotis
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Mathew K Kay
- College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Min Ji Kim
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | | | - Sophie Langouet
- Univ Rennes, INSERM EHESP, IRSET UMR_5S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Antoine Legrand
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Zhuorui Li
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Helene Le Mentec
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Lars Lind
- Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - P Monica Lind
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert H Lustig
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | | | - Vesna Munic Kos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Normand Podechard
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Troy A Roepke
- Department of Animal Science, School of Environmental and Biological Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Robert M Sargis
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Il 60612, USA
| | - Anne Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Craig R Tomlinson
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Charbel Touma
- Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Bobigny, INSERM U1124 (T3S), Paris, France
| | - Jan Vondracek
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Frederick Vom Saal
- Division of Biological Sciences, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Bruce Blumberg
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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12
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Zhong C, Nesbø CL, von Gunten K, Zhang Y, Shao X, Jin R, Konhauser KO, Goss GG, Martin JW, He Y, Qian PY, Lanoil BD, Alessi DS. Complex impacts of hydraulic fracturing return fluids on soil microbial community respiration, structure, and functional potentials. Environ Microbiol 2022; 24:4108-4123. [PMID: 35416402 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The consequences of soils exposed to hydraulic fracturing (HF) return fluid, often collectively termed flowback and produced water (FPW), are poorly understood, even though soils are a common receptor of FPW spills. Here, we investigate the impacts on soil microbiota exposed to FPW collected from the Montney Formation of western Canada. We measured soil respiration, microbial community structure, and functional potentials under FPW exposure across a range of concentrations, exposure time, and soil types (luvisol and chernozem). We find that soil type governs microbial community response upon FPW exposure. Within each soil, FPW exposure led to reduced biotic soil respiration, and shifted microbial community structure and functional potentials. We detect substantially higher species richness and more unique functional genes in FPW-exposed soils than in FPW-unexposed soils, with metagenome-assembled genomes (e.g., Marinobacter persicus) from luvisol soil exposed to concentrated FPW being most similar to genomes from HF/FPW sites. Our data demonstrate the complex impacts of microbial communities following FPW exposure, and highlight the site-specific effects in evaluation of spills and agricultural reuse of FPW on the normal soil functions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada.,Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Camilla L Nesbø
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Konstantin von Gunten
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Xiaoqing Shao
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Rong Jin
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Kurt O Konhauser
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pei-Yuan Qian
- Department of Ocean Science and Hong Kong Branch of the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.,Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
| | - Brian D Lanoil
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
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13
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Plante I, Winn LM, Vaillancourt C, Grigorova P, Parent L. Killing two birds with one stone: Pregnancy is a sensitive window for endocrine effects on both the mother and the fetus. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112435. [PMID: 34843719 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a complex process requiring tremendous physiological changes in the mother in order to fulfill the needs of the growing fetus, and to give birth, expel the placenta and nurse the newborn. These physiological modifications are accompanied with psychological changes, as well as with variations in habits and behaviors. As a result, this period of life is considered as a sensitive window as impaired functional and physiological changes in the mother can have short- and long-term impacts on her health. In addition, dysregulation of the placenta and of mechanisms governing placentation have been linked to chronic diseases later-on in life for the fetus, in a concept known as the Developmental Origin of Health and Diseases (DOHaD). This concept stipulates that any change in the environment during the pre-conception and perinatal (in utero life and neonatal) period to puberty, can be "imprinted" in the organism, thereby impacting the health and risk of chronic diseases later in life. Pregnancy is a succession of events that is regulated, in large part, by hormones and growth factors. Therefore, small changes in hormonal balance can have important effects on both the mother and the developing fetus. An increasing number of studies demonstrate that exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) affect both the mother and the fetus giving rise to growing concerns surrounding these exposures. This review will give an overview of changes that happen during pregnancy with respect to the mother, the placenta, and the fetus, and of the current literature regarding the effects of EDCs during this specific sensitive window of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Plante
- INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC, Canada.
| | - Louise M Winn
- Queen's University, School of Environmental Studies, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | - Petya Grigorova
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TELUQ, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lise Parent
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TELUQ, Montreal, QC, Canada
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14
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Prevalence of ANCA-associated vasculitis amid natural gas drilling sites in West Virginia. J Nephrol 2022; 35:1185-1192. [PMID: 34989976 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-021-01243-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The epidemiology of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) varies by ethnicity and region. Environmental exposure has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MPO-AAV. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of AAV and explore a potential relationship with environmental factors in north central West Virginia. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of 212 patients diagnosed with AAV at West Virginia University and its affiliated hospitals from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2019. We assessed prevalence of AAV over time according to patient's zip codes and counties. Silica exposure through natural gas extraction was considered as a possible environmental factor. RESULTS The proportion of patients with MPO-ANCA increased after 2010 (37.5% before 2010 vs 61% after 2010, p = 0.008). At the same time, the prevalence of AAV in Monongalia and surrounding counties has increased significantly after 2010 from 64.8 to 141.9 cases per million (p = 0.001). The increase in prevalence of AAV was primarily due to an increase in MPO-AAV (43 vs 101.7 cases per million before and after 2010, respectively, p = 0.028). During this time, the production of natural gas through fracking increased, rising more than tenfold after 2010 (p-value < 0.001). Heat mapping reveals that the increase in cases of AAV occurred in areas of increased fracking activity. CONCLUSIONS There was an increase in the prevalence of patients who were newly diagnosed with AAV over time in north central West Virginia. Further studies are required to ascertain the potential role of environmental exposure in the pathophysiology of AAV.
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15
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Kelsey JR. Ethylene oxide derived glycol ethers: A review of the alkyl glycol ethers potential to cause endocrine disruption. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 129:105113. [PMID: 34974128 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.105113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The 'ethylene glycol ethers' (EGE) are a broad family of solvents and hydraulic fluids produced through the reaction of ethylene oxide and a monoalcohol. Certain EGE derived from methanol and ethanol are well known to cause toxicity to the testes and fetotoxicity and that this is caused by the common metabolites methoxy and ethoxyacetic acid, respectively. There have been numerous published claims that EGE fall into the category of 'endocrine disruptors' often without substantiated evidence. This review systematically evaluates all of the available and relevant in vitro and in vivo data across this family of substances using an approach based around the EFSA/ECHA 2018 guidance for the identification of endocrine disruptors. The conclusion reached is that there is no significant evidence to show that EGE target any endocrine organs or perturb endocrine pathways and that any toxicity that is seen occurs by non-endocrine modes of action.
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16
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Lu Y, Zhang Y, Zhong C, Martin JW, Alessi DS, Goss GG, Ren Y, He Y. Suspended solids-associated toxicity of hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water on early life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117614. [PMID: 34171731 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117614] [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: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water (HF-FPW), which contains polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and numerous other potential contaminants, is a complex wastewater produced during the recovery of tight hydrocarbon resources. Previous studies on HF-FPW have demonstrated various toxicological responses of aquatic organisms as consequences of combined exposure to high salinity, dissolved organic compounds and particle/suspended solids-bound pollutants. Noteworthy is the lack of studies illustrating the potentially toxic effects of the FPW suspended solids (FPW-SS). In this study, we investigated the acute and sublethal toxicity of suspended solids filtered from six authentic FPW sample collected from two fracturing wells, using a sediment contact assay based on early-life stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio). PAHs profiles and acute toxicity tests provided initial information on the toxic potency of the six samples. Upon exposure to sediment mixture at two selected doses (1.6 and 3.1 mg/mL), results showed adverse effects in larval zebrafish, as revealed by increased Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity. Transcriptional alterations were also observed in xenobiotic biotransformation (ahr, pxr, cyp1a, cyp1b1, cyp1c1, cyp1c2, cyp3a65, udpgt1a1, udpgt5g1), antioxidant response (sod1, sod2, gpx1a, gpx1b) and hormone receptor signaling (esr1, esr2a, cyp19a1a, vtg1) genes. The results demonstrated that even separated from the complex aqueous FPW mixture, FPW-SS can induce toxicological responses in aquatic organisms' early life stages. Since FPW-SS could sediment to the bottom of natural wetland acting as a continuous source of contaminants, the current findings imply the likelihood of long-term environmental risks of polluted sediments on aquatic ecosystems due to FPW spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichun Lu
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada
| | - Cheng Zhong
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada; Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, 10691, Sweden
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yuhe He
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada; Hong Kong Branch of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Hong Kong, China.
