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Reimann B, Remy S, Koppen G, Schoeters G, Den Hond E, Nelen V, Franken C, Covaci A, Bruckers L, Baeyens W, Loots I, van Larebeke N, Voorspoels S, De Henauw S, Nawrot TS, Plusquin M. Prenatal exposure to mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and organochlorines affects cognition in adolescence independent of postnatal exposure. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 257:114346. [PMID: 38447259 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on cognitive and neurodevelopmental outcomes have shown inconsistent results regarding the association with prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) and organochlorines. Assessment of mixture effects of correlated chemical exposures that persist in later life may contribute to the unbiased evaluation and understanding of dose-response associations in real-life exposures. METHODS For a subset of the 4th Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS), concentrations of four PFAS and six organochlorines were measured in respectively 99 and 153-160 cord plasma samples and 15 years later in adolescents' peripheral serum by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Sustained and selective attention were measured at 14-15 years with the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Stroop Test as indicators of potential neurodevelopmental deficits. Quantile g-computation was applied to assess the joint associations between prenatal exposure to separate and combined groups of PFAS and organochlorines and performance in the CPT and Stroop Test at adolescence. Subsequently, individual effects of each chemical compound were analyzed in mixed effects models with two sets of covariates. Analytical data at birth and at the time of cognitive assessment allowed for off-setting postnatal exposure. RESULTS In mixtures analysis, a simultaneous one-quantile increase in the natural log-transformed values of PFAS and organochlorines combined was associated with a decrease in the mean reaction time (RT) and the reaction time variability (RTV) in the CPT (β = -15.54, 95% CI:-29.64, -1.45, and β = -7.82, 95% CI: -14.97, -0.67 respectively) and for the mixture of PFAS alone with RT (β = -11.94, 95% CI: -23.29, -0.60). In the single pollutant models, these results were confirmed for the association between perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) with RT (β = -17.95, 95% CI = -33.35, -2.69) and hexachlorobenzene with RTV in the CPT (β = -5.78, 95% CI: -10.39, -0.76). Furthermore, the participants with prenatal exposure above the limit of quantification for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) had a significantly shorter RT and RTV in the CPT (β = -23.38, 95% CI: -41.55, -5.94, and β = -9.54, 95% CI: -19.75, -0.43, respectively). CONCLUSION Higher prenatal exposure to a PFAS mixture and a mixture of PFAS and organochlorines combined was associated with better sustained and selective attention during adolescence. The associations seemed to be driven by PFHxS and were not linked to exposure levels at the time of assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Reimann
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Sylvie Remy
- Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Environmental Toxicology Unit, Mol, Belgium
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Environmental Toxicology Unit, Mol, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium; Family Medicine and Population Health (FAMPOP), University of Antwerp, Gouverneur Kingsbergencentrum, Doornstraat 331, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carmen Franken
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Data Science Institute, Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology (CRESC and IMDO), Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Elsene, Belgium; Study Centre for Carcinogenesis and Primary Prevention of Cancer, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Stefan Voorspoels
- Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), Environmental Toxicology Unit, Mol, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium; School of Public Health, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Ma T, Perrot V, Baeyens W, Li G, Lievens S, Ngo HTT, Nguyen TTT, Leermakers M, Gao Y. Mercury distribution, mobilization and bioavailability in polluted sediments of Scheldt Estuary and Belgian Coastal Zone. J Hazard Mater 2024; 465:133209. [PMID: 38101023 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the vertical distribution of mercury (Hg) in estuarine and marine sediment porewaters and solid phases was assessed by conventional and passive sampling techniques in the historically polluted Scheldt Estuary and Belgian Coastal Zone (BCZ). The Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT) measured labile Hg concentrations (HgLA) were mostly lower than the porewater Hg concentrations (HgPW), and they also presented different vertical distribution patterns. Still high Hg concentrations in the sediment solid phases, comparable to the historical ones, were observed. Even though pH, redox potential and dissolved sulfide concentration could influence the Hg biogeochemical behaviour, organic matter (OM) played a key role in governing Hg mobilization from sediment solid phase to porewater and in its partitioning between porewater and solid phase over depth. In the marine sediments, where OM had a marine signature, higher labile Hg concentrations in the porewater and faster resupply from the solid phase were observed. The DGT technique showed significant potential not only for the measurement of bioavailable Hg fractions in porewater, but also for the assessment of kinetic parameters governing the release of labile Hg species from the solid phase with the assistance of the DGT Induced Fluxes in Sediments (DIFS) model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhui Ma
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent Perrot
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guanlei Li
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sybrien Lievens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Huong Thi Thuy Ngo
- Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology Lab, Faculty of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Phenikaa University, Yen Nghia Ward - Ha Dong District, 12116 Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Thao Thi Thanh Nguyen
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources, 67 Chien Thang, Van Quan, Ha Dong District, 12109 Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Godderis L, De Ryck E, Baeyens W, Geerts L, Jacobs G, Maesen P, Mertens B, Schroyen G, Van Belleghem F, Vanoirbeek J, Van Larebeke N. Towards a more effective reach legislation in protecting human health more effective reach in protecting human health. Toxicol Sci 2024:kfae025. [PMID: 38419586 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfae025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence indicating the substantial contribution of man-made products to an increase in the risk of diseases of civilization. In this article, the Belgian Scientific Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and restriction of CHemicals (REACH) Committee gives a critical view on the working of REACH. The current regulatory framework needs to further evolve taking into account data generated using modern science and technology. There is a need for improved assessment process not only before but also after entering the market. Objectivity, transparency, and the follow-up after market access can be optimized. Additionally, no guidance documents exist for regulation of mixture effects. Further, the lengthiness before regulatory action is a big concern. Decision making often takes several years leading to uncertainties for both producers and end users. A first proposed improvement is the implementation of independent toxicity testing, to assure objectivity, transparency, and check and improve compliance. A "no data, no market" principle could prevent access of hazardous chemicals to the market. Additionally, the introduction of novel testing could improve information on endpoints such as endocrine disrupting abilities, neurotoxicity, and immunotoxicity. An adapted regulatory framework that integrates data from different sources and comparing the outputs with estimates of exposure is required. Fast toxicology battery testing and toxicokinetic testing could improve speed of decision making. Hereby, several improvements have been proposed that could improve the current REACH legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lode Godderis
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department Public Health and Primary Care, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- External Service for Prevention and Protection at work, IDEWE, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Evi De Ryck
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department Public Health and Primary Care, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo- Chemistry, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lieve Geerts
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO, Mol, Belgium
| | - Griet Jacobs
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research, VITO, Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Birgit Mertens
- Department of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guy Schroyen
- Institut Scientifique de Service Public, ISSeP, Liège, Belgium
| | - Frank Van Belleghem
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Open Universiteit, Heerlen, the Netherlands
- Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Vanoirbeek
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department Public Health and Primary Care, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Zhou C, Lin W, Ni Z, Fan F, Dong Y, Gao Y, Baeyens W, Wang S. Seaward alteration of arsenic mobilization mechanisms based on fine-scale measurements in Pearl River estuarine sediments. J Hazard Mater 2024; 466:133547. [PMID: 38262324 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Identification of key As mobilization processes in estuarine sediments is challenging due to the transitional hydrodynamic condition and the technical restriction of obtaining fine-scale results. Herein, high-resolution (μm to mm) and in situ profiling of As with associated elements (Fe, Mn, and S) by the diffusive gradients in thin-film (DGT) technique were applied and coupled with pore water and solid phase analysis as well as microbial high-throughput sequencing, to ascertain the driving mechanisms of As mobilization in the sediments of Pearl River Estuary (PRE). Significant diffusion fluxes of As from sediment to water were observed, particularly in the upper estuary. With the seaward increase of salinity, the driving mechanism of As mobilization gradually shifted from microbial-induced dissimilatory Fe reduction to saltwater-induced ion exchange. Correspondingly, the dominant Fe-reducing bacteria (FeRB) in sediments changed from the genera Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 and Bacillus to Ferrimonas and Deferribacter. The presence of dissolved sulfide in deeper sediments contributes to As removal through the formation of As-S precipitates as supported by theoretical calculations. Fine-scale findings revealed seaward changes of As mobilization mechanism in the sediments of a human-impacted estuary and may benefit the understanding of As biogeochemical behavior in estuaries worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Zhou
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Zhaokui Ni
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Fuqiang Fan
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Yue Dong
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shengrui Wang
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China; Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Water Security, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China.
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Zhou C, Gao Y, Zhang H, Luo M, Ma T, Li G, Vandeputte D, Leermakers M, Baeyens W. Phosphorus mobilization in sulfidic sediments in the Baltic Sea. Sci Total Environ 2024; 907:168000. [PMID: 37871813 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
It is well-known that the geochemical behavior of phosphorus (P) in sediments is closely related to that of Fe and Mn, but their relations remain unclear in long-term sulfidic sediments such as those of the Gotland Basin in the Baltic Sea. Therefore, P mobilization in these sediments at both shallow and deep sites was investigated in relation to that of Fe, Mn, and S. To achieve that aim, classic sediment slicing and subsequent solid phase sequential extraction were combined with in situ DGT (Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films) sampling, DIFS (DGT induced flux in sediments) modelling, and Visual MINTEQ calculations. Correlations between total dissolved and labile dissolved concentrations of P, Mn, and Fe in porewater, and the associations between labile fractions of these elements in the solid phase suggested two kinds of sources for P: The dissolution of P-bearing Fe oxides and/or Mn carbonates was observed in the shallower sites, while P and Mn release from different solid sources was observed in the deepest sites. Although the formation of Fe sulfides leads to extremely low dissolved Fe level in porewater, the simultaneous release of P with Mn/Fe was confirmed by theoretical calculations with Visual MINTEQ. The DIFS model showed that the resupply ability of P from sediment solids is determined by labile pool size. The application of experimental and theoretical methods made it possible to clarify the relationships between P, Fe, Mn and S in sulfidic sediments which may contribute to a better understanding of the P cycle in other sulfidic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Zhou
- Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai 519087, China; Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Hao Zhang
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Mingyue Luo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tianhui Ma
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guanlei Li
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delphine Vandeputte
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Perrot V, Ma T, Vandeputte D, Smolikova V, Bratkic A, Leermakers M, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Origin and partitioning of mercury in the polluted Scheldt Estuary and adjacent coastal zone. Sci Total Environ 2023; 878:163019. [PMID: 36996990 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Estuaries and coastal zones are areas with complex biogeochemical and hydrological cycles and are generally facing intense pollution due to anthropogenic activities. An emblematic example is the Scheldt Estuary which ends up in the North Sea and has been historically heavily contaminated by multiple pollutants, including mercury (Hg). We report here Hg species and their levels in surface waters of the Scheldt Estuary and the Belgian Part of North Sea (BPNS) from different sampling campaigns in February-April 2020 and 2021. Along the estuary, Hg concentration on suspended particles ([HgSPM]) progressively decreased with increasing salinity and was strongly correlated with organic matter content (%Corg) and origin (identified with δ13Corg). While [HgSPM] drives total Hg concentration in the estuary (total dissolved Hg, HgTD is only 7 ± 6 %), annual and daily variations of total Hg levels were mostly attributed to changes in SPM loads depending on river discharge and tidal regime. In the BPNS, a significant fraction of total Hg occurs as HgTD (40 ± 21 %) and the majority of this HgTD was reducible (i.e. labile Hg), meaning potentially available for microorganisms. Compared to the '90s, a significant decrease of [HgSPM] was observed in the estuary, but this was not the case for [HgTD], which can be due to (1) still significant discrete discharges from Antwerp industrial area, and (2) higher Hg partitioning towards the dissolved phase in the water column relative to the '90s. Our results highlight the important contribution of the Scheldt estuary for the Hg budget in North Sea coastal waters, as well as the need for seasonal monitoring of all Hg species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Perrot
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Tianhui Ma
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Delphine Vandeputte
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Vendula Smolikova
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Arne Bratkic
- Universitat de Lleida, Chemistry Department, Environmental Physical Chemistry group, Av. Rovira Roure 191, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Analytical and Environmental Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, Ixelles 1050, Belgium.
