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Serum levels of PBDEs in aircraft maintenance workers
S52
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 211S (2012) S43–S216
The demographic explosion had triggered a high demand for food for human and animal populations, changing the traditional production systems in intensive production systems. This fact causes that, the massive production of grain and cereal it must be stored hastily, resulting in ideal conditions to favor growing fungi that produces mycotoxins, en some cases. According to numerous reports, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the most frequently detected aflatoxin in milk and dairy products in several countries. AFM1 is a hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 which is considered a powerful carcinogenic to humans (IARC, group 1). However, the possibility of AFM1 producing cancer in humans is also considered (IARC, group 2B). AFM1 remains intact even after boiling or pasteurization processes. The aim of our study was to assess the AFM1contamination in raw milk during the winter season. The milk and silage samples, were obtained from small dairy producers, they were analyzed for AFM1 and AFB1 via ELISA and The ROSA® Aflatoxin (Quantitative) tests respectively. The results show that 27% of the milk samples had detectable levels of AFM1 (>5 ppt). In some cases, samples exceeded the AFM1 approved limit, according to the Codex Alimentarius and Norma Oficial Mexicana. Moreover, all milk samples analyzed for AFM1, corresponded to silage samples with AFB1 detectable levels. The results confirm that the source of AFM1 milk contamination was silage contaminated with AFB1 consumed by dairy cattle. Also the results suggest an early and unnoticed exposure to AFM1 which could affect public health, especially children. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.206
P04-11 All are exposed to the plant growth regulator chlormequat Margareta Littorin, Margareta Maxe, Else Åkerberg, Bo Jönsson, Christian Lindh Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sweden Purpose: Our purpose was to biomonitor human exposure to chlormequat chloride (=2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride = CCC), which has not been done earlier. CCC is used in cultivation of rye and other cereals, ornamental plants, grass seed, vegetables and fruits. Residues are found in cereals, pears, carrots and table grapes. In mammals, CCC is readily absorbed after oral intake and excreted mainly unmetabolized in urine. CCC depolarizes nicotinic and muscarinic receptor sites. It has shown some reproductive effects. Methods: CCC in urine was determined by LC/MS/MS. The limit of detection was 0.1 ng/ml. CCC as biomarker was validated in an experiment, where two healthy volunteers received a single oral dose of 25 g/kg bw of CCC (corresponding to 50% of ADI). In 2004, CCC was determined in100 urine samples from city populations and in 2010 in 79 samples from a rural populations, some (N = 20) of whom contributed samples repeatedly. In 2011, CCC was examined before and after work in 51 employees, working with ornamental plants in greenhouses. Results and conclusions: In the volunteers, the excretion in urine followed a first order kinetic and a two compartment model with an elimination half-life of 2–3 h and 10–14 h, respectively. All population samples contained CCC. In the rural group, CCC increased somewhat when pesticide were applicated on fields nearby. In some horticultural workers, CCC levels increased substantially after work. The widespread presence of CCC biomarkers indicates a general source like foodstuff. Occupational exposure may contribute, and in some cases maybe pesticide treatment of arable land. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.207
P04-12 Serum levels of PBDEs in aircraft maintenance workers Greta Smedje 1 , Kristina Jakobsson 2 , Torsten Lindgren 3 , Åke Bergman 4 1
Uppsala University, Sweden, 2 Occup Environ Medicine, Lund University, Sweden, 3 Occup Environ Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden, 4 Environ Chemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden
