Silicone Wristbands as a Personal Passive Sampler to Evaluate Indoor Exposure to Volatile and Non-volatile PFASs.

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) primarily occurs via consumption of contaminated drinking water and food; however, individuals can also be exposed dermally and via inhalation indoors. This study developed an analytical method for measuring volatile PFASs in silicone wristbands and used them to assess personal exposure in a Midwestern community (n = 87). Paired samples of blood and wristbands were analyzed for PFASs using LC-MS/MS and GC-HRMS to monitor both non-volatile and volatile PFASs. The most frequently detected PFASs in wristbands were: 6:2 diPAP, 6:2 FTOH, MeFOSE and EtFOSE. Females had a 4-fold higher exposure to 6:2 diPAP compared to males and age-dependent differences in exposure to 6:2 FTOH, MeFOSE and EtFOSE were observed. Exposure to MeFOSE and EtFOSE differed based on the average time spent in the home. Frequently detected PFASs in blood were: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpS, and N-MeFOSAA. A strong correlation was found between MeFOSE in the wristbands and N-MeFOSAA in serum (rs = 0.90, p-value <0.001), suggesting exposure to this PFAS was primarily via inhalation and dermal exposure. These results demonstrate that wristbands can provide individual level data on exposure to some polyfluoroalkyl precursors present indoors that reflect serum levels of their suspected biotransformation products.

Flame Retardant Exposure in Vehicles Is Influenced by Use in Seat Foam and Temperature.

Flame retardants (FRs) are added to vehicles to meet flammability standards, such as US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 302. However, an understanding of which FRs are being used, sources in the vehicle, and implications for human exposure is lacking. US participants (n = 101) owning a vehicle of model year 2015 or newer hung a silicone passive sampler on their rearview mirror for 7 days. Fifty-one of 101 participants collected a foam sample from a vehicle seat. Organophosphate esters (OPEs) were the most frequently detected FR class in the passive samplers. Among these, tris(1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) had a 99% detection frequency and was measured at levels ranging from 0.2 to 11,600 ng/g of sampler. TCIPP was also the dominant FR detected in the vehicle seat foam. Sampler FR concentrations were significantly correlated with average ambient temperature and were 2-5 times higher in the summer compared to winter. The presence of TCIPP in foam resulted in ∼4 times higher median air sampler concentrations in winter and ∼9 times higher in summer. These results suggest that FRs used in vehicle interiors, such as in seat foam, are a source of OPE exposure, which is increased in warmer temperatures.

Wristband Personal Passive Samplers and Suspect Screening Methods Highlight Gender Disparities in Chemical Exposures.

Wristband personal samplers enable human exposure assessments for a diverse range of chemical contaminants and exposure settings with a previously unattainable scale and cost-effectiveness. Paired with nontargeted analyses, wristbands can provide important exposure monitoring data to expand our understanding of the environmental exposome. Here, a custom scripted suspect screening workflow was developed in the R programming language for feature selection and chemical annotations using gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry data acquired from the analysis of wristband samples collected from five different cohorts. The workflow includes blank subtraction, internal standard normalization, prediction of chemical uses in products, and feature annotation using multiple library search metrics and metadata from PubChem, among other functionalities. The workflow was developed and validated against 104 analytes identified by targeted analytical results in previously published reports of wristbands. A true positive rate of 62 and 48% in a quality control matrix and wristband samples, respectively, was observed for our optimum set of parameters. Feature analysis identified 458 features that were significantly higher on female-worn wristbands and only 21 features that were significantly higher on male-worn wristbands across all cohorts. Tentative identifications suggest that personal care products are a primary driver of the differences observed.

Silicone wristbands reveal ubiquitous human exposure to ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers in Southern California.

