Tissue-Specific Accumulation of Orally Administered Short- and Medium-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).

The prevalence and distribution of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been extensively studied in various matrices and organisms; however, there is a lack of information about insects, particularly in honeybees. To address this gap, we studied young honeybee workers exposed to short- and medium-chain CPs (SCCPs and MCCPs) at an environmentally relevant concentration of 10 mg/L for 7 days, followed by a 7-day elimination period. Results indicated that CPs could transfer into the head after oral consumption and SCCPs and MCCPs exhibited clear bioaccumulation trends: midgut > hindgut > head. An evaluation of congener group distribution patterns demonstrated that the dominant congener groups in all target tissues were C11-13Cl7-8 and C14Cl7-8 for SCCPs and MCCPs, respectively, consistent with the treated CP standards. In honeybees, a significant negative relationship was observed for the log concentration of MCCP congener groups and their log KOW, but not with their log KOA. Conversely, no such correlation was found for SCCPs. These findings suggest that honeybees have a high potential to bioaccumulate MCCPs, particularly those with a low log KOW, and exhibit weak selectivity for SCCPs.

Current advances of chlorinated organics degradation by bioelectrochemical systems: a review.

Chlorinated organic compounds (COCs) are typical refractory organic compounds, having high biological toxicity. These compounds are a type of pervasive pollutants that can be present in polluted soil, air, and various types of waterways, such as groundwater, rivers, and lakes, posing a significant threat to the ecological environment and human health. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are an effective strategy for the degradation of bio-refractory compounds. BESs improve the waste treatment efficiency through the application of weak electrical stimulation. This review discusses the processes of BESs configurations and degradation performances in different environmental media including wastewater, soil, waste gas and groundwater. In addition, the degradation mechanisms and performance-enhancing additives are summarized. The future challenges and perspectives on the development of BES for COCs removal are briefly discussed.

Viral and Bacterial Communities Collaborate through Complementary Assembly Processes in Soil to Survive Organochlorine Contamination.

The ecological drivers that direct the assembly of viral and host bacterial communities are largely unknown, even though viral-encoded accessory genes help host bacteria survive in polluted environments. To understand the ecological mechanism(s) of viruses and hosts synergistically surviving under organochlorine pesticide (OCP) stress, we investigated the community assembly processes of viruses and bacteria at the taxon and functional gene levels in clean and OCP-contaminated soils in China using a combination of metagenomics/viromics and bioinformatics approaches. We observed a decreased richness of bacterial taxa and functional genes but an increased richness of viral taxa and auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) in OCP-contaminated soils (from 0 to 2,617.6 mg · kg-1). In OCP-contaminated soils, the assembly of bacterial taxa and genes was dominated by a deterministic process, of which the relative significance was 93.0% and 88.7%, respectively. In contrast, the assembly of viral taxa and AMGs was driven by a stochastic process, which contributed 83.1% and 69.2%, respectively. The virus-host prediction analysis, which indicated Siphoviridae was linked to 75.0% of bacterial phyla, and the higher migration rate of viral taxa and AMGs in OCP-contaminated soil suggested that viruses show promise for the dissemination of functional genes among bacterial communities. Taken together, the results of this study indicated that the stochastic assembly processes of viral taxa and AMGs facilitated bacterial resistance to OCP stress in soils. Moreover, our findings provide a novel avenue for understanding the synergistic interactions between viruses and bacteria from the perspective of microbial ecology, highlighting the significance of viruses in mediating bioremediation of contaminated soils. IMPORTANCE The interaction between viral communities and microbial hosts has been studied extensively, and the viral community affects host community metabolic function through AMGs. Microbial community assembly is the process by which species colonize and interact to establish and maintain communities. This is the first study that aimed to understand the assembly process of bacterial and viral communities under OCP stress. The findings of this study provide information about microbial community responses to OCP stress and reveal the collaborative interactions between viral and bacterial communities to resist pollutant stress. Thereby, we highlight the importance of viruses in soil bioremediation from the perspective of community assembly.

