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De Vietro N, Triggiano F, Cotugno P, Palmisani J, Di Gilio A, Zambonin C, de Gennaro G, Mancini G, Aresta AM, Diella G, Marcotrigiano V, Sorrenti GT, Marzocca P, Lampedecchia M, Sorrenti DP, D’Aniello E, Gramegna M, Nencha A, Caputo A, Giovine M, Spinelli C, Caggiano G. Analytical Investigation of Phthalates and Heavy Metals in Edible Ice from Vending Machines Connected to the Italian Water Supply. Foods 2024; 13:2910. [PMID: 39335839 PMCID: PMC11430881 DOI: 10.3390/foods13182910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Edible ice is often produced by special machines that can represent a source of significant chemical and microbiological contamination. In this work, the presence of phthalic acid esters (phthalates, PAEs) and heavy metals in ice cubes distributed by 77 vending machines installed in two different zones in southern Italy and fed by water from the public water supply was investigated. Solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) was used to evaluate contamination with four PAEs, which were selected because they are commonly used in the production of food-contact plastics, while inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) was used to quantify the heavy metals. It was found that ice samples, especially those from one of the two considered zones (zone 2), exceeded the dibutyl phthalate (DBP) threshold limit value; some ice cubes from the other zone (zone 1) instead showed levels of both lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) up to one order of magnitude higher than those observed in samples collected in zone 2 and higher than the maximum permitted values (European Directive n. 2184/2020). Since the water source connected to the ice vending machines was found to be free from significant levels of all considered target compounds and metals, the high levels of DBP, Ni, and Pb in ice cubes could be attributed to the components and/or to the state of repair of the ice vending machines themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta De Vietro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Francesco Triggiano
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Hygiene Section, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; (F.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Pietro Cotugno
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy;
| | - Jolanda Palmisani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Alessia Di Gilio
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Carlo Zambonin
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Gianluigi de Gennaro
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Giovanna Mancini
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Antonella Maria Aresta
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Orabona 4, 70126 Bari, Italy; (J.P.); (A.D.G.); (C.Z.); (G.d.G.); (G.M.); (A.M.A.)
| | - Giusy Diella
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Hygiene Section, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; (F.T.); (G.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Marcotrigiano
- Prevention Department, Local Health Authority “ULSS 1 Dolomiti”, Viale Europa 22, 32100 Belluno, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Trifone Sorrenti
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Unit BT, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Via Fornaci 201, 76125 Trani, Italy; (G.T.S.); (P.M.); (M.L.); (D.P.S.)
| | - Piersaverio Marzocca
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Unit BT, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Via Fornaci 201, 76125 Trani, Italy; (G.T.S.); (P.M.); (M.L.); (D.P.S.)
| | - Michele Lampedecchia
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Unit BT, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Via Fornaci 201, 76125 Trani, Italy; (G.T.S.); (P.M.); (M.L.); (D.P.S.)
| | - Domenico Pio Sorrenti
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Local Health Unit BT, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Via Fornaci 201, 76125 Trani, Italy; (G.T.S.); (P.M.); (M.L.); (D.P.S.)
| | - Ezio D’Aniello
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Bari–Metropolitan Area, Piazza Chiurlia 21, 70122 Bari, Italy; (E.D.); (M.G.); (A.N.)
| | - Matilde Gramegna
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Bari–Metropolitan Area, Piazza Chiurlia 21, 70122 Bari, Italy; (E.D.); (M.G.); (A.N.)
| | - Alessandra Nencha
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Bari–Metropolitan Area, Piazza Chiurlia 21, 70122 Bari, Italy; (E.D.); (M.G.); (A.N.)
| | - Antonio Caputo
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Bari–North Area, Via De Chirico 23, 70056 Molfetta, Italy; (A.C.); (M.G.); (C.S.)
| | - Marta Giovine
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Bari–North Area, Via De Chirico 23, 70056 Molfetta, Italy; (A.C.); (M.G.); (C.S.)
| | - Caterina Spinelli
- Prevention Department, Food Hygiene and Nutrition Service, Bari–North Area, Via De Chirico 23, 70056 Molfetta, Italy; (A.C.); (M.G.); (C.S.)
| | - Giuseppina Caggiano
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine-Hygiene Section, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy; (F.T.); (G.C.)