In the United States and abroad, ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers continue to be used within a diverse array of consumer products. Prior California-specific biomonitoring programs for ortho-phthalates have focused on rural, agricultural communities and, to our knowledge, these programs have not measured the potential for exposure to non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers. Therefore, the potential for human exposure to ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers have not been adequately addressed in regions of California that have higher population density. Since there are numerous sources of ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers in population-dense, urban regions, the objective of this study was to leverage silicone wristbands to quantify aggregate ortho-phthalate and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer exposure over a 5-day period across two different cohorts (2019 and 2020) of undergraduate students at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) that commute from all over Southern California. Based on 5 d of aggregate exposure across two different cohorts, total ortho-phthalate plus non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer concentrations ranged, on average, from ∼100,000-1,000,000 ng/g. Based on the distribution of individual ortho-phthalate and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer concentrations, the concentrations of di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP, a high molecular weight ortho-phthalate), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, a high molecular weight ortho-phthalate), and di-2-ethylhexyl terephthalate (DEHT, a non-ortho-phthalate plasticizer) detected within wristbands were higher than the remaining seven ortho-phthalates and non-ortho-phthalate plasticizers measured, accounting for approximately 94-97% of the total mass depending on the cohort. Overall, our findings raise concerns about chronic DiNP, DEHP, and DEHT exposure in urban, population-dense regions throughout California.

Children's exposure to chemical contaminants: Demographic disparities and associations with the developing basal ganglia.

Children are regularly exposed to chemical contaminants that may influence brain development. However, relatively little is known about how these contaminants impact the developing human brain. Here, we combined silicone wristband exposure assessments with neuroimaging for the first time to examine how chemical contaminant mixtures are associated with the developing basal ganglia-a brain region key for the healthy development of emotion, reward, and motor processing, and which may be particularly susceptible to contaminant harm. Further, we examined demographic disparities in exposures to clarify which children were at highest risk for any contaminant-associated neurobiological changes. Participants included 62 community children (average age 7.00 years, 53% female, 66% White) who underwent structural neuroimaging to provide data on their basal ganglia structure and wore a silicone wristband for seven days to track their chemical contaminant exposure. 45 chemical contaminants-including phthalates and their alternatives, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate esters, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls-were detected in over 75% of wristbands. Notable demographic disparities in exposure were present, such that Non-White and lower-income children were more exposed to several contaminants. Exposure to chemical contaminant mixtures was not associated with overall basal ganglia volume; however, two organophosphate esters (2IPPDPP and 4IPPDPP) were both associated with a larger globus pallidus, a basal ganglia sub-region. Results highlight demographic disparities in exposure and suggest possible risks to a brain region key for healthy emotional development.

Associations of environmental chemical exposures measured in personal silicone wristbands with sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 restrictions, and child respiratory health.

BACKGROUND: Although human biomonitoring of environmental chemicals has been considered a gold standard, these methods can be costly, burdensome, and prone to unwanted sources of variability that may cause confounding. Silicone wristbands have recently emerged as innovative passive samplers for measuring personal exposures. METHODS: In a pilot study from 2019 to 2021 involving 55 children aged 5-9 years in Seattle and Yakima, Washington, we utilized silicone wristbands to explore associations of sociodemographic variables and COVID-19-related restrictions, including school closures, with exposures to numerous chemicals including brominated and organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and pesticides. We additionally conducted the first analysis testing silicone wristband chemicals as predictors of child wheeze, individually and in mixtures via logistic weighted quantile sum regression (WQS). RESULTS: Among 109 semi-volatile organic compounds measured, we detected 40 in >60% of wristbands worn by children continuously for an average of 5 days. Chemicals were generally positively correlated, especially within the same class. Male sex and increasing age were linked with higher exposures across several chemical classes; Hispanic/Latino ethnicity was linked with higher exposures to some phthalates and OPEs. COVID-19 restrictions were associated with lower wristband concentrations of brominated and triaryl OPE flame retardants. Each one-decile higher WQS exposure index was suggestively associated with 2.11-fold [95% CI: 0.93-4.80] higher odds of child wheeze. Risk of child wheeze was higher per 10-fold increase in the PAH chrysene (RR = 1.93[1.07-3.49]), the pesticide cis-permethrin (3.31[1.23-8.91]), and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) (5.40[1.22-24.0]) CONCLUSIONS: Our identification of demographic factors including sex, age, and ethnicity associated with chemical exposures may aid efforts to mitigate exposure disparities. Lower exposures to flame retardants during pandemic restrictions corroborates prior evidence of higher levels of these chemicals in school versus home environments. Future research in larger cohorts is needed to validate these findings.

Self-Collection Blood Test for PFASs: Comparing Volumetric Microsamplers with a Traditional Serum Approach.