Reproductive performance of Peregrine falcons relative to the use of organochlorine pesticides, 1946-2021.

Populations of some fish- and meat-eating birds suffered dramatic declines globally following the introduction of organochlorine pesticides during the late 1940s and 1950s. It has been hypothesised that these population declines during the 1950s-1970s were largely driven by a combination of reproductive failure due to eggshell-thinning, egg breakage and embryonic death attributable to DDT and its metabolites, and to enhanced mortality attributable to the more toxic cyclodiene compounds such as aldrin and dieldrin. Using 75 years (1946-2021) of Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) monitoring data (315 unique nest-sites monitored for 6110 nest-years), we studied the breeding performance of a resident Peregrine population in southern Scotland relative to the spatiotemporal pattern of organochlorine pesticide use. We show that (i) Peregrine breeding success and measures of breeding performance increased substantially following the reduction in, and subsequently a complete ban on, the use of organochlorine pesticides; (ii) improvements in Peregrine breeding performance were more dramatic in southeastern Scotland where agriculture was the predominant land use than in southwestern Scotland where there was less arable and more forested land; (iii) Peregrines nesting closer to the coast generally had higher fledging success (that is, a higher proportion of clutches that produced at least one fledgeling) than those nesting inland farther away from the coast; (iv) low temperatures and excessive rain in May negatively affected Peregrine fledging success; and (v) Peregrine abundance increased in parallel with improvements in reproductive performance following the reduction and then complete ban on the use of organochlorine pesticides in the UK. However, recovery was gradual and occurred over four decades, and rate of recovery varied among measures of reproductive performance (egg, nestling and fledgeling production). Our results suggest that the temporal pattern of organochlorine pesticide use strongly influenced Peregrine reproductive parameters but that the pattern of influence differed regionally. Overall results are consistent with the hypothesis that reproductive failure caused by organochlorine pesticides was an important driver of the decline in the south Scottish Peregrine population, and that improvements in all measures of breeding performance following a reduction and eventual ban on organochlorine use facilitated the observed increase in this population.

Novel Use of Cell Profiling Technology to Visualize Mitochondrial Responses of Humpback Whale Fibroblasts to Chemical Exposure.

Cetaceans are at elevated risk of accumulating persistent and lipophilic environmental contaminants due to their longevity and high proportion of body fat. Despite this, there is a paucity of taxa-specific chemical effect data, in part due to the ethical and logistical constraints in working with highly mobile aquatic species. Advances in cetacean cell culture have opened the door to the application of mainstream in vitro toxicological effect assessment approaches. Image-based cell profiling is a high-throughput, microscopy-based system commonly applied in drug development. It permits the analysis of the xenobiotic effect on multiple cell organelles simultaneously, hereby flagging its potential utility in the evaluation of chemical toxicodynamics. Here we exposed immortalized humpback whale skin fibroblasts (HuWaTERT) to six priority environmental contaminants known to accumulate in the Southern Ocean food web, in order to explore their subcellular organelle responses. Results revealed chemical-dependent modulation of mitochondrial texture, with the lowest observed effect concentrations for chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, trifluralin, and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane of 0.3, 4.1, 9.3, and 19.8 nM, respectively. By contrast, no significant changes were observed upon exposure to endosulfan and lindane. This study contributes the first fixed mitochondrial images of HuWaTERT and constitutes novel, taxa-specific chemical effect data in support of evidence-based conservation policy and management.

Alterations of Systemic and Hepatic Metabolic Function Following Exposure to Trans-nonachlor in Low and High Fat Diet Fed Male Sprague Dawley Rats.

