The Duisburg birth cohort study: influence of the prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs on thyroid hormone status in newborns and neurodevelopment of infants until the age of 24 months

Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) can affect neurobehavioral development of infants and children. This effect may be mediated through disruption of thyroid hormone homeostasis. However, epidemiological studies reveal no consistent influence of PCDD/Fs and PCBs on thyroid status and neurodevelopment at environmental background levels. The effects may resolve with time of further decreasing exposure to these compounds. The aim of this study was to find out if there are still effects related to prenatal PCDD/F and PCB observable at the meanwhile decreased levels of exposure by using the same methods which have been applied in similar studies during the last 10 years in Europe. The birth cohort study was initiated in the year 2000 in the industrialized city of Duisburg, Germany. 232 healthy mother-infant pairs were recruited between 2000 and 2002. Dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs and six indicator PCBs were analyzed in maternal blood during pregnancy and in maternal milk following extraction and sample clean-up by HRGC/HRMS. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total thyroxine (T4), total triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were measured in serum samples of the pregnant women and in cord serum samples by chemiluminescent immunometric assay. Neurological examinations were performed at ages 2 weeks and 18 months using the neurological optimality score (NOS), mental and motor development were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) at ages 12 and 24 months. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to describe the association of PCDD/F and PCB in maternal blood or milk with the outcome measurements after adjustment for confounding. Blood levels (n=182) of WHO 2005 toxic equivalents (TEQ) (PCDD/F+PCB) were in the range of 3.8-58.4 pg/glipid base (median: 19.3 pg/glipid base). The corresponding data for human milk (n=149) were 2.6-52.4 pg/glipid base (median: 19.7 pg/glipid base). Multiple regression analysis showed no decrease of thyroid hormones related to WHO 2005 TEQ in blood and milk of mothers and their newborns. Furthermore, no associations between exposure and neurological and developmental measures were observed. This study supports the view that the current decreased exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs does not impair thyroid function of newborns and neurodevelopment of infants until the age of 24 months.     

The uptake of persistent organic pollutants by plants

In a field experiment, the transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soil to maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), poplar (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii) and willow (Salix × smithiana) and the distribution of PCB congeners in maize and sunflower was investigated. The former waste incinerator in Hradec Králové (Czech Republic) was chosen for the experiment. Results of plot screening showed heterogenous contamination by PCBs and PAHs. PCB soil contamination was evidently caused by Delor 106 or Aroclor 1260 stocking and PAH contamination by chemicals containing fluoranthene, benzo/b/fluoranthene, phenanthrene and pyrene. Tested plants were planted on a contaminated field site, in soil contaminated with 1530 μg/kg of total PCBs and 0.138 and 3.42 mg/kg of total PAHs. The results show that maize and sunflower roots accumulated the most PCBs from soil. These plants accumulated hexa- and heptachlorobiphenyl congeners more than tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyl congeners. Total concentrations of PAHs in tested plants ranged from 0.096 to 1.34 mg/kg. The highest phenanthrene concentration was found in aboveground biomass of sunflower and the highest concentration of pyrene, in maize roots.     

Dioxin/polychlorinated biphenyl body burden, diabetes and endometriosis: findings in a population-based study in Belgium

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants widely distributed in the food chain, which is the main source of human exposure. Their effects on human health at background exposure levels are still poorly understood. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests a possible association between these pollutants and diabetes. We report here the results of a population-based study in Belgium on 257 (142 women and 115 men) environmentally exposed subjects, including 10 cases of endometriosis and nine cases of diabetes. Seventeen 2,3,7,8-polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs or dioxins), four coplanar PCBs (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry [IUPAC] nos 77, 81, 126 and 169) and 12 PCB markers (IUPAC nos 3, 8, 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 194, 206 and 209) were quantified in serum fat from fasting blood samples in order to estimate the body burden of these pollutants. Whilst no difference was found between women with endometriosis and their controls, diabetic patients had significantly increased serum levels of dioxins, coplanar PCBs and the 12 PCB markers. After adjustment for age and other covariates, serum total toxic equivalent activity (sum of PCDD/Fs and coplanar PCBs) and 12 PCB marker concentrations in diabetics were 62% (p=0.0005) and 39% (p=0.0067) higher, respectively, than in controls. The risk of diabetes was significantly increased in subjects in the top decile for adjusted concentrations of dioxins (odds ratio 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-21.7), coplanar PCBs (odds ratio 13.3, 95% CI 3.31-53.2) or 12 PCB markers (odds ratio 7.6, 95% CI 1.58-36.3). These findings warrant further studies to assess the significance of the associations between diabetes and environmental exposure to polychlorinated pollutants.     