A remote sampling approach was developed at Eurofins for quantifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in whole blood samples collected using volumetric absorptive microsamplers (VAMSs), which allow for self-collection of blood using a finger prick. This study compares PFAS exposure measured by self-collection of blood using VAMSs to the standard venous serum approach. Blood samples were collected from participants (n = 53) in a community with prior PFAS drinking water contamination using a venous blood draw as well as participant self-collection using VAMSs. Whole blood from the venous tubes was also loaded onto VAMSs to compare differences in capillary vs venous whole blood PFAS levels. Samples were quantified for PFASs using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and online solid-phase extraction. PFAS levels in serum were highly correlated with measurements in capillary VAMSs (r ≥ 0.91 and p < 0.05). Serum PFAS levels were generally twofold higher than whole blood, reflecting expected differences in their composition. Of interest, FOSA was detected in whole blood (both venous and capillary VAMSs) but not in serum. Overall, these findings indicate that VAMSs are useful self-collection tools for assessing elevated human exposure to PFASs.

Comparative Assessment of Pesticide Exposures in Domestic Dogs and Their Owners Using Silicone Passive Samplers and Biomonitoring.

Pesticides are used extensively in residential settings for lawn maintenance and in homes to control household pests including application directly on pets to deter fleas and ticks. Pesticides are commonly detected in the home environment where people and pets can be subject to chronic exposure. Due to increased interest in using companion animals as sentinels for human environmental health studies, we conducted a comparative pesticide exposure assessment in 30 people and their pet dogs to determine how well silicone wristbands and silicone dog tags can predict urinary pesticide biomarkers of exposure. Using targeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses, we quantified eight pesticides in silicone samplers and used a suspect screening approach for additional pesticides. Urine samples were analyzed for 15 pesticide metabolite biomarkers. Several pesticides were detected in >70% of silicone samplers including permethrin, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), and chlorpyrifos. Significant and positive correlations were observed between silicone sampler levels of permethrin and DEET with their corresponding urinary metabolites (rs = 0.50-0.96, p < 0.05) in both species. Significantly higher levels of fipronil were observed in silicone samplers from participants who reported using flea and tick products containing fipronil on their dog. This study suggests that people and their dogs have similar pesticide exposures in a home environment.

Characterization of Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances Present in Commercial Anti-fog Products and Their In Vitro Adipogenic Activity.

Anti-fog sprays and solutions are used on eyeglasses to minimize the condensation of water vapor, particularly while wearing a mask. Given their water-repellent properties, we sought to characterize per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) compounds in four anti-fog spray products, five anti-fog cloth products, and two commercial fluorosurfactant formulations suspected to be used in preparing anti-fog products. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and fluorotelomer ethoxylates (FTEOs) were detected in all products and formulations. While 6:2 FTOH and the 6:2 FTEO polymeric series were predominant, one anti-fog cloth and one formulation contained 8:2, 10:2, 12:2, 14:2, and 16:2 FTOH and FTEO polymeric series. PFAS concentrations varied in samples and were detected at levels up to 25,000 µg/mL in anti-fog sprays and 185,000 µg (g cloth)-1 in anti-fog cloth products. The total organic fluorine (TOF) measurements of anti-fog products ranged from 190 to 20,700 µg/mL in sprays and 44,200 to 131,500 µg (g cloth)-1 in cloths. Quantified FTOHs and FTEOs accounted for 1-99% of TOF mass. In addition, all four anti-fog sprays and both commercial formulations exhibited significant cytotoxicity and adipogenic activity (either triglyceride accumulation and/or pre-adipocyte proliferation) in murine 3T3-L1 cells. Results suggest that FTEOs are a significant contributor to the adipogenic activity exhibited by the anti-fog sprays. Altogether, these results suggest that FTEOs are present in commercial products at toxicologically relevant levels, and more research is needed to fully understand the health risks from using these PFAS-containing products.

