Association between prenatal exposure to multiple persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and growth indicators in newborns.

Despite the fact that many of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been banned for decades, they still constitute a group of harmful substances to human health. Prenatal exposure can have adverse effects on one's health as well as on their newborns. The present cross-sectional study, which includes 87% of the births registered in La Palma Island (Canary Islands, Spain) during 2016 (n = 447), aims to evaluate the potential adverse health effects exerted by a wide range of POPs on newborns. We quantified blood cord levels of twenty organochlorine pesticides, eighteen polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), eight bromodiphenyl ethers (BDEs), and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using the method of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. By groups, p,p'-DDE, PCB-28, BDE-47, and phenanthrene were the most frequently detected compounds (median values = 0.148, 0.107, 0.065, and 0.380 ng/mL, respectively). p,p'-DDE was found to be significantly associated with an increase in neonatal birth weight, with a special emphasis on girls. An inverse association between PCB-28 and PCB-52 with birth weight was observed, and these associations were determined by the gender. A similar trend was obtained for BDE-47 but not for any of the PAHs. When assessing the effect of mixtures, boys exhibiting ≥ 3 OCPs were at lower risk of having higher birth weight (OR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.07 - 0.89; P = 0.032). The effect of these pollutants on birth weight does not go in the same direction, a fact that is conditioned by several factors, including the chemical nature of the substance or the gender of the newborn. Additional research is needed to understand the role of POPs on fetal development.

Bisphenol A: Food Exposure and Impact on Human Health.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial compound used extensively to produce synthetic polymers, such as epoxy resins, which are incorporated into the inner coating of metal cans, and also to manufacture polycarbonates with applications in bottles, including bottles of water. Several studies have reported on the transfer of this compound to food. Regarding human exposure to BPA, food intake can be considered the most serious among all the routes, not only because it potentially reaches more people in different age groups (including infants, an especially vulnerable group), but also because it inadvertently occurs over long time periods. BPA is considered an endocrine disruptor and several studies have proposed a relationship between exposure to BPA and the appearance of adverse health effects, such as cancer, infertility, diabetes, and obesity, among others. In 2015 however, the European Food Safety Authority concluded in its last scientific opinion that this compound does not pose any risk to the exposed population's health. Therefore, the EU regards BPA as an authorized product to be used as food contact material. Although BPA intake through food is apparently below the set limits, research into BPA and its potential negative effects is still ongoing. This review contains the most recent in vitro and in vivo studies on BPA toxicity and its harmful effects on health, and it intends to address human exposure to BPA, namely through dietary exposure and its impact on human health.

Validated analytical methodology for the simultaneous determination of a wide range of pesticides in human blood using GC-MS/MS and LC-ESI/MS/MS and its application in two poisoning cases.

Pesticides are frequently responsible for human poisoning and often the information on the involved substance is lacking. The great variety of pesticides that could be responsible for intoxication makes necessary the development of powerful and versatile analytical methodologies, which allows the identification of the unknown toxic substance. Here we developed a methodology for simultaneous identification and quantification in human blood of 109 highly toxic pesticides. The application of this analytical scheme would help in minimizing the cost of this type of chemical identification, maximizing the chances of identifying the pesticide involved. In the methodology that we present here, we use a liquid-liquid extraction, followed by one single purification step, and quantitation of analytes by a combination of liquid and gas chromatography, both coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, which is operated in the mode of multiple reaction monitoring. The methodology has been fully validated, and its applicability has been demonstrated in two recent cases involving one self-poisoning fatality and one non-fatal homicidal attempt.

Multi-residue method for the determination of 57 persistent organic pollutants in human milk and colostrum using a QuEChERS-based extraction procedure.