Dioxin/polychlorinated biphenyl body burden,diabetes and endometriosis: findings in a population-based study in Belgium

Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants widely distributed in the food chain, which is the main source of human exposure. Their effects on human health at background exposure levels are still poorly understood. Recent epidemiological evidence suggests a possible association between these pollutants and diabetes. We report here the results of a population-based study in Belgium on 257 (142 women and 115 men) environmentally exposed subjects, including 10 cases of endometriosis and nine cases of diabetes. Seventeen 2,3,7,8-polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs or dioxins), four coplanar PCBs (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry [IUPAC] nos 77, 81, 126 and 169) and 12 PCB markers (IUPAC nos 3, 8, 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180, 194, 206 and 209) were quantified in serum fat from fasting blood samples in order to estimate the body burden of these pollutants. Whilst no difference was found between women with endometriosis and their controls, diabetic patients had significantly increased serum levels of dioxins, coplanar PCBs and the 12 PCB markers. After adjustment for age and other covariates, serum total toxic equivalent activity (sum of PCDD/Fs and coplanar PCBs) and 12 PCB marker concentrations in diabetics were 62% (p=0.0005) and 39% (p=0.0067) higher, respectively, than in controls. The risk of diabetes was significantly increased in subjects in the top decile for adjusted concentrations of dioxins (odds ratio 5.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–21.7), coplanar PCBs (odds ratio 13.3, 95% CI 3.31–53.2) or 12 PCB markers (odds ratio 7.6, 95% CI 1.58–36.3). These findings warrant further studies to assess the significance of the associations between diabetes and environmental exposure to polychlorinated pollutants.     

Influence of Low-Level Prenatal Exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs on Empathizing,Systemizing and Autistic Traits: Results from the Duisburg Birth Cohort Study

Background

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are assumed to act as endocrine disruptor chemicals. Prenatal exposure to these pollutants might influence fetal steroid hormone levels, which are thought to be related to sex-typical development and autistic traits.

Objectives

We examined associations of prenatal levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs with autism traits and sex-typical behaviour in childhood.

Methods

We measured levels of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in maternal blood samples during pregnancy using gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Sex-typical behaviour was assessed at 9 years of age (n = 96) and autistic traits at 10 years of age using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; n = 100). Multiple regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between prenatal exposure and outcome variables.

Results

Blood concentrations (WHO₂₀₀₅-TEq) of ƩPCDD/Fs ranged from 2.93–46.45 pg/g _{lipid base} (median = 12.91 pg/g _{lipid base}) and concentrations of ƩPCBs were in the range of 1.24–25.47 pg/g _{lipid base} (median = 6.85 pg/g _{lipid base}) which is within the range of German background exposure. We found significant negative associations between PCDD/F levels in maternal blood and SRS scores in the whole group (β = -6.66, p < .05), in girls (β = -10.98, p < .05) and, in one SRS subscale, in boys (β = -6.86, p < .05). For PCB levels, associations with one SRS subscale were significant for the whole study group as were associations with two subscales in girls. We did not find significant associations between PCDD/F or PCB levels and sex-typical behaviour for either sex.

Conclusions

In an earlier part of this study, prenatal exposure to PCDD/Fs and PCBs was found to be associated with lower testosterone levels, therefore, our findings are consistent with the idea that autism spectrum conditions are related to fetal androgen levels. Several possible mechanisms, through which PCDD/Fs and PCBs might influence autistic behaviour, are discussed.     

