Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls,Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins,and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans in Seafood Samples from Malaysia: Estimated Human Intake and Associated Risks

A total of 127 and 177 seafood samples from Malaysia were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), respectively. The World Health Organization-toxic-equivalency quotients (WHO-TEQ) of PCDD/Fs varied from 0.13 to 1.03 pg TEQ g^?1, whereas dl-PCBs ranged from 0.33 to 1.32 pg TEQ g^?1. Based on food-consumption data from the global environment monitoring system—food contamination monitoring and assessment programme, calculated dietary exposures to PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs from seafood for the general population in Malaysia were 0.042 and 0.098 pg TEQ kg^?1 body weight day^?1, respectively. These estimations were quite different from the values calculated using the Malaysian food-consumption statistics (average of 0.313 and 0.676 pg TEQ kg^?1 body weight day^?1 for PCDD/Fs and PCBs, respectively). However, both of the dietary exposure estimations were lower than the tolerable daily intake recommended by WHO. Thus, it is suggested that seafood from Malaysia does not pose a notable risk to the health of the average consumer.     

Human Health Risks Assessment Associated with Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Soil from Different Contaminated Areas of Mexico

In recent years, high concentrations of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] have been found in the groundwater system of the Asopos River Basin. This work focuses on a Cr(VI) plume detected in the industrial area of Inofyta, the most important contamination hot spot of the Asopos River Basin. A groundwater flow and Cr(VI) transport model was developed to assess the behaviour of the plume and investigate the location of a suspected nearby source zone. According to the model results, the suspected source zone location is highly probable and the Cr(VI) plume does not migrate significantly. Based on the above findings, it is believed that the remediation effort could potentially be very effective in the area, if the remediation plan is designed properly. In order to assess the remediation potential of (a) natural attenuation and (b) polyphenol-coated nZVI treatment, two model scenarios were created and their results were compared and discussed.     

Congener-Specific Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Cetaceans from Taiwan Waters

During 2000 to 2001, a total of 73 blubber samples from 13 species of stranded or accidentally captured cetaceans were collected from Taiwan coastal waters for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) analysis. After homogenization, saponification, liquid–liquid extraction, and silica-gel solid-phase extraction, PCB concentrations were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Total concentrations of 19 PCB congeners (PCBs) were between 0.23 g/g lipid weight of Rissos dolphin to 33.73 g/g lipid weight of rough-toothed dolphin. Pentachlorobiphenyls, hexachlorobiphenyls and heptachlorobiphenyls were the predominant PCB congeners species. PCB153 was the most abundant congener in all samples. The PCB153/PCBs consistently comprised between 20% to 30% of all congeners. The toxicity measured as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) were from 2.7 pg/g lipid weight of finless porpoise to 2,900 pg/g lipid weight of rough-toothed dolphin. PCB 118, a mono-ortho congener, was the largest contributor to TEQs. PCB concentrations and TEQs were higher in mature male than in immature male animals but were inconsistent in female animals because of a possible transferring of PCBs from maternal cetaceans to their offsprings during gestation and lactation. Stranded cetaceans had significantly higher PCB levels than by-catch cetaceans because of their higher lipid consumption during starvation or illness. From the collected samples, we also found that cetaceans from Taiwan waters had relatively lower PCB concentrations and TEQs than those from high-latitude areas.     

环境激素己烯雌酚和多氯联苯的健康影响及防控研究进展

近年来人工合成的有机产品产量激增,人体接触人工合成有机产品的机会及带来的不良反应和疾病也随之增加.在这些人工合成有机产品中,环境激素因其特有的毒性和隐蔽性而受到学术界的广泛关注.该文结合国内外最新研究进展,就两种典型的环境激素(己烯雌酚和多氯联苯)的理化性质、对人类健康的影响及防控措施及研究进展进行综述.     

Prenatal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls: A Neuropsychologic Analysis

Objectives

A large body of literature documents the effects of prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on cognitive development of children. Despite this fact, no integrative synthesis has been published yet to identify the cognitive functions that are particularly affected. Our aim is to review this literature in an attempt to identify the cognitive profile associated with prenatal PCB exposure.

