Tumor promoting effects of cyanobacterial extracts are potentiated by anthropogenic contaminants--evidence from in vitro study

Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is affiliated with tumor promotion process and it has been employed as an in vitro biomarker for evaluation of tumor promoting effects of chemicals. In the present study we investigated combined effects of anthropogenic environmental contaminants 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) and fluoranthene, cyanotoxins microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin, and extracts of laboratory cultures of cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon gracile and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, on GJIC in the rat liver epithelial cell line WB-F344. Binary mixtures of PCB 153 with fluoranthene and the mixtures of the two cyanobacterial strains elicited simple additive effects on GJIC after 30 min exposure, whereas microcystin-LR and cylindrospermopsin neither inhibited GJIC nor altered effects of PCB 153 or fluoranthene. However, synergistic effects were observed in the cells exposed to binary mixtures of anthropogenic contaminants (PCB 153 or fluoranthene) and cyanobacterial extracts. The synergistic effects were especially pronounced after prolonged (6-24 h) co-exposure to fluoranthene and A. gracile extract, when mixture caused nearly complete GJIC inhibition, while none of the individual components caused any downregulation of GJIC at the same concentration and exposure time. The effects of cyanobacterial extracts were independent of microcystin-LR or cylindrospermopsin, which were not detected in cyanobacterial biomass. It provides further evidence on the presence of unknown tumor promoting metabolites in cyanobacteria. Clear potentiation of the GJIC inhibition observed in the mixtures of two anthropogenic contaminants and cyanobacteria highlight the importance of combined toxic effects of chemicals in complex environmental mixtures.     

Determination of chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human milk from Bizerte (Tunisia) in 2010

Thirty persistent organohalogen compounds including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in breast milk samples (n = 36) of primipara and multipara mothers from Bizerte in 2010. The analytical procedure involved the application of liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD) or mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS) for identification and quantification. Organohalogen compounds were found in all the analyzed samples, with predominance of p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDD, HCB and PCBs. The mean concentration of ∑DDTs in breast milk was 1163.9 ng g⁻¹ lipid wt. The ratio of p,p′-DDE/p,p′-DDT was low, suggesting that there is fresh intake of commercial DDT products in Bizerte. The mean levels of HCB and PCB were 286.8 and 331.2 ng g⁻¹ lipid wt respectively. These results were compared with the levels obtained in a previous study carried out in the same area in 2003. A general decrease of ∑DDTs levels and an increase of PCB levels were observed. Among the 10 PBDE congeners evaluated, BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-66, BDE-138, BDE-100, BDE-154, BDE-153, and BDE-183 were detected in the analyzed samples at different frequency. The total PBDE concentrations ranged from 2.5 to 22.6 ng g⁻¹ lipid wt in the samples, with a mean and median value of 10.7 and 9.8 ng g⁻¹ lipid wt respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first data of PBDEs in Tunisian human milk. The present study shows that age and parity are factors influencing the levels of some organohalogen compounds in human milk.     

Correcting serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds by lipids: Alternatives to the organochlorine/total lipids ratio

IntroductionWhen studying the effects of organochlorine compounds (OCs) on human health it is common to correct serum concentrations of OC by total lipids (TL). However, the relationship between serum OCs and serum TL is far from established in many diseases, including several cancers. Our aim was to analyze the relationship between serum OC and TL in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), and to explore several alternatives to perform the OC lipid correction.MethodsIncident cases of PDA were interviewed and had blood drawn soon around hospital admission (n = 144). Serum concentrations of OCs were analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.ResultsMost patients with high TL had moderate or low concentrations of OCs. By contrast, the variability of OC values among patients with normal TL was large. Correlations were of a similar magnitude between OC and TL and between OC and total cholesterol; while these correlations were weak (all Spearman's ρ < 0.3 and R² < 0.11), no OC were significantly correlated with triglycerides. Although all alternatives to the OC/TL linear ratio were statistically significant for at least one OC, their R² was always below 10%.ConclusionsIn patients with severe diseases as PDA, linear correction of OC by TL as commonly performed in epidemiologic studies may be inappropriate. Results contribute to the scant literature on the rationale to correct serum concentrations of OC by lipids. They suggest that it is unwarranted to routinely correct OC by TL, offer ways to assess such need, and present alternatives as no TL correction, correction by total cholesterol only or use of different statistical models.     

Accelerated delivery of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in recent sediments near a large seabird colony in Arctic Canada

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in sediment cores from ponds located near a large seabird colony at Cape Vera, Devon Island, Arctic Canada. Surface sediment PCB concentrations were ∼5× greater in seabird-affected sites relative to a nearby control pond and were correlated with independent indicators of seabird activity including, sedimentary δ¹⁵N and lakewater chlorophyll a and cadmium concentrations. PCB fluxes were amongst the highest recorded from the High Arctic, ranging from 290 to 2400 ng m⁻² yr⁻¹. Despite a widespread ban of PCBs in the mid-1970s, PCB accumulation rates in our cores increased, with the highest values recorded in the most recent sediments. Possible mechanisms for the recent PCB increases include a vertical flux step driven by seabird-delivered nutrients and/or delayed loading of PCBs from the catchment into the ponds. The high PCB levels recorded in the seabird-affected sites suggest that seabird colonies are exposing coastal ecosystems to elevated levels of contaminants.     