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17
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O'Dell CT, Boule LA, Robert J, Georas SN, Eliseeva S, Lawrence BP. Exposure to a mixture of 23 chemicals associated with unconventional oil and gas operations alters immune response to challenge in adult mice. J Immunotoxicol 2021; 18:105-117. [PMID: 34455897 DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2021.1965677] [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: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations raises concerns regarding the potential for adverse health outcomes following exposure to water tainted by mixtures of UOG associated chemicals. The potential effects that exposure to complex chemical mixtures has on the immune system have yet to be fully evaluated. In this study, effects on the immune system of adult mice exposed to a mixture of 23 chemicals that have been associated with water near active UOG operations were investigated. Female and male mice were exposed to the mixture via their drinking water for at least 8 weeks. At the end of the exposure, cellularity of primary and secondary immune organs, as well as an immune system function, were assessed using three different models of disease, i.e. house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic airway disease, influenza A virus infection, and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The results indicated exposures resulted in different impacts on T-cell populations in each disease model. Furthermore, the consequences of exposure differed between female and male mice. Notably, exposure to the chemical mixture significantly increased EAE disease severity in females, but not in male, mice. These findings indicated that direct exposure to this mixture leads to multiple alterations in T-cell subsets and that these alterations differ between sexes. This suggested to us that direct exposure to UOG-associated chemicals may alter the adult immune system, leading to dysregulation in immune cellularity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen T O'Dell
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Lisbeth A Boule
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jacques Robert
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Steve N Georas
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Sophia Eliseeva
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
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18
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McGuire CC, Lawrence BP, Robert J. Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals in Mixture Perturb Thymocyte Differentiation in Xenopus laevis Tadpoles. Toxicol Sci 2021; 181:262-272. [PMID: 33681995 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can perturb the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis affecting human and wildlife health. Thyroid hormones (TH) are crucial regulators of metabolism, growth, and differentiation. The perinatal stage is most reliant on TH, thus vulnerable to TH disrupting chemicals. Dysregulation of TH signaling during perinatal development can weaken T cell function in maturity, raising the question of whether TH disrupting chemicals can perturb thymocyte development. Using Xenopus laevis tadpoles as model, we determined TH disrupting effects and thymocyte alterations following exposure to a mixture of common waterborne TH disrupting chemicals at concentrations similar to those found in contaminated water. This mixture included naphthalene, ethylene glycol, ethoxylated nonylphenol, and octylphenol, which have documented TH disrupting activity. Besides hypertrophy-like pathology in the thyroid gland and delayed metamorphosis, exposure to the mixture antagonized TH receptor-induced transcription of the Krüppel-like factor 9 transcription factor and significantly raised thyroid-stimulating hormone gene expression in the brain, two genes that modulate thymocyte differentiation. Importantly, exposure to this mixture reduced the number of Xenopus immature cortical thymocyte-specific-antigen (CTX+) and mature CD8+ thymocytes, whereas co-exposure with exogenous TH (T3) abolished the effect. When each chemical of the mixture was individually tested, only ethylene glycol induced significant antagonist effects on brain, thymic gene expression, and CD8+ thymocytes. These results suggest that EDCs in mixture are more potent than each chemical alone to perturb thymocyte development through TH-dependent pathway, and provide a starting point to research TH influence on thymocyte development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor C McGuire
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 1462.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 1462
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 1462.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 1462
| | - Jacques Robert
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 1462.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 1462
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19
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Vandenberg LN. Endocrine disrupting chemicals: strategies to protect present and future generations. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2021; 16:135-146. [PMID: 33973826 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2021.1917991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that alter the actions of hormones. In the 21st Century, numerous expert groups of clinicians, scientists, and environmental activists have called for action to protect present and future generations from the harm induced by EDC exposures. These demands for regulatory responses come because of the strong weight of the evidence from epidemiology, wildlife, and controlled laboratory studies.Areas covered: In this review, we examine the conclusions drawn by experts from different scientific and medical disciplines. We also address several areas where recent findings or work has changed the landscape of EDC work including new approaches to identify and evaluate the evidence for EDCs using a key characteristics approach, the need to expand our understanding of vulnerable periods of development, and the increasing concern that traditional methods used to evaluate toxicity of environmental chemicals are insufficient for EDCs and how collaborative science could help to address these gaps.Expert opinion: The science is clear: there is more than enough evidence to demonstrate that EDCs affect the health of humans and wildlife. Waiting to act is a decision that puts the health of current and future generations at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Vandenberg
- School of Public Health & Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA USA
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20
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Caron-Beaudoin É, Whitworth KW, Bosson-Rieutort D, Wendling G, Liu S, Verner MA. Density and proximity to hydraulic fracturing wells and birth outcomes in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2021; 31:53-61. [PMID: 32651474 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0245-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydraulic fracturing, a method used in Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) to extract natural gas, can release contaminants with potential deleterious health effects on fetal development. To date, the association between hydraulic fracturing activity and birth outcomes has not been evaluated in this region. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between the hydraulic fracturing well density/proximity and birth outcomes (birthweight, head circumference, preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA)). METHODS We used birth records from the Fort St John hospital between December 30, 2006 and December 29, 2016 (n = 6333 births). To estimate gestational exposure, we used inverse distance weighting (IDW) to calculate the density/proximity of hydraulic fracturing wells to pregnant women's postal code centroid. For each birth, we calculated three IDWs using 2.5, 5, and 10 km buffer zones around women's postal code centroid. We used linear and logistic regressions to evaluate associations between quartiles of postal code well density/proximity and birth outcomes, controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS No associations were found between postal code well density/proximity and head circumference or SGA. A negative association was found between postal code well density/proximity and birthweight for infants born to women in the 2nd quartile of the 10 km buffer (β [95% confidence interval (CI)]: -47.28 g [-84.30; -10.25]), and in the 2nd (β [95% CI]: -40.87 g [-78.01; -3.73]) and 3rd (β [95% CI]: -42.01 g [-79.15; -4.87]) quartiles of the 5 km buffer. Increased odds of preterm birth were observed among women in the 2nd quartile of the 2.5 km buffer (odds ratio (OR) [95% CI]: 1.60 [1.30; 2.43]). CONCLUSIONS This is the first epidemiological study in Northeastern British Columbia evaluating associations between hydraulic fracturing and health outcomes. Our results show inconsistent patterns of association between hydraulic fracturing, preterm birth and reduced birthweight, and effect estimates did not match expected dose-response relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Élyse Caron-Beaudoin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, 828 West 10th Avenue, Research Pavilion, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Health and Society and Department of Environmental and Physical Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Kristina W Whitworth
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Sciences Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Delphine Bosson-Rieutort
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation (DGEPS), School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 7101 Avenue du Parc, H3N 1×9, Montreal, QC, Canada
- National Institute for Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESS), Information Management Team, 202 Avenue Union, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Gilles Wendling
- GW Solutions, Inc., 201-5180 Dublin Way, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
| | - Suyang Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Global Health, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 115# Donghu Road, Wuhan, China
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Cote-Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 7101, Parc Ave., Montreal, QC, Canada
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21
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Kassotis CD, Harkness JS, Vo PH, Vu DC, Hoffman K, Cinnamon KM, Cornelius-Green JN, Vengosh A, Lin CH, Tillitt DE, Kruse RL, McElroy JA, Nagel SC. Endocrine disrupting activities and geochemistry of water resources associated with unconventional oil and gas activity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 748:142236. [PMID: 33039138 PMCID: PMC7772064 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The rise of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional oil and gas (UOG) exploration in the United States has increased public concerns for water contamination induced from hydraulic fracturing fluids and associated wastewater spills. Herein, we collected surface and groundwater samples across Garfield County, Colorado, a drilling-dense region, and measured endocrine bioactivities, geochemical tracers of UOG wastewater, UOG-related organic contaminants in surface water, and evaluated UOG drilling production (weighted well scores, nearby well count, reported spills) surrounding sites. Elevated antagonist activities for the estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and glucocorticoid receptors were detected in surface water and associated with nearby shale gas well counts and density. The elevated endocrine activities were observed in surface water associated with medium and high UOG production (weighted UOG well score-based groups). These bioactivities were generally not associated with reported spills nearby, and often did not exhibit geochemical profiles associated with UOG wastewater from this region. Our results suggest the potential for releases of low-saline hydraulic fracturing fluids or chemicals used in other aspects of UOG production, similar to the chemistry of the local water, and dissimilar from defined spills of post-injection wastewater. Notably, water collected from certain medium and high UOG production sites exhibited bioactivities well above the levels known to impact the health of aquatic organisms, suggesting that further research to assess potential endocrine activities of UOG operations is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer S Harkness
