Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in blood of children in Baden-Württemberg between 2002/03 and 2008/09.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are used in high amounts as flame retardants in plastic materials and textiles. Due to their persistence, their accumulation in the food chain and their toxic properties they have been integrated in the human biomonitoring program of the Baden-Württemberg State Health Office since 2002. In repeated cross-sectional studies in winter 2002/03 (n=162), 2004/05 (n=194), 2005/06 (n=411) and 2008/09 (n=770) blood samples of 9-11-year-old pupils were taken, pooled and analysed for PBDE after extraction and purification by silica gel using HRGC/HRMS. Samples were pooled according to region, gender, and breast feeding. PBDE in the pooled samples ranged from 1.9 to 12.5 ng/g blood fat (sum of all PBDE). Mean concentrations of PBDE, calculated for the four investigation periods, were 6.2 ng/g (2002/03), 5.4 ng/g (2004/05), 7.8 ng/g (2005/06) and 6.7 ng/g (2008/09). While the concentration of the decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) increased, the concentration of other congeners (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183) decreased slightly or remained at the same level. Consistent differences with respect to gender and breast-feeding were not recognizable. Concentrations of PBDE in children range on the same level as in adults and do not seem to be critical from the toxicological point of view. Because of the slight increase of BDE 209, the internal concentrations of BDE should be monitored in the future. The strong variations in PBDE concentration between the different pooled samples indicate that, apart from ingestion, other routes of exposure (dermal, inhalation) and additional sources (textiles, building materials) must be taken into consideration.

Environmental tobacco smoke and cardiometabolic risk in young children: results from a survey in south-west Germany.

AIMS: We explored the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and various cardiometabolic biomarkers in 10-year-old children. METHODS AND RESULTS: A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out. Data on ETS exposure and potential confounders were collected by parental questionnaire. Adiponectin, leptin, markers of inflammation, apolipoproteins (apo) AI and B, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) were measured. Linear and logistic regression models were applied using the 90th percentile as a cut-off point except for adiponectin and apoAI (10th percentile). In linear models, ETS exposure was significantly associated with increasing plasma concentrations of leptin, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-6, and Lp-PLA(2). When compared with none, ETS exposure of more than 10 cigarettes per day was associated with elevated concentrations of leptin (OR 6.40; 95% CI, 2.67-15.39), C-reactive protein (OR 3.17; 95% CI, 1.31-7.68), Lp-PLA(2) (OR 2.97 95% CI, 1.32-6.68), low adiponectin (OR 2.69; 95% CI, 1.10-6.57), and low apoAI (OR 4.48; 95% CI, 2.16-10.85). Increasing dose of ETS exposure was related to an increasing number of abnormal cardiometabolic markers. CONCLUSION: Among children, ETS exposure was associated with a low-grade inflammatory response and altered markers of lipid metabolism, which may initiate atherosclerosis in early life. However, longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the potential causal relevance of these associations.

Association of apolipoproteins with symptoms of asthma and atopy among schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence for an association between serum cholesterol concentrations and asthma, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We explored the associations between serum apolipoprotein concentrations and symptoms of asthma and atopy. METHODS: In a population-based cross-sectional study among 10-year-old schoolchildren (n = 462), plasma concentrations of apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) were measured. Information on disease symptoms and diagnoses was collected by parental questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: High plasma apoAI concentrations (>or=1.74 g/l) were associated with high prevalence of wheeze (OR 3.65; 95% CI 1.43-9.33), and a trend was seen with asthma (OR 3.35; 95% CI 0.94-11.93). In linear analyses, plasma apoAI concentrations were positively related to wheeze (beta-coefficient = 3.20; p = 0.045) and non-atopic wheeze (beta-coefficient = 4.47; p = 0.036), and a trend was found for asthma (beta-coefficient = 3.29; p = 0.099). Overall, plasma apoB concentrations were not associated with either symptoms of asthma or allergy. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis that high apoAI is associated with the manifestation of asthma and atopy. The underlying pathomechanism still remains to be fully elucidated, but suggests that immune mechanisms may play a central role. However, our results are based on a small study sample and larger studies are warranted to confirm these observations.

Concentrations of particulate matter in schools in southwest Germany.

During the winter season 2005/2006, measurements of small particulate matter were taken in 22 schools in southwest Germany. PM2.5 was measured gravimetrically. Laser particle counter (LPC) and condensation particle counter (CPC) were used to determine different particle fractions. The investigation included measurements inside (in classrooms) and outside of school buildings. During the whole investigation period continuous reference measurements were taken near the State Health Office in the city of Stuttgart. Information on building-specific data and traffic near the schools was collected via questionnaire. Although distances between the different schools and the location of the State Health Office building in Stuttgart in some cases exceeded 100 km, the concentration levels of particles > 0.3 microm measured by LPC near the different schools were similar to those measured in Stuttgart. The differences between the measurements in Stuttgart and at the other locations were smaller than the variation in time. In the winter season, the impaction of particulate matter was strongly influenced by specific weather conditions. Time resolution of measurements in classrooms showed variation in particle concentration depending on the type of building and indoor activities like cleaning or moving during breaks. Concentrations of very small particles in buildings and in ambient air measured by CPC were influenced by traffic emissions. The observed data give reason to assume that the influence of high traffic emissions to indoor particle concentration may have been overestimated. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for standardization of measurement protocols, sampling, and determination of indoor particulate matter. The classical gravimetric methods are less appropriate since they do not allow for a time resolution of measurements.