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Angnunavuri PN, Attiogbe F, Dansie A, Mensah B. Evaluation of plastic packaged water quality using health risk indices: A case study of sachet and bottled water in Accra, Ghana. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 832:155073. [PMID: 35398415 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Plastic packaged water is the drinking water of choice for urban populations across Africa but its quality remains questionable in most developing countries. Six hundred (600) packages, consisting of sachet and bottled water, were sampled from two high-end companies in Accra (Ghana) and stored through their shelf lives under an average room temperature of 30 °C. The samples were tested for physicochemical quality and the presence of bacteria and phthalate esters at 2n × 3 periods, where n is the sampled batch number. The data were described and modelled with embedded Bayesian and Machine Learning algorithms in JASP0.16.0.0 and Argo-4.1.3. The results reported lower than regulated levels of electrical conductivity (163.66 μS/cm), alkalinity (39.67 mg/L), and residual chlorine (<0.01 mg/L) while the pH was generally within specification (6.5-7.7). All samples showed progressive biological contamination following the third week (sachet samples) and the sixth week (bottled water) of incubation. Initial samples, including raw water, processed bulk water and packaged water did not present detectable microbial growth. The total microbial load in sachet samples grew at 0.936 cfu/week and 1.006 cfu/week for the bottled samples although the results did not exceed 1000 cfu/L (0-976 cfu/100 mL). Modelled mean probability of infection was 1.196 × 10-4 in 67% of the samples. Raw and processed water samples did not show detectable levels of phthalate contaminants. The mean hazard index calculated on the individual hazard quotients of phthalates was 7.41 × 10-3 ± 8.20 × 10-4, suggesting lower acute risk potential. Mean integrated lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) was determined to be 1.53 × 10-3 ± 1.71 × 10-4 within a range of 2.86 × 10-4 and 7.18 × 10-3. Mean child ILCR was about 70% of adult ILCR and increased from 4.16 × 10-4 to 2.41 × 10-3 for sachet and 4.93 × 10-4 to 7.18 × 10-3 for bottled water. For adult ILCR, sachet water presented 2.86 × 10-4 to 1.65 × 10-3, and 3.38 × 10-4 to 4.93 × 10-3 for bottled water. This study confirmed the presence of phthalates and pathogenic bacteria in the samples, at-risk levels that require mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prosper Naah Angnunavuri
- School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana.
| | - Francis Attiogbe
- School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana
| | - Andrew Dansie
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bismark Mensah
- School of Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
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Okpara KE, Phoungthong K, Agbozu I, Edwin-Isotu E, Techato K. Phthalate Esters in Tap Water, Southern Thailand: Daily Exposure and Cumulative Health Risk in Infants, Lactating Mothers, Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:2187. [PMID: 35206375 PMCID: PMC8871872 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Human exposure to phthalate esters (PAEs) via drinking water has generated public health concerns due to their endocrine disruptive abilities. This study reports on the occurrence and fate of six PAEs in raw and tap water samples collected from provincial waterworks located in Songkhla Province, Southern Thailand. In addition, the daily exposure and cumulative health risk of susceptible populations due to drinking tap water were evaluated by using four different reference dose (RfDs) sources. The maximum concentrations of PAEs in raw water were between 1.68 and 4.84 and 0.52 and 1.24 µg/L in tap water. Moreover, the levels of PAEs in the tap water samples indicated the poor PAEs removal efficiency of the conventional treatment process (59.9-69.1%). The contribution of water to the daily intake of PAEs did not exceed 0.37% in all the groups. Furthermore, both the individual and cumulative risk assessment showed negligible noncarcinogenic and antiandrogenic risk for all the groups. Nevertheless, the cumulative risk showed an increasing trend in the order of infants > lactating mothers > pregnant women > nonpregnant women, suggesting that infants are more vulnerable. In additional, the newly proposed RfDAA yielded higher hazard quotient and hazard index estimates, which indicates it is a more sensitive tool than other RfDs for the assessment of the individual and mixture risk of pollutants. The carcinogenic risk of DEHP was acceptable in every group. However, we recommend a future cumulative risk assessment of vulnerable groups considering their simultaneous exposure to all chemicals that have antiandrogenic effects via tap water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley Ezechukwu Okpara
- Environmental Assessment and Technology for Hazardous Waste Management Research Center, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; (K.E.O.); (K.T.)
| | - Khamphe Phoungthong
- Environmental Assessment and Technology for Hazardous Waste Management Research Center, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; (K.E.O.); (K.T.)
| | - Iwekumo Agbozu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Africa, Toru-Orua 561101, Nigeria;
| | - Edeh Edwin-Isotu
- Centre for Environmental Management and Control, University of Nigeria, Enugu 400001, Nigeria;
| | - Kuaanan Techato
- Environmental Assessment and Technology for Hazardous Waste Management Research Center, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla 90112, Thailand; (K.E.O.); (K.T.)