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Phuc H Vo
- Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Danh C Vu
- Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Faculty of Technology, Van Lang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Katelyn M Cinnamon
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jennifer N Cornelius-Green
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Chung-Ho Lin
- Center for Agroforestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Donald E Tillitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Robin L Kruse
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jane A McElroy
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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22
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Faÿs F, Palazzi P, Hardy EM, Schaeffer C, Phillipat C, Zeimet E, Vaillant M, Beausoleil C, Rousselle C, Slama R, Appenzeller BMR. Is there an optimal sampling time and number of samples for assessing exposure to fast elimination endocrine disruptors with urinary biomarkers? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:141185. [PMID: 32771784 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141185] [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: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In studies investigating the effects of endocrine disruptors (ED) such as phthalates, bisphenols and some pesticides on human health, exposure is usually characterized with urinary metabolites. The variability of biomarkers concentration, due to rapid elimination from the body combined with frequent exposure is however pointed out as a major limitation to exposure assessment. This study was conducted to assess variability of urinary metabolites of ED, and to investigate how sampling time and number of samples analyzed impacts exposure assessment. Urine samples were collected over 6 months from 16 volunteers according to a random sampling design, and analyzed for 16 phthalate metabolites, 9 pesticide metabolites and 4 bisphenols. The amount of biomarkers excreted in urine at different times of the day were compared. In parallel, 2 algorithms were developed to investigate the effect of the number of urine samples analyzed per subject on exposure assessment reliability. In the 805 urine samples collected from the participants, all the biomarkers tested were detected, and 18 were present in >90% of the samples. Biomarkers variability was highlighted by the low intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from 0.09 to 0.51. Comparing the amount of biomarkers excreted in urine at different time did not allow to identify a preferred moment for urine collection between first day urine, morning, afternoon and evening. Algorithms demonstrated that between 10 (for monobenzyl (MBzP) phthalate) and 31 (for bisphenol S) samples were necessary to correctly classify 87.5% of the subjects into quartiles according to their level of exposure. The results illustrate the high variability of urinary biomarkers of ED over time and the impossibility to reliably classify subjects based on a single urine sample (or a limited number). Results showed that classifying individuals based on urinary biomarkers requires several samples per subject, and this number is highly different for different biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Faÿs
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg; University of Luxembourg, 2, avenue de l'Université, L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - P Palazzi
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - E M Hardy
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - C Schaeffer
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - C Phillipat
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Site Santé - Allée des Alpes, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - E Zeimet
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - M Vaillant
- Competence Center for Methodology and Statistics, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - C Beausoleil
- ANSES, Risk Assessment Department, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - C Rousselle
- ANSES, Risk Assessment Department, 14 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - R Slama
- University Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, CNRS, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Site Santé - Allée des Alpes, 38700 La Tronche, France
| | - B M R Appenzeller
- Human Biomonitoring Research Unit, Department of Population Health, Luxembourg Institute of Health, 1 A-B rue Thomas Edison, 1445 Strassen, Luxembourg
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23
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Kassotis CD, Herkert NJ, Hammel SC, Hoffman K, Xia Q, Kullman SW, Sosa JA, Stapleton HM. Thyroid Receptor Antagonism of Chemicals Extracted from Personal Silicone Wristbands within a Papillary Thyroid Cancer Pilot Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15296-15312. [PMID: 33185092 PMCID: PMC7819617 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that thyroid cancer incidence rates are increasing, and environmental exposures have been postulated to be playing a role. To explore this possibility, we conducted a pilot study to investigate the thyroid disrupting bioactivity of chemical mixtures isolated from personal silicone wristband samplers within a thyroid cancer cohort. Specifically, we evaluated TRβ antagonism of chemical mixtures extracted from wristbands (n = 72) worn by adults in central North Carolina participating in a case-control study on papillary thyroid cancer. Sections of wristbands were solvent-extracted and analyzed via mass spectrometry to quantify a suite of semivolatile chemicals. A second extract from each wristband was used in a bioassay to quantify TRβ antagonism in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293/17) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10% of the original extract (by volume). Approximately 70% of the sample extracts tested at a 1% extract concentration exhibited significant TRβ antagonism, with a mean of 30% and a range of 0-100%. Inhibited cell viability was noted in >20% of samples that were tested at 5 and 10% concentrations. Antagonism was positively associated with wristband concentrations of several phthalates, organophosphate esters, and brominated flame retardants. These results suggest that personal passive samplers may be useful in evaluating the bioactivities of mixtures that people contact on a daily basis. We also report tentative associations between thyroid receptor antagonism, chemical concentrations, and papillary thyroid cancer case status. Future research utilizing larger sample sizes, prospective data collection, and measurement of serum thyroid hormone levels (which were not possible in this study) should be utilized to more comprehensively evaluate these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Kassotis
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Nicholas J Herkert
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Stephanie C Hammel
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Qianyi Xia
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Seth W Kullman
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Julie Ann Sosa
- Department of Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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24
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Sirotkin A, Záhoranska Z, Tarko A, Fabova Z, Alwasel S, Halim Harrath A. Plant polyphenols can directly affect ovarian cell functions and modify toluene effects. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2020; 105:80-89. [PMID: 33058312 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The influence of toluene alone and in combination with plant polyphenols apigenin, daidzein or rutin on viability, proliferation (proliferating cell nuclear antigen accumulation), apoptosis (Bax accumulation) and release of progesterone (P), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E) in cultured porcine ovarian granulosa cells was evaluated. Toluene reduced ovarian cell viability, proliferation and E release; it promoted P release, demonstrating no effect on apoptosis or T output. Apigenin alone failed to affect cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis and P and T release, but stimulated E release, promoting the inhibitory action of toluene on proliferation, preventing and even reversing the stimulatory effect of toluene on apoptosis and P. Daidzein alone reduced cell viability and promoted T release, preventing and reversing the stimulatory effect of toluene on cell proliferation. Rutin administration reduced cell viability and E output, promoting the inhibitory action of toluene on cell viability and stimulatory effect on P release, and preventing the inhibitory action of toluene on E release. Toluene reduced apigenin- and rutin-induced E release, promoting action of daidzein on cell viability. These observations suggest the action of toluene and plant polyphenols on ovarian cell functions and the functional interrelationships between these molecules in the ovary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Adam Tarko
- Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic
| | - Zuzana Fabova
- Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovak Republic
| | - Saleh Alwasel
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdel Halim Harrath
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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25
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Tachachartvanich P, Azhagiya Singam ER, Durkin KA, Smith MT, La Merrill MA. Structure-based discovery of the endocrine disrupting effects of hydraulic fracturing chemicals as novel androgen receptor antagonists. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 257:127178. [PMID: 32505947 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing (HF) technology is increasingly utilized for oil and gas extraction operations. The widespread use of HF has led to concerns of negative impacts on both the environment and human health. Indeed, the potential endocrine disrupting impacts of HF chemicals is one such knowledge gap. Herein, we used structure-based molecular docking to assess the binding affinities of 60 HF chemicals to the human androgen receptor (AR). Five HF chemicals had relatively high predicted AR binding affinity, suggesting the potential for endocrine disruption. We next assessed androgenic and antiandrogenic activities of these chemicals in vitro. Of the five candidate AR ligands, only Genapol®X-100 significantly modified AR transactivation. To better understand the structural effect of Genapol®X-100 on the potency of AR inhibition, we compared the antiandrogenic activity of Genapol®X-100 with that of its structurally similar chemical, Genapol®X-080. Interestingly, both Genapol®X-100 and Genapol®X-080 elicited an antagonistic effect at AR with 20% relative inhibitory concentrations of 0.43 and 0.89 μM, respectively. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism of AR inhibition of these two chemicals in vitro, and found that both Genapol®X-100 and Genapol®X-080 inhibited AR through a noncompetitive mechanism. The effect of these two chemicals on the expression of AR responsive genes, e.g. PSA, KLK2, and AR, was also investigated. Genapol®X-100 and Genapol®X-080 altered the expression of these genes. Our findings heighten awareness of endocrine disruption by HF chemicals and provide evidence that noncompetitive antiandrogenic Genapol®X-100 could cause adverse endocrine health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phum Tachachartvanich
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | | | - Kathleen A Durkin
