Quantitative volatile metabolite profiling of common indoor fungi: relevancy for indoor air analysis.

Microorganisms such as bacteria and molds produce an enormous variety of volatile metabolites. To determine whether typical microbial volatile metabolites can be used as indicator compounds for the detection of hidden mold in indoor environments, we examined 14 typical indoor fungal strains for their growth rates and their capability to produce volatile organic compounds (VOC) on standard clinical media and on agar medium made from building materials. Air samples from Headspace Chambers (HSC) were adsorbed daily on Tenax TA tubes and analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Simultaneous congener-specific determination of selected organochlorine compounds and nitro musks in human whole blood samples by solid-phase extraction and capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

Chlororganic compounds like pesticides or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and nitro musks are environmental contaminants, which remain public health concerns because of their persistence in humans and their toxicological properties. Many of these substances are associated with endocrine dysfunction or with carcinogenicity. Therefore, a simple method using solid-phase extraction followed by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection for the simultaneous determination of both organochlorines and nitro musks in human whole blood samples has been developed.

Immune function biomarkers in children exposed to lead and organochlorine compounds: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Different organochlorines and lead (Pb) have been shown to have immunomodulating properties. Children are at greater risk for exposure to these environmental toxicants, but very little data exist on simultaneous exposures to these substances.

Methods: We investigated whether the organochlorine compounds (OC) dichlorodiphenylethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH), the sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (SigmaPCBs) and Pb were associated with immune markers such as immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, white blood cell (WBC), counts of lymphocytes; eosinophils and their eosinophilic granula as well as IgE count on basophils.

Atopic manifestations, breast-feeding protection and the adverse effect of DDE.

Despite the numerous studies on the possible protective effect of breast feeding against the onset of atopic manifestations during childhood, this issue remains controversial. As part of an environmental epidemiological study, we investigated whether different blood concentrations of dichlorodiphenyl-dichloroethylene (DDE) modified the protective effect of breast feeding against atopic manifestations in 338 children. DDE concentration, duration of breast feeding and manifestation of atopic disorders were measured in 1994-95 at age 7-8 years.

Childhood growth and exposure to dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Objectives: Dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), toxic contaminants known to be persistent in the environment, may affect growth. We investigated whether growth from birth to 10 years of age is associated with blood concentrations of DDE and PCB taken at 8 years of age.

Study Design: We ambispectively followed up a cohort of 343 German children.