The overall prevalence of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated co-morbidities have increased at an alarming rate in the United States and worldwide. There is a growing body of epidemiological evidence implicating exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including legacy organochlorine (OC) pesticides and their bioaccumulative metabolites, in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine if exposure to trans-nonachlor, a bioaccumulative OC pesticide contaminant, in concert with high fat diet intake induced metabolic dysfunction. Briefly, male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to trans-nonachlor (.5 or 5 ppm) in either a low fat (LFD) or high fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. At 8 weeks of intake, trans-nonachlor decreased serum triglyceride levels in LFD and HFD fed animals and at 16 weeks compared to LFD fed animals. Interestingly, serum glucose levels were decreased by trans-nonachlor (5 ppm) in LFD fed animals at 16 weeks. Serum free fatty acids were increased by trans-nonachlor exposure (5 ppm) in LFD fed animals at 16 weeks. HFD fed animals displayed signs of hepatic steatosis including elevated liver triglycerides, liver enzymes, and liver lipid peroxidation which were not significantly altered by trans-nonachlor exposure. However, there was a trans-nonachlor mediated increase in expression of fatty acid synthase in livers of LFD fed animals and not HFD fed animals. Thus, the present data indicate exposure to trans-nonachlor in conjunction with LFD or HFD intake produces both diet and exposure dependent effects on lipid and glucose metabolism.

Effect of Affinity between Dechlorane Plus and Human Serum Albumin on Its Serum Concentration in a General Population.

Dechlorane Plus (DP) has been detected in human serum around the world. Determining how DP binds to human serum albumin (HSA) could improve our understanding of the effects of DP in humans. The results of a fluorescence titration experiment indicated that DP binds to HSA at the interface between domains IIA and IIB, and HSA has more affinity for anti-DP than syn-DP. The DP concentrations in serum from 33 people living in Wuxi City, China, were determined in five consecutive years (2012-2016). The total concentrations of the two DP isomers were 1.73-16.3 ng·g-1 lipid weight (mean 4.7 ng·g-1 lipid weight). No clear increasing or decreasing temporal trend was found in the DP concentrations in serum over the study period. The affinity between DP and HSA will increase as the amount of fatty acids combined with HSA increases. This explained the syn-DP and anti-DP concentrations in serum being higher for overweight people than for normal weight people. Ethanol can occupy the DP binding sites on HSA. This explained the syn-DP and anti-DP concentrations being lower for alcoholic people than for nonalcoholic people.

Organochlorine pesticides induce epithelial as well as inflammatory mediators following exposure to human ovarian surface epithelial cells: An in vitro study.

Although studies have suggested organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) exposure increased the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, the mechanisms underlying its potential tumorigenic effects in the human ovary are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the impact of dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), endosulfan, and heptachlor exposure on epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) and proinflammatory mediators in human ovary surface epithelial (HOSE) cells. We found that DDE, endosulfan, and heptachlor exposure resulted in epithelial differentiation accompanied by upregulation of E-cadherin expression and overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1ß, and IL-6) in HOSE cells. The epithelial differentiation may accelerate HOSE cells to inclusion body formation, a common site for ovarian cancer initiation and persistent exposure to OCPs creates a chronic inflammatory microenvironment that may promote the neoplastic transformation of HOSE cells within the inclusion cyst.

Adipose Tissue Redox Microenvironment as a Potential Link between Persistent Organic Pollutants and the 16-Year Incidence of Non-hormone-Dependent Cancer.

We aimed to assess the relationships among the adipose tissue's (AT) oxidative microenvironment, in situ accumulated persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations, and cancer development. POP and oxidative stress levels were quantified in AT samples from 382 adults recruited within the GraMo cohort (2003-2004) in Granada (Spain). The 16-year cancer incidence was ascertained by reviewing health/administrative databases. Cox-regression models and mediation analyses were performed. The enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GRd) were positively associated with the risk of non-hormone-dependent (NHD) cancer [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.76; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17, 2.64 and HR 2.35; 95% CI: 1.41, 3.94, respectively]. After adjustment for covariates, polychlorinated biphenyl-138 (PCB-138) (HR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.09), ß-hexachlorocyclohexane (ß-HCH) (HR 1.70; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.64), and hexachlorobenzene (HR 1.54; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.33) were also positively associated with the risk of NHD cancer. Although confidence intervals included the null value, probably because of the modest number of cancer cases, we observed a potential mediation effect of SOD and GRd on the associations between ß-HCH and the risk of NHD tumors (percent mediated = 33 and 47%, respectively). Our results highlight the relevance of human AT's oxidative microenvironment as a predictor of future cancer risk as well as its potential mediating role on POP-related carcinogenesis. Given their novelty, these findings should be interpreted with caution and confirmed in future studies.