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Sans-Duñó J, Cecilia J, Galceran J, Puy J, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Back Accumulation of Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films Devices with a Stack of Resin Discs To Assess Availability of Metal Cations to Biota in Natural Waters. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:7840-7848. [PMID: 37183959 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c00799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Determining species, concentrations, and physicochemical parameters in natural waters is key to improve our understanding of the functioning of these ecosystems. Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT) devices with different thicknesses of the resin or of the diffusive disc can be used to collect independent information on relevant parameters. In particular, DGT devices with a stack of two resin discs offer a simple way to determine dissociation rate constants of metal complexes from the accumulation of the target metal in the back resin disc. In this work, simple approximate expressions for the determination of the dissociation rate constant are reported and applied to a model Ni nitrilotriacetic complex as well as to Zn complexes in the Mediterranean Osor stream. Once the physicochemical parameters are known, one can plot the labile fraction of the metal complexes in terms of the thickness of the diffusion domain. These plots reveal a strong dependence on the nature of complexes as well as on the characteristics of the diffusion domain, and they are of high interest as predictors of availability to biota whose uptake is limited by diffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Sans-Duñó
- Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida, and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Rovira Roure 191, Lleida, Catalonia 25198, Spain
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Joan Cecilia
- Departament de Matemàtica, Universitat de Lleida, and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Rovira Roure 191, Lleida, Catalonia 25198, Spain
| | - Josep Galceran
- Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida, and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Rovira Roure 191, Lleida, Catalonia 25198, Spain
| | - Jaume Puy
- Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida, and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Rovira Roure 191, Lleida, Catalonia 25198, Spain
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
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Ma T, Baeyens W, Leermakers M, Smolíková V, Luo M, Li G, Vandeputte D, Perrot V, Gao Y. Investigation on metal geochemical cycling in an anthropogenically impacted tidal river in Belgium. Sci Total Environ 2023; 882:163604. [PMID: 37087008 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The geochemical behavior of metals in water and sediment was investigated in the tidal section of the Zenne River in Belgium. Twelve-hour sampling campaigns were performed in October 2013 and March 2021 at the mouth of the Zenne River, under dry and rainy weather conditions respectively. Water samples were collected every hour while the passive samplers of Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT) were deployed continuously during a tidal cycle. In addition, bottom sediments were sampled at the tidal station and water samples were taken upstream and downstream of that station to identify the metal sources. The highest concentrations of Fe, Mn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Zn appear at low tide, indicating the Zenner River as a main source. However, for Co, Cd and Cu, other sources including upstream transport may explain their behavior during a tidal cycle. Fe, Pb and Cr are essentially transported in the particulate phase (<10 % dissolved) while the other metals in the dissolved phase (20 to 90 %). Rainfall and wind gust events also play an important role in trace metal distribution, increasing sediment resuspension and metal desorption. A good agreement was found between the time-averaged dissolved and DGT-labile metal concentrations with the exception of Cu and Fe, which form strong organic Cu complexes and Fe colloids respectively. The sediments of the tidal Zenne are contaminated by trace metals, thus acting as a secondary pollution source to the river. The reductive dissolution of Mn and Fe oxyhydroxides and the release of associated trace metals are the main mobilization mechanisms. Knowledge of the upstream and downstream levels in the water column, the benthic fluxes, which are based on turbulent diffusion, and the partitioning between dissolved and particulate phases allow to explain the metal concentration variations during the tidal cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhui Ma
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vendula Smolíková
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mingyue Luo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guanlei Li
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Delphine Vandeputte
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent Perrot
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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9
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Buekers J, Baken K, Govarts E, Martin LR, Vogel N, Kolossa-Gehring M, Šlejkovec Z, Falnoga I, Horvat M, Lignell S, Lindroos AK, Rambaud L, Riou M, Pedraza-Diaz S, Esteban-Lopez M, Castaño A, Den Hond E, Baeyens W, Santonen T, Schoeters G. Human urinary arsenic species, associated exposure determinants and potential health risks assessed in the HBM4EU Aligned Studies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 248:114115. [PMID: 36689783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The European Joint Programme HBM4EU coordinated and advanced human biomonitoring (HBM) in Europe in order to provide science-based evidence for chemical policy development and improve chemical management. Arsenic (As) was selected as a priority substance under the HBM4EU initiative for which open, policy relevant questions like the status of exposure had to be answered. Internal exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs), measured as Toxic Relevant Arsenic (TRA) (the sum of As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA) in urine samples of teenagers differed among the sampling sites (BEA (Spain) > Riksmaten adolescents (Sweden), ESTEBAN (France) > FLEHS IV (Belgium), SLO CRP (Slovenia)) with geometric means between 3.84 and 8.47 μg/L. The ratio TRA to TRA + arsenobetaine or the ratio TRA to total arsenic varied between 0.22 and 0.49. Main exposure determinants for TRA were the consumption of rice and seafood. When all studies were combined, Pearson correlation analysis showed significant associations between all considered As species. Higher concentrations of DMA, quantitatively a major constituent of TRA, were found with increasing arsenobetaine concentrations, a marker for organic As intake, e.g. through seafood, indicating that other sources of DMA than metabolism of inorganic As exist, e.g. direct intake of DMA or via the intake of arsenosugars or -lipids. Given the lower toxicity of DMA(V) versus iAs, estimating the amount of DMA not originating from iAs, or normalizing TRA for arsenobetaine intake could be useful for estimating iAs exposure and risk. Comparing urinary TRA concentrations with formerly derived biomonitoring equivalent (BE) for non-carcinogenic effects (6.4 μg/L) clearly shows that all 95th percentile exposure values in the different studies exceeded this BE. This together with the fact that cancer risk may not be excluded even at lower iAs levels, suggests a possible health concern for the general population of Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jurgen Buekers
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
| | - Kirsten Baken
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Nina Vogel
- German Environment Agency (UBA), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Loïc Rambaud
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Margaux Riou
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Susana Pedraza-Diaz
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Esteban-Lopez
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Argelia Castaño
- National Centre for Environmental Health, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene (PIH), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental & Geo-Chemistry, Free Universtiy of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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10
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Luo M, Zhou C, Ma T, Guo W, Percival L, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Anthropogenic activities influence the mobilization of trace metals and oxyanions in coastal sediment porewaters. Sci Total Environ 2022; 839:156353. [PMID: 35654196 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The biogeochemical cycle of trace metals and oxyanions in marine sediments is mainly controlled by early diagenesis of organic material, but anthropogenic activities such as dumping of dredged sludge or shipyard activities can strongly perturb these natural processes. Therefore, the impact of dumping of dredged sludge, shipyard activities such as blasting of boat hulls and the mixing of polluted Scheldt estuary water with less polluted coastal water on the mobilization of trace metals and oxyanions in the sediments was studied in the pre- and post-bloom period (March and October) in Belgian Coastal Zone (BCZ). Vertical profiles of total and labile dissolved trace element concentrations, dissolved sulfide, pH and redox potential were assessed in sediment porewaters. Generally, total and labile dissolved element profiles in the porewaters are well correlated, showing higher concentrations in March when the redox potential is lower and sulfide concentrations higher. Low pH levels were documented together with high amounts of Fe and associated elements in March at the dumping station. At the coastal station in the vicinity of the shipyards, sediment porewaters are enriched in dissolved Zn while at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary the highest dissolved Cu levels were found. Theoretical calculations with Visual MINTEQ confirm the increased Fe and associated element concentrations in March (lower pH) and the lower metal concentrations in October (lower Eh). R values, ratio of labile dissolved to total dissolved concentrations, reflect the potential of the solid sediment phase to supply labile elements to the porewater. They were lowest for Cu and highest for V. This study showed that anthropogenic activities in the BCZ such as dumping of dredged sludge and blasting of boat hulls have a serious impact on the levels, distribution and bioavailability of contaminants in the sediments, which may form a real threat to the benthic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyue Luo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chunyang Zhou
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Center for Water Research, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, 519087, China
| | - Tianhui Ma
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wei Guo
- College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, 100124 Beijing, China
| | - Lawrence Percival
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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11
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Guo W, Li J, Luo M, Mao Y, Yu X, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Estrogenic activity and ecological risk of steroids, bisphenol A and phthalates after secondary and tertiary sewage treatment processes. Water Res 2022; 214:118189. [PMID: 35184019 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Effluents of sewage treatment plants (STPs) are an important source of estrogenic substances to the receiving water bodies affecting their ecological safety. In this study, steroids, bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates were assessed in the secondary (SE) and tertiary effluent (TE) of three typical urban STPs in Beijing (China). In addition, the overall estrogenic activity in these effluents was assessed by an in-vitro bioassay (ERE-CALUX). Results showed that the concentrations and activities of estrogenic compounds in TE were lower than those in SE. The residual concentration of 17β-estradiol (E2) was the highest among the detected steroids, accounting for 51.6 ± 5.1% in SE and 57.5 ± 24.8% in TE. The residual level (25.2-41.6 ng/L) of BPA in effluents was significantly higher than that of steroids (0.2-28.8 ng/L). The residual concentration of diethyl phthalate was the highest among the detected phthalates accounting for 47.1 ± 5.1% in SE and 37.6 ± 11.5% in TE. Steroids and BPA had a higher removal rate (83.5% and 96.7%) in secondary and tertiary treatment than phthalates (68.8% and 83.1%). The hydrophobic characteristics of these estrogenic compounds determined the removal mechanism. The removal of steroids, BPA, dimethyl phthalate and diethyl phthalate (LogKow= 1.61-4.15) mainly occurred through biodegradation in the water phase, while the removal of dibutyl phthalate, butylbenzyl phthalate and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (LogKow= 4.27-7.50) mainly occurred in the solid phase after adsorption on and sedimentation of the suspended particulate matter. According to ERE-CALUX, the estrogenic activity in the final STP effluents was 3.2-45.6 ng E2-equivalents/L, which is higher than reported levels in the effluents of European STPs. Calculation of estrogenic equivalents by using substance specific chemical analysis indicated that the dominant contributor was E2 (56.4-88.4%), followed by 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) (4.1-34.8%), both also exerting a moderate risk to the aquatic ecosystem. While the upgrade of treatment processes in STPs has efficiently reduced the emission of estrogenic substances, their ecological risk was not yet phased out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium; College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Jun Li
- College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Mingyue Luo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Yan Mao
- Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Center of MEE, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Xiangyi Yu
- Solid Waste and Chemicals Management Center of MEE, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Marc Elskens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium.