南亚热带典型地区农业土壤中多环芳烃和有机氯农药研究

参考美国EPA标准方法对南亚热带潮汕地区农业土壤中持久性有机污染物多环芳烃（PAHs）和有机氯农药（OCPs）进行分析,并对其分布和来源进行研究,最后探讨了不同种植方式下污染物的污染特征。结果表明：该区农业土壤中PAHs含量范围从22．1ng／g到1256．9ng／g,与其它地区的污染程度和一些土壤环境质量标准相比,该区处于中等污染水平。高温裂解是土壤PAHs的主要来源。OCPs在被禁止20a后在土壤中仍有残留,残留水平从4．6ng／g到1021．5ng／g,其中HCHs和DDTs的残留未超过国家土壤环境质量标准。早期使用残留是其主要污染源,但新近仍有DDT和硫丹的输入。PAHs和OCPs的污染主要集中在土壤表层和亚表层,且随着深度的加深,污染逐渐减少,但40cm以下,污染变化很小。菜地土壤PAHs污染水平低于稻田土壤,而OCPs污染水平高于稻田土壤。     

Evaluation of the Soil Contamination of Tangier (Morocco) by the Determination of BTEX,PCBs, and PAHs

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), twelve polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were selected as pollutants to evaluate the contamination of soils in the urban and industrial areas of Tangier (Morocco). PAHs and PCBs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) clean-up. BTEX were directly determined by head-space GC-MS. Results obtained in this study show the presence of high levels of BTEX and PAHs in the soil near the urban waste deposit. However, the analysis of pollutants in the other sampling sites provided comprehensive evidence that soils of Tangier city are not contaminated.     

Atmospheric and riverine inputs of metals,nutrients and persistent organic pollutants into the lagoon of Venice

Atmospheric deposition in the lagoon of Venice and river inputs from the watershed were collected and analysed from 1998 to 1999 using the same analytical methods. The input from riverine sources largely prevails (>70%) over that from the atmosphere for As, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, nitrogen and phosphorus. Equivalent amounts of Hg, Pb, PCBs, HCB are discharged into the lagoon from the two sources, whilst atmospheric inputs prevail for Cd, ammonia and dioxins. A comparison with figures of maximum allowable discharges (MAD) for various compounds, recently set by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, showed that total inputs (riverine + atmospheric) of trace metals were below the MAD thresholds only for Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn. The total inputs of Cu and Ni, and Cr and Zn were approximately 20 and 40% of the MAD limit, respectively. The total phosphorus input of 284 t was close to the imposed limit, whilst the inorganic nitrogen load alone (>4000 t) was much higher than the MAD for total nitrogen. For those metals (As, Cd, Hg and Pb) and persistent organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) where the MAD states that the load should tend to ‘0’ (no discharge), the measured inputs of 4.8 (As) and 5.1 t (Pb), 151 (Cd) and 39 kg (Hg), 18 g (PCDD/Fs) and 440 mg (Toxicity Equivalents, TEQs, of PCDD/Fs) are by definition ‘above’ the MAD. The principal component analysis (PCA) of loading data and input profiles (markers) of production typologies showed that river and atmosphere contributions can be easily separated and recognised due to their different fingerprints. Riverine inputs were similar to chemical and glass work production markers, whereas atmospheric loadings were mainly influenced by chemical industry (PVC and VCM production), metallurgy and paper-mill.     

Are cockroaches reliable bioindicators of persistent organic pollutant contamination of indoor environments?