Data sources

Studies were identified by searching the PubMed database for articles published before June 2008. We reviewed data from nine prospective longitudinal birth cohorts for different aspects of cognition.

Data extraction

Associations between indicators of prenatal PCB exposure and performance on cognitive tasks reported in the selected studies are summarized and classified as general cognitive abilities, verbal or visual–spatial skills, memory, attention, and executive functions.

Data synthesis

The most consistent effects observed across studies are impaired executive functioning related to increased prenatal PCB exposure. Negative effects on processing speed, verbal abilities, and visual recognition memory are also reported by most studies. Converging results from different cohort studies in which exposure arises from different sources make it unlikely that co-exposure with another associated contaminant is responsible for the observed effects.

Conclusion

Prenatal PCB exposure appears to be related to a relatively specific cognitive profile of impairments. Failure to assess functions that are specifically impaired may explain the absence of effects found in some studies. Our findings have implications in the selection of cognitive assessment methods in future studies.     

Addressing the Risks That Trade Secret Protections Pose for Health and Rights

Human rights frameworks afford everyone the right to health and the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. Both come together to create state obligations to ensure access to medicines and other health technologies. Though the impact of patents on access to high-quality, affordable medicines and health technologies has been well described, there has been little attention to the impact of trade secrecy law in this context. In this paper, we describe how trade secrecy protection comes into conflict with access to medicines—for example, by preventing researchers from accessing clinical trial data, undermining the scale-up of manufacturing in pandemics, and deterring whistleblowers from reporting industry misconduct. The paper proposes measures to diminish the conflict between trade secrecy and health that are consistent with international law and will advance health without undermining innovation.     

Approaches to Addressing Occupational and Environmental Health Needs in Mexico

Abstract

The University of California, Los Angeles, has somewhat shifted the focus of its Fogarty program, taking a four-pronged approach: conducting high-level collaborative scientific research with Mexican faculty and trainees at the most advanced institutions in the country; providing training and collaborative research opportunities to faculty/students at other institutions in Mexico (primarily through training faculty who do not hold doctoral degrees); providing environmental and occupational health training to the professional community throughout Mexico; and developing short courses on special topics that provide means for greater research collaboration and skill building. The program is also working with existing institutions to develop academic programs that will enlarge the environmental and occupational health infrastructures in Mexico and Latin America.     

Circulating MicroRNAs,Polychlorinated Biphenyls,and Environmental Liver Disease in the Anniston Community Health Survey

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposures have been associated with liver injury in human cohorts, and steatohepatitis with liver necrosis in model systems. MicroRNAs (miRs) maintain cellular homeostasis and may regulate the response to environmental stress.Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that specific miRs are associated with liver disease and PCB exposures in a residential cohort.Methods: Sixty-eight targeted hepatotoxicity miRs were measured in archived serum from 734 PCB-exposed participants in the cross-sectional Anniston Community Health Survey. Necrotic and other liver disease categories were defined by serum keratin 18 (K18) biomarkers. Associations were determined between exposure biomarkers (35 ortho-substituted PCB congeners) and disease biomarkers (highly expressed miRs or previously measured cytokines), and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was performed.Results: The necrotic liver disease category was associated with four up-regulated miRs (miR-99a-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-192-5p, and miR-320a) and five down-regulated miRs (let-7d-5p, miR-17-5p, miR-24-3p, miR-197-3p, and miR-221-3p). Twenty-two miRs were associated with the other liver disease category or with K18 measurements. Eleven miRs were associated with 24 PCBs, most commonly congeners with anti-estrogenic activities. Most of the exposure-associated miRs were associated with at least one serum hepatocyte death, pro-inflammatory cytokine or insulin resistance bioarker, or with both. Within each biomarker category, associations were strongest for the liver-specific miR-122-5p. Pathways of liver toxicity that were identified included inflammation/hepatitis, hyperplasia/hyperproliferation, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor protein p53 and tumor necrosis factor α were well integrated within the top identified networks.Discussion: These results support the human hepatotoxicity of environmental PCB exposures while elucidating potential modes of PCB action. The MiR-derived liquid liver biopsy represents a promising new technique for environmental hepatology cohort studies. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9467     

Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Organochlorine Pesticides in Soils from the Southern Part of Poland