- Molecular Graphics and Computation Facility, College of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Martyn T Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Michele A La Merrill
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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26
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Mullen KR, Rivera BN, Tidwell LG, Ivanek R, Anderson KA, Ainsworth DM. Environmental surveillance and adverse neonatal health outcomes in foals born near unconventional natural gas development activity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 731:138497. [PMID: 32434096 PMCID: PMC7430053 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Studies of neonatal health risks of unconventional natural gas development (UNGD) have not included comprehensive assessments of environmental chemical exposures. We investigated a clustering of dysphagic cases in neonatal foals born between 2014 and 2016 in an area of active UNGD in Pennsylvania (PA),USA. We evaluated equine biological data and environmental exposures on the affected PA farm and an unaffected New York (NY) farm owned by the same proprietor. Dams either spent their entire gestation on one farm or moved to the other farm in late gestation. Over the 21-month study period, physical examinations and blood/tissue samples were obtained from mares and foals on each farm. Grab samples of water, pasture soil and feed were collected; continuous passive sampling of air and water for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was performed. Dysphagia was evaluated as a binary variable; logistic regression was used to identify risk factors. Sixty-five foals were born, 17 (all from PA farm) were dysphagic. Odds of dysphagia increased with the dam residing on the PA farm for each additional month of gestation (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.2, 1.7, p = 6.0E-04). Males were more likely to be born dysphagic (OR = 5.5, 95% CI 1.2, 24.5, p = 0.03) than females. Prior to installation of a water filtration/treatment system, PA water concentrations of 3,6-dimethylphenanthrene (p = 6.0E-03), fluoranthene (p = 0.03), pyrene (p = 0.02) and triphenylene (p = 0.01) exceeded those in NY water. Compared to NY farm water, no concentrations of PAHs were higher in PA following installation of the water filtration/treatment system. We provide evidence of an uncommon adverse health outcome (dysphagia) in foals born near UNGD that was eliminated in subsequent years (2017-2019) following environmental management changes. Notably, this study demonstrates that domestic large animals such as horses can serve as important sentinels for human health risks associated with UNGD activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen R Mullen
- Littleton Equine Medical Center, 8025 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, CO 80120, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, Tower Rd., College of Veterinary Medicine-Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Brianna N Rivera
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Agricultural Life Sciences, Room 1007, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Lane G Tidwell
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Agricultural Life Sciences, Room 1007, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Renata Ivanek
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Tower Rd., College of Veterinary Medicine-Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
| | - Kim A Anderson
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Agricultural Life Sciences, Room 1007, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Dorothy M Ainsworth
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Tower Rd., College of Veterinary Medicine-Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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27
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Nagel SC, Kassotis CD, Vandenberg LN, Lawrence BP, Robert J, Balise VD. Developmental exposure to a mixture of unconventional oil and gas chemicals: A review of experimental effects on adult health, behavior, and disease. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 513:110722. [PMID: 32147523 PMCID: PMC7539678 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and natural gas extraction (UOG) combines directional drilling and hydraulic fracturing and produces billions of liters of wastewater per year. Herein, we review experimental studies that evaluated the potential endocrine-mediated health impacts of exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals commonly found in wastewater. The purpose of this manuscript is to synthesize and summarize a body of work using the same UOG-mix but with different model systems and physiological endpoints in multiple experiments. The studies reviewed were conducted in laboratory animals (mice or tadpoles) and human tissue culture cells. A key feature of the in vivo studies was the use of four environmentally relevant doses spanning three orders of magnitude ranging from concentrations found in surface and ground water in UOG dense areas to concentrations found in UOG wastewater. This UOG-mix exhibited potent antagonist activity for the estrogen, androgen, glucocorticoid, progesterone, and thyroid receptors in human tissue culture cells. Subsequently, pregnant mice were administered the UOG-mix in drinking water and offspring were examined in adulthood or to tadpoles. Developmental exposure profoundly impacted pituitary hormone concentrations, reduced sperm counts, altered folliculogenesis, and increased mammary gland ductal density and preneoplastic lesions in mice. It also altered energy expenditure, exploratory and risk-taking behavior, the immune system in three immune models in mice, and affected basal and antiviral immunity in frogs. These findings highlight the diverse systems affected by developmental EDC exposure and the need to examine human and animal health in UOG regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health, University of Missouri, DC051.00 One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - C D Kassotis
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, 450 Research Drive, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - L N Vandenberg
- School of Public Health & Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 171C Goessmann, 686 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - B P Lawrence
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Environmental Medicine, 601 Elmwood Avenue, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - J Robert
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, and Environmental Medicine, 601 Elmwood Avenue, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - V D Balise
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Science Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
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28
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Johnston JE, Chau K, Franklin M, Cushing L. Environmental Justice Dimensions of Oil and Gas Flaring in South Texas: Disproportionate Exposure among Hispanic communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:6289-6298. [PMID: 32338877 PMCID: PMC8915929 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional extraction techniques including hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" have led to a boom in oil and gas production in the Eagle Ford shale play, Texas, one of the most productive regions in the United States. Nearly 400000 people live within 5 km of an unconventional oil or gas well in this largely rural area. Flaring is associated primarily with unconventional oil wells and is an increasingly common practice in the Eagle Ford to dispose of excess gas through combustion. Flares can operate continuously for months and release hazardous air pollutants such as particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in addition to causing light and noise pollution and noxious odors. We estimated ethnic disparities in exposure to flaring using satellite observations from the Visible Infrared Imaging Spectroradiometer between March 2012-December 2016. Census blocks with majority Hispanic (>60%) populations were exposed to twice as many nightly flare events within 5 km as those with <20% Hispanics. We found that Hispanics were exposed to more flares despite being less likely than non-Hispanic White residents to live near unconventional oil and gas wells. Our findings suggest Hispanics are disproportionately exposed to flares in the Eagle Ford shale, a pattern known as environmental injustice, which could contribute to disparities in air pollution and other nuisance exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E. Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California 90032, United States
| | - Khang Chau
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California 90032, United States
| | - Meredith Franklin
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California 90032, United States
| | - Lara Cushing
- Department of Health Education, San Francisco State University, San Francisco California, 94132, United States
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29
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Rais Y, Drabovich AP. Gasoline-derived methyl tert-butyl ether as a potential obesogen linked to metabolic syndrome. J Environ Sci (China) 2020; 91:209-211. [PMID: 32172969 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2020.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Rais
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Andrei P Drabovich
- Division of Analytical and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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McLaughlin MC, Blotevogel J, Watson RA, Schell B, Blewett TA, Folkerts EJ, Goss GG, Truong L, Tanguay RL, Argueso JL, Borch T. Mutagenicity assessment downstream of oil and gas produced water discharges intended for agricultural beneficial reuse. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 715:136944. [PMID: 32014773 PMCID: PMC7243347 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Produced water is the largest waste stream associated with oil and gas operations. This complex fluid contains petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, salts, naturally occurring radioactive materials and any remaining chemical additives. In the United States, west of the 98th meridian, the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) exemption allows release of produced water for agricultural beneficial reuse. The goal of this study was to quantify mutagenicity of a produced water NPDES release and discharge stream. We used four mutation assays in budding yeast cells that provide rate estimates for copy number variation (CNV) duplications and deletions, as well as forward and reversion point mutations. Higher mutation rates were observed at the discharge and decreased with distance downstream, which correlated with the concentrations of known carcinogens detected in the stream (e.g., benzene, radium), described in a companion study. Mutation rate increases were most prominent for CNV duplications and were higher than mutations observed in mixtures of known toxic compounds. Additionally, the samples were evaluated for acute toxicity in Daphnia magna and developmental toxicity in zebrafish. Acute toxicity was minimal, and no developmental toxicity was observed. This study illustrates that chemical analysis alone (McLaughlin et al., 2020) is insufficient for characterizing the risk of produced water NPDES releases and that a thorough evaluation of chronic toxicity is necessary to fully assess produced water for beneficial reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C McLaughlin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Ruth A Watson
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States
| | - Baylee Schell
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Tamzin A Blewett
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Erik J Folkerts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada; National Institute for Nanotechnology, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2M9, Canada
| | - Lisa Truong
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Robyn L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Juan Lucas Argueso
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States.