We measured the concentrations of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as parent and halogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and HPAHs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in indoor dust (ID) and indoor cockroach samples collected from Shenzhen, South China. Biota-dust accumulation factors (BDAFs) were computed and utilized to quantify targeted pollutant bioaccumulation in ID and cockroaches. Generally, halogenated compounds have higher BDAFs when compared to non-halogenated compounds. There are significant differences (p < 0.05) between the BDAFs of non-halogenated POPs (PAHs) and halogenated POPs (HPAHs and PBDEs). Correlation analysis of target pollutants’ levels in ID and cockroaches were also conducted. The correlation coefficients for PAHs are less than 0.2 (p > 0.5) suggesting no significant relationship exists for PAHs between ID and cockroaches. In contrast, significant correlations exist for halogenated POPs (HPAH and PBDE) between ID and cockroaches (correlation coefficients >0.94, p < 0.0001). Based on this, the potential of cockroaches to be used as reliable bioindicators of POPs contamination of indoor environments was preliminarily evaluated. Our results indicate that indoor cockroaches may be useful bioindicator of indoor pollution for HPAHs and PBDEs contaminations.     

On the isolation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans from serum samples using immunoaffinity chromatography prior to high-resolution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) for the purification of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) from biological samples was explored as a means to simplify the cleanup procedure and thereby decrease the time and cost of dioxin analysis. A monoclonal antibody (DD3) was used to produce IAC columns and to isolate the PCDD/Fs from serum. Native and ¹³C-labeled PCDD/Fs were spiked at the ppq to ppt range into serum. Quantitation of the PCDD/Fs was performed by a standard dioxin analytical method, i.e. high-resolution gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), which was easily compatible with IAC. Five of the most toxic PCDD/Fs consistently showed acceptable recoveries (>25%) and were reliably quantitated. The congeners specifically recovered by this method represent almost 80% of the toxic equivalency of dioxins and furans present in the serum samples. Dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were not recognized by this antibody column. Compared to conventional dioxin cleanup methods, IAC decreased solvent usage by 1.5 l/sample and took only 2 h to process a sample for analysis.     

城市污泥生物好氧发酵对有机污染物的降解及其影响因素

分析了国内部分城市脱水污泥中几种主要有机污染物浓度,PAHs含量为1.156—34.940mg/kg,PCBs含量为0—115.730mg/kg;PCDD/Fs含量为9.530—22.900 ngTEQ/g干泥,NP含量为177.000mg/kg。提出要实现污泥安全、环保的土地利用,可采用生物好氧发酵技术降解污泥中的有机污染物,降低污泥在土地利用时有机污染物带来的环境风险。同时通过优化污泥生物好氧发酵控制条件:C/N值范围为25∶1—40∶1,温度在30—55℃,氧气浓度5%—15%,强制通风量控制在1.5—2.0m3.min-1.t-1(干泥)左右,pH6—9,混料含水率为50%—65%,经生物好氧发酵后的污泥施用土地,可以大大降低污泥在土地利用时的环境风险,避免污泥资源化利用带来的二次污染问题。     

Spatial distribution and qualitative composition of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in bottom sediments and bream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abramis brama</Emphasis> L.) from the Rybinsk Reservoir

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were found in bottom sediments and muscles of a freshwater fish, bream (Abramis brama L.), from the Rybinsk Reservoir. The contents of POPs decreased in the following order: PCBs > DDT > HCH > HCB. The POPs contents vary within the ranges of 0.14–50.8, 1.8–6.8, 0.64–2.6, and 0.06–0.41 \gmg/kg wet weight for fish and 24.8–425.6, 2.3–27.1, and 0.34–0.83 fug/kg dry weight for bottom sediments (except for HCH), respectively. The highest and lowest POPs levels were found in the Sheksna and the Mologa reaches of the reservoir, respectively. The differences in the spatial distribution of POPs in the reservoir relate to the ways that contaminants enter and migrate in the waterbody but not to various compositions of bottom sediments. The waste waters of the city of Cherepovets are the main local source of POPs in the Sheksna reach of the reservoir; in the Mologa reach, the contaminants enter with surface runoff and through global transboundary and local atmospheric transports from the Cherepovets industry. The qualitative composition of POPs evidences their continuing income to the reservoir. Considering the revealed levels of POPs accumulation and their legislative safe environment levels, it should be concluded that PCBs represent the highest environmental threat to the reservoir’s ecosystem.     

