Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in blood of children in Baden-Württemberg between 2002/03 and 2008/09

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are used in high amounts as flame retardants in plastic materials and textiles. Due to their persistence, their accumulation in the food chain and their toxic properties they have been integrated in the human biomonitoring program of the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office since 2002. In repeated cross-sectional studies in winter 2002/03 (n=162), 2004/05 (n=194), 2005/06 (n=411) and 2008/09 (n=770) blood samples of 9-11-year-old pupils were taken, pooled and analysed for PBDE after extraction and purification by silica gel using HRGC/HRMS. Samples were pooled according to region, gender, and breast feeding. PBDE in the pooled samples ranged from 1.9 to 12.5 ng/g blood fat (sum of all PBDE). Mean concentrations of PBDE, calculated for the four investigation periods, were 6.2 ng/g (2002/03), 5.4 ng/g (2004/05), 7.8 ng/g (2005/06) and 6.7 ng/g (2008/09). While the concentration of the decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) increased, the concentration of other congeners (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183) decreased slightly or remained at the same level. Consistent differences with respect to gender and breast-feeding were not recognizable. Concentrations of PBDE in children range on the same level as in adults and do not seem to be critical from the toxicological point of view. Because of the slight increase of BDE 209, the internal concentrations of BDE should be monitored in the future. The strong variations in PBDE concentration between the different pooled samples indicate that, apart from ingestion, other routes of exposure (dermal, inhalation) and additional sources (textiles, building materials) must be taken into consideration.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers—plasma levels and thyroid status of workers at an electronic recycling facility

Objectives: Personnel working with electronic dismantling are exposed to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which in animal studies have been shown to alter thyroid homeostasis. The aim of this longitudinal study was to measure plasma level of PBDEs in workers at an electronic recycling facility and to relate these to the workers thyroid status. Methods: PBDEs and three thyroid hormones: triiodothyronine (T₃), thyroxin (T₄) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were repeatedly analysed in plasma from 11 workers during a period of 1.5 years. Results: Plasma levels of PBDEs at start of employment were <0.5–9.1 pmol/g lipid weight (l.w.). The most common congener was PBDE #47 (median 2.8 pmol/g l.w.), followed by PBDE #153 (median 1.7 pmol/g l.w.), and PBDE #183 had a median value of <0.19 pmol/g l.w. After dismantling the corresponding median concentrations were: 3.7, 1.7 and 1.2 pmol/g l.w., respectively. These differences in PBDE levels were not statistically significant. PBDE #28 showed a statistically significantly higher concentration after dismantling than at start of employment (P=0.016), although at low concentrations (start 0.11 pmol/g l.w. and dismantling 0.26 pmol/g l.w.). All measured levels of thyroid hormones (T₃, T₄ and TSH) were within the normal physiological range. Statistically significant positive correlations were found between T₃ and #183 in a worker, between T₄ and both #28 and #100 in another worker and also between TSH and #99 and #154 in two workers. Conclusions: The workers plasma levels of PBDEs fluctuated during the study period. Due to small changes in thyroid hormone levels it was concluded that no relevant changes were present in relation to PBDE exposure within the workers participating in this study.     

Serum Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Levels Are Higher in Children (2–5 Years of Age) than in Infants and Adults

Background

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are used as flame retardants in many products and have been detected in human samples worldwide. Limited data show that concentrations are elevated in young children.

Objectives

We investigated the association between PBDEs and age with an emphasis on young children from Australia in 2006–2007.

Methods

We collected human blood serum samples (n = 2,420), which we stratified by age and sex and pooled for analysis of PBDEs.

Results

The sum of BDE-47, -99, -100, and -153 concentrations (∑₄PBDE) increased from 0–0.5 years (mean ± SD, 14 ± 3.4 ng/g lipid) to peak at 2.6–3 years (51 ± 36 ng/g lipid; p < 0.001) and then decreased until 31–45 years (9.9 ± 1.6 ng/g lipid). We observed no further significant decrease among ages 31–45, 45–60 (p = 0.964), or > 60 years (p = 0.894). The mean ∑₄PBDE concentration in cord blood (24 ± 14 ng/g lipid) did not differ significantly from that in adult serum at ages 15–30 (p = 0.198) or 31–45 years (p = 0.140). We found no temporal trend when we compared the present results with Australian PBDE data from 2002–2005. PBDE concentrations were higher in males than in females; however, this difference reached statistical significance only for BDE-153 (p = 0.05).

Conclusions

The observed peak concentration at 2.6–3 years of age is later than the period when breast-feeding is typically ceased. This suggests that in addition to the exposure via human milk, young children have higher exposure to these chemicals and/or a lower capacity to eliminate them.     

Barbarians at the gates? Combating some new threats to hospital security professionals

As more and more hospitals seek to change their services and operations to conform to the requirements of managed care, pressures to cut costs in all departments including security are increasing in many areas. Cost-cutting on a large scale is nothing new in health care; witness the DRG "revolution" of the 1980s. And hospitals calling in security consultants for advice or entertaining proposals from contract security firms has always been part of the way things are done. But the current situation has spawned some new players in the game. These include facilities planning and space programming consultants with "simplistic" square-footage formulas that have already cost some security directors their jobs, according to IAHSS. Also reportedly getting into the security act are hospital housekeeping contractors whose absence of security know-how or experience has not deterred some administrators from taking their "low ball" bids seriously. In this report, we'll alert you to the nature of the new threats to your hospital's and your own security. We'll spell out how security directors and experts are answering simplistic security formulas with meaningful measurements. And we'll present some ideas and approaches for cost-cutting from past special reports that will help enable you, if called on, to cut costs in a way that will continue to give your facility or organization the most security per dollar spent.     