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12
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Schoeters G, Verheyen VJ, Colles A, Remy S, Martin LR, Govarts E, Nelen V, Den Hond E, De Decker A, Franken C, Loots I, Coertjens D, Morrens B, Bastiaensen M, Gys C, Malarvannan G, Covaci A, Nawrot T, De Henauw S, Bellemans M, Leermakers M, Van Larebeke N, Baeyens W, Jacobs G, Voorspoels S, Nielsen F, Bruckers L. Internal exposure of Flemish teenagers to environmental pollutants: Results of the Flemish Environment and Health Study 2016-2020 (FLEHS IV). Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 242:113972. [PMID: 35453051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS) collects information on internal exposure to a broad range of environmental chemicals in the general population in Flanders, the Northern region of Belgium. The aim is to establish biomonitoring exposure distributions for the general population in support of public health and environmental policy, environmental risk assessment and risk management decisions. In 2017-2018, urine and blood samples were collected from 428 teenagers by a stratified clustered two stage randomized design. Samples were analyzed for a broad range of biomarkers related to exposure to chlorinated and newer pesticides, brominated and organophosphate flame retardants (BFR/OPFR), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenols, phthalates and alternative plasticizers, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, metals and trace elements. The geometric mean levels and percentiles of the distribution were estimated for each biomarker, for the whole study population and following stratification for sex, the household educational attainment and the residence area's urbanicity. Geometric means of biomarkers of lead, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), PCBs, PAHs, regulated phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) were lower than in the previous FLEHS cycles. Most biomarker levels were below health-based guidance values (HB-GVs). However, HB-GVs of urinary arsenic, blood lead, blood cadmium, sum of serum perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and the urinary pyrethroid metabolite (3-PBA) were exceeded in respectively 25%, 12%, 39.5%, 10% and 22% of the teenagers. These results suggest that the levels of exposure in the Flemish population to some environmental chemicals might be of concern. At the same time, we noticed that biomarkers for BPA substitutes, metabolites of OPFRs, an expanded list of PFAS, glyphosate and its metabolite could be measured in substantial proportions of participants. Interpretation of these levels in a health-risk context remains uncertain as HB-GVs are lacking. Household educational attainment and residential urbanicity were significant exposure determinants for many biomarkers and could influence specific biomarker levels up to 70% as shown by multiple regression analysis. The research consortium also took care of the broader external communication of results with participants, policy makers, professional groups and civil society organizations. Our study demonstrated that teenagers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals, it demonstrates the success of public policies to reduce exposure but also points to concern and further priorities and needs for follow up.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - V J Verheyen
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - A Colles
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - S Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - L Rodriguez Martin
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - E Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - V Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - E Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - A De Decker
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - C Franken
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - I Loots
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - D Coertjens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - B Morrens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - M Bastiaensen
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - C Gys
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - G Malarvannan
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - A Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - T Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - S De Henauw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Bellemans
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo- Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - N Van Larebeke
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo- Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - W Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo- Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - G Jacobs
- VITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - S Voorspoels
- VITO GOAL, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - F Nielsen
- Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - L Bruckers
- BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium
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13
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Cosemans C, Van Larebeke N, Janssen BG, Martens DS, Baeyens W, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Coertjens D, Nelen V, Schoeters G, Hoppe HW, Wolfs E, Smeets K, Nawrot TS, Plusquin M. Glyphosate and AMPA exposure in relation to markers of biological aging in an adult population-based study. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 240:113895. [PMID: 34883335 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM Glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide, and its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) are persistent in the environment. Studies showed associations between glyphosate or AMPA exposure and several adverse cellular processes, including metabolic alterations and oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between glyphosate and AMPA exposure and biomarkers of biological aging. METHODS We examined glyphosate and AMPA exposure, mtDNA content and leukocyte telomere length in 181 adults, included in the third cycle of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHSIII). DNA was isolated from leukocytes and the relative mtDNA content and telomere length were determined using qPCR. Urinary glyphosate and AMPA concentrations were measured by Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). We used multiple linear regression models to associate mtDNA content and leukocyte telomere length with glyphosate or AMPA exposure while adjusting for confounding variables. RESULTS A doubling in urinary AMPA concentration was associated with 5.19% (95% CI: 0.49 to 10.11; p = 0.03) longer leukocyte telomere length, while no association was observed with urinary glyphosate concentration. No association between mtDNA content and urinary glyphosate nor AMPA levels was observed. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that AMPA exposure may be associated with telomere biology in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Cosemans
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bram G Janssen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Dries Coertjens
- Faculty of Social Sciences and IMDO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Faculty of Social Sciences and IMDO, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Esther Wolfs
- Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Hasselt University, Belgium
| | - Karen Smeets
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; School of Public Health, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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14
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Abdulbur-Alfakhoury E, Trommetter G, Brion N, Dumoulin D, Reichstädter M, Billon G, Leermakers M, Baeyens W. Distribution of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh) in urban tributaries of the Scheldt River assessed by diffusive gradients in thin films technique (DGT). Sci Total Environ 2021; 784:147075. [PMID: 33905928 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The performance of the newly developed DGT technique for the platinum group elements (PGEs) rhodium (Rh), platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) was evaluated in two tributaries of the Scheldt River, the Marque River close to the city of Lille (France), and the Zenne River which flows through the city of Brussels (Belgium). In the Marque River, an interlaboratory comparison was performed between the two laboratories where the DGT techniques dedicated to PGEs were developed (AMGC, VUB & LASIRE, U-Lille). PGEs were also analysed in an effluent of a Brussels hospital and monthly grab sampling was performed at the wastewater treatments plants (WWTPs) of Brussels. The concentrations of the 3 elements are higher in the Zenne River than in the Marque River and much higher Pt concentrations are found in the hospital effluent. Good agreement for Pt was observed between the three selected chelating resins and a relatively good agreement was observed between the two laboratories using the same chelating resin, whereas lower results were observed with the anion-exchange resin. Larger discrepancies between the two laboratories were observed for Pd and no comparison could be made for Rh due to the low natural concentrations. The results show that in small urban rivers with high impact of urbanization, WWTPs are an important source of Pt, resulting from the use of anticancer drugs in hospitals and households. The limited retention of PGEs in WWTPs results in increased concentrations in urban rivers downstream. For Pd and Rh, similar trends were found with other traffic related elements such as Cu, Zn and Pb, showing the highest concentrations in waters collecting runoff from a highway. The data show that these elements, together with Gd, can be useful to trace specific pollution sources and their dispersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehab Abdulbur-Alfakhoury
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Guillaume Trommetter
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Intéractions, la Réactivité de l'Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Natacha Brion
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Dumoulin
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Intéractions, la Réactivité de l'Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Marek Reichstädter
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - G Billon
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIRE - Laboratoire Avancé de Spectroscopie pour les Intéractions, la Réactivité de l'Environnement, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - W Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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15
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Cao X, Gao X, Zeng X, Ma Y, Gao Y, Baeyens W, Jia Y, Liu J, Wu C, Su S. Seeking for an optimal strategy to avoid arsenic and cadmium over-accumulation in crops: Soil management vs cultivar selection in a case study with maize. Chemosphere 2021; 272:129891. [PMID: 33601208 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Soil management and cultivar selection are two strategies to reduce the accumulation risk of heavy metals in crops. However, it is still an open question which of these two strategies is more efficient for the safe utilization of contaminated soil. In this study, the available bio-concentration factors (aBCF) of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) among 39 maize cultivars were determined through a field experiment. The effect of soil management was mimicked by choosing diverse sampling sites having different soil available contents of As and Cd. The aBCF of As and Cd in grain ranged from 0.02 to 0.13 and 1.17 to 42.2, respectively. The accumulation ability of As and Cd was classified among different maize cultivars. Soil pH and total As controlled the level of available As in soils, while soil pH dominated available Cd in soil. A soil pH of 6.5 was recommended to simultaneously minimize soil available As and Cd by managing soil conditions. The quantitative effects of cultivar and soil management on grain As and Cd were expressed as Q [Grain As] = 0.746Q [Cultivar]-0.126Q [pH]+0.276Q [Asavailable] (R2 = 0.648, P = 1.00 × 10-37) and Q [Grain Cd] = 0.913Q [Cultivar]-0.192Q [pH]+0.071Q [SOC] (R2 = 0.782, P = 1.00 × 10-37), respectively. Cultivar selection contributed stronger than soil management to decrease the As and Cd levels in maize grains. A feasible method to seek for a more efficient strategy was proposed for the safe utilization of contaminated soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Cao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xibai Zeng
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yibing Ma
- Macau Environmental Research Institute, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, 999078, China
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yuehui Jia
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jie Liu
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Cuixia Wu
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Shiming Su
- Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, China.
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Colles A, Coertjens D, Morrens B, Den Hond E, Paulussen M, Bruckers L, Govarts E, Covaci A, Koppen G, Croes K, Nelen V, Van Larebeke N, De Henauw S, Fierens T, Van Gestel G, Chovanova H, Mampaey M, Van Campenhout K, Loots I, Baeyens W, Schoeters G. Human Biomonitoring Data Enables Evidence-Informed Policy to Reduce Internal Exposure to Persistent Organic Compounds: A Case Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:5559. [PMID: 34067438 PMCID: PMC8196998 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring (HBM) monitors levels of environmental pollutants in human samples, which often is a topic of concern for residents near industrially contaminated sites (ICSs). Around an ICS area in Menen (Belgium), including a (former) municipal waste incinerator and a metal recovery plant, increasing environmental concentrations of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were observed, causing growing concern among residents and authorities. The local community succeeded in convincing the responsible authorities to investigate the problem and offer research funding. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were measured in two consecutive HBM studies (2002-2006 and 2010-2011), in the context of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS), as well as in soil and locally produced food. Meanwhile, local authorities discouraged consumption of locally produced food in a delineated area of higher exposure risk. Ultimately, HBM and environmental data enabled tailored dietary recommendations. This article demonstrates the usefulness of HBM in documenting the body burdens of residents near the ICS, identifying exposure routes, evaluating remediating actions and providing information for tailored policy strategies aiding to further exposure reduction. It also highlights the role of the local stakeholders as an example of community-based participatory research and how such an approach can create societal support for research and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Colles
- VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.G.); (G.K.); (G.S.)
| | - Dries Coertjens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (D.C.); (B.M.); (I.L.)
| | - Bert Morrens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (D.C.); (B.M.); (I.L.)
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.D.H.); (M.P.); (V.N.)
| | - Melissa Paulussen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.D.H.); (M.P.); (V.N.)
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- i-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium;
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.G.); (G.K.); (G.S.)
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium;
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.G.); (G.K.); (G.S.)
| | - Kim Croes
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (K.C.); (N.V.L.); (W.B.)
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (E.D.H.); (M.P.); (V.N.)
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (K.C.); (N.V.L.); (W.B.)
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, C. Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Tine Fierens
- Flanders Environment Agency (VMM), Dr. De Moorstraat 24, 9300 Aalst, Belgium;
| | - Griet Van Gestel
- Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM), Stationsstraat 110, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium;
| | - Hana Chovanova
- Flemish Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Family, Flemish Agency for Care and Health, Environmental Health Section, Koning Albert-II laan 35 bus 33, 1030 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Maja Mampaey
- Department of Environment & Spatial Development, Flemish Planning Bureau for the Environment and Spatial Development, Koning Albert-II laan 20 bus 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (M.M.); (K.V.C.)
| | - Karen Van Campenhout
- Department of Environment & Spatial Development, Flemish Planning Bureau for the Environment and Spatial Development, Koning Albert-II laan 20 bus 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (M.M.); (K.V.C.)
| | - Ilse Loots
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; (D.C.); (B.M.); (I.L.)
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (K.C.); (N.V.L.); (W.B.)
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium; (E.G.); (G.K.); (G.S.)