Purpose: In aircrafts, flame retardants are abundant and a previous study revealed high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in dust. Maintenance workers dismantle seats and interior panels to expose the mechanical and electrical parts of the aircraft. After repair, they mount the interior again and perform a thorough cleaning. Dust tends to deposit on surfaces and behind the interior panels and these maintenance workers might be exposed to elevated amounts of PBDEs. The aim was to investigate occupational exposure to flame retardants in aircraft maintenance workers by measuring levels of PBDEs in serum. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 15 male aircraft maintenance workers from one airline company. Blood was drawn from the cubital vein, centrifuged and transferred to glass bottles, and kept at −20 ◦ C until analysis. Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A number of PBDEs was analyzed with selected ion monitoring. Results and conclusions: Median levels (and ranges) of PBDEs were (pmol/g l w): BDE-47: 6.0 (<−13.8), BDE-99: 1.7 (<−8.1), BDE-100: 1.0 (0.4–3.5), BDE-153: 4.5 (2.4–13.7), BDE-154: 0.7 (0.6–9.0), BDE-209: 4.2 (<−18.8). Compared with other studies, the serum levels of this group of aircraft maintenance workers were about twice as high as in men from the Swedish general population, and half the levels of workers at an electronics recycling plant. However, compared with men from the US general population, they had substantially lower levels of tetra- and pentaBDEs, about half the concentration of hexaPBEs, and similar level of decaBDE. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.208
P04-13 Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using dopant assisted atmospheric pressure photoionization Emmanouil Barbounis 1 , Athanassios Moukas 2 , Anastasia Xiskia 2 , Manolis Tzatzarakis 1 , Polychronis Stivaktakis 1 , Aikaterini Kokkinaki 1 , Aristidis Tsatsakis 1 University of Crete, Greece, 2 National Center of Sci. Res. Demokritos, Greece
1
Introduction: The qualitative and quantitative analysis of PCB congeners typically employs gas chromatography techniques coupled with mass spectrometers or electron capture detectors. High pressure liquid chromatography techniques coupled with MS has not been employed due to both the poor separation of PCBs and their problematic ionization in the most widely used ionization sources (ESI or APCI). The latest developments and commercialization of new materials regarding the stationary phase permits the structure based separation of PCBs. Such HPLC chromatography systems coupled with atmospheric pressure photoionization source (APPI), which is used to ionize non-polar compounds, could further extend the capabilities of the analysis of PCBs. Method: We examined the separation and the ionization of seven of the most toxic and/or environmentally prevalent PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180). A reversed phase method was developed
Abstracts / Toxicology Letters 211S (2012) S43–S216
The demographic explosion had triggered a high demand for food for human and animal populations, changing the traditional production systems in intensive production systems. This fact causes that, the massive production of grain and cereal it must be stored hastily, resulting in ideal conditions to favor growing fungi that produces mycotoxins, en some cases. According to numerous reports, aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the most frequently detected aflatoxin in milk and dairy products in several countries. AFM1 is a hydroxylated metabolite of aflatoxin B1 which is considered a powerful carcinogenic to humans (IARC, group 1). However, the possibility of AFM1 producing cancer in humans is also considered (IARC, group 2B). AFM1 remains intact even after boiling or pasteurization processes. The aim of our study was to assess the AFM1contamination in raw milk during the winter season. The milk and silage samples, were obtained from small dairy producers, they were analyzed for AFM1 and AFB1 via ELISA and The ROSA® Aflatoxin (Quantitative) tests respectively. The results show that 27% of the milk samples had detectable levels of AFM1 (>5 ppt). In some cases, samples exceeded the AFM1 approved limit, according to the Codex Alimentarius and Norma Oficial Mexicana. Moreover, all milk samples analyzed for AFM1, corresponded to silage samples with AFB1 detectable levels. The results confirm that the source of AFM1 milk contamination was silage contaminated with AFB1 consumed by dairy cattle. Also the results suggest an early and unnoticed exposure to AFM1 which could affect public health, especially children. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.206