Small(pox) success?

The 30th anniversary of the World Health Organization's (WHO) official certification of smallpox eradication was marked by a slew of events hailing the campaign's dramatic tale of technological and organizational triumph against an ancient scourge. Yet commemorations also serve as moments of critical reflection. This article questions the acclaim showered upon smallpox eradication as the single greatest public health success in history. It examines how and why smallpox eradication and WHO's concurrent social justice-oriented primary health care approach (following from the Declaration of Alma-Ata) became competing paradigms. It synthesizes critiques of eradication's shortcomings and debunks some of the myths surrounding the global eradication campaign as a public health priority and necessity, and as a Cold War victory of cooperation. The article concludes with thoughts on integrating technical and social-political aspects of health within the context of welfare states as the means to achieving widespread and enduring global public health success.     

何谓δ(delta)抗原?

答:目前已知乙型肝炎有三种抗原——抗体系统,即表面抗原抗体系统、核心抗原抗体系统和e抗原抗体系统。最近,国外学者又在乙型肝炎病人体内发现一种新的和乙型肝炎病毒有关的抗原—抗体系统,它与已知的三个抗原——抗体系统不同,具有独立性,和HBsAg、HBcAg、HBeAg均无关,而称为δ抗原——抗体系统。     

3,4-methylene-dioxy-pyrovalerone (MDPV) epidemic?

Little is known about 3,4-methylene-dioxy-pyrovalerone (MDPV), a new designer drug that has become popular in Hungary in the last couple of months. At the same time, its consumption, as a consequence of its low street-price, rises so fast that the event can be considered an epidemic. This paper reviews the chemistry, biochemistry and metabolism of MDPV. Then, on the basis of a few international reports and the author's own clinical observations, it discusses MDPV intoxication and withdrawal. In the metabolism of MDPV, the most important catalyst is the CYP2C19 isoenzyme, but the CYP1A2 and the CYP2D6 isoenzymes also play a crucial role. The formed catechols are conjugated with either glucuronic acid or sulfate. It is important to note that MDPV is consumed either together or in a sequence with other illicit drugs of abuse. As far as it can be established, MDPV use increases the activity and vigilance, decreases appetite and claim to sleep, but it can also provoke cardiac sensations and disturbance of perception. In the course of coming down, withdrawal after MDPV use, bone and muscle pain, hypersomnia, disturbance of vision are experienced, but panic attack may also occur. The appearance of new designer drugs on the market draws attention to a need of paradigm changing in spiritual field. Unless it happens these negative trends likely will speed up.     

High polybrominated diphenyl ether levels in California house cats: house dust a primary source?

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are brominated flame retardants that act as endocrine disruptors, affecting thyroid hormone homeostasis. As a follow-up to a recent study showing high PBDE levels in household cats and linking PBDE levels with cat hyperthyroidism, we measured PBDEs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) in serum samples from 26 California household cats (16 hyperthyroid, 10 controls) using liquid-liquid extraction and high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. In the present pilot study, we found that PBDE levels in California house cats were extremely high (ΣPBDEs median = 2,904 ng/g lipid; range, 631-22,537 ng/g lipid). This is approximately 50 times higher than levels in California residents (ΣPBDEs geomean = 62 ± 8.9 ng/g lipid, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), who have among the highest human levels in the world. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers congener patterns (BDE-99 major congener, BDE-209 significant) differed markedly from patterns found in California residents (BDE-47 major) or wildlife but resembled patterns found in house dust. Polychlorinated biphenyls and OCPs in cats were highly correlated, consistent with a shared dietary source or pathway of exposure, but did not correlate with PBDEs. This suggests a different source or pathway of exposure for PBDEs, which was most likely house dust. The authors found no evidence that linked levels of PBDEs, PCBs, or OCPs with hyperthyroidism. This may be because of the small sample size, competing or confounding risk factors, or complicated causal mechanisms.     

L?ngsschnittdaten der Kieler Adipositas-Pr?ventionsstudie (KOPS)

The Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS) has been performed since 1996. Examinations were performed at age 6, 10 and 14 years. In addition, birth weight as well as height and weight at age 2 years were collected retrospectively. For the study 4,997, 1,671 and 748 children were recruited at baseline (at age 6 years) as well as at 4 and 8-year follow-up, respectively. In this paper we will analyze and discuss (i) the important time period for preventive measures, (ii) effect sizes needed for successful interventions and (iii) suitable approaches for preventive measures. The main results were: (i) at age 6 years persistence of overweight was 69% while at younger ages persistence was 21% only. Thus, school entry was shown to be an important period for preventive measures. (ii) Interventions have to reduce energy balance by 140?kcal/day to prevent overweight (e.g. a reduction of energy intake). (iii) Prevention programs should involve the family and focus on increasing physical activity.     

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)-deficiency in alcohol-dependence?

I wish to propose a hypothesis that could help explain someof the effects of baclofen in alcohol dependence that are describedin Dr. Bucknam's case study (Bucknam, 2007) and in my self-casereport (Ameisen, 2005). At a behavioural