Human breast milk represents the best choice for the nutrition of infants. However, in addition to containing beneficial nutrients and antibodies, it can also be considered the best indicator of infant exposure to contaminants. We developed a multi-residue method using a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) procedure and capillary gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry for the determination of 57 persistent organic pollutants, including 23 organochlorine pesticides, 18 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human milk and colostrum samples. We have used primary secondary amine in the clean-up step as it gave a more efficient separation of the analytes from fat and superior removal of the co-extracted substances compared with gel permeation chromatography. No significant matrix effect was observed for the tested pollutants, and therefore matrix-matched calibration was not necessary. The average recoveries from spiked samples were in the range of 74.8-113.0 %. The precision was satisfactory, with relative standard deviations below 16 %, while values of 0.1-0.4 µg L(-1) were established as the limit of quantification for all the target analytes (0.05 and 100 µg L(-1)). The method was successfully applied to the analysis of 18 human colostrum and 23 mature milk samples. All the samples tested were positive for at least nine different residues, with some samples containing up to 24 contaminants. Remarkably, the contaminants hexachlorobenzene, p,p'-DDE, PCB 138, PCB 180, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene were present in 100 % of the colostrum and mature milk samples analyzed.

Comparative study of organohalogen contamination between two populations of Eastern Atlantic loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).

We evaluated the presence of 37 organohalogen contaminants in plasma samples from 162 juvenile and 197 adult loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the archipelagos of the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, respectively, and compared the contamination profiles found. We detected five organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and 16 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The concentrations of the two groups of contaminants were higher in turtles from the Canary Islands (OCPs, 1.04 vs. 0.37 ng/mL; PCBs, 1.92 vs. 0.08 ng/mL). We also observed a different profile of PCB contamination between the two populations. In addition, there was a negative correlation between body size and the total concentration of PCBs in the Canary Islands turtles, but not in turtles from Cape Verde. The present study presents the first data on the organochlorine contaminants (OCs) of live turtles from Canary Islands. In addition, we perform a comparison of the levels and profiles of OCs between these two different groups of loggerhead sea turtles from the Eastern Atlantic.

Complex organochlorine pesticide mixtures as determinant factor for breast cancer risk: a population-based case-control study in the Canary Islands (Spain).

BACKGROUND: All the relevant risk factors contributing to breast cancer etiology are not fully known. Exposure to organochlorine pesticides has been linked to an increased incidence of the disease, although not all data have been consistent. Most published studies evaluated the exposure to organochlorines individually, ignoring the potential effects exerted by the mixtures of chemicals. METHODS: This population-based study was designed to evaluate the profile of mixtures of organochlorines detected in 103 healthy women and 121 women diagnosed with breast cancer from Gran Canaria Island, and the relation between the exposure to these compounds and breast cancer risk. RESULTS: The most prevalent mixture of organochlorines among healthy women was the combination of lindane and endrin, and this mixture was not detected in any affected women. Breast cancer patients presented more frequently a combination of aldrin, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD), and this mixture was not found in any healthy woman. After adjusting for covariables, the risk of breast cancer was moderately associated with DDD (OR = 1.008, confidence interval 95% 1.001-1.015, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that healthy women show a very different profile of organochlorine pesticide mixtures than breast cancer patients, suggesting that organochlorine pesticide mixtures could play a relevant role in breast cancer risk.

Ethanol and Medical Psychotropics Co-Consumption in European Countries: Results from a Three-Year Retrospective Study of Forensic Samples in Spain.

Ethanol and medical psychotropics (MPs) are legal psychoactive substances widely consumed in Western countries that are routinely detected in standard toxicological analyses at compulsory autopsies, and toxicokinetic interactions between these drugs have been described. However, studies assessing the consequences of this co-consumption are scarce in Europe. We performed a retrospective study on toxicological results from compulsory autopsies in Spain. Thirty-five legal psychotropics, including ethanol, were measured in blood samples from 380 decedents to assess the determinants of such co-consumption. MPs were detected in 42.4% of the subjects. Polypharmacy was frequent in our series (25%), being more frequent in men than in women. More than one-third of the decedents had detectable levels of ethanol, and a significant positive association between ethanol levels and age was evident. About one-third of MPs consumers were also co-consumers of ethanol. The simultaneous consumption of ethanol and MPs was higher in men than in women. Blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) were lower in men who consumed MPs. In polypharmacy deaths, there was a significant negative association between the number of MPs consumed and BAC in men (r = -0.097; p = 0.029). Our results showed a high prevalence of co-consumption of MPs and ethanol in the European population involved in medico-legal issues and suggest that toxicokinetic interactions may be lowering BAC in men. This is a very worrying result, as it could indicate that the legal blood ethanol limits set by legislation would not be appropriate for men on MPs treatment.

