Comparison of PGC and Biphenyl stationary phases for the high throughput analysis of DNA epigenetic modifications by UHPLC-MS/MS.

Epigenetic alterations such as cytosine methylation, hydroxymethylation, formylation and carboxylation are well known modifications that are frequently associated with various disease such as cancer. These modifications are usually studied at the gene level to evaluate their impact on the expression of genes but there is a need for a whole genome quantification that can be more easily used as effect biomarkers. Here, we compare two high throughput methods for the UHPLC-MS/MS analysis of these four epigenetic markers in large cohort studies.

Exposure of the general French population to herbicides, pyrethroids, organophosphates, organochlorines, and carbamate pesticides in 2014-2016: Results from the Esteban study.

Esteban is a nationwide cross-sectional study conducted in France in 2014-2016, including 2503 adults aged 18-74 years old and 1104 children aged 6-17 years old, as part of the French Human Biomonitoring programme. The present paper describes the biological levels of five families of pesticides analysed on random sub-samples of 900 adults and 500 children for urine concentrations, and 759 adults and 255 children for serum concentrations, and the determinants of exposure. Organophosphates, carbamates and herbicides were measured in urine by UPLC-MS/MS; chlorophenols and pyrethroids were measured in urine by GC-MS/MS; specific organochlorines were measured in serum by GC-HRMS.

Herbicide exposure during occupational knapsack spraying in French gardeners and municipal workers.

Context: There is a lack of data on pesticide exposure levels during spraying with a knapsack, while it could have important implications for their users' health.

Methods: We assessed levels and determinants of exposure in 24 male private landscapers/gardeners and municipal workers in France in 2011. Actual dermal exposure to glyphosate was assessed with cotton undergarments and gloves, and a cotton coverall changed between mixing and spraying to assess the contribution of each phase and body area to overall contamination.

Pesticide exposure of workers in apple growing in France.

Objective: Although apple trees are heavily sprayed, few studies have assessed the pesticide exposure of operators and workers in apple orchards. However, these data are crucial for assessing the health impact of such exposures. The aim of this study was to measure pesticide exposure in apple growing according to tasks and body parts.

Exposure of the French population to bisphenols, phthalates, parabens, glycol ethers, brominated flame retardants, and perfluorinated compounds in 2014-2016: Results from the Esteban study.

Background: As part of the French Human Biomonitoring (HBM) programme, the Esteban study described, among other things, biomarkers levels of various chemicals in adults (18-74 years old) and children (6-17 years old). This paper describes the design of the study and provides, for the first time, data on the biological exposure of the general French population to a wide range of contaminants posing a threat to human health which are currently found in domestic environments.

Methods: Esteban is a cross-sectional study conducted on a nationwide sample of the French general population.