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Galceran J, Gao Y, Puy J, Leermakers M, Rey-Castro C, Zhou C, Baeyens W. Speciation of Inorganic Compounds in Aquatic Systems Using Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films: A Review. Front Chem 2021; 9:624511. [PMID: 33889563 PMCID: PMC8057345 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.624511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The speciation of trace metals in an aquatic system involves the determination of free ions, complexes (labile and non-labile), colloids, and the total dissolved concentration. In this paper, we review the integrated assessment of free ions and labile metal complexes using Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT), a dynamic speciation technique. The device consists of a diffusive hydrogel layer made of polyacrylamide, backed by a layer of resin (usually Chelex-100) for all trace metals except for Hg. The best results for Hg speciation are obtained with agarose as hydrogel and a thiol-based resin. The diffusive domain controls the diffusion flux of the metal ions and complexes to the resin, which strongly binds all free ions. By using DGT devices with different thicknesses of the diffusive or resin gels and exploiting expressions derived from kinetic models, one can determine the labile concentrations, mobilities, and labilities of different species of an element in an aquatic system. This procedure has been applied to the determination of the organic pool of trace metals in freshwaters or to the characterization of organic and inorganic complexes in sea waters. The concentrations that are obtained represent time-weighted averages (TWA) over the deployment period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josep Galceran
- Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Lleida, Spain
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jaume Puy
- Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Lleida, Spain
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Carlos Rey-Castro
- Departament de Química, Universitat de Lleida and AGROTECNIO-CERCA, Lleida, Spain
| | - Chunyang Zhou
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Gaulier C, Zhou C, Gao Y, Guo W, Reichstädter M, Ma T, Baeyens W, Billon G. Investigation on trace metal speciation and distribution in the Scheldt estuary. Sci Total Environ 2021; 757:143827. [PMID: 33257074 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biogeochemical behavior of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb along the historically polluted Scheldt estuary (Belgium - The Netherlands) was investigated in this study. As never studied before in this area, labile trace metals were measured using the passive sampling technique of Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT), while total dissolved and particulate trace metal concentrations were assessed using classic active sampling techniques. This dual approach allowed us to highlight the variations of trace metal speciation and distribution in the estuarine surface waters, considering environmental and physicochemical gradients along the transect. The large data set obtained was then compared with literature data of historical measurements along the Scheldt (from 1980 until now), but also from other estuaries. As emphasized by our results, trace metal mobility and partitioning along the Scheldt estuary was mainly driven by biogeochemical reactions which were strongly influenced by gradients of specific estuarine physico-chemical parameters, such as salinity, turbidity, temperature and so on. Hence, all species of trace metals displayed a non-conservative behavior. More precisely, dissolved labile fractions of trace metals showed higher levels in the middle estuary, where many solubilization and remobilization processes occurred due to turbulent mixing mechanisms and an increasing salinity. Our study confirmed the decreasing trend historically observed for particulate metals along the Scheldt, as well as the rising concentrations recorded for dissolved trace metals which might also lead to an increase of their labile fraction measured by the DGT. Finally, these preliminary results suggested that a more regular monitoring of labile metal along the Scheldt estuary is essential to have an in-depth understanding of trace metal speciation and to review bioavailability of trace metals within estuarine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Gaulier
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; LASIRE CNRS UMR 8516, Université de Lille, Cité Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Chunyang Zhou
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Wei Guo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Marek Reichstädter
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Purkynova 118, Brno 62100, Czech Republic
| | - Tianhui Ma
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gabriel Billon
- LASIRE CNRS UMR 8516, Université de Lille, Cité Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
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Zhou C, Gaulier C, Luo M, Guo W, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Fine scale measurements in Belgian coastal sediments reveal different mobilization mechanisms for cationic trace metals and oxyanions. Environ Int 2020; 145:106140. [PMID: 32966951 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Belgian coastal sediment serves as an important sink for trace elements, yet a systematic study covering a wide range of elements including redox-sensitive metals (Fe, Mn, and Co), cationic trace metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn), oxyanions (P, V, As, and Mo), and sulfide has not been performed and the mechanisms controlling their mobilization were not investigated. Here, a passive sampling technique, Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT), was used in situ to obtain high resolution concentration profiles of these elements in the sediment porewater. Our results revealed two mobilization mechanisms of cationic trace metals and oxyanions in Belgian coastal sediments, both strongly linked to the cycling of Fe. Mobilization of Co, Pb, Ni, and Cu is controlled by electrogenic sulfur oxidation, acidification of the porewater and dissolution of FeS, while that of oxyanions (P, V, and As) is controlled by reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides. Constant cationic trace metal to Fe molar ratios were established in FeS, while the oxyanion to Fe ratios in Fe oxyhydroxides differ significantly between sampling stations, which is primarily caused by competing effects. We found no evidence that cationic trace metal mobilization was related to Fe oxyhydroxides, or oxyanion mobilization to FeS. This suggests that particulate organic matter forms the major pathway for cationic trace metal input in coastal sediments and that oxyanions will not be incorporated in FeS but form their own oxyanion-sulfide compound. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the mobilization mechanisms of cationic trace metals and oxyanions in coastal sediments, and of their biogeochemical cycling in coastal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Zhou
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Camille Gaulier
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; LASIR CNRS UMR 8516, Universite de Lille, Cite Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Mingyue Luo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wei Guo
- College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Zhou C, Gao Y, Gaulier C, Luo M, Zhang X, Bratkic A, Davison W, Baeyens W. Advances in Understanding Mobilization Processes of Trace Metals in Marine Sediments. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54:15151-15161. [PMID: 33170658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Different mobilization mechanisms control the metal distribution in surface sediments of the Belgium coastal zone (BCZ) and the anoxic Gotland basin (GB). This mobilization was studied using DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films): vertical one-dimensional (1D) profiles of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were measured at 5 mm intervals, while two-dimensional (2D) high-resolution (100 μm) images of smaller zones of the sediment profile were obtained on separate DGT probes. Removal of dissolved Cd, Cu, and Pb in BCZ sediments caused steep vertical gradients at the sediment-water interface that were well replicated in 1D profiles and 2D images. While 1D profiles showed apparent coincident maxima of Co, Mn, and Fe, 2D images revealed mutually exclusive Co and Fe mobilization. Correlation analysis supported this observation and showed a consistent linkage between Co and Mn. Sharp maxima of some metals in the vertical 1D profiles of GB sediment were attributed to localized mobilization in microniches. Examination of an ∼1 mm diameter Cu and Ni maximum in 2D, defined by ∼300 data points, showed that the metals were supplied from localized decomposition of reactive organic material, rather than from reductively dissolving Fe or Mn oxides, and that they were removed as their sulfides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyang Zhou
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Camille Gaulier
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- LASIR CNRS UMR 8516, Universite de Lille, Cite Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Mingyue Luo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Xiaohan Zhang
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Arne Bratkic
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - William Davison
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, U.K
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Govarts E, Portengen L, Lambrechts N, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Covaci A, Nelen V, Nawrot TS, Loots I, Sioen I, Baeyens W, Morrens B, Schoeters G, Vermeulen R. Early-life exposure to multiple persistent organic pollutants and metals and birth weight: Pooled analysis in four Flemish birth cohorts. Environ Int 2020; 145:106149. [PMID: 33002701 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Prenatal chemical exposure has frequently been associated with reduced fetal growth although results have been inconsistent. Most studies associate single pollutant exposure to this health outcome, even though this does not reflect real life situations as humans are exposed to many pollutants during their life time. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to a mixture of persistent environmental chemicals and birth weight using multipollutant models. METHODS We combined exposure biomarker data measured in cord blood samples of 1579 women from four Flemish birth cohorts collected over a 10 years' time period. The common set of available and detectable exposure measures in these cohorts are three polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners (138, 153 and 180), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and the metals cadmium and lead. Multiple linear regression (MLR), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), penalized regression using minimax concave penalty (MCP) and Bayesian Adaptive Sampling (BAS) were applied to assess the influence of multiple pollutants in a single analysis on birth weight, adjusted for a priori selected covariates. RESULTS In the pooled dataset, a median (P25-P75) birth weight and gestational age of 3420 (3140-3700) grams and 39 (39-40) weeks was observed respectively. The median contaminant levels in cord blood were: 15.8, 26.5, 18.0, 16.9 and 91.5 ng/g lipid for PCB 138, PCB 153, PCB 180, HCB and p,p'-DDE, respectively, 0.075 µg/L for cadmium and 9.7 µg/L for lead. According to the applied statistical methods for multipollutant assessment, p,p'-DDE and PCB 180 were most consistently associated with birth weight. In addition, PCB 153 was selected when applying MCP and BAS. An inverse association with birth weight was found for the PCB congeners, while an increased birth weight was observed for elevated levels of p,p'-DDE. CONCLUSIONS Assessing the health risk of combinations of exposure biomarkers reflects better real-world situations and thereby allows more effective risk assessment. Our results add to the existing evidence based on detrimental effects of PCBs on birth weight and indicate a possible increase in birth weight due to p,p'-DDE (while correcting for PCBs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium.
| | - Lützen Portengen
- Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nathalie Lambrechts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Leuven University, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Faculty Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Free University Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bert Morrens
- Faculty Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense, Denmark
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Division of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Colles A, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Govarts E, Morrens B, Schettgen T, Buekers J, Coertjens D, Nawrot T, Loots I, Nelen V, De Henauw S, Schoeters G, Baeyens W, van Larebeke N. Perfluorinated substances in the Flemish population (Belgium): Levels and determinants of variability in exposure. Chemosphere 2020; 242:125250. [PMID: 31896205 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Because of their dirt-, water- and oil-repelling properties, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are frequently used in a broad variety of consumer products. They have been detected in human samples worldwide. In Flanders, Belgium, the Flemish Environment and Health Studies (FLEHS) measured the levels of five PFAS biomarkers in four different age groups of the Flemish population and identified determinants of variability in exposure. Cord plasma or peripheric serum samples and questionnaire data were available for 220 mother-newborn pairs (2008-2009), 269 mother-newborn pairs (2013-2014), 199 adolescents (14-15 years old, 2010), 201 adults (20-40 years old, 2008-2009) and 205 adults (50-65 years old, 2014). Measured levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) in Flanders are in the middle or low range compared to concentrations reported in other Western countries. Levels of perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) were below the quantification limit in 98%-100% of the samples. Despite decreasing levels in time for PFOS and PFOA, 77% of the adults (2014) had serum levels exceeding HBM-I values of 5 μg/L for PFOS and 2 μg/L for PFOA. Beside age, sex, fish consumption, parity and breastfeeding, the multiple regression models identified additionally consumption of offal and locally grown food, and use of cosmetics as possible exposures and menstruation as a possible route of elimination. Better knowledge on determinants of exposure is essential to lower PFASs exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Colles
- VITO - Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Hasselt University, Data Science Institute, Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Agoralaan - Gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO - Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Bert Morrens
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology, Sint-Jacobstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institut für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | | | - Dries Coertjens
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology, Sint-Jacobstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tim Nawrot
- Hasselt University, Centre of Environmental Sciences, Agoralaan - Gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- University of Antwerp, Department of Sociology, Sint-Jacobstraat 2-4, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- University of Ghent, Department of Public Health, C. Heymanslaan 10 - 4K3, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Willy Baeyens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Larebeke
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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Gaulier C, Billon G, Lesven L, Falantin C, Superville PJ, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Leaching of two northern France slag heaps: Influence on the surrounding aquatic environment. Environ Pollut 2020; 257:113601. [PMID: 31744682 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
After the exploitation of coal mines in the 19th and 20th centuries in northern France, many mining slag heaps (SH) were left without any particular management or monitoring. Currently, the influence of these SHs on the quality of surrounding wetlands is hardly known. The purpose of this work is to determine the water quality in the neighbourhood of two SHs located near the city of Douai and its influence on the distribution of aquatic invertebrates in local wetlands. Our approach involves (1) the spatial and temporal characterization of the water composition (anions, major elements, sulphide, DOC and alkalinity) and of the biological diversity (aquatic invertebrates) and (2), based on this chemical and biological screening, the establishment of relationships between water quality and biodiversity distribution through multivariate data analysis. The results clearly indicate that substantial leaching from the slag heaps occurs, given the very high concentrations of dissolved sulphates (in the range of 2 g L-1). While the pH remains weakly basic, indicating that the leaching water has been neutralized by the highly carbonated regional substratum, high levels of biodegradable organic matter and sulphate contents have been noticed. They sporadically cause significant drops in dissolved oxygen and the occurrence of dissolved sulphides that massively reduce biodiversity, qualitatively and quantitatively. In Summer, oxygen saturation is generally lower due to the higher rate of organic matter degradation, and the risk of anoxic episodes therefore increases. Finally, as wetlands are vulnerable environments, these preliminary results suggest that monitoring and management of these sites must be attempted quickly to avoid the degradation of those valuable habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Gaulier
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIR - Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infra-rouge et Raman, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Gabriel Billon
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIR - Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infra-rouge et Raman, F-59000, Lille, France.
