Persistent Organic Pollutant Residues in Human Fetal Liver and Placenta from Greater Montreal, Quebec: A Longitudinal Study from 1998 through 2006
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There is general concern that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) found in the environment, wildlife, food, water, house dust, human tissues, and fluids may alter normal human physiologic activities (e.g., fetal development, immune and endocrine systems). Although the levels of some POPs [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs)] in these matrices have decreased after their ban, others [polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)] have increased in recent years.To determine the longitudinal trend of specific POPs in human fetal tissues for risk assessment purposes.We analyzed early to mid-gestation fetal liver (n = 52) and placental (n = 60) tissues, obtained after elective abortions during 1998-2006, for selected PBDEs, PCBs, and OCs using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy.Total PBDEs in fetal liver increased over time (mean +/- SE: 1998, 284.4 +/- 229.8 ng/g lipid; 2006, 1,607.7 +/- 605.9; p < 0.03), whereas placental levels were generally lower, with no clear trend. Low levels of PCBs and OCs varied yearly, with no evident trend. The major analytes in 1998 were OCs (liver, 49%; placenta, 71%), whereas the major analytes in 2006 were PBDEs (liver, 89%; placenta, 98%). The 1998-2006 tissue PBDE congener profile is similar to that of DE-71, a commercial primarily pentabrominated diphenyl ether mixture manufactured in North America.Although commercial production of penta- and octa-brominated diphenyl ethers in North America was halted in 2004, their concentrations in fetal liver and placenta are now greater than the tissue burdens for the analyzed OCs and PCBs. Our findings also demonstrate that PBDEs accumulate within the fetal compartment at a very early stage in gestation.Keywords:
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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a type of brominated flame retardant chemically and toxicologically similar to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are a class of emerging environmental and human contaminants. They have recently been detected in U.S. milk, blood, and food at the highest levels in the world. This pilot study was undertaken with the aim of determining levels of PBDE in the U.S. indoor environment, to assess the potential exposure to PBDEs from computer surfaces and carpets. Food of animal origin is the usual source of polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxin (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF), and PCBs in humans, but there may also be environmental sources for intake of PBDEs. It was also our aim to characterize the PBDE congener profile in these indoor environmental samples. Four computer wipe samples and 9 domestic vacuum-sweeping samples were analyzed for 13 PBDE congeners, PBDEs 17 (2,2′,4), 28 (2,4,4′ ), 47 (2,2′,4,4′ ), 66 (2,3′,4,4′ ), 77 (3,3′,4,4′ ), 85 (2,2′,3,4,4′ ), 99 (2,2′4,4′,5), 100 (2,2′,4,4′,6), 138 (2,2′,3,4,4′,5′ ), 153 (2,2′,4,4′,5,5′ ), 154 (2,2′,4,4′,5,6′ ), 183 (2,2′,3,4,4′,5′,6), and 209 (2,2′,3,3′,4,4′,5,5′,6,6′ ). All samples tested positive for PBDEs. PBDE 209 was the dominant congener in all 4 computer wipe samples and in 7 out of the 9 vacuum dust samples. The congener profiles observed in this study varied considerably, a finding that has been observed previously. However these congener profiles differ from the pattern seen in U.S. human milk, human blood and in food, where PBDEs 47 and 99 predominate.
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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant chemicals that are added to many consumer products. Multiple animal studies have shown PBDEs to be thyroid hormone (TH) disruptors. Epidemiologic evidence of PBDE exposure associated with TH disruption has been inconclusive.We used repeated measures to estimate associations between serum PBDE concentrations and THs in a North American adult cohort.From 2010 to 2011, we collected ≤ 3 serum samples at approximately 6-month intervals from 52 healthy adult office workers from Boston, Massachusetts, for analysis of PBDE congeners and THs.The geometric mean sum concentrations of the most prevalent PBDE congeners (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, and BDE-153) were 22 ng/g lipid in winter 2010, 23 ng/g lipid in summer 2010, and 19 ng/g lipid in winter 2011. BDE-47 was the predominant congener. Based on a multivariable mixed regression model, we estimated that on average, a 1-ng/g serum increase in BDE-47 was associated with a 2.6-μg/dL decrease in total thyroxine (T4) (95% CI: -4.7, -0.35). Total T4 was inversely associated with each PBDE congener. Serum concentrations of PBDEs were not strongly associated with total triiodothyronine (T3), free T4, or thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).These results are consistent with those from animal studies showing that exposure to PBDEs is associated with a decrease in serum T4. Because the other TH concentrations did not appear to be associated with BDE exposures, our findings do not indicate effects on the pituitary-thyroid axis. Taken together, our findings suggest that PBDE exposure might decrease the binding of T4 to serum T4 binding proteins.Makey CM, McClean MD, Braverman LE, Pearce EN, He XM, Sjödin A, Weinberg JM, Webster TF. 2016. Polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure and thyroid function tests in North American adults. Environ Health Perspect 124:420-425; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1509755.
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Abstract Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants have become distributed ubiquitously in the environment. High concentrations have been reported in U.S. sewage sludge (biosolids). The burgeoning practice of land‐applying biosolids as fertilizer creates an avenue for reintroduction of PBDEs to surface waters and aquatic sediments. Bioavailability of biosolids‐ and sediment‐associated PBDEs was assessed using the freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus . Oligochaetes were exposed to composted biosolids (1,600 ng/g total PBDEs) and artificial sediment spiked with penta‐ and deca‐brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) formulations (1,300 ng/g total PBDEs). Uptake (28‐d exposure) and depuration (21 d) of eight congeners were studied. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in both substrates were bioavailable, but bioaccumulation was 5 to 10 times greater from spiked artificial sediment. The congeners BDE 47 and BDE 99 were the most prevalent congeners in oligochaetes after exposure. Congener BDE 47 was more bioaccumulative, possibly due to the threefold greater depuration rate of BDE 99. Bioaccumulation of penta‐ and hexa‐brominated congeners appeared to be affected more strongly by substitution pattern than degree of bromination. Uptake of BDE 209, the dominant congener in deca‐BDE, was minimal. Accumulation of certain PBDE congeners from biosolids and sediments by benthos provides a pathway for transfer to higher trophic levels, and congener discrimination may increase with each trophic transfer.
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