Partial dust removal in vehicles does not mitigate human exposure to organophosphate esters.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been detected within car interior dust, suggesting that the indoor microenvironment of vehicles may represent a potential route of human exposure to OPEs. We recently showed that people with longer commutes are exposed to higher concentrations of tris(1,3-dichloro-2-isopropyl)phosphate (TDCIPP) - a widely used OPE - and other studies have suggested that dust removal may lead to lower exposure to chemicals. Therefore, the overall objective of this study was to determine if a decrease in interior car dust results in mitigation of personal OPE exposure. Participants (N = 49) were asked to wear silicone wristbands, and a subset of them wiped interior parts at the front of their vehicles prior to one study week (N = 25) or both study weeks (N = 11). There were no significant differences in total OPE concentrations (77.79-13,660 ng/g) nor individual OPE concentrations (0.04-4852.81 ng/g) across the different wiping groups nor in relation to participant residence ZIP codes and AC/Heater usage. These findings suggest that higher exposure to TDCIPP for participants with longer commutes may be independent of dust located on interior parts at the front of the vehicle. Therefore, our study demonstrates that there is a need for research on the potential contribution of other sources of TDCIPP exposure within car interiors.

Persistent autism-relevant behavioral phenotype and social neuropeptide alterations in female mice offspring induced by maternal transfer of PBDE congeners in the commercial mixture DE-71.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that are known neuroendocrine disrupting chemicals with adverse neurodevelopmental effects. PBDEs may act as risk factors for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), characterized by abnormal psychosocial functioning, although direct evidence is currently lacking. Using a translational exposure model, we tested the hypothesis that maternal transfer of a commercial mixture of PBDEs, DE-71, produces ASD-relevant behavioral and neurochemical deficits in female offspring. C57Bl6/N mouse dams (F0) were exposed to DE-71 via oral administration of 0 (VEH/CON), 0.1 (L-DE-71) or 0.4 (H-DE-71) mg/kg bw/d from 3 wk prior to gestation through end of lactation. Mass spectrometry analysis indicated in utero and lactational transfer of PBDEs (in ppb) to F1 female offspring brain tissue at postnatal day (PND) 15 which was reduced by PND 110. Neurobehavioral testing of social novelty preference (SNP) and social recognition memory (SRM) revealed that adult L-DE-71 F1 offspring display deficient short- and long-term SRM, in the absence of reduced sociability, and increased repetitive behavior. These effects were concomitant with reduced olfactory discrimination of social odors. Additionally, L-DE-71 exposure also altered short-term novel object recognition memory but not anxiety or depressive-like behavior. Moreover, F1 L-DE-71 displayed downregulated mRNA transcripts for oxytocin (Oxt) in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and supraoptic nucleus, and vasopressin (Avp) in the BNST and upregulated Avp1ar in BNST, and Oxtr in the paraventricular nucleus. Our work demonstrates that developmental PBDE exposure produces ASD-relevant neurochemical, olfactory processing and behavioral phenotypes that may result from early neurodevelopmental reprogramming within central social and memory networks.

Evaluation and Integration of Geochemical Indicators for Detecting Trace Levels of Coal Fly Ash in Soils.

Coal combustion residuals (CCRs), in particular, coal fly ash, are one of the major industrial solid wastes in the U.S., and due to their high concentrations of toxic elements, they could pose environmental and human health risks. Yet detecting coal fly ash in the environment is challenging given its small particle size. Here, we explore the utility and sensitivity of using geochemical indicators (trace elements, Ra nuclides, and Pb stable isotopes), combined with physical observation by optical point counting, for detecting the presence of trace levels of coal fly ash particles in surface soils near two coal-fired power plants in North Carolina and Tennessee. Through experimental work, mixing models, and field data, we show that trace elements can serve as a first-order detection tool for fly ash presence in surface soils; however, the accuracy and sensitivity of detection is limited for cases with low fly ash proportion (i.e., <10%) in the soil, which requires the integration of more robust Ra and Pb isotopic tracers. This study revealed the presence of fly ash particles in surface soils from both the recreational and residential areas, which suggests the fugitive emission of fly ash from the nearby coal-fired power plants.

Reproductive outcomes associated with flame retardants among couples seeking fertility treatment: A paternal perspective.

