A randomized controlled trial of a housing intervention to reduce endocrine disrupting chemical exposures in children.

Few studies have considered household interventions for reducing endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) exposures. We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, originally designed to reduce lead exposure, to evaluate if the intervention lowered EDC exposures in young children. Study participants were children from the Cincinnati, Ohio area (n = 250, HOME Study).

Twenty years later: PBDEs in fish from U.S. sites with historically extreme contamination.

Shortly after their production ban PBDE environmental levels retreated from their peak (circa 2000), but rates of decrease appear to be slowing. Therefore, to update environmental PBDE trends, this study re-examined a U.S.

Prenatal exposure to replacement flame retardants and organophosphate esters and childhood adverse respiratory outcomes.

Background: The association of prenatal exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) and replacement brominated flame retardants (RBFRs) with respiratory outcomes has not been previously investigated in humans, despite reports that these chemicals can cross the placenta and alter lung development as well as immune functions.

Methods: In a cohort of 342 pregnant women recruited between 2003 and 2006 in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio Metropolitan area, we measured indoor dust OPEs and RBFRs at 20 weeks of gestation and urinary OPEs at 16 and 26 weeks of gestation and at delivery. We performed generalized estimating equations and linear mixed models adjusting for covariates to determine the associations of prenatal OPEs and RBFRs exposures with adverse respiratory outcomes in childhood, reported every six months until age 5 years and with lung function at age 5 years.

Sorption of representative organic contaminants on microplastics: Effects of chemical physicochemical properties, particle size, and biofilm presence.

Microplastic pollution has attracted mounting concerns worldwide. Microplastics may concentrate organic and metallic contaminants; thus, affecting their transport, fate and organismal exposure. To better understand organic contaminant-microplastic interactions, our study explored the sorption of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), α-hexabromocyclododecane (α-HBCDD), and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyvinylchloride (PVC) microplastics under saline conditions.

Microplastics exacerbate virus-mediated mortality in fish.

Microplastics are a persistent and increasing environmental hazard. They have been reported to interact with a variety of biotic and abiotic environmental stressors, but the ramifications of such interactions are largely unknown. We investigated virus-induced mortalities in a commercially important salmonid following exposure to microplastics, plastic microfibers, and natural (non-plastic) microparticles.

Long-Term Exposure to Environmentally Relevant Doses of Large Polystyrene Microplastics Disturbs Lipid Homeostasis via Bowel Function Interference.

The question of whether long-term chronic exposure to microplastics (MPs) could induce dose- and size-dependent adverse effects in mammals remains controversial and poorly understood. Our study explored potential health risks from dietary exposure to environmentally relevant doses of polystyrene (PS) MPs, through a mouse model and integrated analyses of the interruptions of fecal microbial metagenomes and plasma lipidomes. After 21 weeks of exposure to the MPs (40-100 μm), mice mainly exhibited gut microbiota dysbiosis, tissue inflammation, and plasma lipid metabolism disorder, although no notable accumulation of MPs was observed in the gut or liver.

Polystyrene microplastics reduce abundance of developing B cells in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) primary cultures.

Environmental microplastic pollution (including polystyrene, PS) may have detrimental effects on the health of aquatic organisms. Accumulation of PS microplastics has been reported to affect innate immune cells and inflammatory responses in fish. To date, knowledge on effects of microplastics on the antibody response is still very limited.

A noninvasive environmental monitoring tool for brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) assisted by conservation detection dogs.

Fecal matter is a useful noninvasive/nondestructive media for evaluating contaminants in wildlife, as residues therein have been observed to correlate with body burdens. Conservation detection dog-handler teams can be used to optimize the acquisition of fecal samples. To build on previous work, sentinel-species' (i.

Microplastics affect sedimentary microbial communities and nitrogen cycling.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in estuarine, coastal, and deep sea sediments. The impacts of microplastics on sedimentary microbial ecosystems and biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles, however, have not been well reported. To evaluate if microplastics influence the composition and function of sedimentary microbial communities, we conducted a microcosm experiment using salt marsh sediment amended with polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane foam (PUF) or polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics.

Organophosphate esters in a cohort of pregnant women: Variability and predictors of exposure.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are a group of chemicals used as flame retardants and plasticizers that replaced polybrominated diphenyl ethers in consumer products such as furniture and electronics. To characterize exposure to OPEs during fetal development, we measured urinary OPE metabolite concentrations in women twice during pregnancy (16 and 26 weeks' gestation) and at delivery (n = 357). We also previously quantified house dust OPE parent compound concentrations at 20 weeks' gestation (n = 317).

Concentrations and loadings of organophosphate and replacement brominated flame retardants in house dust from the home study during the PBDE phase-out.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, a class of flame retardants and endocrine disruptors, have been substituted in new products by organophosphate (OPFR) and replacement brominated flame retardants (RBFR). OPFRs and RBFRs readily migrate from consumer products into dust where humans are exposed via incidental ingestion and inhalation. We quantified concentrations and loadings of OPFRs and RBFRs in house dust samples (n = 317) collected from the homes of Cincinnati women between 2003 and 2006 and examined their associations with demographic and house characteristics.

Assessment of legacy and emerging contaminants in an introduced catfish and implications for the fishery.