Surface soil and sediment samples collected from the cities of Kraków, Katowice, and Chorzów in 1993–94 were analyzed to determine the residual levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides (HCB, HCHs, DDTs, CHLs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Detection, identification, and quantification were made after a two-step clean-up and fractionation of sample extract with concentrated sulfuric acid and Florisil gel, followed by capillary gas chromatography with a ⁶³Ni electron capture detector (GC-ECD) or a mass selective detector (GC-LRMS). The soil from the city of Katowice is relatively more polluted, mainly by PCBs but also by the other organochlorines. Both the soil in the cities of Kraków and Katowice are more polluted by organochlorines than soil from many other places in Poland. The residual concentrations of the organochlorines indicated nonexistence of the domestic sources of pollution by CHLs and elevated local contamination with PCBs. Sediment contained PCBs and CHLs in much higher concentrations than found in soil. In the case of DDTs, HCHs and HCB, the concentrations were of the same order of magnitude. Composition of DDT metabolites and of HCH isomers were investigated in detail. Received: 11 March 2000/Accepted: 28 July 2000     

Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Dibenzofurans, and Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Sediment and Mussel Samples from Kentucky Lake, USA

Sediment and mussel tissues from the Kentucky Dam Tailwater (KDTW) and Ledbetter Embayment (LE) of Kentucky Lake, Kentucky, USA, were analyzed to examine the presence of 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and non-, mono-, and di-ortho-chlorine-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls. Concentrations of target compounds varied with locations and sample matrices. In general, KDTW sediment samples contained slightly higher amounts of PCDD/DFs (average: 1100, range: 120-2400) than the LE sediments (average: 920, range: 580-1300) on a pg/g dry wt (dw) basis. Dioxin-like PCBs in KDTW were (average: 550, range: 70–2,000) higher than in LE (average: 320, range: 44-1000) on a ng/g dw basis. In contrast, mussel tissues had greater concentrations of PCDD/DFs in LE (average: 6500, range: 2200–13,000) than in KDTW (average: 3500, range: 2500-4800). Dioxin-like PCBs were slightly higher in KDTW (average: 76, range: 18–100) than in LE (average: 49, range: 24–96) on a ng/g fat wt basis. Biota sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) were calculated using tissue concentrations and sediment concentrations based on dry weight. PCDD/DFs BSAF was in the range of 0.21-25 in LE and 0.093-13 in KDTW. 1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF in LE and 2,3,7,8-TCDF in KDTW had a greater BSAF, while BSAF for dioxin-like PCBs ranged from 0.84 to 13 in LE and from 2.3 to 12 in KDTW in which PCB-169 had the greatest BSAF in LE and PCB-167 in KDTW. Toxic equivalency (TEQ) was greatest in mussel from LE (mean: 193 pgTEQ/g fat wt) followed by mussel from KDTW (32 pgTEQ/g fat wt), sediment in KDTW (13 pgTEQ/g dry wt), and sediment in LE (7.6 pgTEQ/g dry wt). In general, PCDD/DF had a greater contribution to toxicity in mussels, while dioxin-like PCBs had a greater contribution to toxicity in sediment at both locations.     

Addressing Unmet Maternal Health Needs at a Pediatric Specialty Infant Care Clinic

ObjectiveThe objective of this intervention was to evaluate the feasibility of screening mothers of medically fragile infants in the domains of 1) depression, 2) tobacco exposure, and 3) family planning at a post-neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) developmental pediatric visit. Additionally, we sought to estimate the percentage who met criteria for further evaluation in the three domains assessed.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 100 caregivers of medically fragile infants at a specialty, post-NICU clinic visit. Participants' responses in three domains were evaluated and appropriate referrals were provided. Analysis was then restricted to the 87 biological mothers who completed the screening. Study staff contacted the mothers 2 months later to determine whether services had been accessed and to assess overall satisfaction with the screening within the pediatric visit. Qualitative interviews were conducted with pediatric clinic staff.ResultsScreening questionnaires were completed by 87 biological mothers. Twenty-two mothers (25%) met referral criteria. Pediatric clinic staff and providers were comfortable administering the screening instrument, and there was minimal disruption to clinic flow.ConclusionsMothers of medically fragile infants are likely to have unmet health care needs that can be identified at a specialty pediatric clinic visit. A screening and referral intervention can be implemented with minimal interruption in pediatric clinic flow and is acceptable to mothers and pediatric providers.     

