Blood and tissue levels of persistent organic pollutants and genetic susceptibility in patients with breast cancer.

We investigated possible associations between the internal concentrations of POPs and correlations between blood and tumor tissue concentrations in patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer and breast reduction as controls. Genetic variations in CYP1A1, GSTP1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 and hOGG1 were evaluated to determine whether they represent risk factors for breast cancer. Certain POPs have been found to be associated with breast cancer development. GST-P1 polymorphism represented a significant risk for breast cancer with unadjusted OR. However, the GSTT1 null polymorphism represented a significant risk for breast cancer when OR adjusted for age and smoking status. CYP1A1 polymorphism was a significant risk factor for breast cancer, regardless of whether the OR was adjusted. These results suggest that exposure to certain POPs, GSTT1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms, age, and smoking status are risk factors for breast cancer. In addition, the blood concentrations of some POPs represent surrogates for breast tissue concentrations.

Periodic monitoring of persistent organic pollutants and molecular damage in Cyprinus carpio from Büyük Menderes River.

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were quantified in river water and sediment, as well as in the liver and muscle tissues of Cyprinus carpio that were sampled four times in a year at three stations in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR). Potential biomarkers of possible cellular molecular damage, namely lipid peroxidation (LPO) degradation products, protein carbonyls (PCO) and DNA repair product 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were analysed. All the targeted pollutants were measurable both in biotic and abiotic samples. Interestingly, the results suggested that there was recent organochlorine pesticide (OCP) input into the river water in the first two sampling periods in all stations in contrast to prohibition, while input of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) was not detected. Liver POP concentrations were higher than in muscle, as expected, and were found to decrease from the first to the fourth sampling period in all stations, except PBDEs. Levels of LPO degradation products in the liver and in muscle tissues decreased from the first to the fourth sampling period. This suggests that these markers reflect the lipid damage in respective tissues due to the tissue burden of targeted POPs. Protein carbonyls were the highest in the first sampling period, followed by a dramatic decrease in the second, and then a gradual increase towards the fourth sampling period in all stations. 8-OHdG levels were lower in Sarayköy station in the first sampling period. Among the measured biomarkers, only several LPO degradation products were significantly correlated with OCPs and PCBs in liver tissue.

Environmental and biological monitoring of persistent organic pollutants in waterbirds by non-invasive versus invasive sampling.

Three main groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs); namely organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were quantified in water and sediment samples, as well as in various invasive and non-invasive samples from waterbirds in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR). Liver and muscle tissues, blood, and preen gland oil samples of yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) and Euroasian coot (Fulica atra) were collected both from the origin (Isikli Lake) and the estuary (Söke) of the river, blood and preen gland oil samples of grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and pelican (Pelecanus crispus) were collected from the estuary only. In addition, non-hatched eggs from several above species and Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus), in either station were collected. In all samples, POP contamination was measured and the potential usefulness of those invasive and non-invasive sampling for biomonitoring was evaluated. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured as potential indicators of POP exposure and of changes in the cellular defence. Venous blood proved to be a promising biomonitor for the concentrations in liver and muscle, especially for PCBs. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were correlated with the liver concentrations of several OCP congeners. The measured egg DDE concentrations were below the established threshold concentrations for the risk of hatch and reproductive success.