Comprehensive LC-MS/MS method combined with tandem hybrid hydrolysis for multiple exposure assessment of multiclass environmental pollutants.

Environmental pollutants (EPOLs), such as phthalates, volatile organic compounds, phenols, parabens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pyrethroids, and environmental tobacco smoke, are highly heterogeneous compounds. Recently, attention has been drawn to the assessment of the combinatory effects of multiple EPs. To correlate multiple exposures with potential health implications, advanced comprehensive analytical methods covering multiclass EPOLs are essential.

Multiresidue analysis of 85 persistent organic pollutants in small human serum samples by modified QuEChERS preparation with different ionization sources in mass spectrometry.

In this study, a multiresidue analytical method was developed, validated, and applied for quantifying 85 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including 38 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 23 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 24 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from 200 μL of human serum. A modified QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) method was applied to minimize the required sample amount and optimize various conditions including the extraction solvent and the number of extractions. The extraction efficiency was optimized using double extraction with an ethyl acetate/hexane/acetone mixture.

Analysis of Nicotine Metabolites in Hair and Nails Using QuEChERS Method Followed by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Many studies have analyzed nicotine metabolites in blood and urine to determine the toxicity caused by smoking, and assess exposure to cigarettes. Recently, hair and nails have been used as alternative samples for the evaluation of smoking, as not only do they reflect long-term exposure but they are also stable and easy to collect. Liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction has mainly been used to detect nicotine metabolites in biological samples; however, these have disadvantages, such as the use of toxic organic solvents and complex pretreatments.

Effect of sulfidation and dissolved organic matters on toxicity of silver nanoparticles in sediment dwelling organism, Chironomus riparius.

The properties, fate, and toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are readily modified in the environment. Thus, in order to predict the environmental impact of AgNPs, the toxicity test should be conducted to assess the interactions of AgNPs with environmental matrices. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is known to mitigate AgNPs toxicity in natural systems, and it is also known that silver binds strongly to sulfur.

Possible Role of Phthalate in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis: In Vitro, Animal, and Human Data.

Context: Although phthalates were shown to have several negative effects on reproductive function in animals, its role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis remains to be elucidated.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) and to compare the urinary levels of several phthalate metabolites between women with and without endometriosis.

Design: For experimental studies, we used endometrial cell culture and nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mouse models.

Decline in non-smoking workers' urine cotinine levels after increased smoking regulation in Korea.

Objectives: To identify any association between implementing smoking regulation policies and workers' urine cotinine concentration levels in Korea.

Methods: From the first stage of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Research from 2009 to 2011, 2,475 non-smoking workers selected. We analyzed the trend in the changes of cotinine concentration in urine using the general linear model and linear regression, in various jobs as categorized by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and Korea Standard Classification of Occupations (KSCO).

Association between urine phthalate levels and poor attentional performance in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder with evidence of dopamine gene-phthalate interaction.

Although there is some evidence supporting the existence of an association between prenatal maternal or postnatal child's urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and poor attentional performances, the interaction between urine phthalate metabolite levels and genetic variation for neuropsychological deficit of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been examined. The aim of this study was to determine whether phthalate metabolites in urine are associated with poor neuropsychological performance in children with ADHD, and whether such association is affected by genotype-phthalate interaction. A cross-sectional examination of urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and the continuous performance test (CPT) were performed in 179 Korean children with ADHD recruited from department of psychiatry of university hospital.

Assessment of arsenic exposure by measurement of urinary speciated inorganic arsenic metabolites in workers in a semiconductor manufacturing plant.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the exposure to arsenic in preventive maintenance (PM) engineers in a semiconductor industry by detecting speciated inorganic arsenic metabolites in the urine.

Methods: The exposed group included 8 PM engineers from the clean process area and 13 PM engineers from the ion implantation process area; the non-exposed group consisted of 14 office workers from another company who were not occupationally exposed to arsenic. A spot urine specimen was collected from each participant for the detection and measurement of speciated inorganic arsenic metabolites.