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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31
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McLaughlin MC, Borch T, McDevitt B, Warner NR, Blotevogel J. Water quality assessment downstream of oil and gas produced water discharges intended for beneficial reuse in arid regions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136607. [PMID: 31955100 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Produced water (PW) is the largest waste stream associated with oil and gas extraction and contains organics, salts, metals and radioactive materials. In the United States, west of the 98th meridian, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System exemption allows for release of PW to surface waters for agricultural beneficial reuse if it is "of good enough quality". Due to the complex and variable composition of PW, the downstream impacts of these releases are not fully understood. In this study, a detailed chemical analysis was conducted on a stream composed of PW released for agricultural beneficial reuse. Over 50 geogenic and anthropogenic organic chemicals not specified in the effluent limits were detected at the discharge including hydrocarbons, halogenated compounds, and surfactants. Most were removed within 15 km of the discharge due to volatilization, biodegradation, and sorption to sediment. Inorganics detected at the discharge were within regulatory effluent limits. While some inorganic species (i.e., strontium, barium and radium) decreased in concentration downstream due to co-precipitation, concentrations of many inorganic species including sodium, sulfate and boron increased due to water evaporation. Consequently, downstream water quality changes need to be considered to adequately evaluate the potential impact of discharged PW. Regulatory health thresholds for humans, livestock, and aquatic species for most chemical species present at the discharge are still lacking. As a result, toxicity tests are necessary to determine the potential health impacts to downstream users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C McLaughlin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, 1872 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA; Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, 1170 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
| | - Bonnie McDevitt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nathaniel R Warner
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jens Blotevogel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, 1320 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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32
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Adani G, Filippini T, Wise LA, Halldorsson TI, Blaha L, Vinceti M. Dietary Intake of Acrylamide and Risk of Breast, Endometrial, and Ovarian Cancers: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020; 29:1095-1106. [PMID: 32169997 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-19-1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen. Aside from occupational exposures and smoking, diet is the main source of exposure in humans. We performed a systematic review of the association between estimated dietary intake of acrylamide and risk of female breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers in nonexperimental studies published through February 25, 2020, and conducted a dose-response meta-analysis. We identified 18 papers covering 10 different study populations: 16 cohort and two case-control studies. Acrylamide intake was associated with a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer, particularly among never smokers. For endometrial cancer, risk was highest at intermediate levels of exposure, whereas the association was more linear and positive among never smokers. For breast cancer, we found evidence of a null or inverse relation between exposure and risk, particularly among never smokers and postmenopausal women. In a subgroup analysis limited to premenopausal women, breast cancer risk increased linearly with acrylamide intake starting at 20 μg/day of intake. High acrylamide intake was associated with increased risks of ovarian and endometrial cancers in a relatively linear manner, especially among never smokers. Conversely, little association was observed between acrylamide intake and breast cancer risk, with the exception of premenopausal women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Adani
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Filippini
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Lauren A Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thorhallur I Halldorsson
- Centre for Fetal Programming, Department of Epidemiology Research, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Unit for Nutrition Research, Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Ludek Blaha
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Science, RECETOX, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marco Vinceti
- Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center (CREAGEN), Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. .,Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Deziel NC, Brokovich E, Grotto I, Clark CJ, Barnett-Itzhaki Z, Broday D, Agay-Shay K. Unconventional oil and gas development and health outcomes: A scoping review of the epidemiological research. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109124. [PMID: 32069745 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hydraulic fracturing together with directional and horizontal well drilling (unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development) has increased substantially over the last decade. UOG development is a complex process presenting many potential environmental health hazards, raising serious public concern. AIM To conduct a scoping review to assess what is known about the human health outcomes associated with exposure to UOG development. METHODS We performed a literature search in MEDLINE and SCOPUS for epidemiological studies of exposure to UOG development and verified human health outcomes published through August 15, 2019. For each eligible study we extracted data on the study design, study population, health outcomes, exposure assessment approach, statistical methodology, and potential confounders. We reviewed the articles based on categories of health outcomes. RESULTS We identified 806 published articles, most of which were published during the last three years. After screening, 40 peer-reviewed articles were selected for full text evaluation and of these, 29 articles met our inclusion criteria. Studies evaluated pregnancy outcomes, cancer incidence, hospitalizations, asthma exacerbations, sexually transmitted diseases, and injuries or mortality from traffic accidents. Our review found that 25 of the 29 studies reported at least one statistically significant association between the UOG exposure metric and an adverse health outcome. The most commonly studied endpoint was adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm deliveries and low birth weight. Few studies evaluated the mediating pathways that may underpin these associations, highlighting a clear need for research on the potential exposure pathways and mechanisms underlying observed relationships. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the heterogeneity among studies with respect to study design, outcome of interest, and exposure assessment methodology. Though replication in other populations is important, current research points to a growing body of evidence of health problems in communities living near UOG sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.
| | - Eran Brokovich
- Natural Resources Administration, Ministry of Energy, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Itamar Grotto
- Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer, Sheva, Israel.
| | - Cassandra J Clark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Zohar Barnett-Itzhaki
- Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel; Research Center for Health Informatics, School of Engineering, Ruppin Academic Center, Israel.
| | - David Broday
- Department of Environmental, Water, and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Keren Agay-Shay
- Department of Population Health, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel.
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Danforth C, Chiu WA, Rusyn I, Schultz K, Bolden A, Kwiatkowski C, Craft E. An integrative method for identification and prioritization of constituents of concern in produced water from onshore oil and gas extraction. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 134:105280. [PMID: 31704566 PMCID: PMC7547527 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
In the United States, onshore oil and gas extraction operations generate an estimated 900 billion gallons of produced water annually, making it the largest waste stream associated with upstream development of petroleum hydrocarbons. Management and disposal practices of produced water vary from deep well injection to reuse of produced water in agricultural settings. However, there is relatively little information with regard to the chemical or toxicological characteristics of produced water. A comprehensive literature review was performed, screening nearly 16,000 published articles, and identifying 129 papers that included data on chemicals detected in produced water. Searches for information on the potential ecotoxicological or mammalian toxicity of these chemicals revealed that the majority (56%) of these compounds have not been a subject of safety evaluation or mechanistic toxicology studies and 86% lack data to be used to complete a risk assessment, which underscores the lack of toxicological information for the majority of chemical constituents in produced water. The objective of this study was to develop a framework to identify potential constituents of concern in produced water, based on available and predicted toxicological hazard data, to prioritize these chemicals for monitoring, treatment, and research. In order to integrate available evidence to address gaps in toxicological hazard on the chemicals in produced water, we have catalogued available information from ecological toxicity studies, toxicity screening databases, and predicted toxicity values. A Toxicological Priority Index (ToxPi) approach was applied to integrate these various data sources. This research will inform stakeholders and decision-makers on the potential hazards in produced water. In addition, this work presents a method to prioritize compounds that, based on hazard and potential exposure, may be considered during various produced water reuse strategies to reduce possible human health risks and environmental impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cloelle Danforth
- Environmental Defense Fund, 2060 Broadway, Suite 300, Boulder, CO 80302, USA.
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, 4458 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, 4458 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Kim Schultz
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, PO Box 54, Eckert, CO 81418, USA.
| | - Ashley Bolden
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, PO Box 54, Eckert, CO 81418, USA.
| | - Carol Kwiatkowski
- The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, PO Box 54, Eckert, CO 81418, USA.
| | - Elena Craft
- Environmental Defense Fund, 301 Congress Ave #1300, Austin, TX 78701, USA.