BACKGROUND: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been phased out of production for nearly a decade yet are still frequently detected in serum of U.S. adults. PBDE concentrations have been associated with adverse reproductive outcomes and laboratory studies suggest hydroxylated-BDEs (OH-BDEs) may act as endocrine disruptors. We set out to assess the joint effects of paternal and maternal serum PBDE concentrations on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes and the association between paternal serum OH-BDE concentrations and IVF outcomes. METHODS: This analysis included 189 couples (contributing 285 IVF cycles) recruited between 2006 and 2016 from a longitudinal cohort based at Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center who completed at least one IVF cycle and had an available blood sample at study entry. Congeners (47, 99, 100, 153, and 154) and OH-BDEs (3-OH-BDE47, 5-OH-BDE47, 6-OH-BDE47 and 4-OH-BDE49) were quantified in serum. Log-transformed PBDEs and OH-BDEs were modeled in quartiles for associations with IVF outcomes using multivariable generalized mixed models and cluster weighted generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Lipid-adjusted concentrations of PBDEs and OH-BDEs were higher in females than in male partners. There were no clear patterns of increases in risk of adverse IVF outcomes associated with PBDEs and OH-BDEs. However, some decreases in associations with IVF outcomes were observed in isolated quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: Our assessment of couple level exposure is unique and highlights the importance of including male and female exposures in the assessment of the influence of environmental toxicants on pregnancy outcomes.

Exploring reproductive associations of serum polybrominated diphenyl ether and hydroxylated brominated diphenyl ether concentrations among women undergoing in vitro fertilization.

STUDY QUESTION: Are serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hydroxylated brominated diphenyl ethers (OH-BDEs) associated with IVF endpoints? SUMMARY ANSWER: Positive associations were observed for BDE153 and several OH-BDEs with IVF endpoints. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: PBDEs have been voluntarily phased out of production in the USA and EU due to their persistence and toxicity to humans and ecosystems. PBDEs have been associated with implantation failure among women undergoing IVF, yet some animal studies suggest greater toxicity from their metabolites, OH-BDEs. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: We evaluated a subset of 215 women (contributing 330 IVF cycles) enrolled between 2005 and 2016 in a longitudinal cohort based at Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The following PBDEs were quantified: 47, 99, 100, 153 and 154 and the following OH-BDEs: 3-OH-BDE47, 5-OH-BDE47, 6-OH-BDE47 and 4-OH-BDE49. Clinical endpoints of IVF treatments were abstracted from electronic medical records. Associations of log-transformed PBDEs and OH-BDEs with IVF outcomes were assessed using multivariable generalized mixed models and cluster weighted generalized estimating equation models adjusted for lipids, age, BMI, race, year of sample collection, IVF protocol and FSH levels. Outcomes were adjusted to represent a percent change in outcome with an increase equal to the magnitude of the difference between the 75th and 25th percentiles for each specific compound (interquartile range (IQR) increase). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Detection frequencies were highest for congeners 47 and 153 (82% ≥ method detection limit (MDL)) and metabolites 3 and 5-OH-BDE47 and 4-OH-BDE49 (92% > MDL). PBDE and OH-BDE geometric mean concentrations declined by up to 80% between participants recruited in 2005 and those recruited in 2016. An IQR increase of BDE153 was associated with an increase in the probability of implantation (relative risk (RR) = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.36), clinical pregnancy (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.46) and live birth (RR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.54). An IQR increase in 3 and 5-OH-BDE47 was associated with increased probabilities of implantation (RR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.11, 2.09), clinical pregnancy (RR = 1.66; 95% CI: 1.17, 2.36), and live birth (RR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.40). When models were stratified by race (White (86%)/Other race (14%)), associations remained positive for White women, yet inverse associations were observed for Other race women. An IQR increase in BDE47 was associated with a 46% decreased probability of clinical pregnancy (95% CI: 0.31, 0.95) for Other race women. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: Despite the long half-lives of PBDEs and OH-BDEs, exposure misclassification is possible for women who underwent multiple treatment cycles over several months or years. It is also possible another medium, such as follicular fluid would be optimal to characterize exposure. We also tested associations for multiple congeners and metabolites with multiple outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Detections of serum concentrations of PBDEs and OH-BDEs were highest in the early years of the study and suggests that the phase-out of these compounds has contributed to a decrease in exposure. The negative associations found for PBDEs and IVF outcomes among other race women suggests the potential for racial disparity. Potential racial disparities in PBDE exposure and exploration of alternative flame retardants with reproductive health outcomes should be the focus of future investigations. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): Funding for this research was supported by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) [R01 ES009718, ES022955, ES000002 and 009718T32ES007069]. The authors have no conflicts of interest.