Occurrence and sources of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in surficial sediments of Lakes Superior and Huron

Concentrations and congener profile patterns of 2378-substituted PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs in offshore, nearshore and tributary sediments of Lakes Superior and Huron are reported, and spatial trends and source contributions assessed. PCDD/F concentrations ranged from 5 to 18 000 pg/g dw (Lake Superior) and 3 to 6100 pg/g dw (Lake Huron); DLPCBs ranged from 9 to 11 000 pg/g dw (Lake Superior) and 9 to 27 000 pg/g dw (Lake Huron). Our analysis indicated atmospheric deposition is a primary source to depositional areas of both lakes; however, greater PCDD/F and DLPCB concentrations were observed at several nearshore and tributary sites, and were attributed to corresponding land use in the watershed. Statistical analysis and pattern comparison suggested that industrial inputs mainly associated with wood treatment plants, pulp and paper mills, mining operations, and chlorine-based chemical manufacturing also contributed to contamination by PCDD/Fs and DLPCBs in certain nearshore and offshore areas of Lakes Superior and Huron.     

珠三角地区冬季大气中PCBs的空间分布

为了考察珠三角地区冬季大气中PCBs的空间分布,于2001年12月24日至2002年1月16日在广州的市区、郊区和背景区进行连续的空气样品采样.采用GC-MS-SIM模式进行PCBs分析.结果表明,空气中PCBs的总浓度按照距离市区从近到远的次序依次降低.市区PCBs平均浓度是郊区的1.61倍,是背景区的2.54倍.PCBs各单体化合物的浓度分布表现出明显的地区差异.低氯取代PCBs的市区浓度比郊区和背景区的浓度高出很多,而高氯取代PCBs的空间差异不明显.在不同氯数PCB浓度之和对PCBs总浓度的百分贡献率分布中,市区、郊区和背景区都表现为三氯和四氯取代PCBs的贡献最大,而且不同地区两者的贡献率之和非常接近.市区和郊区空气中三氯和四氯取代PCBs的贡献比较接近;而背景区空气中四氯取代PCBs的贡献高达52.79%,是三氯贡献的近2倍.郊区和背景区空气中五氯取代PCBs的平均贡献率分别是9.65%和10.87%.仅就颗粒相而言,其PCBs平均贡献率在市区、郊区和背景区表现出非常好的一致性.对市区、郊区和背景区空气中log Kp与log PLo进行回归分析,其斜率mr分别是-0.60、-0.42和-0.45,都明显地偏离空气中气/固分配的理想平衡状态.     

凝胶渗透色谱法在分析食品中多氯联苯的应用

以凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)系统处理食品样品中的脂质,并结合碱性氧化铝柱净化,旨在建立快速有效的多氯联苯(PCBs)分析的前处理技术.对油脂样品的检测结果显示,13C标记PCBs定量内标的回收率及RSD均符合EPA1668a方法的要求,20种天然PCBs的加标回收率在71%-122%,方法精密度≤10%.     

SBSE-TDU-GC/MS法同步测定饮用水源水中16种多溴联苯化合物

通过对萃取和解吸条件进行优化,实现搅拌棒吸收萃取(SBSE)-热脱附-气相色谱/质谱联用以同时测定饮用水源水中16种多溴联苯单体。此法在2~50 ng/L范围内线性良好,取10 m L水样,搅拌棒吸收萃取1 h后,16种多溴联苯单体的检出限为0.5~1.1 ng/L。对实际水样进行2个质量浓度的加标回收,平均回收率为89.2%~102%。     

气相色谱法测定水体中多氯联苯Aroclor系列

采用液液萃取—气相色谱法(GC-ECD)测定水体中多氯联苯Aroclor系列Aroclor1016、Aroclor1221、Aroclor1232、Aroclor1242、Aroclor1248、Aroclor1254、Aroclor1260。样品经正己烷溶剂萃取,再经全自动样品浓缩仪(EVA)浓缩萃取液至1 mL,供气相色谱仪测定,外标法定量,加标回收率在75%~110%之间,检出限为0.1μg/L。该方法采用双塔双柱双检测器,排除了误检和其他物质的干扰,保证了分析结果的可靠性,方法简单、灵敏、准确。     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface soils of Novi Sad and bank sediment of the Danube River

The contents of 16 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and six so-called indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in the surface zone (0–5 cm) of soil and sediment samples, taken from different locations in the city of Novi Sad, capitol of Vojvodina Province (North of the Serbia) covering residential and commercial area, recreational and arable zone. The total organochlorine pesticides concentration in soil varied from 2.63 to 31.78 ng g^?1 dry weight, while the level in sediment was 10.35 ng g^?1 dry weight. Maximum content of identified individual organochlorine pesticide in soil samples was 10.40 ng g^?1 dry weight for p, p-DDE in the market garden and 6.31 ng g^?1 dry weight for p, p'-DDT in sediment of the Danube River, although their application is restricted in Serbia. Some of investigated PCBs were identified only in the soil samples from a park-school backyard in the city downtown (0.32 ng g^?1 dry weight) and market garden (0.22 ng g^?1 dry weight), and also in sediment sample from left bank of the Danube River (0.41 ng g^?1 dry weight). Data of the OCPs and PCBs present in this study were compared with the ones found for soils and river sediments throughout the world, and with limit values set by soil and sediment quality guidelines. Also, correlation between the levels of certain pesticides and soil characteristics (organic matter, pH and clay content) was investigated.