Secondhand smoke exposure and urine cotinine concentrations by occupation among Korean workers: results from the 2008 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body.

This study aimed to estimate the status of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure through urine cotinine analysis among nonsmoking workers in Korea and to analyze factors affecting urine cotinine concentrations. Data were based on "The 2008 Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body," a cross-sectional study of the National Institute of Environmental Research of Korea. We selected 1448 nonsmoking adult workers from 200 localities to participate in this survey.

Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the human body 2008: 1-hydroxypyrene, 2-naphthol, and cotinine in urine of the Korean population.

The Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the human body conducts representative Korean population studies, which were first initiated in 2005 in Korea. This study was conducted from 2008 to 2009 to determine the exposure levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nicotine in the Korean general population. The study population consisted of 4702 adult subjects from 196 sampling locations including coastal, rural, and urban areas.

Korea National Survey for Environmental Pollutants in the Human Body 2008: heavy metals in the blood or urine of the Korean population.

Background: Recently, there have been several nationwide episodes involving imported toys contaminated with toxic metals and environmental hormones. In addition, cadmium intoxication has occurred due to soil contamination with cadmium from abandoned metal mines.

Objectives: To investigate the distribution, extent and factors influencing the levels of toxic metals in the blood or urine of the Korean general population over twenty years of age, we studied the blood or urine concentrations of heavy metals in a representative sample of 5087 Koreans in 2008.

Hebei spirit oil spill exposure and subjective symptoms in residents participating in clean-up activities.

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the relationship between crude oil exposure and physical symptoms among residents participating in clean-up work associated with the Hebei Spirit oil spill, 2007 in Korea.

Methods: A total of 288 residents responded to a questionnaire regarding subjective physical symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics and clean-up activities that occurred between two and eight weeks after the accident. Additionally, the urine of 154 of the respondents was analyzed for metabolites of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals.

[The effects of wearing protective devices among residents and volunteers participating in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill].

Objectives: To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill.

Methods: A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident.

Serum selenium level in healthy Koreans.

Of trace elements in the serum of living organisms, selenium (Se) is an essential mineral and plays the role of an antioxidant as selenoproteins protecting the organism against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide, other lipid hydroperoxides, and their derivatives. The aim of this study was to determine the mean serum Se levels in healthy Korean volunteers (50 males and 50 females) by using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry method. The samples were collected at the Health Promotion Centre of Kangnam St.

Evaluation of toxicological monitoring markers using proteomic analysis in rats exposed to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde (FA) is known as a low molecule weight organic compound and one of major components that causes sick building syndrome (SBS), and it has been reported that FA has cytotoxic, hemotoxic, immunotoxic, and genotoxic properties. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has characterized FA as a carcinogen. In this study, we investigated the effects of FA on rat plasma proteins by using proteomic approach.

Oxidative damages in the DNA, lipids, and proteins of rats exposed to isofluranes and alcohols.

DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation were evaluated in rats exposed to a 1% isoflurane atmosphere with or without alcohol administration (administrated by gastric intubation at 4 g/kg body weight as a 50% solution). Single cell gel electrophoresis assays were performed in order to evaluate DNA damage occurring in the lymphocytes, spleen, bone marrow, brain, livers and lung of rats exposed to 1% isoflurane for 30 or 60 min with/without ethanol. Levels of malondialdehydes (MDA), a metabolite of lipid peroxidation, were determined in plasma and tissues.

Comparison of immunnological and genotoxicological parameters in automobile emission inspectors exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

In this study, we investigated the immunotoxicities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 54 automobile emission inspectors and in 84 control subjects, and evaluated associations between immunological and genotoxicological parameters. Specific surface antigens of peripheral lymphocytes, namely, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, and CD69 were subjected to measure immune status in automobile emission inspectors and control subjects. T-and B-cells showed no significant differences between automobile emission inspectors and control subjects (p=0.

