Exposure to several polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with chronic kidney disease among general adults: Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS) 2015-2017

Nationwide human biomonitoring strategy in Korea: Prioritization of novel contaminants using GC/TOF-MS with suspect and non-target screening

According to global regulations on hazardous chemicals, numerous alternatives have been manufactured and used in various consumer products. Suspect and non-target analyses are advanced analytical techniques used for identifying novel contaminants. In the present study, suspect and non-target analytical approaches using a gas chromatography coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer were applied to identify novel contaminants in 40 pooled serum samples from a sub-population (n = 400) of the 2015-2017 national biomonitoring program. Suspect screening analysis was performed using an in-house library based on retention times and quantifier and qualifier ions for 222 contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants and emerging contaminants. Non-target analysis was performed by matching deconvoluted mass spectra to the spectral library from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The suspect screening analysis identified organochlorinated pesticides, organophosphate esters, phthalate esters, and alternative plasticizers. Among the 68 compounds identified in the non-target analysis, siloxanes, novel organophosphate esters, and UV ink photoinitiators were considered candidates for future inclusion in the biomonitoring program based upon significant human exposure. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of suspect and non-target analysis to identify novel contaminants to prioritize for inclusion within a national human biomonitoring program.

Prospective study on the joint effect of persistent organic pollutants and glucose metabolism on chronic kidney disease: Modifying effects of lifestyle interventions

There is no evidence on the associations between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the Chinese rural population. We aimed to investigate the individual and mixed effects of 22 POPs on the prevalence and incidence of CKD, and the joint effects of POPs and abnormal glucose metabolism as well as the modification effects of healthy lifestyle on these associations. A total of 2775 subjects, including 925 subjects with normal plasma glucose (NPG) and 925 subjects with prediabetes (PDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), were enrolled from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. Logistic regression and quantile g-computation were performed to assess the individual and mixed effects of POPs on the risk of CKD. Joint effects of POPs and abnormal glucose metabolism status, as well as the modification effects of lifestyle on CKD were assessed. After 3-year follow-up, an increment of ln-o,p'-DDT was related to an elevated risk of CKD prevalence. Positive associations of p,p'-DDE and β-BHC with CKD incidence were observed (P < 0.05). In addition, participants with high levels of ∑POPs were associated elevated incidence risk of CKD (OR: 1.217, 95%CI: 1.008-1.469). One quartile increase in POPs mixture was associated with the increased incidence of CKD among T2DM patients (P < 0.05). Further, a higher risk of CKD was observed among PDM and T2DM patients with high levels of o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, β-BHC, and ∑POPs than NPG subjects with low levels of pollutants. In addition, interactive effects of ∑POPs and lifestyle score on CKD incidence were found. Individual and mixed exposure to POPs increased the prevalence and incidence of CKD, and glucose metabolic status exacerbated the risk of CKD resulting from such exposures. Further, the modifying effects of lifestyle were observed, highlighting the importance of precision prevention for high-risk CKD population and healthy lifestyle intervention measures.

Individual and joint effects of organophosphate esters and hypertension or diabetes on renal injury among Chinese adults

Exposure to environmental contaminants and the development of hypertension and diabetes represent crucial risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Toxicological studies have revealed that organophosphate esters (OPEs) impair kidney function. However, the joint effects of OPE exposure on kidney injury and the interactions of OPE exposure with hypertension or diabetes on kidney injury remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the individual and joint effects of OPE exposure on renal injury, as well as the potential interaction between OPE exposure and hypertension or diabetes on kidney injury. The study enrolled 1938 participants from Wuhan, China. To explore the relationship between OPE exposure and renal injury, we conducted multivariate linear and logistic regression analysis. The results indicated that each unit increase in 4-hydroxyphenyl diphenyl phosphate (4-HO-DPHP), bis(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP), and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) (1 μg/L-ln transformed) was associated with a decreased 0.57 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95%CI: -1.05, -0.09), 0.85 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95%CI: -1.52, -0.19) and 1.24 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95%CI: -2.26, -0.23) of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), while each unit increase in 4-HO-DPHP and BBOEP (1 μg/L-ln transformed) was associated with 14% and 20% elevation of incident impaired renal function (IRF) risk. Notably the highest tertile of BCIPHIPP was positively associated with eGFR, although the p for trend ＞ 0.05. We employed Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quartile-based g-computation (qgcomp) models to explore the joint effects of OPE mixtures on eGFR and IRF. Both the results of BKMR and qgcomp model consistently demonstrated negative associations between OPE mixtures and eGFR, and TCEP and 4-HO-DPHP were major contributors. Furthermore, we observed multiplicative interactions of diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), BBOEP, di-ocresyl phosphate (DoCP) & di-p-cresyl phosphate (DpCP), 1-hydroxy-2-propyl bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPHIPP) and hypertension or diabetes on kidney injury (all P＜0.05). Those with diabetes or hypertension and higher OPE metabolite concentrations had increased risk of kidney function impairment compared to those who did not have diabetes or hypertension. These findings suggest that specific OPE exposure may elevate the risk of renal injury, particularly among hypertensive and diabetic populations.