| | - Ludovic Lesven
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIR - Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infra-rouge et Raman, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Cécilia Falantin
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIR - Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infra-rouge et Raman, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Pierre-Jean Superville
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8516, LASIR - Laboratoire de Spectrochimie Infra-rouge et Raman, F-59000, Lille, France
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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Cosemans C, Nawrot TS, Janssen BG, Vriens A, Smeets K, Baeyens W, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Loots I, Nelen V, Van Larebeke N, Schoeters G, Martens D, Plusquin M. Breastfeeding predicts blood mitochondrial DNA content in adolescents. Sci Rep 2020; 10:387. [PMID: 31941967 PMCID: PMC6962168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-57276-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrition during early childhood is linked to metabolic programming. We hypothesized that breastfeeding has long-term consequences on the energy metabolism exemplified by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). As part of the third cycle of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHSIII) cohort, 303 adolescents aged 14–15 years were included. We associated breastfeeding and blood mtDNA content 14–15 years later while adjusting for confounding variables. Compared with non-breastfed adolescents, mtDNA content was 23.1% (95%CI: 4.4–45.2; p = 0.013) higher in breastfed adolescents. Being breastfed for 1–10 weeks, 11–20 weeks, and >20 weeks, was associated with a higher mtDNA content of respectively 16.0% (95%CI: −7.1–44.9; p = 0.191), 23.5% (95%CI: 0.8–51.3; p = 0.042), and 31.5% (95%CI: 4.3–65.7; p = 0.021). Our study showed a positive association between breastfeeding and mtDNA content in adolescents which gradually increased with longer periods of breastfeeding. Higher mtDNA content may be an underlying mechanism of the beneficial effects of breastfeeding on children’s metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Cosemans
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.,School of Public Health, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bram G Janssen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Annette Vriens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Karen Smeets
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Ilse Loots
- Faculty of Social Sciences and IMDO-Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Dries Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Gaulier C, Zhou C, Guo W, Bratkic A, Superville PJ, Billon G, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Trace metal speciation in North Sea coastal waters. Sci Total Environ 2019; 692:701-712. [PMID: 31539978 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Most trace metals exhibit a dual role in marine waters, acting as nutrients at low concentration and being toxic at high concentration. But besides concentration range, speciation is also an important factor. They both show both seasonal and spatial variations. A thorough comparison between total dissolved and particulate concentrations estimated from manual sampling and an assessment of the bioavailability using Diffusive Gradients in Thin Films (DGT) has been performed in this work for Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Pb, at several sampling points of the Belgian Coastal Zone (BCZ). Additional information to trace back the origin and identify the anthropogenic fingerprint of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) was measured using stable carbon isotope measurements in particulate organic matter. Our results show that: (i) particulate and total dissolved metal concentrations are higher at two stations, one in the harbor of Oostende and one offshore; (ii) dissolved and particulate trace metal concentrations do not correlate with the dissolved labile fractions; and (iii) SPM in the harbor zone is likely from allochthonous sources, while in the offshore station marine origin has been evidenced. Our results indicate that, even though contamination is higher in the harbor zones, the trace metal toxicity, which is linked to the metal bioavailability, is most likely not higher than in the open sea. However, with increasing acidification of the ocean, a shift from particulate to dissolved phase might lead to increasing adverse effects on the coastal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Gaulier
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; LASIR CNRS UMR 8516, Université de Lille, Cité Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Chunyang Zhou
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wei Guo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Arne Bratkic
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre-Jean Superville
- LASIR CNRS UMR 8516, Université de Lille, Cité Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Gabriel Billon
- LASIR CNRS UMR 8516, Université de Lille, Cité Scientifique, 59655 Villeneuve d'Ascq Cedex, France
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Baeyens W, Mirlean N, Bundschuh J, de Winter N, Baisch P, da Silva Júnior FMR, Gao Y. Arsenic enrichment in sediments and beaches of Brazilian coastal waters: A review. Sci Total Environ 2019; 681:143-154. [PMID: 31103652 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
High concentrations of total arsenic (As), even above the Brazilian legislative threshold for marine sediments of 70 mg kg-1, were found in beach sands and near-shore surface sediments. Two mechanisms (anthropogenic activities and sedimentary processes in the coastal waters) are responsible for this contamination. The anthropogenic impact includes releases from metallurgical plants, phosphate fertilizer plants and gold and iron mining. In the coastal area sedimentary processes redistributed the As from the sediment into the porous structure of calcareous marine algae. These enriched calcareous algae are transported over time to the beach by wave action. As in the Brazilian coastal environment, increased As levels were also observed in other coastal environments of South America such as Rio Loa (Chile), Barbacoas Bay (Colombia) and the Southern Pampa region (Argentina). Finally, arsenic levels in fish from Brazilian coastal waters and North Sea, which is also an As-contaminated area, were compared. In both areas, short term health effects from fish consumption are not expected, but a lifetime cancer risk cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolai Mirlean
- Laboratório de Oceanografia Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Campus Carreiros, CP 474, CEP 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba 4350, QLD, Australia
| | - Niels de Winter
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paulo Baisch
- Laboratório de Oceanografia Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Campus Carreiros, CP 474, CEP 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior
- Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Campus Carreiros, CP 474, CEP 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Gao Y, Zhou C, Gaulier C, Bratkic A, Galceran J, Puy J, Zhang H, Leermakers M, Baeyens W. Labile trace metal concentration measurements in marine environments: From coastal to open ocean areas. Trends Analyt Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Guo W, Van Langenhove K, Vandermarken T, Denison MS, Elskens M, Baeyens W, Gao Y. In situ measurement of estrogenic activity in various aquatic systems using organic diffusive gradients in thin-film coupled with ERE-CALUX bioassay. Environ Int 2019; 127:13-20. [PMID: 30897513 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Organic-diffusive gradients in thin-film samplers (o-DGT), were developed and applied for accumulation of estrogen and estrogen-like compounds on a XAD18 resin and deployed in situ in the effluents of Beijing Gaobeidian Wastewater Treatment Plant (GWWTP) and Brussels North Wastewater Treatment Plant as well as in several aquatic systems in Belgium, including the Zenne River, the Belgian Oostende Harbor and the North Sea. Estrogenic compounds accumulate on the XAD18 resin and the estrogenic activity of the resin extract was measured with the Estrogen Responsive Elements-Chemically Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (ERE-CALUX) bioassay. With this result and by applying Fick's diffusion law, it is possible to calculate the estrogenic activity in the aquatic system, if the diffusion boundary layer (DBL) is known or negligible compared to the hydrogel diffusive layer thickness. The DBL thickness in our study varied from 0.010 to 0.023 cm and ignoring the DBL thickness would for instance, underestimate the estrogenic activity by 10-20%. Estrogenic activities in the secondary effluent of GWWTP were the highest (29 ± 4 ng E2-equivalents L-1), while the lowest level was found at the Belgian Oostende Harbor (0.05 ± 0.01 ng E2-equivalents L-1). Comparable estrogenic activities in water samples measured by o-DGT and grab sampling were obtained, confirming that o-DGT can be efficiently used in various aquatic systems. The advantage of our sampling and measuring method is that very low, time averaged estrogenic activities can be determined, with a minimum of sample treatment. The risk of sample contamination is very low as well as the cost of the whole analytical procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Kersten Van Langenhove
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Tara Vandermarken
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Michael S Denison
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Marc Elskens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1050, Belgium.
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Vriens A, Nawrot TS, Janssen BG, Baeyens W, Bruckers L, Covaci A, De Craemer S, De Henauw S, Den Hond E, Loots I, Nelen V, Schettgen T, Schoeters G, Martens DS, Plusquin M. Exposure to Environmental Pollutants and Their Association with Biomarkers of Aging: A Multipollutant Approach. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:5966-5976. [PMID: 31041867 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b07141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and telomere length are putative aging biomarkers and are sensitive to environmental stressors, including pollutants. Our objective was to identify, from a set of environmental exposures, which exposure is associated with leukocyte mtDNA content and telomere length in adults. This study includes 175 adults from 50 to 65 years old from the cross-sectional Flemish Environment and Health study, of whom leukocyte telomere length and mtDNA content were determined using qPCR. The levels of exposure of seven metals, 11 organohalogens, and four perfluorinated compounds (PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFOS) were measured. We performed sparse partial least-squares regression analyses followed by ordinary least-squares regression to assess the multipollutant associations. While accounting for possible confounders and coexposures, we identified that urinary cadmium (6.52%, 95% confidence interval, 1.06, 12.28), serum hexachlorobenzene (2.89%, 018, 5.68), and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (11.38%, 5.97, 17.08) exposure were positively associated ( p < 0.05) with mtDNA content, while urinary copper (-9.88%, -14.82, -4.66) and serum perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (-4.75%, -8.79, -0.54) exposure were inversely associated with mtDNA content. Urinary antimony (2.69%, 0.45, 4.99) and mercury (1.91%, 0.42, 3.43) exposure were positively associated with leukocyte telomere length, while urinary copper (-3.52%, -6.60, -0.34) and serum perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (-3.64%, -6.60, -0.60) showed an inverse association. Our findings support the hypothesis that environmental pollutants interact with molecular hallmarks of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Vriens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences , Hasselt University , Hasselt 3500 , Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences , Hasselt University , Hasselt 3500 , Belgium
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care , Leuven University , Leuven 3000 , Belgium
| | - Bram G Janssen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences , Hasselt University , Hasselt 3500 , Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics , Hasselt University , Diepenbeek 3590 , Belgium
| | | | - Sam De Craemer
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , Brussels 1050 , Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health , Ghent University , Ghent 9000 , Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene , Antwerp 2000 , Belgium
| | | | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene , Antwerp 2000 , Belgium
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty , RWTH Aachen University , Aachen 52062 , Germany
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health , Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) , Mol 2400 , Belgium
| | - Dries S Martens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences , Hasselt University , Hasselt 3500 , Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences , Hasselt University , Hasselt 3500 , Belgium
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Vriens A, Plusquin M, Baeyens W, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Loots I, Nelen V, Schoeters G, Janssen BG, Nawrot TS. Cord blood leptin and insulin levels in association with mitochondrial DNA content. J Transl Med 2018; 16:224. [PMID: 30103773 PMCID: PMC6090601 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1599-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The developmental origins of health and disease theory states that a disturbance in the early life environment can contribute to disease risk in later life. Leptin and insulin are anorectic hormones involved in energy homeostasis and are crucial for foetal growth. Disturbances in the levels of these hormones contribute to obesity and diabetes. In adults, altered mitochondrial function is an important hallmark of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes. However, the mitochondrial effects of early life metabolic variation are unexplored. We investigated whether there is an association between metabolic hormones and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content in early life. Methods The study included 236 newborns from the FLEHS III birth cohort, Flanders (Belgium). Relative mtDNA content of cord blood leukocytes was determined using quantitative PCR. Cord blood levels of leptin and insulin were determined using immunoassays. We studied the association between these metabolic hormones and mtDNA content using multiple linear regression models, while accounting for covariates and potential confounders. Results Leptin and insulin levels were positively associated with cord blood mtDNA content. mtDNA content was respectively 4.49% (95% CI 1.15–7.93; p = 0.008) and 1.60% (95% CI 0.31–2.91; p = 0.02) higher for a interquartile range increase of respectively cord blood leptin and insulin levels. In a sensitivity analysis, we observed that insulin and leptin were independently associated to mtDNA content and that insulin was stronger associated to mtDNA content in boys than in girls. Conclusion Neonatal metabolic hormones were associated with cord blood mtDNA content, which suggests that in early life the variation of mtDNA content might accommodate or reflect changes in the metabolic status. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-018-1599-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Vriens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | | | - Ilse Loots
- Faculty of Social Sciences and IMDO-Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Bram G Janssen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan Building D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium. .,School of Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium.
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Zhou C, van de Velde S, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Comparison of Chelex based resins in diffusive gradients in thin-film for high resolution assessment of metals. Talanta 2018; 186:397-405. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.04.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
Abstract
Biomonitoring of mercury (Hg) in urine can provide valuable information on environmental exposure to inorganic and elemental Hg. However, this requires a method with a sufficiently low detection limit, and in addition, sample stability during storage needs to be addressed. We adapted a method described in the literature to obtain lower detection limits by decreasing dilution and optimizing the amount of reagents used, while also investigating matrix effects, within- and between measurement variability, and accuracy. We tested Hg stability in urine under different storage conditions and using different stabilizers suggested in the literature. A five-fold dilution of the urine sample with addition of optimized amounts of BrCl gave the best results regarding detection limits, which could be further improved by using a gold amalgamation preconcentration step (Autrap). Application of the method in a biomonitoring study allowed detection of Hg in 95% of the samples without Au trap, and resulted in mercury levels that were comparable to similar populations and influenced by expected variables (age, dental amalgam). Regardless of the sample storage conditions of urine samples in polypropylene bottles, Hg decreased during the first days of storage, then slowly regained or exceeded the originally measured concentration. From these experiments, it appears that storage of the samples frozen at -20°C for several weeks prior to analysis, without the addition of additives is the preferred method.