Medical Psychotropics in Forensic Autopsies in European Countries: Results from a Three-Year Retrospective Study in Spain.

Medical psychotropics are widely used and prescribed in developed countries. These medications may have an impairing effect on mood or perception and may induce harmful behaviors. Nevertheless, in Europe, studies on their importance from a medico-legal perspective are scarce. To fill this gap, we evaluate the determinants of these drugs in a retrospective study based on data obtained from forensic autopsies. Toxicological analyses were performed on 394 blood samples from compulsory autopsies at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Las Palmas. Of the samples, 41% (159) were positive for at least one psychotropic, with benzodiazepines being the most frequently detected (24.1%), followed by opiates and antidepressants. Benzodiazepines, opiates, and antidepressants were detected more frequently in men who suffered a violent death. More than 30% of the positive samples showed two or more drugs, suggesting a prevalence of polypharmacy among forensic autopsy subjects, with the most frequently combination found being benzodiazepines plus opiates (28.3% of positive samples). A combination of opiates plus antidepressants was also found in subjects involved in violent deaths. Our results suggest that more than 40% of the adult European population involved in medico-legal issues may be under the influence of legal psychotropics. The link between violent deaths and the use of medical psychotropics is particularly worrisome and indicates that these drugs should be carefully monitored in developed countries, in all forensic autopsies, in a similar way to illegal psychotropics.

Background levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in the population of the Canary Islands (Spain).

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and toxic compounds that have been detected in human serum or tissues worldwide. The objective of our study was to determine serum PCB levels in a representative sample of the general population of the Spanish Archipelago of the Canary Islands (607 serum samples from subjects aged between 6 and 75 years) in order to establish the main causes of this contamination and to evaluate the potential risks posed by these chemicals on the population through the use of toxicity equivalence to dioxins (TEQs). PCB congeners (28, 52, 77, 81, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 138, 153, 156, 157, 167, 169, 180, and 189) were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Our results showed that PCB residues were found in 76% of serum samples analyzed, with the congeners 153 and 180 being the most frequently detected and having the highest median values (21.8 and 6.7 ng/g lipid, respectively). Serum levels of non-dioxin-like PCBs increased with age, body mass index (BMI), urban habitat, and smoking. The median concentration of the sum of PCBs considered as markers of environmental contamination by these chemicals (M-PCBs) was 46.4 ng/g lipid. Levels of the sum of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs) were 48.5 ng/g lipid in the 95th percentile, and were also positively associated with age. As a consequence, age seemed to be positively associated with TEQs levels, reaching values as high as 58.6 pg/g lipid in the serum samples from oldest people. Our results indicate that the inhabitants of the Canary Archipelago show levels of PCB contamination lower than other populations present on the Spanish mainland, as well as many populations from developed countries. Nevertheless, as these compounds may induce adverse health effects even at very low doses, our findings should be considered by local Public Health authorities in order to establish measures for diminishing the exposure of the population of these islands to PCBs.

