Identification of chemicals of emerging concern in urine of Flemish adolescents using a new suspect screening workflow for LC-QTOF-MS.

An essential step in human biomonitoring or molecular epidemiology programs is to estimate human exposure to environmental chemicals. Despite significant progress in the capabilities of analytical methods, the number of pollutants and their metabolites keeps increasing continuously. Some of these relatively unknown chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) may pose significant health risks to humans and biota, but remain virtually undetected in traditional HBM-studies.

Neurobehavioural and cognitive effects of prenatal exposure to organochlorine compounds in three year old children.

Background: We report data of a Belgian observational prospective cohort study regarding cognitive and behavioural development until the age of 36 months in relation to internal exposure to organochlorine pollutants [sum of polychlorinated biphenyls (sum PCB), dioxin-like activity, PCB118, PCB170, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE)] measured in cord blood.

Methods: Participants were recruited as part of an Flemish Environmental Health Survey (2002-2006). Two hundred and six mother-child pairs were recruited.

Exposure levels, determinants and risk assessment of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in adolescents (14-15 years) from the Flemish Environment and Health Study.

The ubiquitous use of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers (PFRs) in a variety of consumer products has led to widespread human exposure. Since certain PFRs are developmental and carcinogenic toxicants, detailed exposure assessments are essential to investigate the risk associated with environmental exposure levels. However, such data are still lacking for European countries.

Arsenic speciation in fish and shellfish from the North Sea (Southern bight) and Açu Port area (Brazil) and health risks related to seafood consumption.

In North Sea and Port Açu (Brazil) coastal areas, high arsenic (As) concentrations were observed in water, soil and sediments. Therefore, the impact of this contamination on fish and shellfish species bought from local fishermen was studied. Total As was assessed with ICP-OES (Brazil) and ICP-MS (North Sea) after microwave digestion.

Human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and fertility: A case-control study in male subfertility patients.

Background: Dioxins, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, brominated flame retardants, bisphenol A, triclosan, perfluorinated compounds and phthalates are known as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate whether higher exposure to EDCs is associated with increased subfertility in men.

Methods: We measured biomarkers of exposure in 163 men, recruited through four fertility clinics.

Causes of genome instability: the effect of low dose chemical exposures in modern society.

Genome instability is a prerequisite for the development of cancer. It occurs when genome maintenance systems fail to safeguard the genome's integrity, whether as a consequence of inherited defects or induced via exposure to environmental agents (chemicals, biological agents and radiation). Thus, genome instability can be defined as an enhanced tendency for the genome to acquire mutations; ranging from changes to the nucleotide sequence to chromosomal gain, rearrangements or loss.

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: the challenge ahead.

Lifestyle factors are responsible for a considerable portion of cancer incidence worldwide, but credible estimates from the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest that the fraction of cancers attributable to toxic environmental exposures is between 7% and 19%. To explore the hypothesis that low-dose exposures to mixtures of chemicals in the environment may be combining to contribute to environmental carcinogenesis, we reviewed 11 hallmark phenotypes of cancer, multiple priority target sites for disruption in each area and prototypical chemical disruptors for all targets, this included dose-response characterizations, evidence of low-dose effects and cross-hallmark effects for all targets and chemicals. In total, 85 examples of chemicals were reviewed for actions on key pathways/mechanisms related to carcinogenesis.

Internal exposure to organochlorine pollutants and cadmium and self-reported health status: a prospective study.

In this paper, based on the Flemish biomonitoring programs, we describe the associations between internal exposure to organochlorine pollutants and to cadmium (measured in 2004-2005 for adults aged 50-65 years) and self-reported health status obtained through a questionnaire in November 2011. Dioxin-like activity in serum showed a significant positive association with risk of cancer for women. After adjustment for confounders and covariates, the odds ratio for an exposure equal to the 90th percentile was 2.

Determinants of bisphenol A and phthalate metabolites in urine of Flemish adolescents.

As part of the second Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS II), bisphenol-A (BPA) and different phthalate metabolites were analyzed, for the first time, in the urine of 210 adolescents in Flanders, Belgium. All chemicals had a detection frequency above 90%. For all compounds, except the sum of DEHP, highest levels were detected during spring.