Associations of exposure to organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls with chronic kidney disease among adults: the modifying effects of lifestyle

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has been reported to be associated with renal impairment and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Nevertheless, the research results thus far have exhibited inconsistency, and the effect of lifestyle on their association is not clear. In this study, we assessed the correlation between serum OCPs/PCBs and CKD and renal function indicators including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) among 1721 Chinese adults. In order to further investigate the potential impact of lifestyle, we conducted joint associations of lifestyle and OCPs/PCBs on CKD. We found a negative correlation between p,p'-DDE and eGFR, while logistic regression results showed a positive correlation between PCB-153 and CKD (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.21, 3.06). Quantile g-computation regression analyses showed that the association between co-exposure to OCPs/PCBs and CKD was not significant, but p,p'-DDE and PCB-153 were the main contributors to the negative and positive co-exposure effects of eGFR and CKD, respectively, which is consistent with the regression results. Participants with both relatively high PCB-153 exposure and an unhealthy lifestyle had the highest risk of CKD, in the joint association analysis. The observed associations were generally supported by the FAS-eGFR method. Our research findings suggest that exposure to OCPs/PCBs may be associated with decreased eGFR and increased prevalence of CKD in humans, and a healthy lifestyle can to some extent alleviate the adverse association between PCB-153 exposure and CKD.

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls, adherence to an ideal cardiovascular health, and arterial stiffness among Chinese adults

This study aimed to assess the relationships between exposure to individual organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and their mixture and arterial stiffness and explore whether adherence to an ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) could mitigate these associations. The cross-sectional study enrolled 1437 Chinese adults between March and May 2019 in Wuhan, China. OCPs and PCBs concentrations were measured using solid phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). CVH was determined by three behavioral and four biological metrics and categorized as ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH. We applied generalized linear model and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression to evaluate the associations of exposure to individual OCPs or PCBs and their mixture with baPWV, respectively. We found that participants with detectable levels of heptachlor epoxide, PCB-153, and PCB-180 had higher baPWV (β: 34.25, 95% CI 14.28-54.22; β: 27.64, 95% CI 7.90-47.38; and β: 30.51, 95% CI 10.68-50.35) than those with undetectable levels. In WQS regression, the mixture of OCPs and PCBs was related to a higher baPWV (β: 24.93, 95% CI 2.70-47.15). Compared with participants with ideal CVH and undetectable OCPs or PCBs levels, those with poor CVH and detectable OCPs or PCBs levels had the highest increase in baPWV (heptachlor epoxide: β: 147.94, 95% CI 112.52-183.55; PCB-153: β: 150.22, 95% CI 115.40-185.04; PCB-180: β: 147.02, 95% CI 111.66-182.38). Our findings suggested that individual OCPs, PCBs, and their mixture exposure were positively associated with arterial stiffness, and adherence to an ideal CVH may mitigate the adverse effect.

A Facile and Rapid Strategy for Quantifying PCBs in Cereals Based on Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry: A Reference for Safety Concerns in Sustainable Textiles

Cereals and their derivative products such as starch and cyclodextrin are significant natural materials for sustainable textile processing (e.g., sizing, dispersing, etc.). However, the contamination of cereals with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is often neglected, which has led to increasing concerns due to the adverse effects on end users. Therefore, monitoring PCBs in cereals is of great importance in preventing health risks. However, high starch, protein, and fat contents make cereals a complicated matrix and can challenge the analysis of PCBs in cereals. This work describes a facile and rapid strategy for quantifying 18 PCBs in cereals that included corn, wheat, and rice through dispersive solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Importantly, this was the first time that carboxyl-modified, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were incorporated in the detection of PCBs in cereals. The influences of several parameters on the extraction and clean-up efficiency were investigated; these included the type and volume of extraction solvent, sonication time, and the type and dosage of the adsorbent. The matrix effects on quantification were also evaluated. This approach exhibited a better clean-up performance. All the analytes showed weak matrix effects, and thus a solvent standard plot could be prepared for their quantification. Spiking experiments in the selected matrices at three concentration levels from 0.5 to 10 μg/kg resulted in satisfactory recoveries that ranged from 79.2% to 110.5% with relative standard deviations (RSDs; n = 6) less than 10.3%. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.04 to 0.1 μg/kg and 0.1 to 0.4 μg/kg, respectively. The practical application of this method was investigated by analyzing actual cereal samples, which demonstrated that the proposed approach was a facile and efficient strategy for PCB determination and provided a reference for the safety evaluation of sustainable textiles. The method also could be generalized to other troublesome samples for testing of multiple PCBs.