Organochlorines burden in moss H. cupressiforme and topsoil across Serbia.

Following up-to-date initiatives of the Stockholm Convention, its global monitoring plan, and the International Cooperative Programme on Natural Vegetation and Crops (ICP Vegetation 2015) under the convention on long-range transboundary air pollution, this study examined 17 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and seven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the moss Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. and topsoil sampled across Serbia. In the topsoil, OCPs ranged from 0.0158 to 9.6804 ng g-1 while concentrations of individual PCB congeners were in the range between 0.0185 and 0.3107 ng g-1. The levels of OCPs and PCBs in the moss H. cupressiforme ranged from 2.7785 to 23.9501 ng g-1, and from 0.4325 to 15.8013 ng g-1, respectively. POP relationships between topsoil and moss investigated by fugacity model equations indicated that the moss POP enrichment was a result of atmospheric long-range transport rather than secondary reemissions from soil.

Bioremediation of typical chlorinated hydrocarbons by microbial reductive dechlorination and its key players: A review.

Chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in soils and groundwater has a severe negative impact on the human health. Microbial reductive dechlorination is a major degradation pathway of chlorinated hydrocarbon in anaerobic subsurface environments, has been extensively studied. Recent progress on the diversity of the reductive dechlorinators and the key enzymes of chlororespiration has been well reviewed. Here, we present a thorough overview of the studies related to bioremediation of chloroethenes and polychlorinated biphenyls based on enhanced in situ reductive dechlorination. The major part of this review is to provide an up-to-date summary of functional microorganisms which are either detected during in situ biostimulation or applied in bioaugmentation strategies. The applied biostimulants and corresponding reductive dechlorination products are also summarized and the future research needs are finally discussed.

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides and the risk of type 2 diabetes in the population of East China.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been reported to be associated with an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes, although no study has focused on such associations in Chinese populations. In this case-control study, we aimed to explore the associations between OCPs and type 2 diabetes and their potential mechanisms in a population from East China. Participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and nondiabetic participants from Shandong Province, East China, were enrolled in this case-control study. Six OCPs (ß-HCH, trans-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT and mirex/kepone) were detected in more than 75% of serum samples. Logistic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to assess the associations between OCP exposure and the outcomes. After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as age, sex and body mass index, all six OCPs showed positive associations with type 2 diabetes in a linear dose-response manner. Serum concentrations of ß-HCH and p,p'-DDE were associated with higher levels of fasting plasma glucose in participants without diabetes, although no OCPs showed significant associations with hemoglobin A1c. In addition, certain OCPs showed significantly positive associations with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and negative relationships with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in nondiabetics, indicating that OCP exposure may disrupt lipid metabolism. Findings in the current study indicated that OCPs may be a diabetogenic factor in the population of this study. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the associations between OCP exposure and type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population.

Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in the gonads of Barbus barbus (Linnaeus, 1758).