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da Silva Costa R, Sainara Maia Fernandes T, de Sousa Almeida E, Tomé Oliveira J, Carvalho Guedes JA, Julião Zocolo G, Wagner de Sousa F, do Nascimento RF. Potential risk of BPA and phthalates in commercial water bottles: a minireview. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2021; 19:411-435. [PMID: 34152295 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2021.202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The global water bottling market grows annually. Today, to ensure consumer safety, it is important to verify the possible migration of compounds from bottles into the water contained in them. Potential health risks due to the prevalence of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates (PAEs) exposure through water bottle consumption have become an important issue. BPA, benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) can cause adverse effects on human health. Papers of literature published in English, with BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP detections during 2017, by 2019 by liquid chromatography and gas chromatography analysis methods were searched. The highest concentrations of BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP in all the bottled waters studied were found to be 5.7, 12.11, 82.8 and 64.0 μg/L, respectively. DBP was the most compound detected and the main contributor by bottled water consumption with 23.7% of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI). Based on the risk assessment, BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP in commercial water bottles do not pose a serious concern for humans. The average estrogen equivalent level revealed that BPA, BBP, DBP and DEHP in bottled waters may induce adverse estrogenic effects on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouse da Silva Costa
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, 60455700 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Tatiana Sainara Maia Fernandes
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, 60455700 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Edmilson de Sousa Almeida
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, 60455700 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Juliene Tomé Oliveira
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, 60455700 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil E-mail:
| | - Jhonyson Arruda Carvalho Guedes
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, 60455700 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil E-mail: ; Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, R. Dra Sara Mesquita 2270, 60511-110 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | - Francisco Wagner de Sousa
- Department of Education - Chemistry Licenciate, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, R. Francisco da Rocha Martins S/N, 61609-090 Caucaia, CE, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Ferreira do Nascimento
- Department of Analytical Chemistry and Physical Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, R. Humberto Monte S/N, 60455700 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil E-mail:
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Liu ZH, Dang Z, Liu Y. Legislation against endocrine-disrupting compounds in drinking water: essential but not enough to ensure water safety. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:19505-19510. [PMID: 33620688 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12901-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Since the last several decades, there has been a growing concern on the presence of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in potable water due to their negative impacts on public health of mankind. As such, more and more EDCs have been regulated in many national drinking water quality standards. Given this situation, this work attempted to deliberately offer new insights into some remaining scientific challenges, i.e., (1) what should the allowable EDC concentration be in drinking water?; (2) should the main chlorinated byproducts of EDCs be regulated in potable water?; and (3) what concentration should be regulated for each chlorinated EDC? It is expected that these could help to better design the water quality regulations for EDCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Hua Liu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- Key Lab Pollution Control & Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Cluster, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Environment Risk Prevention and Emergency Disposal, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhi Dang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Center, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, CleanTech One, 637141, Singapore
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 639798, Singapore
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Zhang ZM, Zhang J, Zhang HH, Shi XZ, Zou YW, Yang GP. Pollution characteristics, spatial variation, and potential risks of phthalate esters in the water-sediment system of the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent East China Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:114913. [PMID: 32531649 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal variability in seawater, spatial variation in sediment, pollution characteristics, and risks related to 16 phthalate esters (PAEs) were investigated in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent East China Sea. The total concentrations of ΣPAEs in surface water were 0.588-17.7 μg L-1 in summer, 2.63-22.9 μg L-1 in winter, and 1.93-20.7 μg L-1 in spring, with average values of 2.05, 10.2, and 4.89 μg L-1, respectively. PAE concentrations exhibited notable seasonal variations with the highest value in winter and the lowest value in summer. The seasonal variation in PAE concentrations may be influenced by runoff and diluted water from the Yangtze River. The chemical composition of PAEs showed that di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) had significantly higher (p < 0.05) concentrations than the other congeners and were the most abundant PAE species in sediment and seawater in all three seasons. In addition, DnBP and DiBP were the two main congeners in seawater, and DEHP concentrations were higher in sediment than in seawater. DEHP had higher potential risks to sensitive organisms in water environment than DnBP and DiBP, and DiBP and DnBP which presented high levels of risk in sedimentary environment. DMP and DEP in watery and sedimentary environments and DEHP in sedimentary environment showed no or low risks to sensitive organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze-Ming Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Ningbo University, School of Marine Science, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Marine Chemistry, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Hong-Hai Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Marine Chemistry, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Xi-Zhi Shi
- Ningbo University, School of Marine Science, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, 315211, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ya-Wen Zou
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Gui-Peng Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Marine Chemistry, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China.
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Zhou Y, Ma T, Yan M, Meng X, Wu J, Ding J, Han X, Li D. Exposure of DBP in gestation induces inflammation of testicular Sertoli cells in progeny by activating NLRP3 inflammasomes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:136139. [PMID: 31863983 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), as one of the environmental chemicals, can cause male reproductive decline including testicular hypoplasia and impairments of spermatogenesis. Testicular inflammation is positively related to decline in male reproductive function. However, whether exposure to DBP in utero can cause testicular inflammation in progeny has not been studied. In this study, we established an animal model and observed that DBP exposure during gestation induced testicular inflammation in progeny with the increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and CXC chemokine ligand-10 (CXCL-10), representing the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). However, NF-κB was activated within 1 h in Sertoli cells (SCs) when exposed to MBP (a metabolite of DBP) in vitro. Meanwhile, we detected increased expression of inflammatory NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), resulting from Pellino2-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome priming. Further, we confirmed that the activation of the NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β canonical inflammasome pathway induced secretion of inflammatory factors of SCs and immune response, and INF39 (an inhibitor of NLRP3) could inhibit the inflammation in vitro. Collectively, these findings indicated that NLRP3 inflammasomes played key roles in DBP-induced inflammation in testicular SCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhou
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Tan Ma
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Minghao Yan
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Xiannan Meng
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Jiang Wu
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Jie Ding
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
| | - Dongmei Li
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
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