Occurrence and patterns of legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in bones of white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) using target, suspect, and non-target screening.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widespread, resistant to degradation, and bioaccumulative in food webs, raising environmental concerns due to their toxic effects. This growing concern highlights the need for effective biomonitoring for PFAS contamination, including exploration of complementary matrices, to enable long-term retrospective analyses. This study aimed to demonstrate the potential usefulness of white-beaked dolphin bones from 32 individuals stranded along the Danish coasts during the period 1981-2019 in assessing PFAS pollution in marine environments, employing target analysis and non-target screening approaches.

Sex differences in the association between long-term ambient particulate air pollution and the intestinal microbiome composition of children.

The intestinal microbiome is essential for gastrointestinal and overall health, yet its response to air pollution in children remains underexplored. In a study involving 412 young children from the ENVIRONAGE cohort, stool samples were analysed via Illumina Miseq sequencing to assess microbiome alpha diversity (observed richness, species evenness, and Shannon diversity) and composition. Exposure to previous year particulate air pollution (black carbon, PM, coarse PM, and PM) was modeled using high-resolution spatial-temporal interpolation models.

Cumulative exposure assessment to polychlorinated alkanes (C) to indoor dust from Iranian kindergartens: Occurrence and health risk.

The environmental and public health concerns associated with chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are significant, given their widespread use, long-lasting persistence, and potential adverse health effects. The objective of this study was to assess the contamination of polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs-C), the major contaminants in the CP technical mixtures, in kindergartens in Tehran, Iran, and to evaluate the cumulative exposure risks through various routes, including ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation of dust. The results revealed a pervasive contamination with PCAs.

Organophosphorus Flame Retardant, Phthalate, and Alternative Plasticizer Contamination in Novel Plant-Based Food: A Food Safety Investigation.

With plant-based (PB) diets gaining popularity, ultraprocessed novel plant-based foods (NPBFs) are an increasingly available alternative to animal-based foods (ABFs). The degree of industrial food processing has been associated with higher organophosphorus flame retardant (PFR) and plasticizer contamination. Here, the occurrence of these contaminants in NPBFs was investigated by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Investigating the quality of European silver eels by quantifying contaminants and parasite infestation in a French Mediterranean lagoon complex.

Coastal lagoons are diverse habitats with significant ecological gradients, which provide crucial ecosystem services but face threats from human activities such as invasive species and pollution. Among the species inhabiting the lagoons, the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is an emblematic species strongly impacted by contamination and parasitism. Several indicators were developed to assess the quality of eel at a large geographic scale.

Human exposure to polychlorinated alkanes (C) in soil and dust from Nigerian e-waste sites: Occurrence, homologue pattern and health risk assessment.

Electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling and dumpsite processes are recognized as significant sources of chlorinated paraffin (CP) exposure. This study aims to investigate the environmental occurrence and distribution of polychlorinated alkanes (PCAs-C), specifically in soil and outdoor dust samples collected from e-waste dumpsites and automobile dismantling and resale sites in Nigeria. The results revealed a widespread occurrence of PCAs across all sampled locations.

Source identification and human exposure assessment of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticisers in soil and outdoor dust from Nigerian e-waste dismantling and dumpsites.

Electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling and dumpsite processes are major sources of organophosphate flame retardant and plasticiser emissions and may pose potentially adverse effects on environment and human health. In 20 outdoor dust and 49 soil samples collected from four e-waste dismantling and three e-waste dumpsites in two States of Nigeria (Lagos and Ogun), we identified 13 alternative plasticisers (APs), 7 legacy phthalate plasticisers (LPs), and 17 organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) for the first time in African e-waste streams. In the samples from dismantling sites, the range (median) concentrations of ∑APs, ∑LPs, and ∑OPFRs were 11-2747 μg/g (144 μg/g), 11-396 μg/g (125 μg/g), and 0.

Trapped and drift-tube ion-mobility spectrometry for the analysis of environmental contaminants: Comparability of collision cross-section values and resolving power.

Rationale: Ion-mobility (IM)-derived collision cross-section (CCS) values can serve as a valuable additional identification parameter within suspect and non-target screening studies of environmental contaminants. However, these applications require to assess the reproducibility of CCS calculations between different IM set-ups. Especially for the comparison of trapped and drift-tube IM (TIMS/DTIM) derived CCS values, data for environmental applications is lacking.

Personal environmental exposure to plasticizers and organophosphate flame retardants using silicone wristbands and urine: Patterns, comparisons, and correlations.

Plasticizers (PLs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are ubiquitous in the environment due to their widespread use and potential for leaching from consumer products. Environmental exposure is a critical aspect of the human exposome, revealing complex interactions between environmental contaminants and potential health effects. Silicone wristbands (SWBs) have emerged as a novel and non-invasive sampling device for assessing personal external exposure.

Ongoing exposure to endocrine disrupting phthalates and alternative plasticizers in neonatal intensive care unit patients.