Maps with grey or even white spaces are still present in spite of the fact that persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are at the forefront of research in aquatic toxicology and environmental safety. This is also the case for the Mureș River basin. The intensive use of industrial substances such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides such as organochlorine compounds (OCPs) has caused global contamination of the aquatic environment. In our study we have found very high concentrations of both PCBs (2110-169,000 ng/g lipid weight ΣPCB, 1950-166,000 ng/g lipid weight ΣPCB7) and OCPs (1130-7830 ng/g lipid weight ΣDDT, 47.6-2790 ng/g lipid weight ΣHCH, 5.53-35.6 ng/g lipid weight ΣChlordane, and 6.74-158 ng/g lipid weight HCB) in the gonad tissue of Barbus barbus (Linnaeus, 1758) males and females. Contrary to most studies where the weight, length, and lipid percentage are positively correlated with the concentration of POPs from different tissue types, we observed a downward trend for the lipid normalized concentrations of some pollutants in gonads while these indices were actually increasing. The decrease of lipid normalized POPs with the increase of CF and lipid percentage may be due to the fact that individuals are eliminating hard and soft roes every year during reproduction which could mean that some quantities of pollutants are also eliminated along with the hard and soft roes. The high POPs concentrations found in our study should be a needed wakeup call for environmentalists and a starting point in developing monitoring and management measures for these pollutants.

Impact of pyrethroids and organochlorine pesticides residue on IGF-1 and CYP1A genes expression and muscle protein patterns of cultured Mugil capito.

This study aimed to assess the levels of pyrethroids and organochlorine residues in the tissues of cultured Mugil capito and in water samples obtained from three different sites (Al-Hamol, Al-Riad and Sidi Salem; referred to as Area 1, Area 2, and Area 3, respectively) in the Delta region, Egypt. The study also assessed the biochemical markers in exposed mullet and evaluated the impact of these residues on the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in muscle and cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) in liver tissues using qRT-PCR and SDS-PAGE methods. The results revealed that pesticide residue levels in the water were variable, but were lower than detected levels in fish. Significant (P < 0.05) differences were found across the three study areas in terms of serum ALT, but the serum AST level was not significantly (P > 0.05) elevated in all study regions. Serum creatinine and urea levels were significantly (P < 0.05) elevated in area 3. Furthermore, glutathione and malondialdehyde concentrations significantly increased (P < 0.05) in liver tissues in area 3. Using the qRT-PCR technique, the results revealed that the expression level of IGF-1 was most significant in area 3, while the expression level of CYP1A was most significant in area 1. The protein profile showed some differences in band numbers and molecular weights of protein bands across different regions. Overall, the alteration in biochemical parameters revealed pesticide interference with the metabolic processes of fish. Furthermore, the pesticide pollution had an effect on the expression of IGF-1 and CYP1A genes and led to changes in the protein profile. Therefore, these markers can be used to monitor fish distress following exposure to the pollutant.

Bioremediation of Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT)-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: Potential of Two Autochthonous Saprotrophic Fungal Strains.

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) was used worldwide as an organochlorine insecticide to control agricultural pests and vectors of several insect-borne human diseases. It was banned in most industrialized countries; however, due to its persistence in the environment, DDT residues remain in environmental compartments, becoming long-term sources of exposure. To identify and select fungal species suitable for bioremediation of DDT-contaminated sites, soil samples were collected from DDT-contaminated agricultural soils in Poland, and 38 fungal taxa among 18 genera were isolated. Two of them, Trichoderma hamatum FBL 587 and Rhizopus arrhizus FBL 578, were tested for tolerance in the presence of 1-mg liter-1 DDT concentration by using two indices based on fungal growth rate and biomass production (the tolerance indices Rt:Rc and TI), showing a clear tolerance to DDT. The two selected strains were studied to evaluate catabolic versatility on 95 carbon sources with or without DDT by using the Phenotype MicroArray system and to investigate the induced oxidative stress responses. The two strains were able to use most of the substrates provided, resulting in both high metabolic versatility and ecological functionality in the use of carbon sources, despite the presence of DDT. The activation of specific metabolic responses with species-dependent antioxidant enzymes to cope with the induced chemical stress has been hypothesized, since the presence of DDT promoted a higher formation of reactive oxygen species in fungal cells than the controls. The tested fungi represent attractive potential candidates for bioremediation of DDT-contaminated soil and are worthy of further investigations.IMPORTANCE The spread and environmental accumulation of DDT over the years represent not only a threat to human health and ecological security but also a major challenge because of the complex chemical processes and technologies required for remediation. Saprotrophic fungi, isolated from contaminated sites, hold promise for their bioremediation potential toward toxic organic compounds, since they might provide an environment-friendly solution to contamination. Once we verified the high tolerance of autochthonous fungal strains to high concentrations of DDT, we showed how fungi from different phyla demonstrate a high metabolic versatility in the presence of DDT. The isolates showed the singular ability to keep their functionality, despite the DDT-induced production of reactive oxygen species.