In Vitro Metabolism of Isopropylated and tert-Butylated Triarylphosphate Esters Using Human Liver Subcellular Fractions.

Isopropylated and tert-butylated triarylphosphate esters (ITPs and TBPPs, respectively) are plasticizers and flame retardants that are ubiquitous in indoor environments; however, no studies to date have characterized their metabolism. Using human liver subcellular S9 fractions, phase I and II in vitro metabolism of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), 4-tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (4tBPDPP), 2-isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (2IPPDPP), and 4-isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (4IPPDPP) was investigated at 1 and 10 µM doses. Parent depletion and the formation of known or suspected metabolites (e.g., likely hydrolysis or hydroxylated products), including diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), hydroxyl-triphenyl phosphate (OH-TPHP), isopropylphenyl phenyl phosphate (ip-PPP), and tert-butylphenyl phenyl phosphate (tb-PPP), were monitored and quantified via GC/MS or LC-MS/MS. tb-PPP and its conjugates were identified as the major in vitro metabolites of 4tBPDPP and accounted for 71% and 49%, respectively, of the parent molecule that was metabolized during the incubation. While the mass balance between parents and metabolites was conserved for TPHP and 4tBPDPP, approximately 20% of the initial parent mass was unaccounted for after quantifying suspected metabolites of 2IPPDPP and 4IPPDPP that had authentic standards available. Two novel ITP metabolites, mono-isopropenylphenyl diphenyl phosphate and hydroxy-isopropylphenyl diphenyl phosphate, were tentatively identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and screened for in recently collected human urine where mono-isopropenylphenyl diphenyl phosphate was detected in one of nine samples analyzed. This study provides insight into the biological fate of ITP and TBPP isomers in human tissues and is useful in identifying appropriate biomarkers of exposure to monitor, particularly in support of epidemiological studies.

Perinatal exposure to FireMaster® 550 (FM550), brominated or organophosphate flame retardants produces sex and compound specific effects on adult Wistar rat socioemotional behavior.

Firemaster 550 (FM550) is a flame retardant (FR) mixture that has become one of the most commonly used FRs in household items such as foam-based furniture and baby products. Because this mixture readily leaches from products, contamination of the environment and human tissues is widespread. Prior work by us and others has reported sex-specific behavioral deficits in rodents and zebrafish following early life exposure. In an effort to understand the mechanisms by which these behavioral effects occur, here we explored the effects of its constituents on behavioral outcomes previously shown to be altered by developmental FM550 exposure. The FM550 commercial mixture is composed of two brominated compounds (BFR) and two organophosphate compounds (OPFRs) at almost equivalent proportions. Both the BFR and the OPFR components are differentially metabolized and structurally distinct, but similar to known neurotoxicants. Here we examined adult Wistar rat offspring socioemotional behaviors following perinatal exposure (oral, to the dam) to vehicle, 2000 µg/day FM550, 1000 µg/day BFR or 1000 µg/day OPFR from gestation day 0 to weaning. Beginning on postnatal day 65 offspring from all groups were subjected to a series of behavioral tasks including open field, elevated plus maze, marble burying, social interaction tests, and running wheel. Effects were exposure-, sex- and task-specific, with BFR exposure resulting in the most consistent behavioral deficits. Overall, exposed females showed more deficits compared to males across all dose groups and tasks. These findings help elucidate how different classes of flame retardants, independently and as a mixture, contribute to sex-specific behavioral effects of exposure.

Comparing the Use of Silicone Wristbands, Hand Wipes, And Dust to Evaluate Children's Exposure to Flame Retardants and Plasticizers.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are applied as additive flame retardants, and along with phthalates, are also used as plasticizers in consumer products. As such, human exposure is common and chronic. Deployed as personal passive samplers, silicone wristbands have been shown to detect over a thousand industrial and consumer product chemicals; however, few studies have evaluated chemical concentrations with their corresponding biomarkers of exposure, especially in children. Further, little is known about how well the wristbands predict individual exposure compared to existing validated external exposure tools such as indoor air, dust, and hand wipes. Here, we analyzed wristbands worn by children (ages 3-6) for 18 OPEs and 10 phthalates and compared them to corresponding urinary biomarkers. In wristbands, 13 of 18 OPEs and all phthalates were detected in >80% of wristbands, and 6 OPEs and 4 phthalates were significantly associated with corresponding urinary metabolites (rs = 0.2-0.6, p < 0.05). When compared to paired hand wipes and house dust, wristbands were found to have similar or greater correlation coefficients with respective urinary biomarkers. These results suggest that wristbands can serve as effective and quantitative assessment tools for evaluating personal exposure to some OPEs and phthalates, and for certain chemicals, may provide a better exposure estimate than indoor dust.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Dust Collected from Residential Homes and Fire Stations in North America.