Due to endocrine disrupting effects, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer used to soften plastic medical devices, was restricted in the EU Medical Devices Regulation (EU MDR 2017/745) and gradually replaced by alternative plasticizers. Neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are vulnerable to toxic effects of plasticizers. From June 2020 to August 2022, urine samples (n = 1070) were repeatedly collected from premature neonates (n = 132, 4-10 samples per patient) born at <31 weeks gestational age and/or <1500 g birth weight in the Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium.

Investigation of biotransformation of tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate and confirmation in human urine.

Tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) is one of the major organophosphate flame retardants present in the indoor and outdoor environment. Knowledge of biotransformation pathways is important to elucidate potential bioavailability and toxicity of TCIPP and to identify relevant biomarkers. This study aimed to identify TCIPP metabolites through human metabolism assays and finally to confirm these findings in urine samples from an occupationally exposed population to propose new biomarkers to accurately monitor exposure to TCIPP.

Stable isotope ratios and current-use pesticide levels in edible insects: Implications on chemical food safety.

In the past years, the European Union (EU) has added edible insects to the list of novel foods, allowing an increasing number of insect-based products into the European market. With insects gaining more popularity in the Western world, it is crucial to investigate their chemical food safety. This study aimed at investigating possible isotopic patterns in different edible insect species (n = 52) from Asia, Africa and Europe using stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) to provide a framework for future investigations on food authenticity and traceability.

Identification, semi-quantification and risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in Flemish indoor dust through high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Indoor dust can contribute substantially to human exposure to known and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). Novel compounds with high structural variability and different homologues are frequently discovered through screening of the indoor environment, implying that constant monitoring is required. The present study aimed at the identification and semi-quantification of CECs in 46 indoor dust samples collected in Belgium by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Black carbon particles in human breast milk: assessing infant's exposure.

Background/aim: Human breast milk is the recommended source of nutrition for infants due to its complex composition and numerous benefits, including a decline in infection rates in childhood and a lower risk of obesity. Hence, it is crucial that environmental pollutants in human breast milk are minimized. Exposure to black carbon (BC) particles has adverse effects on health; therefore, this pilot study investigates the presence of these particles in human breast milk.

Exploring the hidden chemical landscape: Non-target and suspect screening analysis for investigating solid waste-associated environments.

Solid waste is an inevitable consequence of urbanization. It can be safely managed in municipal landfills and processing plants for volume reduction or material reuse, including organic solid waste. However, solid waste can also be discarded in (un-)authorized dumping sites or inadvertently released into the environment.

Occurrence and patterns of metals in mangrove forests from the Oman Sea, Iran.

Concentrations of selected metals were investigated in roots, stems, leaves and sediments from mangrove forests situated along the coast of the Oman Sea, Iran. Results showed that the overall average concentrations of lead, nickel, copper, and zinc in sediments were 47.90, 54.

Assessment of legacy and alternative halogenated organic pollutants in outdoor dust and soil from e-waste sites in Nigeria: Concentrations, patterns, and implications for human exposure.

E-waste is often processed informally, particularly in developing countries, resulting in the release of harmful chemicals into the environment. This study investigated the co-occurrence of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including legacy and alternative halogenated flame retardants (10 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), syn and anti-dechlorane plus (DP)), 32 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 12 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), in 20 outdoor dust and 49 soil samples from 7 e-waste sites in Nigeria. This study provides the first report on alternative flame retardants (DBDPE and DP) in Nigeria.

HBM4EU e-waste study: Occupational exposure of electronic waste workers to phthalates and DINCH in Europe.

Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals, including phthalates and alternative plasticizers (APs). Dismantling and shredding of e-waste may lead to the production of dust that contains these plasticizers. The aim of this study, which was part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), was to assess the exposure to phthalates (e.

Organophosphate diesters (DAPs) and hydroxylated organophosphate flame retardants (HO-OPFRs) as biomarkers of OPFR contamination in a typical freshwater food chain.

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) can rapidly biotransform into two types of metabolites in biota: (1) organophosphate diesters (DAPs) and (2) hydroxylated OPFRs (HO-OPFRs). Therefore, the levels of parent OPFRs alone are not sufficient to indicate OPFR pollution in biological organisms. This study analyzed 12 OPFR metabolites, including 6 DAPs and 6 HO-OPFRs, in a typical freshwater food chain consisted of crucian carp, catfish, mud carp, snakehead, and oriental river prawn.

Hair as an alternative matrix to assess exposure of premature neonates to phthalate and alternative plasticizers in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Due to adverse health effects, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer used to soften plastic medical devices (PMDs), was restricted, and gradually replaced by alternative plasticizers (APs). Up to this date, urine was the sole matrix studied for plasticizer exposure in neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a population highly vulnerable to toxic effects of plasticizers. The primary aim of this study was to assess simultaneous measurement of phthalate and AP metabolites in neonatal scalp hair.