Using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to link urinary biomarker concentrations to dietary exposure of perchlorate

Exposure to perchlorate is widespread in the United States and many studies have attempted to character the perchlorate exposure by estimating the average daily intakes of perchlorate. These approaches provided population-based estimates, but did not provide individual-level exposure estimates. Until recently, exposure activity database such as CSFII, TDS and NHANES become available and provide opportunities to evaluate the individual-level exposure to chemical using exposure surveillance dataset. In this study, we use perchlorate as an example to investigate the usefulness of urinary biomarker data for predicting exposures at the individual level. Specifically, two analyses were conducted: (1) using data from a controlled human study to examine the ability of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict perchlorate concentrations in single-spot and cumulative urine samples; and (2) using biomarker data from a population-based study and a PBPK model to demonstrate the challenges in linking urinary biomarker concentrations to intake doses for individuals. Results showed that the modeling approach was able to characterize the distribution of biomarker concentrations at the population level, but predicting the exposure-biomarker relationship for individuals was much more difficult. The type of information needed to reduce the uncertainty in estimating intake doses, for individuals, based on biomarker measurements is discussed.     

Determination of hypoxia and dietary copper mediated sub-lethal toxicity in carp, Cyprinus carpio, at different levels of biological organisation

Hypoxic events frequently occur in the aquatic environment in association with micro pollutants, including heavy metals. Only a few studies are however available on the uptake and biological responses of heavy metals under hypoxic conditions. To elucidate the phenomenon, mirror carp Cyprinus carpio L. (16.13-16.22 g) were exposed chronically to dietary copper (Cu; 250 and 500 mg kg dry wt.⁻¹) for 30 d under normoxic (8.25 mg O₂ L⁻¹) and hypoxic (∼3 mg O₂ L⁻¹) conditions and adopting an integrated approach, sub-lethal biomarker responses were determined at different levels of biological organisation. Level of oxidative DNA damage (as determined by modified Comet assay) showed strong significant difference following exposure to dietary Cu level under normoxic (1.6-fold) as well as under hypoxic condition at both Cu levels (2.1 and 2.5-folds respectively). Significant difference was also observed for haematological parameters (i.e. increased red and white blood cells, haematocrit value and haemoglobin concentration). Quantitative histology revealed alterations in tissues (i.e. liver and gills) for hypoxic and all dietary Cu treatment groups under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions suggesting a compensatory response to these organs (p < 0.05). The order of Cu accumulation in tissues (as determined by ICP-OES) was liver > intestine > kidney > gill. Interestingly, SGR under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions reduced with elevating Cu levels (p = 0.019). Overall, the results provide evidence for enhanced toxicological responses in fish following exposure to Cu either alone or in combination with hypoxic condition and lends support to the evolving viewpoint that many water quality guidelines should be revisited in terms of new ecotoxicological criteria.     

Health risks associated with heavy metals in the drinking water of Swat, northern Pakistan

The concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were investigated in drinking water sources （surface and groundwater） collected from Swat valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The potential health risks of heavy metals to the local population and their possible source apportionment were also studied. Heavy metal concentrations were analysed using atomic absorption spectrometer and compared with permissible limits set by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were higher than their respective permissible limits, while Cu, Mn and Zn concentrations were observed within their respective limits. Health risk indicators such as chronic daily intake （CDI） and health risk index （HRI） were calculated for adults and children separately. CDIs and HRIs of heavy metals were found in the order of Cr 〉 Mn 〉 Ni 〉 Zn 〉 Cd 〉 Cu 〉 Pb and Cd 〉 Ni 〉 Mn 〉 Cr 〉 Cu 〉 Pb 〉 Zn, respectively. HRIs of selected heavy metals in the drinking water were less than 1, indicating no health risk to the local people. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses showed that geologic and anthropogenic activities were the possible sources of water contamination with heavy metals in the study area.     

Differentiated emission control strategy based on comprehensive evaluation of multi-media pollution: Case of mercury emission control

In order to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impact of multi-media mercury pollution under differentiated emission control strategies in China, a literature review and case studies were carried out. Increased human exposure to methylmercury was assessed through the dietary intake of residents in areas surrounding a typical coal-fired power plant and a zinc(Zn) smelter, located either on acid soil with paddy growth in southern China, or on alkaline soil with wheat growth in northern Chi...     

Analysis of PFAAs in American alligators part 1: Concentrations in alligators harvested for consumption during South Carolina public hunts

Environmental contamination resulting from the production or release of harmful chemicals can lead to negative consequences for wildlife and human health. Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) were historically produced as protective coatings for many household items and currently persist in the environment, wildlife, and humans. PFAAs have been linked to immune suppression, endocrine disruption, and developmental toxicity in wildlife and laboratory studies. This study examines the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, as an important indicator of ecosystem contamination and a potential pathway for PFAA exposure in humans. Alligator meat harvested in the 2015 South Carolina (SC) public hunt season and prepared for human consumption was collected and analyzed for PFAAs to determine meat concentrations and relationships with animal body size (total length), sex, and location of harvest. Of the 15 PFAAs analyzed, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was found in all alligator meat samples and at the highest concentrations (median 6.73 ng/g). No relationship was found between PFAA concentrations and total length or sex. Concentrations of one or all compounds varied significantly across sampling locations, with alligators harvested in the Middle Coastal hunt unit having the highest PFOS concentrations (median 16.0 ng/g; p = 0.0001). Alligators harvested specifically from Berkley County, SC (located in the Middle Coastal hunt unit) had the highest PFOS concentrations and the greatest number of PFAAs detected (p < 0.0001). The site-specific nature of PFAA concentrations in alligator meat observed in this study suggests a source of PFAA contamination in Berkley County, SC.     