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Vandermarken T, Gao Y, Baeyens W, Denison MS, Croes K. Dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs in sediment samples and suspended particulate matter from the Scheldt estuary and the North Sea Coast: Comparison of CALUX concentration levels in historical and recent samples. Sci Total Environ 2018; 626:109-116. [PMID: 29335165 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Scheldt estuary is historically a highly polluted river system. While several studies have focused on contamination with metals, pesticides, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and marker PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), no data are available concerning past contamination by dioxin-like compounds. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to determine spatial and time trends of PolyChlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and DibenzoFurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) in sediment samples and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) from the Scheldt River basin and the North Sea Coast. METHODS Dioxin-like compounds (PCDD/F and dl-PCB fractions) were measured with the CALUX-bioassay. Bioanalytical EQuivalent concentrations (BEQs) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content of historical (1982-1984) and recent (2011-2015) sediment and SPM samples from different locations in the coastal area and the estuary, were evaluated. RESULTS A decrease in dioxin-like compound concentrations was found at all stations over time, especially for the PCDD/Fs. Dl-PCBs were relatively low in all samples. The Scheldt mouth and the Antwerp harbor yielded the highest BEQs and levels were higher in SPM than in sediment due to the higher organic carbon content in this fraction. CONCLUSIONS Current PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels in the Belgian Coastal Zone and Scheldt estuary are much lower than their levels 30 years ago and pose a relatively low risk to the aquatic system. This is the result of a strong decrease in emissions, however, large local variabilities in sediment concentration levels can still exist because of local variability in sedimentation, erosion rates and in organic carbon content.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vandermarken
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Y Gao
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - W Baeyens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - M S Denison
- University of California at Davis, Department of Environmental Toxicology, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - K Croes
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Gao Y, Baisch P, Mirlean N, Rodrigues da Silva Júnior FM, Van Larebeke N, Baeyens W, Leermakers M. Arsenic speciation in fish and shellfish from the North Sea (Southern bight) and Açu Port area (Brazil) and health risks related to seafood consumption. Chemosphere 2018; 191:89-96. [PMID: 29031057 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/01/2017] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In North Sea and Port Açu (Brazil) coastal areas, high arsenic (As) concentrations were observed in water, soil and sediments. Therefore, the impact of this contamination on fish and shellfish species bought from local fishermen was studied. Total As was assessed with ICP-OES (Brazil) and ICP-MS (North Sea) after microwave digestion. Toxic As was assessed with liquid chromatography-ICP-MS (Brazil) and hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (North Sea). All analytical methods comply with Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures. Several fish species have average Total As concentrations above 1 μg g-1 wet weight (ww), but the highest concentrations are found in less spotted dogfish, lemon sole and whelks from the North Sea, with respectively 50, 49 and 50 μg g-1 ww. High Total As concentrations correspond to high Toxic As concentrations, except for scallops having increased Toxic As concentrations. Toxic As fractions are highest in scallops (almost 10%) but rarely exceeds 2% in all other species. Liver samples were only analyzed in ray, dogfish and catfish and their Toxic As fractions are between 2 and 4 times higher than in muscle. For a consumption of 150 g of seafood, only 3 samples exceed the provisional total daily intake of 2 μg kg-1 bw, however, cancer risks are non-negligible. Using mean Toxic As concentrations for each of the different fish and shellfish species studied, Lifetime Cancer Risk values at the actual global seafood consumption rate of 54 g day-1 are above 10-4 for whelks, scallops, dogfish, ray and lemon sole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Paulo Baisch
- Laboratório de Oceanografia Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Campus Carreiros, CP 474, CEP 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Nicolai Mirlean
- Laboratório de Oceanografia Geológica, Instituto de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Campus Carreiros, CP 474, CEP 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva Júnior
- Laboratório de Ensaios Farmacológicos e Toxicológicos, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Campus Carreiros, CP 474, CEP 96203-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
| | - Nik Van Larebeke
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martine Leermakers
- Analytical, Environmental and Geochemical Department (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Guo W, Van Langenhove K, Denison MS, Baeyens W, Elskens M, Gao Y. Estrogenic Activity Measurements in Water Using Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Film Coupled with an Estrogen Bioassay. Anal Chem 2017; 89:13357-13364. [PMID: 29151339 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b03537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A novel type of diffusive gradients in thin-film (DGT) was combined with a chemically activated luciferase gene expression bioassay (CALUX) to measure estrogens in aquatic systems. The performance of this novel method was assessed with 17β-estradiol (E2) as the model steroid hormone, XAD 18 resin gel as the binding phase in the DGT method and VM7Luc4E2 cells (formerly BG1Luc4E2) for the Estrogen Responsive Element (ERE)-CALUX bioassay. The measured effective diffusion coefficient of E2 in agarose diffusive gel was 4.65 ± 0.37 × 10-6 cm2 s-1 at 25 °C. The detection limit of this combined DGT/ERE-CALUX method for 1 day of sampling (0.026 ± 0.003 ng L-1 of E2) is significantly lower than that obtained by spot sampling combined with GC-MS/MS or LC-MS/MS analysis (0.1-7.0 ng L-1). The method is independent of pH (5-8), ionic strength (0.001-0.5 M), and dissolved organic matter (DOM; concentrations up to 30 mg L-1). Field applications of this novel DGT in effluents of three sewage treatment plants in Beijing city (China) showed comparable results to conventional spot (grab) sampling. This study demonstrates that the combined DGT/ERE-CALUX approach is an effective and sensitive tool for in situ monitoring of estrogenic activity in waters and wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium.,School of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University , Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Kersten Van Langenhove
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Michael S Denison
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis (UC Davis) , One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Marc Elskens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) , Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Belgium
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Vriens A, Nawrot TS, Baeyens W, Den Hond E, Bruckers L, Covaci A, Croes K, De Craemer S, Govarts E, Lambrechts N, Loots I, Nelen V, Peusens M, De Henauw S, Schoeters G, Plusquin M. Neonatal exposure to environmental pollutants and placental mitochondrial DNA content: A multi-pollutant approach. Environ Int 2017; 106:60-68. [PMID: 28600986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placental mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content can be indicative of oxidative damage to the placenta during fetal development and is responsive to external stressors. In utero exposure to environmental pollutants that may influence placental mtDNA needs further exploration. OBJECTIVES We evaluated if placental mtDNA content is altered by environmental pollution in newborns and identified pollutants independently associated to alterations in placental mtDNA content. METHODS mtDNA content was measured in placental tissue of 233 newborns. Four perfluoroalkyl compounds and nine organochlorine compounds were quantified in cord blood plasma samples and six toxic metals in whole cord blood. We first applied a LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) penalized regression model to identify independent associations between environmental pollutants and placental mtDNA content, without penalization of several covariates. Then adjusted estimates were obtained using an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model evaluating the pollutants' association with placental mtDNA content, adjusted for several covariates. RESULTS Based on LASSO penalized regression, oxychlordane, p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, perfluorononanoic acid, arsenic, cadmium and thallium were identified to be independently associated with placental mtDNA content. The OLS model showed a higher placental mtDNA content of 2.71% (95% CI: 0.3 to 5.2%; p=0.03) and 1.41% (0.1 to 2.8%, p=0.04) for a 25% concentration increase of respectively cord blood β-hexachlorocyclohexane and arsenic. For a 25% concentration increase of cord blood thallium, a 4.88% lower placental mtDNA content (95% CI: -9.1 to -0.5%, p=0.03) was observed. CONCLUSION In a multi-pollutant approach, low fetal exposure levels of environmental organic and inorganic pollutants might compromise placental mitochondrial function as exemplified in this study by alterations in mtDNA content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Vriens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; School of Public Health, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kim Croes
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sam De Craemer
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Lambrechts
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Faculty of Social Sciences and IMDO-Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martien Peusens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Stefaan De Henauw
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Winckelmans E, Nawrot TS, Tsamou M, Den Hond E, Baeyens W, Kleinjans J, Lefebvre W, Van Larebeke N, Peusens M, Plusquin M, Reynders H, Schoeters G, Vanpoucke C, de Kok TM, Vrijens K. Transcriptome-wide analyses indicate mitochondrial responses to particulate air pollution exposure. Environ Health 2017; 16:87. [PMID: 28821289 PMCID: PMC5563023 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0292-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to their lack of repair capacity mitochondria are critical targets for environmental toxicants. We studied genes and pathways reflecting mitochondrial responses to short- and medium-term PM10 exposure. METHODS Whole genome gene expression was measured in peripheral blood of 98 adults (49% women). We performed linear regression analyses stratified by sex and adjusted for individual and temporal characteristics to investigate alterations in gene expression induced by short-term (week before blood sampling) and medium-term (month before blood sampling) PM10 exposure. Overrepresentation analyses (ConsensusPathDB) were performed to identify enriched mitochondrial associated pathways and gene ontology sets. Thirteen Human MitoCarta genes were measured by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) along with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content in an independent validation cohort (n = 169, 55.6% women). RESULTS Overrepresentation analyses revealed significant pathways (p-value <0.05) related to mitochondrial genome maintenance and apoptosis for short-term exposure and to the electron transport chain (ETC) for medium-term exposure in women. For men, medium-term PM10 exposure was associated with the Tri Carbonic Acid cycle. In an independent study population, we validated several ETC genes, including UQCRH and COX7C (q-value <0.05), and some genes crucial for the maintenance of the mitochondrial genome, including LONP1 (q-value: 0.07) and POLG (q-value: 0.04) in women. CONCLUSIONS In this exploratory study, we identified mitochondrial genes and pathways associated with particulate air pollution indicating upregulation of energy producing pathways as a potential mechanism to compensate for PM-induced mitochondrial damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Winckelmans
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Tsamou
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jos Kleinjans
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Martien Peusens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Hans Reynders
- Environment, Nature and Energy Department, Flemish Government, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Mol, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | | | - Theo M de Kok
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Karen Vrijens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
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Morrens B, Den Hond E, Schoeters G, Coertjens D, Colles A, Nawrot TS, Baeyens W, De Henauw S, Nelen V, Loots I. Human biomonitoring from an environmental justice perspective: supporting study participation of women of Turkish and Moroccan descent. Environ Health 2017; 16:48. [PMID: 28526013 PMCID: PMC5437637 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0260-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental justice research shows how socially disadvantaged groups are more exposed and more vulnerable to environmental pollution. At the same time, these groups are less represented and, thus, less visible in biomedical studies. This socioeconomic participation bias is a form of environmental injustice within research practice itself. METHODS We designed, implemented and evaluated a targeted recruitment strategy to enhance the participation of socially disadvantaged pregnant women in a human biomonitoring study in Belgium. We focused on women of Turkish and Moroccan descent and developed a setup using personal buddies that enabled information transfer about study conditions in the pre-parturition period as well as support and follow-up with questionnaires in the post-parturition period. RESULTS We identified four barriers to the participation of women with a vulnerable social and ethnic background which were related to psychosocial and situational factors. Lack of trust in researchers and no perceived study benefits were important personal barriers; the complex study design and difficult self-administered questionnaires were equally significant barriers. CONCLUSION By investing in direct, person-to-person contact with trusted buddies and supported by practical advice about cultural and linguistic sensitivity, it was possible to increase study participation of socially disadvantaged people. Above all, this required openness and flexibility in the mind-set of researchers so that study design and procedures could be better grounded in the experiences and circumstances of underprivileged groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Morrens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Health and Risk, VITO, Mol, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dries Coertjens
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ann Colles
- Environmental Health and Risk, VITO, Mol, Belgium
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
- Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
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Khedidji S, Croes K, Yassaa N, Ladji R, Denison MS, Baeyens W, Elskens M. Assessment of dioxin-like activity in PM 10 air samples from an industrial location in Algeria, using the DRE-CALUX bioassay. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2017; 24:11868-11877. [PMID: 26611627 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-5841-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
When compared to the European guidelines, PM10 (particulate matter up to 10-μm size) concentrations in Algeria are often exceeding the maximum limits, and in general, no information exists on the compounds bound on its surface. The objective of this study was to measure the dioxin-like activity of polychlorinated dibenzodioxines and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the PM10 fraction at the Sour El Ghozlane cement plant in Algeria. PM10 samples (n = 23) were taken between 24 March and 15 April 2013, using a medium volume sampler and 47-mm PTFE filters. The 24-h samples were dried to determine the PM10 content and afterward extracted, cleaned up, and analyzed with the dioxin-responsive element-chemical-activated luciferase gene expression (DRE-CALUX) bioassay. Our results showed that the measured bioanalytical equivalents (BEQs) were similar to those in other international industrial sites worldwide. The PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) were positively correlated (rho = 0.6, p = 0.002), indicating that they have similar sources. Furthermore, samples from March showed higher PCDD/F and dl-PCB BEQs and humidity but lower temperatures compared to samples from April, while there was no difference in the PM10 concentrations between the two months. These results reveal that PM10 alone is not a good proxy and that meteorological conditions are an important factor in assessing dioxin-like pollution in the atmosphere. It seems that, at present, there is no health hazard through direct airborne human exposure to dioxin-like pollutants in PM10 from this site. However, it is important to monitor these POPs for a longer period of time and also to gain more insight in their distribution between the particulate and gas phase in relation to meteorological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidali Khedidji