Association of brain heptachlor epoxide and other organochlorine compounds with lewy pathology.

BACKGROUND: Organochlorine pesticides are associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. A preliminary analysis from the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study suggested that heptachlor epoxide, a metabolite from an organochlorine pesticide extensively used in Hawaii, may be especially important. This was a cross sectional analysis to evaluate the association of heptachlor epoxide and other organochlorine compounds with Lewy pathology in an expanded survey of brain organochlorine residues from the longitudinal Honolulu-Asia Aging Study. METHODS: Organochlorines were measured in frozen occipital or temporal lobes in 705 brains using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Lewy pathology was identified using hematoxylin and eosin- and α-synuclein immunochemistry-stained sections from multiple brain regions. RESULTS: The prevalence of Lewy pathology was nearly doubled in the presence versus the absence of heptachlor epoxide (30.1% versus 16.3%, P < 0.001). Although associations with other compounds were weaker, hexachlorobenzene (P = 0.003) and α-chlordane (P = 0.007) were also related to Lewy pathology. Most of the latter associations, however, were a result of confounding from heptachlor epoxide. Neither compound was significantly related to Lewy pathology after adjustment for heptachlor epoxide. In contrast, the association of heptachlor epoxide with Lewy pathology remained significant after adjustments for hexachlorobenzene (P = 0.013) or α-chlordane (P = 0.005). Findings were unchanged after removal of cases of PD and adjustment for age and other characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Organochlorine pesticides are associated with the presence of Lewy pathology in the brain, even after exclusion of PD cases. Although most of the association is through heptachlor epoxide, the role of other organochlorine compounds is in need of clarification. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Concentrations of legacy and new contaminants are related to metabolite profiles in Hudson Bay polar bears.

There are very few metabolomics assessments based on field accumulated, uncontrolled contaminant exposures in wildlife, particularly in the Arctic. In the present study, targeted metabolomics and contaminant data were analyzed together to assess potential influences of contaminant exposure on the hepatic metabolome of male polar bears (n = 29) from the southern and western Hudson Bay (SHB and WHB respectively), Canada. The 29 metabolites identified as important in the differentiation of the two subpopulations after partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) included phosphatidylcholines (PCs), acylcarnitines (ACs; involved in ß-oxidation of fatty acids), and the fatty acid (FA) arachidonic acid (ARA). Perfluorinated alkyl substances, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and some highly chlorinated ortho-polychlorinated biphenyl congeners were greater in the SHB bears and were consistently inversely correlated with discriminating ACs and PCs between the subpopulations. The concentrations of discriminatory, legacy organochlorine pesticides along with one tetrachlorobiphenyl were greater in the WHB and were directly correlated with the VIP-identified ACs and PCs. ARA, glycerophospholipid and several amino acid metabolic pathways were identified as different between subpopulations and/or were impacted. ARA is an important, conditionally essential, dietary n-6 FA and is also part of the inflammation response, and elevated concentrations in the SHB could be related to differences in chronic contaminant exposure and/or differences in diet and/or season, among a number of possible explanations. Dietary tracers (stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen) were correlated with some discriminatory metabolites, supporting the hypothesis that dietary variation was also an important factor in the differentiation of the subpopulations. The results suggest linkages between contaminant exposure in Hudson Bay polar bears and elements of the hepatic metabolome, particularly those related to lipid metabolism.