Since introduction into the Chesapeake Bay watershed in the 1970s, blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) populations have increased, impacting native species. One strategy suggested to limit their growing numbers is to expand the existing commercial fishery. However, the promotion of human consumption of this large, omnivorous fish may increase exposure to contaminants of concern (COC).

Brominated and organophosphate flame retardants along a sediment transect encompassing the Guiyu, China e-waste recycling zone.

e-Waste recycling using crude techniques releases a complex, yet incompletely characterized mixture of hazardous materials, including flame retardants (FRs), to the environment. Their migration downstream and the associated risks also remain undocumented. We examined 26 FRs (18 brominated (BFRs: 12 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, plus 6 alternatives) and 8 organophosphate esters (OPEs)) in surficial sediments of the Lian River.

Examination of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware Bay and River in 2015.

A study of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in the coastal Inland Bays of Delaware, and the Delaware Bay and Delaware River in 2015 examined spatial and temporal trends in contaminant exposure, food web transfer and reproduction. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), coplanar PCB toxic equivalents, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other flame retardants in sample eggs were generally greatest in the Delaware River. Concentrations of legacy contaminants in 2015 Delaware Bay eggs were lower than values observed in the 1970s through early 2000s.

Addressing the Issue of Microplastics in the Wake of the Microbead-Free Waters Act-A New Standard Can Facilitate Improved Policy.

The United States Microbead-Free Waters Act was signed into law in December 2015. It is a bipartisan agreement that will eliminate one preventable source of microplastic pollution in the United States. Still, the bill is criticized for being too limited in scope, and also for discouraging the development of biodegradable alternatives that ultimately are needed to solve the bigger issue of plastics in the environment.

Human Indoor Exposure to Airborne Halogenated Flame Retardants: Influence of Airborne Particle Size.

Inhalation of halogenated flame-retardants (HFRs) released from consumer products is an important route of exposure. However, not all airborne HFRs are respirable, and thus interact with vascular membranes within the gas exchange (alveolar) region of the lung. HFRs associated with large (>4 µm), inhalable airborne particulates are trapped on the mucosal lining of the respiratory tract and then are expelled or swallowed.

Chesapeake Bay fish-osprey (Pandion haliaetus) food chain: Evaluation of contaminant exposure and genetic damage.

From 2011 to 2013, a large-scale ecotoxicological study was conducted in several Chesapeake Bay (USA) tributaries (Susquehanna River and flats, the Back, Baltimore Harbor/Patapsco Rivers, Anacostia/ middle Potomac, Elizabeth and James Rivers) and Poplar Island as a mid-Bay reference site. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) diet and the transfer of contaminants from fish to osprey eggs were evaluated. The most bioaccumulative compounds (biomagnification factor > 5) included p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and bromodiphenyl ether (BDE) congeners 47, 99, 100, and 154.

Hexabromocyclododecane flame retardant in Antarctica: Research stations as sources.

Historical persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are banned from Antarctica under international treaty; but contemporary-use POPs can enter as additives within polymer and textile products. Over their useful lives these products may release additives in-situ. Indeed, we observed 226 and 109 ng/g dry weight (dw) of the total concentrations of α-, β- and γ-hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) in indoor dust from McMurdo Station (U.

Decadal re-evaluation of contaminant exposure and productivity of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay Regions of Concern.

The last large-scale ecotoxicological study of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Chesapeake Bay was conducted in 2000-2001 and focused on U.S. EPA-designated Regions of Concern (ROCs; Baltimore Harbor/Patapsco, Anacostia/middle Potomac, and Elizabeth Rivers).

Halogenated flame-retardant concentrations in settled dust, respirable and inhalable particulates and polyurethane foam at gymnastic training facilities and residences.

Halogenated flame-retardants (FRs) are used in a wide array of polymer-containing products. Animal studies and structure-activity modeling exercises suggest that FR exposure may result in detrimental toxicological effects. Workers with extended contact with such polymers (e.

Photochemical and microbial transformation of emerging flame retardants: cause for concern?

Among anthropogenic chemicals, flame retardants have attracted mounting environmental concerns. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have been conducted worldwide to investigate flame-retardant sources, environmental distribution, wildlife and human exposure, and toxicity. Data generated have demonstrated that some flame-retardant substances such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to exposed organisms.

Systematic investigation of factors controlling supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of spiked and aged PCBs from edible tissues of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus).

Systematic investigation of factors controlling supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of spiked and naturally incurred (aged) PCBs from edible tissues of the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) was undertaken. Effects of extraction pressure, temperature and time, CO2 flow rate and total volume, and collection temperature were assessed. Temperature dramatically impacted extraction efficiency, especially at lower pressures.

Polybrominated diphenyl ether accumulation in an agricultural soil ecosystem receiving wastewater sludge amendments.

Few studies have addressed bioaccumulation of organic pollutants associated with land-application of biosolids. We thus examined PBDE burdens within a soil ecosystem receiving long-term sludge amendments and a reference soil ecosystem receiving only manure inputs. No PBDEs were detected in reference site samples, but sludge-amended soils contained 17 600 ± 2330 μg/kg ∑3-7PBDE (total organic carbon (TOC) basis).