Database of persistent organic pollutants in umbilical cord blood: Concentration of organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, BDEs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been banned over the last decades for being damaged to the environment and to the health of humans and animals. However, due to their lipophilic nature and resistance to degradation, they are frequently detected in biological samples. Its presence has been associated with the increased risk of suffering from different diseases in human series, being newborns and children especially sensitive. The present data reports umbilical cord blood levels of twenty organochlorine pesticides (aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT, endosulfan alfa, endosulfan beta, endosulfan sulphate, heptachlor, HCB, αHCH, ßHCH, δHCH, lindane, methoxychlor and mirex), eighteen polychlorinated biphenyls (congeners 28, 52, 77, 81, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 126, 138, 153, 156, 157, 167, 169, 180 and 189), eight bromodiphenyl ethers (congeners 28, 47, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183), and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (acenaphthalene, acenaphthene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, chrysene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, fluoranthene, fluorine, indene(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, naphthalene, phenanthrene and pyrene). A total of 447 samples, representing 86.6% of the total births during the recruited period (March 1, 2015, to April 30, 2016), were available for POP analyses. POPs were determined in a Gas Chromatography (GC) system equipped with an automated sampler (Models 7890B and 7693; Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA, USA) for gas chromatographic separations. The detection of the analytes was performed using a Triple Quad 7010 mass spectrometer (Agilent Technologies). All of the measurements were performed as triplicate measurements, and the means were used for the calculations. Data are reported in ng/mL. The present data also includes birth parameters, including weight, length, cranial perimeter, Apgar score and congenital malformations, and data referred to mothers (harmful habits, chronic diseases, and anthropometric/demographic characteristics).

Risk assessment of the exposure to mycotoxins in dogs and cats through the consumption of commercial dry food.

Dry feed for dogs and cats sold in Europe are mostly formulated with cereals and cereal by-products, so the contamination of this food with mycotoxins represents a potential risk for these pets. We analyzed a representation of the best-selling feed brands in Spain. The presence of Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, and G2), Ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone, and Fumonisins (B1 and B2) was quantified, using immunoaffinity columns and LC-MS/MS. In general, mycotoxins were frequently and simultaneously (6-11) detected, with AFB1, FB1, FB2, Deoxynivalenol, and HT-2 detected in 100% of the samples. However, the concentrations of most of them are among the lowest reported so far. Fumonisins were the exception since we report the highest concentrations to date, particularly in cat feed. We practically found no significant differences in the level of mycotoxin contamination in relation to the presumed quality of the feed. We also calculated the daily exposure, and evaluated the acute and chronic health risk posed by these feeds. None of the brands analyzed presented acute risk for any of the mycotoxins. However, the high levels of fumonisins found in some samples could become problematic, if there are hidden forms of them. This is also evident in relation to long-term risk, since in the case of fumonisins the level of exposure exceeds the tolerable daily intake level in 3.5 and 12 times, for dogs and cats respectively. The exposure levels to zearalenone and deoxynivalenol could also be of long-term concern, especially considering the possibility that the continuous exposure to several mycotoxins simultaneously might produce potentiated toxic effects as a result of their synergistic action. Further research on the potential adverse health effects deriving from chronic exposure to low doses of multi-mycotoxin mixtures in pets is needed.

Occurrence of 44 elements in human cord blood and their association with growth indicators in newborns.

There is growing concern about environmental pollution produced by elements, including "emerging" contaminants, such as rare earth elements (REE) and other trace elements (TE), which are extensively and increasingly employed in the manufacture of consumer electronics. Previous research has shown that prenatal exposure to some elements (mainly heavy metals) may be associated with decreased fetal growth and other adverse birth outcomes. Recent studies have also shown that environmental exposure to REE and TE may be related to adverse effects on human health. This cross-sectional study, which included nearly 92% of the births in 2016 in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain; n = 471), aimed to evaluate the potential adverse health effects exerted by a wide range of elements on newborns. We quantified the levels of 44 elements (including 26 REE and TE) in their umbilical cord blood. Our results showed low or very low levels of most elements. We found an inverse association between antimony (Sb) and birth weight (Spearman's r = -0.106, p = 0.021). A similar trend was observed between nickel (Ni) and birth weight and between chromium (Cr) and birth length, although in this case the significance was borderline. Bismuth appeared as a risk factor for having a birth weight below the tenth percentile in the univariate (OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.25-8.78; p = 0.017) and multivariate analyses (OR = 5.20; 95% CI = 1.29-20.91; p = 0.020). When assessing the effect of element mixtures, the sum of Cr, Ni, and Sb appeared as a risk factor for having a birth weight below the tenth percentile in the univariate (OR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.08-5.35; p = 0.031) and multivariate analyses (OR = 3.84; 95% CI = 1.42-10.39; p = 0.008). Our findings suggest that some inorganic elements-isolated or in mixture-are associated to a lower fetal growth. Additional research is needed to understand the role of inorganic pollutants on fetal development.