P04-11 All are exposed to the plant growth regulator chlormequat Margareta Littorin, Margareta Maxe, Else Åkerberg, Bo Jönsson, Christian Lindh Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sweden Purpose: Our purpose was to biomonitor human exposure to chlormequat chloride (=2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride = CCC), which has not been done earlier. CCC is used in cultivation of rye and other cereals, ornamental plants, grass seed, vegetables and fruits. Residues are found in cereals, pears, carrots and table grapes. In mammals, CCC is readily absorbed after oral intake and excreted mainly unmetabolized in urine. CCC depolarizes nicotinic and muscarinic receptor sites. It has shown some reproductive effects. Methods: CCC in urine was determined by LC/MS/MS. The limit of detection was 0.1 ng/ml. CCC as biomarker was validated in an experiment, where two healthy volunteers received a single oral dose of 25 g/kg bw of CCC (corresponding to 50% of ADI). In 2004, CCC was determined in100 urine samples from city populations and in 2010 in 79 samples from a rural populations, some (N = 20) of whom contributed samples repeatedly. In 2011, CCC was examined before and after work in 51 employees, working with ornamental plants in greenhouses. Results and conclusions: In the volunteers, the excretion in urine followed a first order kinetic and a two compartment model with an elimination half-life of 2–3 h and 10–14 h, respectively. All population samples contained CCC. In the rural group, CCC increased somewhat when pesticide were applicated on fields nearby. In some horticultural workers, CCC levels increased substantially after work. The widespread presence of CCC biomarkers indicates a general source like foodstuff. Occupational exposure may contribute, and in some cases maybe pesticide treatment of arable land. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.207
P04-12 Serum levels of PBDEs in aircraft maintenance workers Greta Smedje 1 , Kristina Jakobsson 2 , Torsten Lindgren 3 , Åke Bergman 4 1
Uppsala University, Sweden, 2 Occup Environ Medicine, Lund University, Sweden, 3 Occup Environ Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden, 4 Environ Chemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden
Purpose: In aircrafts, flame retardants are abundant and a previous study revealed high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in dust. Maintenance workers dismantle seats and interior panels to expose the mechanical and electrical parts of the aircraft. After repair, they mount the interior again and perform a thorough cleaning. Dust tends to deposit on surfaces and behind the interior panels and these maintenance workers might be exposed to elevated amounts of PBDEs. The aim was to investigate occupational exposure to flame retardants in aircraft maintenance workers by measuring levels of PBDEs in serum. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 15 male aircraft maintenance workers from one airline company. Blood was drawn from the cubital vein, centrifuged and transferred to glass bottles, and kept at −20 ◦ C until analysis. Chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A number of PBDEs was analyzed with selected ion monitoring. Results and conclusions: Median levels (and ranges) of PBDEs were (pmol/g l w): BDE-47: 6.0 (<−13.8), BDE-99: 1.7 (<−8.1), BDE-100: 1.0 (0.4–3.5), BDE-153: 4.5 (2.4–13.7), BDE-154: 0.7 (0.6–9.0), BDE-209: 4.2 (<−18.8). Compared with other studies, the serum levels of this group of aircraft maintenance workers were about twice as high as in men from the Swedish general population, and half the levels of workers at an electronics recycling plant. However, compared with men from the US general population, they had substantially lower levels of tetra- and pentaBDEs, about half the concentration of hexaPBEs, and similar level of decaBDE. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.03.208
P04-13 Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) using dopant assisted atmospheric pressure photoionization Emmanouil Barbounis 1 , Athanassios Moukas 2 , Anastasia Xiskia 2 , Manolis Tzatzarakis 1 , Polychronis Stivaktakis 1 , Aikaterini Kokkinaki 1 , Aristidis Tsatsakis 1 University of Crete, Greece, 2 National Center of Sci. Res. Demokritos, Greece
1
Introduction: The qualitative and quantitative analysis of PCB congeners typically employs gas chromatography techniques coupled with mass spectrometers or electron capture detectors. High pressure liquid chromatography techniques coupled with MS has not been employed due to both the poor separation of PCBs and their problematic ionization in the most widely used ionization sources (ESI or APCI). The latest developments and commercialization of new materials regarding the stationary phase permits the structure based separation of PCBs. Such HPLC chromatography systems coupled with atmospheric pressure photoionization source (APPI), which is used to ionize non-polar compounds, could further extend the capabilities of the analysis of PCBs. Method: We examined the separation and the ionization of seven of the most toxic and/or environmentally prevalent PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180). A reversed phase method was developed