Patterns of PCBs and OCPs exposure in a sample of Lebanese adults: The role of diet and physical activity.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the general population is 90% from food intake. Dietary patterns provide a global estimation of exposure to POPs, taking into account multiple food sources of environmental contaminants. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association of dietary, socio-demographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle-related variables with clusters of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in a sample of students and employees of Saint Joseph University of Beirut. METHODS: A total of 302 participants were randomly recruited. Questionnaires covering dietary, socio-demographic, and lifestyle-related characteristics were administered. Anthropometric measurements were obtained. Serum concentrations of six indicator PCBs (PCB 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and four OCPs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), ß-hexachlorocyclohexanes (ß-HCH), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolite p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were measured, and cluster analysis was applied. We evaluated the association of dietary intake with PCBs/OCPs exposure using two different approaches: food consumption categories and dietary patterns retrieved from principal component analysis (PCA). RESULTS: Three clusters of PCBs/OCPs were obtained: middle-level, high-level, and low-level. Practicing physical activity was associated with a three times higher risk of having high-level PCBs/OCPs, after adjustment for confounding variables (ORa = 2.97; CI = 1.23-7.19; p < 0.05). The highest tertile of fish and shellfish consumption increased by three-folds the odds of having high-level PCBs/OCPs (ORa = 3.41; CI = 1.07-10.84; p < 0.05). PCA revealed six dietary patterns. A "cereals, fats and oils, and eggs" dietary pattern was associated with 50% increase in the risk of having high-level PCBs/OCPs (ORa = 1.48; CI = 1.03-2.13; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The present results offer a valuable contribution to the understanding of the factors increasing exposure to POPs, namely fish consumption and the "cereals, fats and oils, and eggs" dietary pattern. We also demonstrated that physical activity was positively associated with a higher risk of exposure to PCBs and OCPs, knowing that data on this matter are scarce.

The correlation study between fatty acids and organochlorine pesticides or δ15N values in fish tissues from Dongting Lake, China.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, while their correlations with δ15N values and fatty acids (FAs) in fish tissues remain largely unexplored. In the present study, six species of fish for daily consumption were collected from Dongting Lake, and they were dissected to tissue samples to analyze the δ15N values, FAs and OCPs. The results showed that the δ15N values of fish were ranked in the same order in different fish tissues. The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) had a different distribution pattern in fish tissues, while the saturated fatty acid (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were not. The composition of HCHs in fish tissues exhibited a tissue-specific and species-specific manner, while such pattern was not detected for DDTs. The correlation analysis indicated that the ratio of DHA/EPA was increased with the increase of δ15N value in the muscle, liver, gill, skin and intestine, indicating the substance flow in freshwater ecosystem. In addition, there were significant positive correlations between the concentrations of some PUFAs and OCPs in the muscle, suggesting that people should pay attention to co-intake of OCPs when they supplemented the PUFAs needed by the human body through fish.

Porostereum sp., Associated with Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), is a Latent Pathogen Capable of Producing Phytotoxic Chlorinated Aromatic Compounds.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive spices in the world due to its medicinal and aromatic value. However, saffron production is severely affected by the corm rot disease throughout the saffron producing countries. In this study, we report a basidiomycetous latent pathogen of saffron, designated as CSE26, capable of producing phytotoxic compounds. CSE26 is a highly odorous basidiomycete with monomitic hyphal system. Molecular phylogeny of ITS and 28S ribosomal gene sequence of CSE26 assigned it as Porostereum spadiceum. It was found to produce corm rot in C. sativus under in vivo and field conditions, with a disease severity index of 0.7 and 0.5, respectively. CSE26 was found to produce chlorinated aromatic compounds (CAMs) having phytotoxic activity against Arabidopsis plants. Therefore, these compounds may be acting as pathogenic determinants of CSE26. However, there is a need to study the level of production of these CAMs by this fungus in the natural environment and their effects on plant health.