Pattern of blood concentrations of 47 elements in two populations from the same geographical area but with different geological origin and lifestyles: Canary Islands (Spain) vs. Morocco.

The Canary Islands are one of the outermost regions of the European Union (EU), which are located barely 100 km from the coasts of Morocco. Although these islands are located in Africa, the degree of socioeconomic development and lifestyle in this archipelago is comparable to that of any other region of Europe. It is well established that the main determinants of human exposure to elements have to do both, with their place of residence and with habits related to their lifestyle. For this reason, we wanted to study the pattern of contamination by elements of these two populations so geographically close, but so different both in their lifestyle, and the geological origin of the territory where they live. Thus, we have determined the blood concentrations of 47 elements (including 25 rare earth elements (REE) and other minority elements (ME) widely employed in the hi-tech industry) in a paired sample of Moroccans (n = 124) and Canary Islands inhabitants (n = 120). We found that the levels of iron, selenium, zinc, arsenic, cadmium, strontium, and specially lead, were significantly higher in Moroccans than in Canarians, probably due to the intensive mining activity in this country. We also found significantly higher levels of the sum of REE and ME in Moroccans than in Canarians, possibly related to the inappropriate management of e-waste in this country. On the other hand, in the inhabitants of the Canary Islands we found higher levels of manganese, probably related to a higher degree of exposure to heavy traffic and exposure to Saharan dust of the people living in this region, and niobium and bismuth, probably related to the higher economic development in these islands. Our results indicate that the vicinity of both territories is not a major determinant of each other's contamination.

Ethanol levels in legally autopsied subjects: Analytical approach and epidemiological relevance in a prospective study in the touristic region of the Canary Islands (Spain).

The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of alcohol in individuals (137) that were subjected to a mandatory medico-legal autopsy in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain) during 2015. Blood and vitreous humor samples (232) were analyzed by gas chromatography. 46.0% of the individuals were positive for alcohol, being half of them tourists. Blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) was higher in men over 60 years (p = 0.041). 10.2% of the series died in a traffic accident, and victims had the highest proportion of positives to alcohol (64.3%) and the highest BAC (2.56 g/L, p = 0.048). The BAC:VHAC (alcohol in vitreous humor) ratio was higher among victims of traffic crashes (p = 0.036), suggesting a short elapsed interval between the alcohol intake and the fatal accident. The results of this study indicate that ethanol is still heavily involved in non-natural deaths.

Consumption of organic meat does not diminish the carcinogenic potential associated with the intake of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Numerous studies have shown an epidemiological link between meat consumption and the incidence of cancer, and it has been suggested that this relationship may be motivated by the presence of carcinogenic contaminants on it. Among the most frequently detected contaminants in meat are several types of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and it is well known that many of them are carcinogenic. On the other hand, an increasing number of consumers choose to feed on what are perceived as healthier foods. Thus, the number of consumers of organic food is growing. However, environmental contamination by POPs is ubiquitous, and it is therefore unlikely that the practices of organic food production are able to prevent this contamination. To test this hypothesis, we acquired 76 samples of meat (beef, chicken, and lamb) of two modes of production (organic and conventional) and quantified their levels of 33 carcinogenic POPs. On this basis, we determined the human meat-related daily dietary exposure to these carcinogens using as a model a population with a high consumption of meat, such as the Spanish population. The maximum allowable meat consumption for this population and the carcinogenic risk quotients associated with the current pattern of consumption were calculated. As expected, no sample was completely free of carcinogenic contaminants, and the differences between organically and conventionally produced meats were minimal. According to these results, the current pattern of meat consumption exceeded the maximum limits, which are set according to the levels of contaminations, and this is associated with a relevant carcinogenic risk. Strikingly, the consumption of organically produced meat does not diminish this carcinogenic risk, but on the contrary, it seems to be even higher, especially that associated with lamb consumption.