Quantitative analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine insecticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated hydrocarbons and polynitrohydrocarbons in spiked samples of soil, water and plasma by selected-ion monitoring gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A broad range of pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated hydrocarbons (PCHs), polynitrohydrocarbons (PNHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OCs) insecticides were simultaneously analyzed in spiked soil, water or plasma samples by using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Water and plasma samples containing the pollutants were extracted by a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method using florisil columns. The soil samples, fortified with the toxicants, were extracted with water, methanol or dichloromethane (DCM). The water extract was processed by the SPE method. The methanol and DCM samples were dried, dissolved in acetonitrile and subjected to the SPE extraction. The extracted samples were analyzed by GC–MS programmed to monitor selected ions. The deuterium labelled compounds were used as the internal standards. The chromatographic profile of total ions indicated complete separation of some compounds such as isophorone, naphthalene, all PCBs, most OC insecticides and PNHs; high M_r PAHs and some PCHs were partially or incompletely separated. The chromatographic profile of individual ion indicated good separation of each ion. The minimum detection limit ranged from 1 to 4 pg injected when 1 or 2 ions were monitored or from 20 to 200 pg injected when 20 ions were monitored. The SPE method that provided 60–105% recovery of pollutants from water samples, provided only 2–60% recovery from plasma samples. This may be due to the binding of pollutants to plasma proteins. Water recovered 1–30%, while methanol or DCM recovered 65–100% of the pollutants added to the soil samples. The use of internal standards corrected for the loss of pollutants from plasma or soil.     

Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Trace Metals in New Orleans Soils and Sediments

Soil and sediment samples from New Orleans have been collected and analyzed for contamination by 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 8 trace metals. Total PAH contents were found to vary from 40 μ g/kg to 40,000 μ g/kg, and concentrations of total metals varied in the range of 80 mg/kg and 7600 mg/kg. Source analysis of PAHs using diagnostic concentration ratios such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/ pyrene indicated that PAHs found at elevated concentrations in New Orleans soils and sediments were of pyrolytic origins. Spearman rank bivariate correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between soil PAHs and metals (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001) and between sediment PAHs and metals (r = 0.62, p < 0.05), suggesting common pollution sources for the two groups of environmental pollutants. Strong correlations were also found between Pb and Zn in soils (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001) as well as in sediments (r = 0.65, p < 0.05).     

Monitoring PCDD/Fs in Soil and Herbage Samples Collected Near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator: Health Risks for the Population Living Nearby

In 1998, we started a wide environmental surveillance program focused on evaluating the environmental impact of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) emitted by a new hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) (Tarragona County, Catalonia, Spain) and assessing the potential health risks for the population living nearby. The HWI began regular operations in 1999. Since then, periodical surveys have been performed. We report here the results concerning PCDD/F levels in 40 soil and 40 herbage samples collected in years 2004 and 2005, respectively, in the vicinity of the HWI. The human health risks derived from exposure to PCDD/Fs were also assessed. PCDD/F concentrations in soils ranged from 0.06 to 12.60 ng I-TEQ/kg, with median and mean values of 0.65 and 1.14 ng I-TEQ/kg, respectively. In herbage, PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 1.57 ng I-TEQ/kg, with median and mean values of 0.31 and 0.40 ng I-TEQ/kg, respectively. A comparison of these results with those from the baseline survey shows that, after six years of regular operation, the HWI did not significantly increase PCDD/F levels in soils and herbage in the surrounding environment. Moreover, PCDD/F emissions from the HWI do not mean additional significant risks for the health of the individuals living in the vicinity of the facility. The results of the current study together with those of recent investigations in municipal waste incinerators indicate that, when adequately controlled for PCDD/F emissions, modern waste incinerators should not portend any special concern for the populations living nearby.     