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El-Alia Bab-Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria
- Department of Chemistry, University of Akli Mohand Oulhadj, Bouira, 10000, Algeria
| | - Kim Croes
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Noureddine Yassaa
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El-Alia Bab-Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria
- Centre de Dévelopement des Energies Renouvelable (CDER), EPST, BP 62, Route de l'Observatoire, Bouzaréah, Algeria
| | - Riad Ladji
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El-Alia Bab-Ezzouar, 16111, Algiers, Algeria
- Research Unit on Analysis and Technological Development in Environment - Scientific and Technical Research Center in Physico-Chemical Analysis (CRAPC), Tipaza, Algeria
| | - Michael S Denison
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marc Elskens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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De Craemer S, Croes K, van Larebeke N, De Henauw S, Schoeters G, Govarts E, Loots I, Nawrot T, Nelen V, Den Hond E, Bruckers L, Gao Y, Baeyens W. Metals, hormones and sexual maturation in Flemish adolescents in three cross-sectional studies (2002-2015). Environ Int 2017; 102:190-199. [PMID: 28318602 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sex hormone levels and timing of sexual maturation are considered important markers for health status of adolescents in puberty, and previous research suggests they might be influenced by metal exposure. In three campaigns of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS I 2002-2006; FLEHS II 2007-2011 and FLEHS III 2012-2015), data were collected on internal exposure to metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Cr, Mn, Tl, Ni, Sb, Hg, As and As species) and sexual maturation in 2671 14-15years old adolescents. All metals were measured in blood and/or urine, except total- and methylmercury which were measured in hair samples. Sex hormone levels were measured in blood serum of adolescent males of the cohorts of FLEHS I and FLESH II. The use of a uniform methodology in successive campaigns allows to confirm associations between exposure and health in different cohorts and over time. Furthermore, mathematical and statistical density correction methods using creatinine or specific gravity were tested for urinary markers. Significant associations between sex hormones and maturity markers were observed in the FLEHS I and II campaigns, when both were assessed together. Regardless of the applied correction method, creatinine correction systematically introduced bias due to associations of creatinine with sex hormones and maturation markers, especially in adolescent males, while this is not the case for specific gravity. A series of exposure-response associations were found, but several involving Cd, Pb, As, Tl and Cu persisted in different FLEHS campaigns. The effects of Pb and Cu on luteinizing hormone, (free) testosterone, (free) oestradiol and maturation support a xenoestrogenic agonistic action on the feedback of oestradiol to the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Our results suggest that specific care should be taken when selecting urine density correction for investigating associations with hormonal and maturation markers in adolescent males. Furthermore, the possibility of xenoestrogenic effects of certain metals in environmentally exposed adolescents warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam De Craemer
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium.
| | - Kim Croes
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium; Study Centre for Carcinogenesis and Primary Prevention of Cancer, Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
| | | | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Eva Govarts
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tim Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
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Vrijens K, Winckelmans E, Tsamou M, Baeyens W, De Boever P, Jennen D, de Kok TM, Den Hond E, Lefebvre W, Plusquin M, Reynders H, Schoeters G, Van Larebeke N, Vanpoucke C, Kleinjans J, Nawrot TS. Sex-Specific Associations between Particulate Matter Exposure and Gene Expression in Independent Discovery and Validation Cohorts of Middle-Aged Men and Women. Environ Health Perspect 2017; 125:660-669. [PMID: 27740511 PMCID: PMC5381989 DOI: 10.1289/ehp370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Particulate matter (PM) exposure leads to premature death, mainly due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVES Identification of transcriptomic biomarkers of air pollution exposure and effect in a healthy adult population. METHODS Microarray analyses were performed in 98 healthy volunteers (48 men, 50 women). The expression of eight sex-specific candidate biomarker genes (significantly associated with PM10 in the discovery cohort and with a reported link to air pollution-related disease) was measured with qPCR in an independent validation cohort (75 men, 94 women). Pathway analysis was performed using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis. Average daily PM2.5 and PM10 exposures over 2-years were estimated for each participant's residential address using spatiotemporal interpolation in combination with a dispersion model. RESULTS Average long-term PM10 was 25.9 (± 5.4) and 23.7 (± 2.3) μg/m3 in the discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. In discovery analysis, associations between PM10 and the expression of individual genes differed by sex. In the validation cohort, long-term PM10 was associated with the expression of DNAJB5 and EAPP in men and ARHGAP4 (p = 0.053) in women. AKAP6 and LIMK1 were significantly associated with PM10 in women, although associations differed in direction between the discovery and validation cohorts. Expression of the eight candidate genes in the discovery cohort differentiated between validation cohort participants with high versus low PM10 exposure (area under the receiver operating curve = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85, 1.00; p = 0.0002 in men, 0.86; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.96; p = 0.004 in women). CONCLUSIONS Expression of the sex-specific candidate genes identified in the discovery population predicted PM10 exposure in an independent cohort of adults from the same area. Confirmation in other populations may further support this as a new approach for exposure assessment, and may contribute to the discovery of molecular mechanisms for PM-induced health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Vrijens
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Ellen Winckelmans
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Maria Tsamou
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Boever
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Danyel Jennen
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Theo M. de Kok
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wouter Lefebvre
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Hans Reynders
- Environment, Nature and Energy Department, Flemish Government, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Jos Kleinjans
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Tim S. Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
- Address correspondence to T.S. Nawrot, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, B-3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium. Telephone: 0032/11-26.83.82. E-mail:
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Superville PJ, de Winter N, Phung AT, Proix N, Baeyens W, Gao Y. Radial metal concentration profiles in trees growing on highly contaminated soils. Chemosphere 2017; 172:80-88. [PMID: 28063318 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.12.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The soil around Metaleurop, a big smelter, is heavily contaminated by Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu. In order to compare the impact of different soil amendments on the metal availability to trees, the polluted soil section was divided in a reference parcel and two others with either sulfo-calcic or silico-aluminous ash amendments. Five different tree species were planted on the parcels and the uptake of heavy metals in these trees was studied. Total and labile metal fractions were assessed in each of the 3 parcels. The mobility and assimilation of the metals was highest in the non-amended, reference soil parcel which had the lowest pH, organic matter and carbonate content. In all soils, pH decreased while organic matter content and mobility of the metals increased over time. Highest bulk concentrations of trace metals were found in white willow trees (Salix alba L.). Laser ablation-ICPMS was used to study changes in metal accumulation over a period of 10 years after planting the trees. The radial metal profiles in the trunk core samples varied between elements and tree species, however, in all willow trees the radial Cd and Zn profiles were significantly correlated. Radial pollutant concentration patterns are discussed in terms of seasonal effects, health status, tree species and metal mobility in the soil. For Cd and Zn, the profiles were influenced by their mobility in the soils. In general, periodical patterns were observed for Pb. Cu concentration profiles were decreasing over time, with the strongest decrease in the initial growth period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Jean Superville
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Niels de Winter
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anh Tuan Phung
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Proix
- INRA, Laboratoire d'analyses des sols d'Arras, 62000 Arras, France
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yue Gao
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), VUB, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
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Franken C, Koppen G, Lambrechts N, Govarts E, Bruckers L, Den Hond E, Loots I, Nelen V, Sioen I, Nawrot TS, Baeyens W, Van Larebeke N, Boonen F, Ooms D, Wevers M, Jacobs G, Covaci A, Schettgen T, Schoeters G. Environmental exposure to human carcinogens in teenagers and the association with DNA damage. Environ Res 2017; 152:165-174. [PMID: 27771571 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Revised: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We investigated whether human environmental exposure to chemicals that are labeled as (potential) carcinogens leads to increased (oxidative) damage to DNA in adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS Six hundred 14-15-year-old youngsters were recruited all over Flanders (Belgium) and in two areas with important industrial activities. DNA damage was assessed by alkaline and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) modified comet assays in peripheral blood cells and analysis of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels. Personal exposure to potentially carcinogenic compounds was measured in urine, namely: chromium, cadmium, nickel, 1-hydroxypyrene as a proxy for exposure to other carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), t,t-muconic acid as a metabolite of benzene, 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), organophosphate pesticide metabolites, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites. In blood, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners 118 and 156, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were analyzed. Levels of methylmercury (MeHg) were measured in hair. Multiple linear regression models were used to establish exposure-response relationships. RESULTS Biomarkers of exposure to PAHs and urinary chromium were associated with higher levels of both 8-OHdG in urine and DNA damage detected by the alkaline comet assay. Concentrations of 8-OHdG in urine increased in relation with increasing concentrations of urinary t,t-muconic acid, cadmium, nickel, 2,5-DCP, and DEHP metabolites. Increased concentrations of PFOA in blood were associated with higher levels of DNA damage measured by the alkaline comet assay, whereas DDT was associated in the same direction with the Fpg-modified comet assay. Inverse associations were observed between blood arsenic, hair MeHg, PCB 156 and HCB, and urinary 8-OHdG. The latter exposure biomarkers were also associated with higher fish intake. Urinary nickel and t,t-muconic acid were inversely associated with the alkaline comet assay. CONCLUSION This cross-sectional study found associations between current environmental exposure to (potential) human carcinogens in 14-15-year-old Flemish adolescents and short-term (oxidative) damage to DNA. Prospective follow-up will be required to investigate whether long-term effects may occur due to complex environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Franken
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Gudrun Koppen
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | - Eva Govarts
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Food Safety and Food Quality, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental Cancerology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Francis Boonen
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Daniëlla Ooms
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Mai Wevers
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Griet Jacobs
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium; University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Odense, Denmark
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Kicinski M, Saenen ND, Viaene MK, Den Hond E, Schoeters G, Plusquin M, Nelen V, Bruckers L, Sioen I, Loots I, Baeyens W, Roels HA, Nawrot TS. Urinary t,t-muconic acid as a proxy-biomarker of car exhaust and neurobehavioral performance in 15-year olds. Environ Res 2016; 151:521-527. [PMID: 27569194 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traffic-related air pollution has been shown to induce neurotoxicity in rodents. Several recent epidemiological studies reported negative associations between residential outdoor air pollution and neurobehavioral performance. We investigated in a population of non-smoker adolescents the associations between the urinary concentration of trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA-U), a metabolite of benzene and used as proxy-biomarker of traffic exposure, and two neurobehavioral domains, i.e. sustained attention and short-term memory. METHODS In the framework of an environmental health surveillance study in Flanders (Belgium), we examined between 2008 and 2014 grade nine high school students (n=895). We used reaction time, number of omission errors, and number of commission errors in the Continuous Performance Test to evaluate sustained attention, and for the evaluation of short-term memory we used maximum digit span forward and backward of the Digit Span Test. We measured blood lead (PbB) to assess the independent effect of t,t-MA-U on neurobehavioral outcomes. RESULTS This neurobehavioral examination study showed that a ten-fold increase in t,t-MA-U was associated with a 0.14 SD lower sustained attention (95% Confidence Interval: -0.26 to -0.019; p=0.02) and a 0.17 SD diminished short-term memory (95% CI: -0.31 to -0.030; p=0.02). For the same increment in t,t-MA-U, the Continuous Performance Test showed a 12.2ms higher mean reaction time (95% CI: 4.86-19.5; p=0.001) and 0.51 more numbers of errors of omission (95% CI: 0.057-0.97; p=0.028), while no significant association was found with errors of commission. For the Digit Span Tests, the maximum digit span forward was associated with a 0.20 lower number of digits (95% CI: -0.38 to -0.026; p=0.025) and maximum digit span backward with -0.15 digits (95% CI: -0.32 to 0.022; p=0.088). These associations were independent of PbB, parental education and other important covariates including gender, age, passive smoking, ethnicity, urinary creatinine, time of the day, and examination day of the week. For PbB, an independent association was only found with mean reaction time of the Continuous Performance Test (19.1ms, 95% CI: 2.43-35.8; p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS In adolescents, a ten-fold increase in the concentration of t,t-MA-U, used as a proxy-biomarker for traffic-related exposure, was associated with a significant deficit in sustained attention and short-term memory. The public health implications of this finding cannot be overlooked as the effect-size for these neurobehavioral domains was about 40% of the effect-size of parental education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Kicinski
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Nelly D Saenen
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Mineke K Viaene
- Department of Neurology, Sint Dimphna Hospital, Geel, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Environmental Risk and Health, Mol, Belgium
| | - Michelle Plusquin
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Harry A Roels
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Louvain Centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Environment & Health Unit, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium.