Over the past few years, human exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has garnered increased attention. Research has focused on PFAS exposure via drinking water and diet, and fewer studies have focused on exposure in the indoor environment. To support more research on the latter exposure pathway, we conducted a study to evaluate PFAS in indoor dust. Dust samples from 184 homes in North Carolina and 49 fire stations across the United States and Canada were collected and analyzed for a suite of PFAS using liquid and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and di-polyfluoroalkyl phosphoric acid esters (diPAPs) were the most prevalent PFAS in both fire station and house dust samples, with medians of approximately 100 ng/g dust or greater. Notably, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate, perfluorononanoic acid, and 6:2 diPAP were significantly higher in dust from fire stations than from homes, and 8:2 FTOH was significantly higher in homes than in fire stations. Additionally, when comparing our results to earlier published values, we see that perfluoroalkyl acid levels in residential dust appear to decrease over time, particularly for PFOA and PFOS. These results highlight a need to better understand what factors contribute to PFAS levels in dust and to understand how much dust contributes to overall human PFAS exposure.

Comparative Exposure Assessment Using Silicone Passive Samplers Indicates That Domestic Dogs Are Sentinels To Support Human Health Research.

Silicone wristbands are promising passive samplers to support epidemiological studies in characterizing exposure to organic contaminants; however, investigating associated health risks remains challenging because of the latency period for many chronic diseases that take years to manifest. Dogs provide valuable insights as sentinels for exposure-related human disease because they share similar exposures in the home, have shorter life spans, share many clinical/biological features, and have closely related genomes. Here, we evaluated exposures among pet dogs and their owners using silicone dog tags and wristbands to determine if contaminant levels were correlated with validated exposure biomarkers. Significant correlations between measures on dog tags and wristbands were observed (rs = 0.38-0.90; p < 0.05). Correlations with their respective urinary biomarkers were stronger in dog tags compared to that in human wristbands (rs = 0.50-0.71; p < 0.01) for several organophosphate esters. This supports the value of using silicone bands with dogs to investigate health impacts on humans from shared exposures.

Thyroid Receptor Antagonism of Chemicals Extracted from Personal Silicone Wristbands within a Papillary Thyroid Cancer Pilot Study.

Research suggests that thyroid cancer incidence rates are increasing, and environmental exposures have been postulated to be playing a role. To explore this possibility, we conducted a pilot study to investigate the thyroid disrupting bioactivity of chemical mixtures isolated from personal silicone wristband samplers within a thyroid cancer cohort. Specifically, we evaluated TRß antagonism of chemical mixtures extracted from wristbands (n = 72) worn by adults in central North Carolina participating in a case-control study on papillary thyroid cancer. Sections of wristbands were solvent-extracted and analyzed via mass spectrometry to quantify a suite of semivolatile chemicals. A second extract from each wristband was used in a bioassay to quantify TRß antagonism in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293/17) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10% of the original extract (by volume). Approximately 70% of the sample extracts tested at a 1% extract concentration exhibited significant TRß antagonism, with a mean of 30% and a range of 0-100%. Inhibited cell viability was noted in >20% of samples that were tested at 5 and 10% concentrations. Antagonism was positively associated with wristband concentrations of several phthalates, organophosphate esters, and brominated flame retardants. These results suggest that personal passive samplers may be useful in evaluating the bioactivities of mixtures that people contact on a daily basis. We also report tentative associations between thyroid receptor antagonism, chemical concentrations, and papillary thyroid cancer case status. Future research utilizing larger sample sizes, prospective data collection, and measurement of serum thyroid hormone levels (which were not possible in this study) should be utilized to more comprehensively evaluate these associations.