A review on emerging persistent organic pollutants: Current scenario in Pakistan

During the last few years, a new drift on screening of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) present in the environment of Pakistan has been observed. However, across the globe a number of reports have been devoted to the screening levels, distribution, and risk assessment and on the emission of POPs. In the case of Pakistan, the knowledge achieved and understanding of POPs contamination in the environmental compartments are still limited. Recently published literature has been a key to explore the mystery of new emerging POPs from the environment of the country. In this review, an effort was made to summarize the results of recently published reports on POPs (PCNs, PBDEs, DPs, and PCBs) from biotic and abiotic environments of Pakistan. This review also presents the available data published to date for organochlorines. The results of previously reported studies reflected that newly emerging POPs were influenced by the industrial and urban fractions and were in line with the distribution pattern of other regions of the world. These results revealed that urgent attention must be paid to these new emerging POPs, as they are reported to be present in considerable concentrations. Such detected concentrations of these banned pollutants should be checked/screened by scientific authorities to avoid adverse health risks to humans and animals.     

Does Mortality Risk of Cigarette Smoking Depend on Serum Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants? Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) Study

Cigarette smoking is an important cause of preventable death globally, but associations between smoking and mortality vary substantially across country and calendar time. Although methodological biases have been discussed, it is biologically plausible that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticides can affect this association. This study was performed to evaluate if associations of cigarette smoking with mortality were modified by serum concentrations of PCBs and OC pesticides. We evaluated cigarette smoking in 111 total deaths among 986 men and women aged 70 years in the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) with mean follow-up for 7.7 years. The association between cigarette smoking and total mortality depended on serum concentration of PCBs and OC pesticides (P value for interaction = 0.02). Among participants in the highest tertile of the serum POPs summary score, former and current smokers had 3.7 (95% CI, 1.5–9.3) and 6.4 (95% CI, 2.3–17.7) times higher mortality hazard, respectively, than never smokers. In contrast, the association between cigarette smoking and total mortality among participants in the lowest tertile of the serum POPs summary score was much weaker and statistically non-significant. The strong smoking-mortality association observed among elderly people with high POPs was mainly driven by low risk of mortality among never smokers with high POPs. As smoking is increasing in many low-income and middle-income countries and POPs contamination is a continuing problem in these areas, the interactions between these two important health-related issues should be considered in future research.     

Long-Term Environmental Surveillance and Health Risks of Metals and PCDD/Fs Around a Cement Plant in Catalonia,Spain

In this study, environmental data concerning the potential impact of a cement plant were updated, 10 years after a previous monitoring study. In 2011 and 2012, samples of soil, vegetation, and air were collected in the vicinity of a cement plant located in Santa Margarida i els Monjos (Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain). The concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and those of a number of metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Tl, V, and Zn) were determined. The results were compared with data from two previous sampling campaigns, performed in 2000 and 2001. Vanadium was the only element presenting a significant increase in the three monitors. In turn, a significant decrease of PCDD/Fs was noted in vegetation, from 0.2 to 0.1 ng WHO-TEQ/kg. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) of exposure to all pollutants was below the safety limit, while cancer risk associated with the exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs was within the range considered as assumable (10^?6–10^?4). Despite the long period of time elapsed between campaigns (10 years) and the use of alternative fuels, the impact of the cement plant seems to be low, based on the emissions of the contaminants here evaluated.     

Relationship between paired cord blood and milk POPs levels as a tool for assessing perinatal exposure,a pilot study

The long-term health threats posed to humans exposed to pollutants acting as endocrine disruptors (EDs) is yet to be quantified. There is insufficient knowledge about the sources and magnitude of exposure to selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during the most sensitive period of fetal development, suggesting the need for a study. Organochlorine pesticides, classified as being persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and potential EDs, were also included in this analysis. Xenobiotics were measured in paired fetal cord blood and maternal breast milk samples. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of PCB-101, PBDE-47, and PBDE-99 between maternal milk and cord blood according to the Wilcoxon test, and the Spearman tests demonstrated significant correlations in β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p'-DDE, and PCB-118 between maternal milk and cord blood from the same subjects. All others tested (HCB, β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, PCB-101, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-170, PCB-180, PBDE-153) demonstrated significant differences in the same subject women with concentrations significantly higher in maternal milk than in cord blood. The presence of these compounds found in cord blood and maternal milk indicates that both are a source of perinatal exposure to these pollutants. This study opens up the opportunity for new research in estimating a prenatal exposure based on breast milk concentrations of organohalogen compounds.