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Remy S, Govarts E, Bruckers L, Hond ED, Sioen I, Nelen V, Baeyens W, Nawrot T, Loots I, Van Larebeke N, Schoeters G. Combined effects of prenatal exposures to environmental chemicals on birth weight. Toxicol Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.2085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Remy S, Govarts E, Wens B, De Boever P, Den Hond E, Croes K, Sioen I, Baeyens W, van Larebeke N, Koppe J, Covaci A, Schettgen T, Nelen V, Legler J, Schoeters G. Metabolic targets of endocrine disrupting chemicals assessed by cord blood transcriptome profiling. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 65:307-320. [PMID: 27589886 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2015] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Early life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been frequently associated with impaired perinatal growth, an important risk factor for later onset of metabolic disorders. We analyzed whether the cord blood transcriptome showed early indications of alterations in metabolic processes in 195 human samples in relation to cord blood levels of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), polychlorinated biphenyl-153 (PCB-153), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Overall, 39 metabolically relevant transcription factors were significantly enriched (31 by p,p'-DDE, 10 by PCB-153, 8 by PFOA, and 2 by PFOS). These included the glucocorticoid receptor (p,p'-DDE and PCB-153) and the progesterone receptor (PFOA and PFOS). The 'insulin receptor signaling', 'acute phase response signaling', 'Interleukin(IL)-6 signaling', and 'prolactin signaling' pathways were significantly enriched in relation to p,p'-DDE. Transcriptional changes at birth suggest a role for specific metabolic targets as a link between prenatal EDC exposure and metabolic disorders later in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Remy
- Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium.
| | - Eva Govarts
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Britt Wens
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Boever
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Agoralaan gebouw D, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Directorate of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kim Croes
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AEGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, St. Pietersnieuwstraat 33, 9000, Ghent, Belgium; FWO Research Foundation, Egmontstraat 5, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AEGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AEGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Radiotherapy and Experimental cancer research, Ghent University, St. Pietersnieuwstraat 33, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Janna Koppe
- EKZ-AMC, University of Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Thomas Schettgen
- Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Vera Nelen
- Department of Health, Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Kronenburgstraat 45, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Juliette Legler
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium; Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium; Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Campusvej 55, 5000, Odense, Denmark
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De Craemer S, Croes K, van Larebeke N, Sioen I, Schoeters G, Loots I, Nawrot T, Nelen V, Campo L, Fustinoni S, Baeyens W. Investigating unmetabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in adolescents' urine as biomarkers of environmental exposure. Chemosphere 2016; 155:48-56. [PMID: 27105152 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of interest to human biomonitoring studies due to their carcinogenic potential. Traditionally metabolites of these compounds, like 1-hydroxypyrene, are monitored in urine, but recent methods allow the determination of the parent compounds in urine, which give additional information regarding sources and toxicity of PAHs. In order to assess the feasibility of incorporating these methods in a human biomonitoring study, the 16 USEPA parent PAHs were determined in 20 urine samples. These samples were obtained from 10 boys and 10 girls aged 14-16 years, participating in the third Flemish Environment and Health Study (Flanders, Belgium). Of these 16 parent PAHs, nine could be determined in more than 95% of the samples and three (including benzo(a)pyrene) in more than 50%. Several correlations were found between different PAHs, but not between pyrene and its metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene. Diagnostic PAH ratios in urine and air samples pointed towards combustion sources and are in line with the ratios in environmental samples. Benzo(a)pyrene, naphthalene and fluorene have the highest carcinogenic potential in our cohort, when using toxic equivalency factors. Some associations between PAH congeners and determinants of exposure were found, while fluorene and acenaphthylene were positively associated with thyroid hormone levels and benzo(a)pyrene showed a positive correlation with DNA damage by comet assay. These results confirm that parent PAHs in urine are useful as biomarkers of exposure in biomonitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam De Craemer
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium.
| | - Kim Croes
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
| | - Nicolas van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium; Study Centre for Carcinogenesis and Primary Prevention of Cancer, Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ilse Loots
- Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Tim Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Leuven University (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vera Nelen
- Provincial Institute of Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Laura Campo
- Department of Prevention, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Fustinoni
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Prevention, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geochemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, Belgium
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Vandermarken T, De Galan S, Croes K, Van Langenhove K, Vercammen J, Sanctorum H, Denison MS, Goeyens L, Elskens M, Baeyens W. Characterisation and implementation of the ERE-CALUX bioassay on indoor dust samples of kindergartens to assess estrogenic potencies. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2016; 155:182-9. [PMID: 25595043 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen-like endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs) can be found abundantly in the environment. Due to their low-dose effects and the large amount of unknown EEDCs, it is difficult to assess and manage possible human health risks. For young children, who are particularly vulnerable to endocrine disruption due to their development rate, indoor dust is one of the main routes of exposure. In this study, an estrogen responsive elements chemically activated luciferase gene expression (ERE-CALUX) bioassay was characterized and implemented for the analysis of 12 dust samples from kindergartens in Flanders and Brussels (Belgium). The human ovarian carcinoma BG 1CALUX cell line showed reproducible results and a low limit of detection (LOD). The effective concentration at 50% of the maximum response (EC50) yielded 497 fg/well, while the LOD was 16 fg/well. For all dust samples, full dose-response curves and their corresponding EC50 values could be calculated. All samples yielded bio-analytical equivalent concentrations (BEQs) that were significantly higher than the procedural blank level and ranged from 426 to 8710 pg E2 equivalents/g dust. A clear relationship was observed between a semi-quantitative interior score and the ERE-CALUX response of the samples. In addition, the concentration of phthalates, a major group of EEDCs used as plasticizers in plastics, was determined in the samples by GC-MS. Diisoheptyl phthalate (DiHP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were present in every dust sample. A good correlation was found between ERE-CALUX activities and phthalate concentrations, when all phthalates except diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) and diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP), which do not bind to the estrogen receptor, were taken into account. This shows that the ERE-CALUX can provide relevant results concerning exposure to EEDCs from indoor dust. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Endocrine disruptors & steroids'.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Vandermarken
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - S De Galan
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Croes
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Van Langenhove
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Vercammen
- Interscience, Avenue J.E. Lenoir 2, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - H Sanctorum
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - M S Denison
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - L Goeyens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - M Elskens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - W Baeyens
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Den Hond E, Tournaye H, De Sutter P, Ombelet W, Baeyens W, Covaci A, Cox B, Nawrot TS, Van Larebeke N, D'Hooghe T. Human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and fertility: A case-control study in male subfertility patients. Environ Int 2015; 84:154-160. [PMID: 26292060 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2015] [Revised: 07/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dioxins, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, brominated flame retardants, bisphenol A, triclosan, perfluorinated compounds and phthalates are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). OBJECTIVES The aim of our study was to investigate whether higher exposure to EDCs is associated with increased subfertility in men. METHODS We measured biomarkers of exposure in 163 men, recruited through four fertility clinics. According to WHO guidelines, we used a total motility count (TMC) of 20 million as cut-off value. We assigned patients to the case group when two semen samples - collected at least one week apart - had a TMC<20 and to the control group when both samples had a TMC≥20. To estimate the risk of subfertility and alteration in sex hormone concentrations we used multivariable-adjusted analysis, using logistic and linear regressions, respectively. RESULTS For an IQR increase in serum oxychlordane, the odds ratio for subfertility was 1.98 (95% CI: 1.07; 3.69). Furthermore, men with serum levels of BDE209 above the quantification limit had an odds of 7.22 (1.03; 50.6) for subfertility compared with those having values below the LOQ. Urinary levels of phthalates and triclosan were negatively associated with inhibin B and positively with LH. Urinary bisphenol A correlated negatively with testosterone levels. CONCLUSIONS Our study in men showed that internal body concentrations of endocrine disrupting chemicals are associated with an increased risk of subfertility together with alterations in hormone levels. The results emphasize the importance to reduce chemicals in the environment in order to safeguard male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elly Den Hond
- Environmental Risk and Health Unit, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Directorate of Public Health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Herman Tournaye
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Brussels, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Petra De Sutter
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Ghent, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Willem Ombelet
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, ZOL Hospitals, Genk, Belgium; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Willy Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Bianca Cox
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim S Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek, Belgium; Department of Public Health & Primary Care, Leuven University, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nik Van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium; Study Centre for Carcinogenesis and Primary Prevention of Cancer, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Croes K, Den Hond E, Bruckers L, Govarts E, Schoeters G, Covaci A, Loots I, Morrens B, Nelen V, Sioen I, Van Larebeke N, Baeyens W. Endocrine actions of pesticides measured in the Flemish environment and health studies (FLEHS I and II). Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2015; 22:14589-14599. [PMID: 25138556 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3437-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Within the Flemish Environment and Health studies (FLEHS I, 2002-2006, and FLEHS II, 2007-2012), pesticide exposure, hormone levels and degree of sexual maturation were measured in 14-15-year-old adolescents residing in Flanders (Belgium). In FLEHS II, geometric mean concentrations (with 95 % confidence interval (CI)) of 307 (277-341) and 36.5 ng L(-1) (34.0-39.2) were found for p,p'-dichlorophenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). These values were respectively 26 and 60 % lower than levels in FLEHS I, 5 years earlier. Metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) and of para-dichlorobenzene were measured for the first time in FLEHS II, yielding concentrations of 11.4, 3.27 and 1.57 μg L(-1) for the sum of dimethyl- and diethyl phosphate metabolites and 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), respectively. Data on internal exposure of HCB showed a positive correlation with sexual maturation, testosterone and the aromatase index for boys and with free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (both boys and girls). For both p,p'-DDE and HCB, a negative association with sexual development in girls was found. The OPP metabolites were negatively associated with sex hormone levels in the blood of boys and with sexual maturation (both boys and girls). The pesticide metabolite 2,5-DCP was negatively correlated with free T4, while a positive association with TSH was reported (boys and girls). These results show that even exposure to relatively low concentrations of pesticides can have significant influences on hormone levels and the degree of sexual maturation in 14-15-year-old adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Croes
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - E Den Hond
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - L Bruckers
- Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Agoralaan 1, 3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - E Govarts
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - G Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - A Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp (UA), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - I Loots
- Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - B Morrens
- Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - V Nelen
- Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - I Sioen
- Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - N Van Larebeke
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - W Baeyens
- Department of Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium
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