Trace metal concentrations measured in blood and urine of adolescents in Flanders, Belgium: reference population and case studies Genk-Zuid and Menen.

In the Flemish human biomonitoring programme FLEHS II (2007-2011) trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mn, Tl, Sb, As and toxic relevant arsenic) were analysed in the blood and urine of adolescents (14-15 years old) in the reference population in Flanders and in areas of important industrial activities: Genk-Zuid and Menen. After adjustment of the results for confounding factors, the adolescents living in Genk-Zuid had higher levels of Cr, Cu and Tl in blood, higher levels of Cd and toxic relevant arsenic (TRA) in urine, but lower levels of Ni in blood and Sb in urine compared to the reference population. In Menen higher levels of Cd and Cu in urine, higher concentrations of Tl in blood but lower concentrations of Pb in blood and lower Ni, Sb and As in urine were found compared to the reference population.

Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants and behavioural problems at age 7-8years.

Animal studies showed that the developing brain is particularly sensitive to chemical exposure. Human studies carried out in areas with high exposures have proven neurodevelopmental disorders in relation to e.g.

Opening the research agenda for selection of hot spots for human biomonitoring research in Belgium: a participatory research project.

Background: In order to select priority hotspots for environment and health research in Flanders (Belgium), an open procedure was organized. Environment and health hotspots are strong polluting point sources with possible health effects for residents living in the vicinity of the hot spot. The selection procedure was part of the work of the Flemish Centre of Expertise for Environment and Health, which investigates the relation between environmental pollution and human health.

The relation between the estimated dietary intake of PCDD/Fs and levels in blood in a Flemish population (50-65 years).

Dioxin-like activity was measured in the serum of 1425 Flemish men and women via the CALUX assay. The adults, aged between 50 and 65 years, participated in a large biomonitoring program, executed by the Flemish Center of Expertise for Environment and Health between 2002 and 2006. Within the context of this biomonitoring program also dietary intake of dioxin-like contaminants was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire.

Pollutant effects on genotoxic parameters and tumor-associated protein levels in adults: a cross sectional study.

Background: This study intended to investigate whether residence in areas polluted by heavy industry, waste incineration, a high density of traffic and housing or intensive use of pesticides, could contribute to the high incidence of cancer observed in Flanders.

Methods: Subjects were 1583 residents aged 50-65 from 9 areas with different types of pollution. Cadmium, lead, p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, PCBs and dioxin-like activity (Calux test) were measured in blood, and cadmium, t,t'-muconic acid and 1-hydroxypyrene in urine.

Endocrine disruptors and abnormalities of pubertal development.

Onset and development of puberty is regulated by the neuroendocrine system. Population-based studies worldwide have observed secular trends towards earlier puberty development. These changes are apparently caused by environmental factors such as improved socio-economic status, improved health care and nutrition.

The need to develop centers for environmental oncology.

The scale and scope of the cancer problem in the United States today is much greater than four decades ago when the formal war against the disease was first announced. Patterns of the disease are not fully explained by known risk factors. Much progress has been made in understanding the molecular basis of carcinogenesis, particularly the near consensus (realization) that virtually all cancers arise from an accumulation of genetic mutations and the more recent recognition of the role of inflammation and the tissue microenvironment, in particular for hormone-dependent cancers.

Endogenous DNA damage in humans: a review of quantitative data.

DNA damage plays a major role in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and ageing. The vast majority of mutations in human tissues are certainly of endogenous origin. A thorough knowledge of the types and prevalence of endogenous DNA damage is thus essential for an understanding of the interactions of endogenous processes with exogenous agents and the influence of damage of endogenous origin on the induction of cancer and other diseases.

Immunologic and other biological parameters as a function of smoking status and of residence in areas differing in terms of air pollution.

In the industrial region of La Louvière (Belgium), healthy persons, presenting at a consultation of preventive medicine, showed differences as a function of smoking and of residence in one of four areas differing in sources of emissions, population density and green zones. Smokers had significantly (P View Article and Find Full Text PDF