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35
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Robert J, McGuire CC, Kim F, Nagel SC, Price SJ, Lawrence BP, De Jesús Andino F. Water Contaminants Associated With Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction Cause Immunotoxicity to Amphibian Tadpoles. Toxicol Sci 2019; 166:39-50. [PMID: 30011011 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemicals associated with unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations have been shown to contaminate surface and ground water with a variety of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) inducing multiple developmental alteration in mice. However, little is known about the impacts of UOG-associated contaminants on amphibian health and resistance to an emerging ranavirus infectious disease caused by viruses in the genus Ranavirus, especially at the vulnerable tadpole stage. Here we used tadpoles of the amphibian Xenopus laevis and the ranavirus Frog virus 3 (FV3) as a model relevant to aquatic environment conservation research for investigating the immunotoxic effects of exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG-associated chemicals with EDC activity. Xenopus tadpoles were exposed to an equimass mixture of 23 UOG-associated chemicals (range from 0.1 to 10 µg/l) for 3 weeks prior to infection with FV3. Our data show that exposure to the UOG chemical mixture is toxic for tadpoles at ecological doses of 5 to 10 µg/l. Lower doses significantly altered homeostatic expression of myeloid lineage genes and compromised tadpole responses to FV3 through expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and Type I IFN genes, correlating with an increase in viral load. Exposure to a subset of 6 UOG chemicals was still sufficient to perturb the antiviral gene expression response. These findings suggest that UOG-associated water pollutants at low but environmentally relevant doses have the potential to induce acute alterations of immune function and antiviral immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Robert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Connor C McGuire
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Fayth Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Missouri, Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212
| | - Stephen J Price
- UCL Genetics Institute, London WC1E 6BT, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology.,Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
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Alofe O, Kisanga E, Inayat-Hussain SH, Fukumura M, Garcia-Milian R, Perera L, Vasiliou V, Whirledge S. Determining the endocrine disruption potential of industrial chemicals using an integrative approach: Public databases, in vitro exposure, and modeling receptor interactions. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 131:104969. [PMID: 31310931 PMCID: PMC6728168 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Environmental and occupational exposure to industrial chemicals has been linked to toxic and carcinogenic effects in animal models and human studies. However, current toxicology testing does not thoroughly explore the endocrine disrupting effects of industrial chemicals, which may have low dose effects not predicted when determining the limit of toxicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the endocrine disrupting potential of a broad range of chemicals used in the petrochemical sector. Therefore, 139 chemicals were classified for reproductive toxicity based on the United Nations Globally Harmonized System for hazard classification. These chemicals were evaluated in PubMed for reported endocrine disrupting activity, and their endocrine disrupting potential was estimated by identifying chemicals with active nuclear receptor endpoints publicly available databases. Evaluation of ToxCast data suggested that these chemicals preferentially alter the activity of the estrogen receptor (ER). Four chemicals were prioritized for in vitro testing using the ER-positive, immortalized human uterine Ishikawa cell line and a range of concentrations below the reported limit of toxicity in humans. We found that 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (BHT) and diethanolamine (DEA) repressed the basal expression of estrogen-responsive genes PGR, NPPC, and GREB1 in Ishikawa cells, while tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and 2,2'-methyliminodiethanol (MDEA) induced the expression of these genes. Furthermore, low-dose combinations of PCE and MDEA produced additive effects. All four chemicals interfered with estradiol-mediated induction of PGR, NPPC, and GREB1. Molecular docking demonstrated that these chemicals could bind to the ligand binding site of ERα, suggesting the potential for direct stimulatory or inhibitory effects. We found that these chemicals altered rates of proliferation and regulated the expression of cell proliferation associated genes. These findings demonstrate previously unappreciated endocrine disrupting effects and underscore the importance of testing the endocrine disrupting potential of chemicals in the future to better understand their potential to impact public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olubusayo Alofe
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Edwina Kisanga
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Salmaan H Inayat-Hussain
- Department of Product Stewardship and Toxicology, Group Health, Safety, Security and Environment, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Masao Fukumura
- Department of Product Stewardship and Toxicology, Group Health, Safety, Security and Environment, Petroliam Nasional Berhad, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rolando Garcia-Milian
- Bioinformatics Support Program, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lalith Perera
- Genome Integrity and Structural Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shannon Whirledge
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA.
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Rose LD, Akob DM, Tuberty SR, Corsi SR, DeCicco LA, Colby JD, Martin DJ. Use of high-throughput screening results to prioritize chemicals for potential adverse biological effects within a West Virginia watershed. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 677:362-372. [PMID: 31059879 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Organic chemicals from industrial, agricultural, and residential activities can enter surface waters through regulated and unregulated discharges, combined sewer overflows, stormwater runoff, accidental spills, and leaking septic-conveyance systems on a daily basis. The impact of point and nonpoint contaminant sources can result in adverse biological effects for organisms living in or near surface waters. Assessing the adverse or toxic effects that may result when exposure occurs is complicated by the fact that many commonly used chemicals lack toxicity information or water quality standards. To address these challenges, an exposure-activity ratio (EAR) screening approach was used to prioritize environmental chemistry data in a West Virginia watershed (Wolf Creek). Wolf Creek is a drinking water source and recreation resource with documented water quality impacts from point and nonpoint sources. The EAR screening approach uses high-throughput screening (HTS) data from ToxCast as a method of integrating environmental chemical occurrence and biological effects data. Using water quality schedule 4433, which targets 69 organic waste compounds typically found in domestic and industrial wastewater, chemicals were screened for potential adverse biological affects at multiple sites in the Wolf Creek watershed. Cumulative EAR mixture values were greatest at Sites 2 and 3, where bisphenol A (BPA) and pentachlorophenol exhibited maximum EAR values of 0.05 and 0.002, respectively. Site 2 is downstream of an unconventional oil and gas (UOG) wastewater disposal facility with documented water quality impacts. Low-level organic contaminants were found at all sample sites in Wolf Creek, except Site 10, where Wolf Creek enters the New River. The application of an EAR screening approach allowed our study to extend beyond traditional environmental monitoring methods to identify multiple sites and chemicals that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi D Rose
- Appalachian State University, Department of Geography and Planning, NC 28607, USA.
| | | | - Shea R Tuberty
- Appalachian State University, Department of Biology, NC 28607, USA
| | | | | | - Jeffrey D Colby
- Appalachian State University, Department of Geography and Planning, NC 28607, USA
| | - Derek J Martin
- Appalachian State University, Department of Geography and Planning, NC 28607, USA
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Balise VD, Cornelius-Green JN, Parmenter B, Baxter S, Kassotis CD, Rector RS, Thyfault JP, Paterlini S, Palanza P, Ruiz D, Sargis R, Nagel SC. Developmental Exposure to a Mixture of Unconventional Oil and Gas Chemicals Increased Risk-Taking Behavior, Activity and Energy Expenditure in Aged Female Mice After a Metabolic Challenge. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:460. [PMID: 31402896 PMCID: PMC6669236 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemicals used in unconventional oil and gas (UOG) operations can act as endocrine disrupting chemicals and metabolic disruptors. Our lab has reported altered energy expenditure and activity in C57BL/6J mice that were preconceptionally, gestationally, and lactationally exposed via maternal drinking water to a laboratory-created mixture of 23 UOG chemicals from gestational day 1 to postnatal day 21 in 7-month-old female mice with no change in body composition. We hypothesized that allowing the mice to age and exposing them to a high fat, high sugar diet might reveal underlying changes in energy balance. To investigate whether aging and metabolic challenge would exacerbate this phenotype, these mice were aged to 12 months and given a high fat, high sugar diet (HFHSD) challenge. The short 3-day HFHSD challenge increased body weight and fasting blood glucose in all mice. Developmental exposure to the 23 UOG mixture was associated with increased activity and non-resting energy expenditure in the light cycle, increased exploratory behavior in the elevated plus maze test, and decreased sleep in 12 month female mice. Each of these effects was seen in the light cycle when mice are normally less active. Further studies are needed to better understand the behavioral changes observed after developmental exposure to UOG chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria D. Balise
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jennifer N. Cornelius-Green
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Brittany Parmenter
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Sierra Baxter
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | - R. Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Health Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Medical Center, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - John P. Thyfault
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Kansas City VA Medical Center, Research Service, Kansas City, MO, United States
| | - Silvia Paterlini
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Palanza
- Unit of Neuroscience, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Daniel Ruiz
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Robert Sargis
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Susan C. Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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39
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Mahmoud MA, Abd El-Rahim AH, Mahrous KF, Abdelsalam M, Abu-Aita NA, Afify M. The impact of several hydraulic fracking chemicals on Nile tilapia and evaluation of the protective effects of Spirulina platensis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:19453-19467. [PMID: 31077040 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05246-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) chemicals are used to maximize the extraction of hard-to-reach underground energy resources. Large amounts of fracking fluid could escape to the surrounding environments, including underground and surface water resources, during the chemical mixing stage of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle due to equipment failure or human error. However, the impact of pollution resulting from operational discharges is difficult to assess in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, pathological investigations, chromosomal aberrations, DNA damage, and biochemical and hematological parameters were used to evaluate the effects of such chemicals on Nile tilapia. Chromosomal aberrations are considered very sensitive genetic markers of exposure to genotoxic chemicals and are used as indicators of DNA damage. The appearance of different types of chromosomal aberrations (gaps and breaks) due to chemical exposure was significantly reduced by treatment with spirulina. Various deleterious findings in Nile tilapia, in the current study, could attributed to the presence of fracking chemicals in the aquatic environment. However, the presence of spirulina in the diet reduced the hazards of such chemicals. In addition, cytogenetic studies in the current work revealed the importance of spirulina in ameliorating the genotoxic effects of a mixture of some chemicals used in fracking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud A Mahmoud
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Abeer H Abd El-Rahim
- Cell Biology Department, National Research Centre, 33 Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt
| | - Karima F Mahrous
- Cell Biology Department, National Research Centre, 33 Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abdelsalam
- Department of Fish Diseases and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Nashwa A Abu-Aita
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mamdouh Afify
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
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Robert J, McGuire CC, Nagel S, Lawrence BP, Andino FDJ. Developmental exposure to chemicals associated with unconventional oil and gas extraction alters immune homeostasis and viral immunity of the amphibian Xenopus. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 671:644-654. [PMID: 30939317 PMCID: PMC6533627 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although aquatic vertebrates and humans are increasingly exposed to water pollutants associated with unconventional oil and gas extraction (UOG), the long-term effects of these pollutants on immunity remains unclear. We have established the amphibian Xenopus laevis and the ranavirus Frog Virus 3 (FV3) as a reliable and sensitive model for evaluating the effects of waterborne pollutants. X. laevis tadpoles were exposed to a mixture of equimass amount of UOG chemicals with endocrine disrupting activity (0.1 and 1.0 μg/L) for 3 weeks, and then long-term effects on immune function at steady state and following viral (FV3) infection was assessed after metamorphosis. Notably, developmental exposure to the mixture of UOG chemicals at the tadpole stage affected metamorphic development and fitness by significantly decreasing body mass after metamorphosis completion. Furthermore, developmental exposure to UOGs resulted in perturbation of immune homeostasis in adult frogs, as indicated by significantly decreased number of splenic innate leukocytes, B and T lymphocytes; and a weakened antiviral immune response leading to increased viral load during infection by the ranavirus FV3. These findings suggest that mixture of UOG-associated waterborne endocrine disruptors at low but environmentally-relevant levels have the potential to induce long-lasting alterations of immune function and antiviral immunity in aquatic vertebrates and ultimately human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Robert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, United States of America; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, United States of America.