DNA damage in T and B lymphocytes, bone marrow, spleens, and livers of rats exposed to benzene.

Single-cell gel electrophoresis assays were performed in order to evaluate DNA damage occurring in the T and B lymphocytes, spleens, bone marrow, and livers of rats exposed to benzene at a concentration of 100, 200, or 400 ppm for 2 or 4 wk. The level of t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA), which is a urinary benzene metabolite, was determined. In the control rats, mean Olive tail moments in the T and B lymphocytes were 1.

Evaluation of immuno- and reproductive toxicities and association between immunotoxicological and genotoxicological parameters in waste incineration workers.

In this study, we investigated immunotoxicity levels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in 31 waste incineration workers and in 84 control subjects, and evaluated the association between immunological and genotoxicological parameters. DNA damage in mononuclear and polynuclear lymphocytes, and the level of the urinary metabolites, 1-OHP and 2-naphthol, were evaluated in both waste incineration workers and control subjects. Significant differences were detected in these values between exposed and control groups.

DNA damage in lymphocytes of benzene exposed workers correlates with trans,trans-muconic acids and breath benzene levels.

Benzene causes many kinds of blood disorders in workers employed in many different environments. These diseases include myelodisplastic syndrome and acute and chronic myelocytic leukemia. In the present study, five occupational work places, including six industrial process types, namely, printing, shoe-making, methylene di-aniline (MDA), nitrobenzene, carbomer, and benzene production were selected, and the levels of breath benzene, and trans,trans-muconic acids (t,t-MA) and phenol in urine were evaluated, as well as hematological changes and lymphocyte DNA damage.

Benzene increases the ratio of arachidonic acids to docosahexaenoic acids and inhibits the de novo synthesis of ceramide in the rat liver.

The present study investigated the effects of inhalation exposure of benzene at 0, 10, 200 and 600 ppm for 1, 2 and 4 weeks on n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and ceramide levels in the rat liver. No significant difference in the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid was found on increasing benzene exposure levels, but the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid decreased with increasing benzene exposure times, with the exception of the phospholipids of rats exposed to 200 and 600 ppm of benzene. A significant increase in the ratio of arachidonic acid to docosahexaenoic acid was found in the phospholipids of rats exposed to 200 and 600 ppm of benzene for 4 weeks.

Evaluation of biological monitoring markers using genomic and proteomic analysis for automobile emission inspectors and waste incinerating workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or 2,3,7,8,-tetracholrodedibenzo-p-dioxins.

In this study, we investigated the effects of PAHs and dioxin on mRNA and plasma protein expression using genomic and proteomic analysis for automobile emission inspectors and waste incineration workers. About 54 workers from automobile emission inspection offices, 31 workers from waste incinerating company and 84 unexposed healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Urine and air samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC and GC/MS.

Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on protein expression in Jurkat T-cells.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants of air, water and soil, and are produced by the incomplete combustion of organic materials. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has characterized PAHs as carcinogens. In this study, we investigated the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), which is the most carcinogenic member of the PAHs, on Jurkat cell protein by proteomic analysis.

DNA damage in T- and B-lymphocytes and granulocytes in emission inspection and incineration workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

In this study, we investigated by using comet assay the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) as a major factor on DNA damage of workers exposed to exhaust fumes. Twenty-four workers from three automobile emission inspection companies, 28 workers from a waste incinerating company, and 43 matched, unexposed healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The mean values of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in automobile emission inspection and waste incineration workers were 0.

Single strand DNA breaks in T- and B-lymphocytes and granulocytes in workers exposed to benzene.

Comet assays were carried out to evaluate DNA damage in T- and B-lymphocytes and granulocytes from 41 workers exposed to benzene in a printing company and 41 unexposed donors. In T-lymphocytes, DNA damage was slightly higher in exposed workers than in controls. The tail moments in the two groups were 1.