PFAS levels and exposure determinants in sensitive population groups.

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants. The first exposure to PFAS occurs in utero, after birth it continues via breast milk, food intake, environment, and consumer products that contain these chemicals. Our aim was to identify determinants of PFAS concentrations in sensitive population subgroups- pregnant women and newborns. METHODS: Nine European birth cohorts provided exposure data on PFAS in pregnant women (INMA-Gipuzkoa, Sabadell, Valencia, ELFE and MoBa; total N = 5897) or newborns (3xG study, FLEHS 2, FLEHS 3 and PRENATAL; total N = 940). PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFNA concentrations were measured in maternal or cord blood, depending on the cohort (FLEHS 2 measured only PFOS and PFOA). PFAS concentrations were analysed according to maternal characteristics (age, BMI, parity, previous breastfeeding, smoking, and food consumption during pregnancy) and parental educational level. The association between potential determinants and PFAS concentrations was evaluated using multiple linear regression models. RESULTS: We observed significant variations in PFAS concentrations among cohorts. Higher PFAS concentrations were associated with higher maternal age, primipara birth, and educational level, both for maternal blood and cord blood. Higher PFAS concentrations in maternal blood were associated with higher consumption of fish and seafood, meat, offal and eggs. In cord blood, higher PFHxS concentrations were associated with daily meat consumption and higher PFNA with offal consumption. Daily milk and dairy consumption were associated with lower concentrations of PFAS in both, pregnant women and newborns. CONCLUSION: High detection rates of the four most abundant PFAS demonstrate ubiquitous exposure of sensitive populations, which is of concern. This study identified several determinants of PFAS exposure in pregnant women and newborns, including dietary factors, and these findings can be used for proposing measures to reduce PFAS exposure, particularly from dietary sources.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hydroxy-PCBs in adipose tissue of women in Southeast Spain.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hydroxylated PCBs (OH-PCBs) were investigated in human adipose tissue samples collected from 20 women undergoing surgery. Mean sum of PCB and sum of OH-PCB levels were 737ng/g of lipid and 8pg/g of lipid, respectively. Among PCBs, congeners 180, 153, 138 and 170 were the most frequent and abundant, and together constituted 72% of the total amount of PCBs in adipose tissue. The PCB congener pattern and the frequencies and concentrations of non-dioxin-like and non-hydroxylated congeners observed in adipose tissue were similar in distribution and order of magnitude to the profile previously published in Spain but lower than that found in other European countries. Among OH-PCB congeners studied, 4-OH-PCB 107/118 was found at the highest concentrations followed by 3'-OH-PCB 180 and 3-OH-PCB 138. To date, no information on levels of PCB metabolites in the Spanish population is available for comparison. These three predominant OH-PCBs contributed 97% of all OH-PCBs. Twelve dioxin-like PCBs contributed around 8% of the total PCB exposure, and all were present in all study subjects. Further research is required to determine trends in human exposure to PCBs and OH-PCBs and how existing banning measures affect exposure.

Oestrogenicity of paper and cardboard extracts used as food containers.

Bisphenol-A (BPA), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which are common chemical residues in food-packaging materials, were investigated in paper and cardboard containers used for take-away food. The oestrogenicity of aqueous extracts was tested in E-Screen bioassay and analysis carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Oestrogenicity was demonstrated in 90% of extracts (geometric mean [GM] = 11.97 pM oestradiol equivalents g(-1)). DEHP, DBP, and BPA (GM = 341.74, 37.59, and 2.38 ng g(-1) of material) were present in 77.50, 67.50, and 47.50% of samples, respectively. In bivariate analyses, no significant association was found between the levels of these chemicals and oestrogenicity in cardboard/paper extracts. A close-to-significant association was found between oestrogenicity and DBP (beta = 1.25; p = 0.06) in paper extracts, which reached statistical significance in multivariate analysis (beta = 1.61; p = 0.03). Paper and cardboard used in food packaging may contribute to the inadvertent exposure of consumers to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

Organochlorine pesticides in placentas from Southern Spain and some related factors.

During pregnancy, lipophilic xenobiotics stored in maternal adipose tissue can be mobilized and enter her blood circulation and reach the placenta. This study measured residues of oestrogen-mimicking organochlorine pesticides (OCs) in 150 placenta samples from women in Southern Spain. OCs were extracted from placenta by solid-liquid technique and purified by preparative liquid chromatography. Gas chromatography/electron-capture detection and mass spectrometry were used to identify and quantify p,p'-DDT and congeners/metabolites, endosulphan and congeners/metabolites, lindane, aldrin/dieldrin/endrin, hexachlorobenzene, methoxychlor and mirex. A mean of eight pesticides per placenta were detected (range, 3-15 pesticides). Endosulphan-ether, endosulphan-diol, endosulphan-I, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and lindane were detected in >or=50% of samples; p,p'-DDE was the most frequent (96.03%), followed by endosulphan-diol (76.86%) and lindane (74.17%). Presence of more pesticides was significantly associated with lower birth weight. Mean concentration of p,p'-DDE was 2.37+/-2.80 ng/g of placenta or 76.62+/-104.85 ng/g of lipid. Higher maternal body mass index was significantly associated with higher endosulphan concentrations in placenta, and greater maternal weight gain was significantly associated with higher p,p'-DDE concentrations. Prenatal exposure to OC xenoestrogens may be a causative factor in adverse reproductive health trends, and further studies are required to identify and describe pathways of this exposure to enhance preventive measures.