| | - Connor C McGuire
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, United States of America; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, United States of America
| | - Susan Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Missouri, United States of America
| | - B Paige Lawrence
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, United States of America; Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester, United States of America
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Bamberger M, Nell M, Ahmed AH, Santoro R, Ingraffea AR, Kennedy RF, Nagel SC, Helbling DE, Oswald RE. Surface water and groundwater analysis using aryl hydrocarbon and endocrine receptor biological assays and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry in Susquehanna County, PA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:988-998. [PMID: 31093631 PMCID: PMC6800239 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00112c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of surface water and ground water by human activities, such as fossil fuel extraction and agriculture, can be difficult to assess due to incomplete knowledge of the chemicals and chemistry involved. This is particularly true for the potential contamination of drinking water by nearby extraction of oil and/or gas from wells completed by hydraulic fracturing. A case that has attracted considerable attention is unconventional natural gas extraction in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, particularly around Dimock, Pennsylvania. We analyzed surface water and groundwater samples collected throughout Susquehanna County with complementary biological assays and high-resolution mass spectrometry. We found that Ah receptor activity was associated with proximity to impaired gas wells. We also identified certain chemicals, including disclosed hydraulic fracturing fluid additives, in samples that were either in close proximity to impaired gas wells or that exhibited a biological effect. In addition to correlations with drilling activity, the biological assays and high-resolution mass spectrometry detected substances that arose from other anthropogenic sources. Our complementary approach provides a more comprehensive picture of water quality by considering both biological effects and a broad screening for chemical contaminants.
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A Systematic Review of the Epidemiologic Literature Assessing Health Outcomes in Populations Living near Oil and Natural Gas Operations: Study Quality and Future Recommendations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16122123. [PMID: 31208070 PMCID: PMC6616936 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A systematic method was used to review the existing epidemiologic literature and determine the state of the scientific evidence for potential adverse health outcomes in populations living near oil and natural gas (ONG) operations in the United States. The review utilized adapted systematic review frameworks from the medical and environmental health fields, such as Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE), the Navigation Guide, and guidance from the National Toxicology Program’s Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT). The review included 20 epidemiologic studies, with 32 different health outcomes. Studies of populations living near ONG operations provide limited evidence (modest scientific findings that support the outcome, but with significant limitations) of harmful health effects including asthma exacerbations and various self-reported symptoms. Study quality has improved over time and the highest rated studies within this assessment have primarily focused on birth outcomes. Additional high-quality studies are needed to confirm or dispute these correlations.
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Johnston JE, Lim E, Roh H. Impact of upstream oil extraction and environmental public health: A review of the evidence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 657:187-199. [PMID: 30537580 PMCID: PMC6344296 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Upstream oil extraction, which includes exploration and operation to bring crude oil to the surface, frequently occurs near human populations. There are approximately 40,000 oil fields globally and 6 million people that live or work nearby. Oil extraction can impact local soil, water, and air, which in turn can influence community health. As oil resources are increasingly being extracted near human populations, we highlight the current scope of scientific knowledge regarding potential community health impacts with the aim to help identify scientific gaps and inform policy discussions surrounding oil drilling operations. In this review, we assess the wide range of both direct and indirect impacts that oil drilling operations can have on human health, with specific emphasis on understanding the body of scientific literature to assess potential environmental and health risks to residents living near active onshore oil extraction sites. From an initial literature search capturing 2236 studies, we identified 22 human studies, including 5 occupational studies, 5 animal studies, 6 experimental studies and 31 oil drilling-related exposure studies relevant to the scope of this review. The current evidence suggests potential health impacts due to exposure to upstream oil extraction, such as cancer, liver damage, immunodeficiency, and neurological symptoms. Adverse impacts to soil, air, and water quality in oil drilling regions were also identified. Improved characterization of exposures by community health studies and further study of the chemical mixtures associated with oil extraction will be critical to determining the full range of health risks to communities living near oil extraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill E Johnston
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
| | - Esther Lim
- Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Hannah Roh
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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Exploring the Place of Animals and Human–Animal Relationships in Hydraulic Fracturing Discourse. SOCIAL SCIENCES 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/socsci8020061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Throughout human history, energy security has been a prominent concern. Historically, animals were used as energy providers and as companions and sentinels in mining operations. While animals are seldom used for these purposes in developed communities today, this legacy of use is likely to have far-reaching consequences for how animals and human–animal relationships are acknowledged in energy development. The US is currently experiencing an energy boom in the form of high volume horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (HVHHF); because animals are the most at risk from this boom, this study uses a thorough content analysis of peer-reviewed HVHHF articles mentioning animals from 2012–2018 to assess how animals and human–animal relationships are discussed. Three dominant article theme classifications emerge: animal-focused articles, animal-observant articles, and animal sentinel articles. Across themes, articles seldom acknowledge the inherent value or the social and psychological importance of animals in human lives; instead, the focus is almost exclusively on the use of animals as sentinels for potential human health risks. Further, what is nearly absent from this body of literature is any social science research. Given that relationships with animals are an integral part of human existence, this study applies environmental justice principles, serving as a call to action for social science scholars to address the impacts of HVHHF on animals and human–animal relationships.
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Kassotis CD, Stapleton HM. Endocrine-Mediated Mechanisms of Metabolic Disruption and New Approaches to Examine the Public Health Threat. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:39. [PMID: 30792693 PMCID: PMC6374316 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity and metabolic disorders are of great societal concern and generate substantial human health care costs globally. Interventions have resulted in only minimal impacts on disrupting this worsening health trend, increasing attention on putative environmental contributors. Exposure to numerous environmental contaminants have, over decades, been demonstrated to result in increased metabolic dysfunction and/or weight gain in cell and animal models, and in some cases, even in humans. There are numerous mechanisms through which environmental contaminants may contribute to metabolic dysfunction, though certain mechanisms, such as activation of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma or the retinoid x receptor, have received considerably more attention than less-studied mechanisms such as antagonism of the thyroid receptor, androgen receptor, or mitochondrial toxicity. As such, research on putative metabolic disruptors is growing rapidly, as is our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Concurrent with these advances, new research has evaluated current models of adipogenesis, and new models have been proposed. Only in the last several years have studies really begun to address complex mixtures of contaminants and how these mixtures may disrupt metabolic health in environmentally relevant exposure scenarios. Several studies have begun to assess environmental mixtures from various environments and study the mechanisms underlying their putative metabolic dysfunction; these studies hold real promise in highlighting crucial mechanisms driving observed organismal effects. In addition, high-throughput toxicity databases (ToxCast, etc.) may provide future benefits in prioritizing chemicals for in vivo testing, particularly once the causative molecular mechanisms promoting dysfunction are better understood and expert critiques are used to hone the databases. In this review, we will review the available literature linking metabolic disruption to endocrine-mediated molecular mechanisms, discuss the novel application of environmental mixtures and implications for in vivo metabolic health, and discuss the putative utility of applying high-throughput toxicity databases to answering complex organismal health outcome questions.