Baden-Wuerttemberg Environmental Health Survey (BW-EHS) from 1996 to 2003: toxic metals in blood and urine of children.

The environmental health surveillance system in the Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg (South Germany), among others, was implemented to monitor pollutant exposures and their temporal and regional trends in children at the age of about 10 years. The investigations were performed in two larger cities, one small city and one rural area. Between 1996 and 2003, in total 5470 children were investigated in consideration of environmental health parameters in four cross-sectional studies. The data presented here cover the results of the determination of the internal load with toxic metals. The median values observed in the investigation in 2002/03 were: 4.6 microg/l urine for arsenic, less than 0.2 microg/l urine for mercury, 20.7 microg/l blood for lead, and 0.25 microg/l blood for cadmium. From 1996 to 2003, mercury concentrations showed a substantial decrease (-0.027 microg/l/year) and lead levels also decreased (-0.25 microg/l/year), whereas arsenic and cadmium levels did not change significantly over time. There was no consistent difference in the mean internal load of the metals between the four investigation areas. Important factors influencing the measured concentrations were consumption of fish in the last 48 h, which had an impact on arsenic (factor 2), and amalgam fillings, which accounted for an increase in mercury (factor 4.6). In the 2002/03 study period, levels above the limit of health concern for children (German HBM values) were found in about 0.5% of the lead measurements (maximum value 180 microg/l blood) and in about 0.2% of the mercury measurements (maximum value 8.2 microg/l urine). In conclusion, this environmental health survey generates objective data on secular trends and regional differences and provides insight into probable sources of toxic metal exposure in children.

Sentinel health department project in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Germany)--a useful tool for monitoring children's health and environment.

In the Federal State of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, an environmental health surveillance system has been established focusing on children aged 10 years. Four study regions (two larger cities, one small city, and one rural area) were designated in order to get information about the body burden of persistent chemicals (toxic metals and chlorinated compounds) in children and about lung function, frequency of respiratory diseases, and allergies. From 1992/1993 to 2002/2003, seven cross-sectional investigations were carried out, and more than 10,000 children took part in the study. DDE, HCB, PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180 were measured in individual blood samples of about 400 children per year, whereas PCDD/PCDF and coplanar PCBs were determined in pooled blood samples. From 1993 to 2003, blood concentrations of these compounds decreased 2 to 4-fold. Concerning regional differences, slightly lower concentrations of DDE, PCBs and PCDD/PCDF could be seen in children from the municipal population of Mannheim compared to other regions. Breast feeding was associated with considerably higher concentrations of PCBs and most other chlorinated compounds. Static and dynamic lung function parameters showed no differences between the investigated areas. For prevalences of respiratory diseases and allergies, no time trend was observed except for pertussis, which showed a decrease in 2002/2003 probably due to an increase of vaccination rates. In addition, the prevalence of atopic sensitization against aero allergenes remained unchanged at about 35% during the observation period. In conclusion, this environmental health survey delivers objective data about spatial and temporal trends and provides information about possible sources of children's exposure to toxic compounds in the environment. Adaptations of the survey to new problems are discussed.

Biomonitoring of persistent organochlorine pesticides, PCDD/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in blood of children from South West Germany (Baden-Wuerttemberg) from 1993 to 2003.

In the context of a monitoring program, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were quantified in the blood of 10 year old children at four different demographic regions in Baden-Wuerttemberg, a highly industrialised federal state in South West Germany. DDE, HCB, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180 were measured in 1996/1997, 1998/1999, 2000/2001 and 2002/2003 in individual samples of about 400 children per year. PCDD/PCDFs and some relevant coplanar PCBs were determined in pooled samples from children in seven cycles from 1993 to 2003. Blood concentrations of the investigated compounds decreased in that time period by a factor of 2-4 with the exception of most PCDFs. The concentrations of POPs in the blood of the children were distinctly lower than the concentrations reported for adults. Breast feeding was associated with about 30% higher median concentrations of DDE, HCB, PCBs and a 30% increase for mean PCDD/PCDF concentrations. Concerning demographic differences, significant lower concentrations of HCB, PCBs and PCDD/PCDFs could be seen in children from Mannheim compared to the region of Aulendorf. About 10-20% higher concentrations were found in boys compared to girls for HCB, indicator PCBs and PCDD/PCDFs. The pattern of non-ortho and mono-ortho PCBs in the blood of children was similar to the pattern reported for mother's milk, and PCB 126 and PCB 156 contributed about 70% to the toxicity of dioxin-like PCBs and about one-third to total TEQ including PCDD/PCDFs.