Comparative study of the intake of toxic persistent and semi persistent pollutants through the consumption of fish and seafood from two modes of production (wild-caught and farmed).

Adverse effects of chemical contaminants associated with seafood counteract the undoubted benefits for the health of its valuable nutrients. So much so that many dietary guidelines recommend no more than one serving a week of fish and seafood. Although is estimated that aquaculture provides more than 50% of the fish and seafood consumed globally, few research studies have focused in the assessment of the intake of pollutants through aquaculture products. In this study we determined the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and toxic elements (Pb, Cd, Ni, Al, As, and Hg) in a large sample of farmed and wild-caught seafood, and we estimated the intake of these contaminants in two hypothetical models of consumers: those consuming only farmed fish, and those consuming only wild fish. Measured levels of most organic and many inorganic pollutants were higher in aquaculture products, and consequently intake levels if only such products were consumed would be also significantly higher. Thus, the intake of ∑PAHs in adults consuming aquaculture seafood would be 3.30ng/kg-bw/day, and consuming seafood from extractive fishing 2.41ng/kg-bw/day (p<0.05); ∑OCPs, 3.36 vs. 1.85ng/kg-bw/day, respectively (p<0.05); ∑PCBs, 2.35 vs. 2.11ng/kgbw/day, respectively; and the intake of Pb, Ni, As, and Al would be also significantly higher consuming farmed seafood. For children the estimations were very similar, but the difference of intake of PCBs reached statistical significance. The implementation of several decontamination practices in aquaculture would allow not only match the levels of pollution from wild-caught seafood, but also could provide products with much lower levels of pollutants than those, which in turn would allow to increase consumption over the "one serving per week", and so benefit the consumer of the enormous positive health effects of the valuable nutrients of seafood.

Blood levels of toxic metals and rare earth elements commonly found in e-waste may exert subtle effects on hemoglobin concentration in sub-Saharan immigrants.

Pollution by heavy metals and more recently by rare earth elements (REE) and other minor elements (ME) has increased due in part to their high use in technological and electronic devices. This contamination can become very relevant in those sites where e-waste is improperly processed, as it is the case in many countries of the African continent. Exposure to some toxic elements has been associated to certain hematological disorders, specifically anemia. In this study, the concentrations of 48 elements (including REE and other ME) were determined by ICP-MS in whole blood samples of sub-Saharan immigrants with anemia (n=63) and without anemia (n=78). We found that the levels of Fe, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Se were significantly higher in the control group than in the anemia group, suggesting that anemia was mainly due to nutritional deficiencies. However, since other authors have suggested that in addition to nutritional deficiency, exposure to some elements may influence hemoglobin levels, we wanted to explore the role of a broad panel of toxic and "emerging" elements in hemoglobin deficiency. We found that the levels of Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Ce, Eu, Er, Ga, La, Nb, Nd, Pb, Pr, Sm, Sn, Ta, Th, Tl, U and V were higher in anemic participants than in controls. For most of these elements an inverse correlation with hemoglobin concentration was found. Some of them also correlated inversely with blood iron levels, pointing to the possibility that a higher rate of intestinal uptake of these could exist in relation to a nutritional deficiency of iron. However, the higher levels of Pb, and the group of REE and other ME in anemic participants were independent of iron levels, pointing to the possibility that these elements could play a role in the development of anemia.