次生环境多氯联苯污染水平监测及富集趋势研究

目的研究废旧变压器拆解埸多氯联苯(PCBs)对环境的污染情况。方法以F镇为暴露区Ⅰ;以无该产业、气候条件、地理特征等情况相似间邻的P镇为暴露区Ⅱ;并选择相距500公里外的DXG镇为对照区。随机分层抽取河水(溪水)、稻田土、晚稻谷、鸡(鸭)蛋、淡水鱼等样品,采用超痕量分析方法检测其PCBs含量。结果暴露区Ⅰ各样品中的PCBs含量均超过暴露区Ⅱ(除晚稻谷外)和对照区,三者差异在统计学上有显著的意义。其中,暴露区Ⅰ河鲫鱼的PCBs高达9.1ug/g,是河水的8000多倍,鸡蛋和鸭蛋的PCBs平均含量也高达1.08和0.89ug/g,是晚稻谷的19-21倍。结论F镇及P镇各类样品中的PCBs含量有不同程度的升高,并在生物体内有明显的富集趋势,废旧变压器拆解行业对当地及周边地区的次生环境已有造成污染的迹象。     

Assessment of Health Effects in New York City Firefighters after Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans (PCDFs): The Staten Island Transformer Fire Health Surveillance Project

Following an electrical transformer fire in Staten Island, New York, a health surveillance program was established for 60 New York City firefighters and emergency medical technicians exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Exposure potential was documented after high levels of PCBs and PCDFs were found on transformer and firefighters' uniforms. Personnel received comprehensive medical examinations, and the results were compared with preexposure values. Serum was analyzed for PCBs, PCDFs, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs). Follow-up was conducted 9 mo later. Thirty-two of 58 (55%) firefighters reported initial symptoms, and 3 firefighters required brief medical leave. Pulmonary functions, exercise performance, serum liver functions, and serum lipid profiles were normal or unchanged from preexposure baselines. Serum PCBs averaged 2.92 ± 1.96 ppb (range = 1.9-11.0 ppb). Five (8%) had serum PCBs that were greater than or equal to 6 ppb. Eight (73%) had a significant decrease (p = .05) in serum PCB level at the time of follow-up. Serum toxic equivalency (TEQ [1998 World Health Organization]) for total PCDDs and PCDFs averaged 39.0 ± 21.5 (n = 48). Eighteen (38%) had elevated TEQs (i.e., > 40). All firefighters had no short-term heath effects. Modern firefighting uniforms are not meant to replace HAZMAT suits, but these uniforms provide protection from this chemical exposure for most firefighters.     

某电子垃圾拆解地鲫鱼和鸡蛋中二(口恶)英和多氯联苯的污染状况研究

目的 了解浙江省某电子垃圾拆解地食品中持久性有机污染物[二(噁)英(polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans,PCDD/Fs)和多氯联苯(polychlorinated biphenyls,PCBs)]的污染状况.方法 于2009年3-6月,在浙江省某旧电器拆解地附近随机采集当地...     

Addressing the Health Needs of High-Risk Filipino Americans in the Greater Philadelphia Region

Filipino Americans represent one of the largest and most diverse immigrant populations in the United States. It has been established that chronic diseases are a significant public health issue affecting this population. We conducted a health needs assessment of 200 Filipino Americans aged 18 years or older residing in the greater Philadelphia region. Study participants were recruited from eight Filipino community-based organizations in the region. Information about demographic and acculturative characteristics, health behaviors, self-reported chronic health conditions, and chronic disease perception were collected. Participants were older and highly acculturated. With regards to health behaviors, several did not meet dietary fruit and vegetables intake and physical activity guidelines. The top five health conditions were high blood pressure (67.5?%), high blood cholesterol (57.1?%), arthritis (28.9?%), diabetes (21.8?%), and cancer (14.7?%). Majority of participants perceived high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes to be a concern in their community, and had high awareness of the risk factors associated with these diseases. Reported rates of hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes suggest that lifestyle interventions targeting diet and physical activity, in addition to health education, are needed in this population.