First assessment of population exposure to perfluorinated compounds in Flanders, Belgium.

With the objective to evaluate exposure of the population in Flanders (Belgium) to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), we measured perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in settled dust in homes and offices, in a selection of food items from local origin, in drinking-water and in human serum. We complemented the data with results from a literature survey. Based on this dataset we calculated intake by children and adults from food, drinking-water, settled dust and soil, and air. Dietary exposure dominated overall intake. For adults, average dietary intake equalled 24.2 (P95 40.9) ng PFOS kg(-1) d(-1) and 6.1 (P95 9.6) ng PFOA kg(-1)d(-1), whereas for children the dietary intake was about 3 times higher. Predicted intake is high when compared to assessments in other countries, and to serum levels from Flanders, but comparable to the intakes published by The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2008. Intake of PFOS and PFOA remained below the Tolerable Daily Intake.

Polychlorinated biphenyl and organochlorine pesticide contamination signatures in deep-sea fish from the Mediterranean Sea.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and OCP concentrations were determined in the livers of two deep-sea fish species, roughsnout grenadier and hollowsnout grenadier, from the Adriatic Sea. In both species, contaminant concentrations were in the following order: PCBs>DDTs>>HCB. Contaminant load was higher in roughsnout grenadier (PCB: 12,327ngg(-1); DDTs: 5357ngg(-1); HCB: 13.1ngg(-1)) than in hollowsnout grenadier (PCB: 1234ngg(-1); DDTs: 763ngg(-1); HCB 6.3ngg(-1)). PCB patterns were dominated by higher chlorinated congeners (hexa-CBs: 50.3-52.1%, hepta-CBs: 29.6-35.5%, penta-CBs: 8.0-11.1% and octa-CBs :5.2-5.4%). PCBs 138, 153 180 and 187 were the most abundant. Regarding the DDT pattern, p,p'-DDE was prevalent in both species (roughsnout grenadier: 99.7%, hollowsnout grenadier: 90%), suggesting no recent DDT input. In both species, the total 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxic equivalent (TEQ) concentrations (roughsnout grenadier: mean 43.77pg/g, hollowsnout grenadier: mean 20.49pg/g), calculated from non- and mono-ortho PCBs, reached those encountered in marine organisms at higher levels in the trophic chain.

Intoxication with buckthorn (Karwinskia humboldtiana): report of three siblings.

A variety of plants and seeds, some of which are used for therapeutic and nutritional purposes, can cause neurotoxic symptoms. The ingestion of the green or ripe fruit of the Karwinskia humboldtiana (buckthorn), a bush known in Mexico as coyotillo or tullidora, causes a flaccid, symmetric, progressive, and ascending palsy of the lower limbs, which, in severe cases, can cause bulbar palsy and death. The neurologic symptoms are similar to those of poliomyelitis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other polyradiculoneuritis syndromes, for which it is often mistaken. The clinical diagnosis of intoxicated patients can be difficult without a history of the fruit ingestion. We present a report of three siblings with buckthorn intoxication.