Patterns and dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans in food products in China

The health risk of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) to human being should be assessed regularly. To evaluate the contamination levels in various food products in the Chinese market and to assess the dietary exposure of the Chinese population, 11 varieties of food groups totaling 634 samples including beef and mutton, chicken and duck, pork, fish and seafood, milk and dairy products were evaluated. The average concentrations of PCDD/Fs in all groups ranged from 0.291 to 8.468 pg/g whole weight (w.w.). The average toxic equivalency concentrations were from 0.012 pg TEQ/g w.w. for cereal to 0.367 pg TEQ/g fat for marine oil. OCDD and 2,3,7,8-TCDF were the dominant congeners in foodstuffs. The dietary estimated mean intake for the Chinese rural and urban populations were 0.656 and 0.514 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day, respectively, however, the cereal group exposure were higher to the estimate daily intake and contributed 81% for rural and 48% for urban population, followed by fish and seafood which contributed 4% and 16% to the estimate daily intake. The estimated dietary intakes were compared with the toxicological reference values and showed that both rural and urban populations were well below those values.     

Mushroom harvesting ants in the tropical rain forest

Ants belong to the most important groups of arthropods, inhabiting and commonly dominating most terrestrial habitats, especially tropical rainforests. Their highly collective behavior enables exploitation of various resources and is viewed as a key factor for their evolutionary success. Accordingly, a great variety of life strategies evolved in this group of arthropods, including seed harvesters, gardeners, and planters, fungus growers, nomadic hunters, life stock keepers, and slave makers. This study reports the discovery of a new lifestyle in ants. In a Southeast Asian rainforest habitat, Euprenolepis procera is specialized in harvesting a broad spectrum of naturally growing mushrooms, a nutritionally challenging and spatiotemporally unpredictable food source. While unfavorable to the vast majority of animals, E. procera has developed exceptional adaptations such as a shift to a fully nomadic lifestyle and special food processing capabilities, which allow it to rely entirely on mushrooms. As a consequence, E. procera is the most efficient and predominant consumer of epigeic mushrooms in the studied habitat and this has broad implications for the tropical rainforest ecosystem.     

Intake of phthalates and di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate: results of the Integrated Exposure Assessment Survey based on duplicate diet samples and biomonitoring data

Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental chemicals with potential detrimental health effects. The purpose of our study was to quantify dietary intake of phthalates and of DEHA (Di-ethylhexyl adipate) using duplicate diet samples and to compare these data with the calculated data based on urinary levels of primary and secondary phthalate metabolites. 27 female and 23 male healthy subjects aged 14-60 years collected daily duplicate diet samples over 7 consecutive days. Overall, 11 phthalates were measured in the duplicates by GC/MS and LC/MS methods. Urinary levels of primary and secondary phthalate metabolites are also available. The median (95th percentile) daily intake via food was 2.4 (4.0) microg/kg b.w. (Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP), 0.3 (1.4) microg/kg b.w. (Di-n-butyl phthalate, DnBP), 0.6 (2.1) microg/kg b.w. (Di-isobutyl phthalate, DiBP) and 0.7 (2.2) microg/kg b.w. for DEHA. MEPH (Mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate) was detectable only in minor concentrations in the samples, thus conversion of DEHP to MEHP and dietary intake of MEHP were negligible. When comparing back-calculated intake data of the DEHP metabolites with dietary DEHP intake from the day before significant correlations were observed for most of the metabolites. No correlation was found for DnBP and only a weak but significant correlation for DiBP. The median and 95th percentile daily dietary intake of all target analytes did not exceed the recommended tolerable daily intake. Our data indicated that food was the predominant intake source of DEHP, whilst other sources considerably contributed to the daily intake of DnBP and DiBP in an adult population.     

太湖饮用水源地附近居民暴露参数

采用问卷调查方式研究了太湖饮用水源地附近1 500人的相关暴露参数.结果表明:该地区成人平均体质量为63.07kg,男性和女性分别为67.55和57.59 kg;平均体表面积为1.71 m2,男性和女性分别为1.79和1.61 m2;主食(米饭)、水产品、肉类、蛋类、蔬菜和水果的摄入率50百分位数分别为300、33.09、102.56、48.44、291.44和216.86 g/d;直接饮水率为1 125.00mL/d.该研究结果与美国和日本《暴露参数手册》推荐值有较大差异,差异范围为-67.33%～141.08%;相比国内其他研究结果,体质量、体表面积、直接饮水率相差不大,但饮食暴露参数有较大差异.      

Trace metal contents in some brands of canned beef in Nigeria

The concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel in some brands of canned beef in Nigerian markets were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean concentration ranges for these metals in mg?kg^?1 were 0.02–0.37 for Cd, <0.04–0.75 for Cr, 1.1–2.4 for Cu, <0.001–1.5 for Pb, 1.1–8.0 for Zn, <0.04–0.57 for Mn, 13.8–28.8 for Fe, 0.05–0.26 for Co, and 0.8–5.9 for Ni. The estimated dietary intake of metals from these products did not indicate any risk since the values were far below the permissible dietary intakes.