Parabens and bisphenol A and its structural analogues in over-the-counter medicines from China.

Pharmaceuticals, such as over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, may be an important source of human exposure to several endocrine disruptors, though unnoticed to date. In the present study, we investigated the presence of six parabens and nine bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues in OTC medicines manufactured in China. Parabens and bisphenols were present in more than 90% of the samples. The total measured concentrations of parabens and bisphenols were in the range of non-detectable (ND) to 213 ng/g and ND to 415 ng/g, respectively. Regarding parabens, methyl paraben (MeP) was the predominant analog, accounting for 43 ± 36% of the total amount, followed by ethyl paraben (EtP) (39 ± 35%), and others (< 10%). Bisphenol F and BPA were the predominant bisphenols, accounting for 24 ± 28% and 22 ± 26% of the total amount, respectively. The median values of estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of parabens and bisphenols were the highest for infants (2.96 and 3.14 ng/kg_bw/day, respectively) and the lowest for adults (0.69 and 0.25 ng/kg_bw/day, respectively); moreover, the EDIs of parabens and bisphenols were higher in Chinese patent medicines than in western pediatric medicines. The hazard quotient (HQ) for sum of MeP and EtP (∑(MeP + EtP)) and BPA in three age groups were within the safe zone (HQ < 0.0004). Monte Carlo simulation was applied to predict the human exposure risk of parabens and bisphenols. The predicted ranges of EDIs of parabens and bisphenols were much wider, and the extreme predicted values were observed in all four age groups, which were higher than the acceptable daily intake. The extreme predicted values of ∑(MeP + EtP) and BPA were indicative of carcinogenic risk in toddlers. These results implied potential risks for the Chinese people existed. Considering the huge export of Chinese traditional medicines and western medicines worldwide, and easy access to OTC medicines for the general population, the presence of parabens, bisphenols, and other environmental contaminants in medicines still need to be monitored.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and DNA methylation in newborn dried blood spots in the Upstate KIDS cohort.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are persistent organic pollutants which may alter prenatal development, potentially through epigenetic modifications. Prior studies examining PFOS/PFOA and DNA methylation have relatively few subjects (n < 200) and inconsistent results. We examined relations of PFOA/PFOS with DNA methylation among 597 neonates in the Upstate KIDS cohort study. PFOA/PFOS were quantified in newborn dried blood spots (DBS) using high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. DNA methylation was measured using the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip with DNA extracted from DBS. Robust linear regression was used to examine the associations of PFOA/PFOS with DNA methylation at individual CpG sites. Covariates included sample plate, estimated cell type, epigenetically derived ancestry, infant sex and plurality, indicators of maternal socioeconomic status, and prior pregnancy loss. In supplemental analysis, we restricted the analysis to 2242 CpG sites previously identified as Correlated Regions of Systemic Interindividual Variation (CoRSIVs) which include metastable epialleles. At FDR<0.05, PFOA concentration >90th percentile was related to DNA methylation at cg15557840, near SCRT2, SRXN1; PFOS>90th percentile was related to 2 CpG sites in a sex-specific manner (cg19039925 in GVIN1 in boys and cg05754408 in ZNF26 in girls). When analysis was restricted to CoRSIVs, log-scaled, continuous PFOS concentration was related to DNA methylation at cg03278866 within PTBP1. In conclusion, there was limited evidence of an association between high concentrations of PFOA/PFOS and DNA methylation in newborn DBS in the Upstate KIDS cohort. These findings merit replication in populations with a higher median concentration of PFOA/PFOS.

Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Birth Characteristics: The Upstate KIDS Study.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) may be associated with obesogenic effects in offspring. Our study is the first to investigate associations between concentrations of POPs from newborn dried blood spots (DBS) and birth characteristics. METHODS: Concentrations of 10 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ether-47 (PBDE-47), and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were measured from DBSs collected at birth from 2,065 singleton infants. DBS samples were pooled in groups of five and assayed together to reach limits of detection. Differences in risk of large for gestational age (LGA, defined as >90th percentile of birth weight for sex and gestational age), small for gestational age (SGA, <10th), and preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks) were estimated using logistic regression per unit (ng/ml) increase in concentration of each chemical, adjusting for individual-level covariates, including maternal age, race/ethnicity, prepregnancy BMI, education, parity, smoking, and infant sex while assuming a gamma distribution and using multiple imputation to account for pools. RESULTS: There were 215 (11.3%) singletons born LGA, 158 (7.5%) born SGA, and 157 (7.6%) born preterm. Higher concentrations of POPs were positively associated with slightly higher risk of LGA and higher birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Relationships between POPs measured in newborn DBS and birth size were mixed. Pooled analysis methods using DBS could address challenges in limits of detection and costs for population-based research.