Simultaneous quantification of 49 elements associated to e-waste in human blood by ICP-MS for routine analysis.

Health risks concerns related to e-waste contamination are increasing all over the world, and especially in developing countries. We have developed an easy, quick, and robust method for the quantification of 49 elements associated to electronic consumer products and their e-wastes in human blood. An aliquot of blood (130 µL) is simply diluted using an alkaline solution, and the elements are simultaneously quantified at the picogram-per-milliliter level without the need of clean-up steps. The accuracy, precision, linearity and limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method were assessed. Recovery values at concentration levels between 0.010 and 5 ng mL-1 were studied. A range of 89-118% and a range of 87-128% for REE and toxic heavy elements was found respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD) calculated were lower than 8% for the most elements. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were found to be lower than 0.04 ng mL-1 for toxic heavy elements and 0.06 ng mL-1 for the REE with some few exceptions in both cases. The validity of the proposed methodology was assessed by analyzing a certified human blood reference material with known concentrations of several elements. The proposed method is suitable for routine use in biomonitoring studies.

Study of the influencing factors of the blood levels of toxic elements in Africans from 16 countries.

Africa's economy is growing faster than any other continent and it has been estimated that the middle class in Africa now exceeds 350 million people. This has meant a parallel increase in the importation of consumer goods and in the implementation of communication and information technologies (ICT), but also in the generation of large quantities of e-waste. However, inadequate infrastructure development remains a major constraint to the continent's economic growth and these highly toxic residues are not always adequately managed. Few studies have been conducted to date assessing the possible association between socioeconomic development factors, including e-waste generation, and blood levels of inorganic elements in African population. To disclose the role of geographical, anthropogenic, and socioeconomic development determinants on the blood levels of Ag, Al, As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, and V -all of them frequently found in e-waste-, an immigrant population-based study was made including a total of 245 subjects from 16 countries recently arrived to the Canary Islands (Spain). Women presented higher levels of blood elements than men, and Northern Africans (Moroccans) were the most contaminated. People from low-income countries exhibited significantly lower blood levels of inorganic elements than those from middle-income countries. We found a significant association between the use of motor vehicles and the implementation of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the level of contamination. Immigrants from the countries with a high volume of imports of second-hand electronic equipment, telephone and internet use had higher levels of inorganic elements. In general terms, the higher level of economic development the higher the blood levels of inorganic pollutants, suggesting that the economic development of Africa, in parallel to e-waste generation and the existence of informal recycling sites, have directly affected the level of contamination of the population of the continent.

The heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) seems to be able to metabolize organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls: A case-control study in dogs.

It has been described that the co-existence of parasite infection and chemical exposure has various effects on the accumulation of persistent organochlorine pollutants (POPs) in the host. Certain parasites are not only able to accumulate POPs but also seem to have the ability to metabolize certain compounds. We have designed a case-control study aimed to disclose the role of Dirofilaria immitis in the bioavailability of POPs in dogs trying to know whether these parasites store or metabolize the POPs. A total of 40 common POPs (18 polychlorinated biphenyls congeners (PCBs) and 22 organochlorine pesticides were quantified in dog serum. The study included three groups of dogs prospectively recruited in the island of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain): a) control animals, non-parasitized (serologically tested negative, n=24); b) a group constituted by dogs tested positive for heartworm disease (D. immitis) and negative for other parasites (n=25); and c) the same group of parasitized dogs after the treatment against the parasite (n=25). The presence of D. immitis was strongly associated with lower serum levels of a wide range of pollutant in their hosts (PCB congeners 28, 105, 118, 123, 138, 153, 167 and 180; hexachlorobenzene, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, and methoxychlor). The serum levels of these substances remained at very low levels after the treatment against the parasite, suggesting that D. immitis do not simply store such compounds, but they probably have some ability to metabolize these pollutants. We encourage the use of the parasite infestation status as a cofactor that needs to be taken into account in studies aimed to evaluate the serum levels of POPs.