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Janitz AE, Dao HD, Campbell JE, Stoner JA, Peck JD. The association between natural gas well activity and specific congenital anomalies in Oklahoma, 1997-2009. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 122:381-388. [PMID: 30551805 PMCID: PMC6328052 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Natural gas drilling may pose multiple health risks, including congenital anomalies, through air pollutant emissions and contaminated water. Two recent studies have evaluated the relationship between natural gas activity and congenital anomalies, with both observing a positive relationship. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate whether residence near natural gas wells is associated with critical congenital heart defects (CCHD), neural tube defects (NTD), and oral clefts in Oklahoma, the third highest natural gas producing state in the US. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study among singleton births in Oklahoma (n = 476,600) to evaluate natural gas activity and congenital anomalies. We calculated an inverse distance-squared weighted (IDW) score based on the number of actively producing wells within a two-mile radius of the maternal residence during the month of delivery. We used modified Poisson regression with robust error variance to estimate prevalence proportion ratios (PPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between tertiles of natural gas activity (compared to no wells) and CCHD, NTD, and oral clefts adjusted for maternal education. RESULTS We observed an increased, though imprecise, prevalence of NTDs among children with natural gas activity compared to children with no wells (2nd tertile PPR: 1.34, 95% CI: 0.93, 1.93; 3rd tertile PPR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.82, 1.75). We observed no association with CCHD or oral clefts overall. Specific CCHDs of common truncus, transposition of the great arteries, pulmonary valve atresia and stenosis, tricuspid valve atresia and stenosis, interrupted aortic arch, and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection were increased among those living in areas with natural gas activity compared to those living in areas without activity, though not statistically significant. DISCUSSION Our results were similar to previous studies for NTDs and specific CCHDs. Future directions include evaluating the association between specific phases of the drilling process and congenital anomalies to better refine the relevant exposure period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Janitz
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Hanh Dung Dao
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Janis E Campbell
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Julie A Stoner
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jennifer D Peck
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
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Balise VD, Cornelius-Green JN, Kassotis CD, Rector RS, Thyfault JP, Nagel SC. Preconceptional, Gestational, and Lactational Exposure to an Unconventional Oil and Gas Chemical Mixture Alters Energy Expenditure in Adult Female Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:323. [PMID: 31191452 PMCID: PMC6540741 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies conducted in our laboratory have found altered adult health outcomes in animals with prenatal exposure to environmentally relevant levels of unconventional oil and gas (UOG) chemicals with endocrine-disrupting activity. This study aimed to examine potential metabolic health outcomes following a preconception, prenatal and postnatal exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals. Prior to mating and from gestation day 1 to postnatal day 21, C57BL/6J mice were developmentally exposed to a laboratory-created mixture of 23 UOG chemicals in maternal drinking water. Body composition, spontaneous activity, energy expenditure, and glucose tolerance were evaluated in 7-month-old female offspring. Neither body weight nor body composition differed in 7-month female mice. However, females exposed to 1.5 and 150 μg/kg/day UOG mix had lower total and resting energy expenditure within the dark cycle. In the light cycle, the 1,500 μg//kg/day group had lower total energy expenditure and the 1.5 μg/kg/day group had lower resting energy expenditure. Females exposed to the 150 μg/kg/day group had lower spontaneous activity in the dark cycle, and females exposed to the 1,500 μg/kg/day group had lower activity in the light cycle. This study reports for the first time that developmental exposure to a mixture of 23 UOG chemicals alters energy expenditure and spontaneous activity in adult female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria D. Balise
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Jennifer N. Cornelius-Green
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | | | - R. Scott Rector
- Department of Nutrition and Health Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Medicine-Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Research Service, Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Medical Center, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - John P. Thyfault
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
- Kansas City VA Medical Center, Research Service, Kansas City, MO, United States
| | - Susan C. Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Susan C. Nagel
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Faber AH, Annevelink M, Gilissen HK, Schot P, van Rijswick M, de Voogt P, van Wezel A. How to Adapt Chemical Risk Assessment for Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction Related to the Water System. REVIEWS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 246:1-32. [PMID: 29280081 DOI: 10.1007/398_2017_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We identify uncertainties and knowledge gaps of chemical risk assessment related to unconventional drillings and propose adaptations. We discuss how chemical risk assessment in the context of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) activities differs from conventional chemical risk assessment and the implications for existing legislation. A UO&G suspect list of 1,386 chemicals that might be expected in the UO&G water samples was prepared which can be used for LC-HRMS suspect screening. We actualize information on reported concentrations in UO&G-related water. Most information relates to shale gas operations, followed by coal-bed methane, while only little is available for tight gas and conventional gas. The limited research on conventional oil and gas recovery hampers comparison whether risks related to unconventional activities are in fact higher than those related to conventional activities. No study analyzed the whole cycle from fracturing fluid, flowback and produced water, and surface water and groundwater. Generally target screening has been used, probably missing contaminants of concern. Almost half of the organic compounds analyzed in surface water and groundwater exceed TTC values, so further risk assessment is needed, and risks cannot be waived. No specific exposure scenarios toward groundwater aquifers exist for UO&G-related activities. Human errors in various stages of the life cycle of UO&G production play an important role in the exposure. Neither at the international level nor at the US federal and the EU levels, specific regulations for UO&G-related activities are in place to protect environmental and human health. UO&G activities are mostly regulated through general environmental, spatial planning, and mining legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Hélène Faber
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Mark Annevelink
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Herman Kasper Gilissen
- Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law, Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Schot
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marleen van Rijswick
- Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law, Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Pim de Voogt
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Annemarie van Wezel
- Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
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Kassotis CD, Nagel SC, Stapleton HM. Unconventional oil and gas chemicals and wastewater-impacted water samples promote adipogenesis via PPARγ-dependent and independent mechanisms in 3T3-L1 cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 640-641:1601-1610. [PMID: 29937353 PMCID: PMC6197861 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Unconventional oil and natural gas (UOG) operations have contributed to a surge in domestic oil and natural gas production in the United States, combining horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing to unlock previously inaccessible fossil fuel deposits. >1000 organic chemicals are used in the production process, and wastewater is produced following injection and for the life of the producing well. This wastewater is typically disposed of via injecting into disposal wells for long-term storage, treatment and discharge from wastewater treatment plants, and/or storage in open evaporation pits; however, wastewater spill rates are reported at 2-20% of active well sites across regions, increasing concerns about the environmental impacts of these wastewaters. This study assessed adipogenic activity (both triglyceride accumulation and pre-adipocyte proliferation) for a mixture of 23 commonly used UOG chemicals and a small subset of UOG wastewater-impacted surface water extracts from Colorado and West Virginia, using 3T3-L1 cells and a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) reporter assay. We report potent and efficacious adipogenic activity induced by both a laboratory-created UOG chemical mixture and UOG-impacted water samples at concentrations below environmental levels. We further report activation of PPARγ at similar concentrations for some samples, suggesting a causative molecular pathway for the observed effects, but not for other adipogenic samples, implicating PPARγ-dependent and independent effects from UOG associated chemicals. Taken together, these results suggest that UOG wastewater has the potential to impact metabolic health at environmentally relevant concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Susan C Nagel
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
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Kollitz EM, Kassotis CD, Hoffman K, Ferguson PL, Sosa JA, Stapleton HM. Chemical Mixtures Isolated from House Dust Disrupt Thyroid Receptor β Signaling. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:11857-11864. [PMID: 30212187 PMCID: PMC6433547 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b03283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
House dust is a source of exposure to chemicals that can impact hormone regulation. This study was designed to evaluate the potential of house dust mixtures ( n = 137) to disrupt thyroid hormone nuclear receptor signaling in a cell-based reporter assay and to examine associations with thyroid hormones (TH) measured in residents of the homes. Approximately 41% of the extracts (ranging from 10.5 to 4.097 μg of dust/mL) significantly antagonized thyroid receptor β (TRβ) signaling by 20-67% relative to the hormone control. The concentrations of 12 flame retardants (FRs) quantified in the mixtures were significantly correlated with TRβ antagonism; however, they were inactive when tested individually. We hypothesize that the observed antagonism is due to mixture effects or unidentified compounds that co-occur with FRs. Dust extract potency was significantly associated with free thyroxine (FT4, rs = -0.64, p < 0.001), suggesting that more potent dust samples are associated with higher FT4 levels in residents. Overall, these results suggest that house dust is a significant source of exposure to TH-disrupting chemicals, and TRβ may have a role in mediating effects of exposure on TH levels. Additional studies are needed to identify the chemical(s) driving the observed effects on TRβ and to determine if these changes lead to any adverse outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Kollitz
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Christopher D. Kassotis
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - P. Lee Ferguson
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Julie Ann Sosa
- Department of Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco, California 94117, United States
| | - Heather M. Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Box 90328, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
- Corresponding Author Information: Phone: (919) 613-8717,
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