Occurrence, sources and human exposure assessment of SCCPs in indoor dust of northeast China.

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are widely used chemicals in household products and might cause adverse human health effects. However, limited information is available on the occurrence of SCCPs in indoor environments and their exposure risks on humans. In this study the concentrations, profiles and human exposure of SCCPs in indoor dust from five different indoor environments, including commercial stores, residential apartments, dormitories, offices and laboratories were characterized. The SCCPs levels ranged from 10.1 to 173.0 µg/g, with the median and mean concentration of 47.2 and 53.6 µg/g, respectively. No significant difference was found on concentrations among the five microenvironments. The most abundant compounds in indoor dust samples were homologues of C13 group, Cl7 group and N20 (N is the total number of C and Cl) group. In the five microenvironments, commercial stores were more frequently exposed to shorter carbon chained and higher chlorinated homologues. Three potential sources for SCCPs were identified by the multiple linear regression of factor score model and correspondence analysis. The major sources of SCCPs in indoor dust were technical mixtures of CP-42 (42% chlorine, w/w) and CP-52 b (52% chlorine, w/w). The total daily exposure doses and hazard quotients (HQ) were calculated by the human exposure models, and they were all below the reference doses and threshold values, respectively. Monte Carlo simulation was applied to predict the human exposure risk of SCCPs. Infants and toddlers were at risk of SCCPs based on predicted HQ values, which were exceeded the threshold for neoplastic effects in the worst case. Our results on the occurrences, sources and human exposures of SCCPs will be useful to provide a better understanding of SCCPs behaviors in indoor environment in China, and to support environmental risk evaluation and regulation of SCCPs in the world.

Phthalates in dormitory and house dust of northern Chinese cities: Occurrence, human exposure, and risk assessment.

Phthalates are widely used chemicals in household products, which severely affect human health. However, there were limited studies emphasized on young adults' exposure to phthalates in dormitories. In this study, seven phthalates were extracted from indoor dust that collected in university dormitories in Harbin, Shenyang, and Baoding, in the north of China. Dust samples were also collected in houses in Harbin for comparison. The total concentrations of phthalates in dormitory dust in Harbin and Shenyang samples were significantly higher than those in Baoding samples. The total geometric mean concentration of phthalates in dormitory dust in Harbin was lower than in house dust. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most abundant phthalate in both dormitory and house dust. The daily intakes of the total phthalates, carcinogenic risk (CR) of DEHP, hazard index (HI) of di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and DEHP were estimated, the median values for all students in dormitories were lower than adults who live in the houses. Monte Carlo simulation was applied to predict the human exposure risk of phthalates. HI of DiBP, DBP, and DEHP was predicted according to the reference doses (RfD) provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) and the reference doses for anti-androgenicity (RfD AA) developed by Kortenkamp and Faust. The results indicated that the risks of some students had exceeded the limitation, however, the measured results were not exceeded the limitation. Risk quotients (RQ) of DEHP were predicted based on China specific No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) and Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL). The predicted results of CR and RQ of DEHP suggested that DEHP could pose a health risk through intake of indoor dust.

Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in archived dried blood spots and its application to track temporal trends of environmental chemicals in newborns.

Dried blood spots (DBS) collected from infants shortly after birth for the newborn screening program (NSP) in the United States are valuable resources for the assessment of exposure to environmental chemicals in newborns. The NSP was debuted as a public health program in the United States in the 1960s; and the DBS samples collected over a period of time can be used in tracking temporal trends in exposure to environmental chemicals by newborns. In this study, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were measured in DBS samples collected from newborns in Upstate New York from 1997 to 2011 by gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). Twelve PCBs and two OCPs were found in DBS samples at a detection rate above 50% (n=51). The mean whole blood concentration of ΣPCBs (sum of 12 congeners) over the 15-year period was 1.06 ng/mL, followed by p,p'-DDE (0.421 ng/mL) and HCB (0.065 ng/mL). The measured concentrations of PCBs and p,p'-DDE in infants'blood were comparable to those reported in cord blood, suggesting maternal/trans-placental transfer of these compounds from mothers to fetuses. The concentrations of ΣPCBs and p,p'-DDE in blood samples of infants decreased significantly between 1997 and 2001, and no significant reduction was found thereafter. This observation is consistent with the trends reported for these chemicals in other human tissues in the United States.