Population physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling for the human lactational transfer of PCB-153 with consideration of worldwide human biomonitoring results

Systematic review of physiologically based kinetic lactation models for transfer of xenobiotic compounds to milk

Lactational elimination has been described mathematically for nearly 50 years. Over 40 published articles, containing >50 physiologically based kinetic (PBK) lactation models were included in the systematic review. These PBK models described the lactational elimination of xenobiotic compounds in humans, rats, mice, and dairy cows and goats. A total of 78 compounds have been modelled, ranging from industrial chemicals, pesticides, to pain medication, antibiotics, and caffeine. Few models included several species or compounds, and models were thus generally not translational or generic. Three dairy cow models mechanistically described the intramammary disposition of pharmaceuticals after intramammary administration, including volume changes caused by milking, while empirically describing the remaining pharmacokinetics. The remaining models were semi- or whole body PBK models, describing long-term exposure of environmental pollutants, or short-term exposure of pharmaceuticals. The absolute majority described the disposition to the mammary gland or milk with perfusion limited compartments, but permeability limited models were available as well. With long-term exposure, models often included changes in milk volume and/or consumption by the offspring, and changes in body weight of offspring. Periodic emptying of the mammary gland, as with feeding or milking, was sparsely applied. Rodent models used similar physiological parameters, while values of physiological parameters applied in human models could range widely. When milk composition was included in the models, it most often included the fat content. The review gives an extensive overview of the applied functions and modelling strategies of PBK lactation models.

A Generic Pharmacokinetic Model for Quantifying Mother-to-Offspring Transfer of Lipophilic Persistent Environmental Chemicals

Lipophilic persistent environmental chemicals (LPECs) can accumulate in a woman's body and transfer to her developing child across the placenta and via breast milk. To assess health risks associated with developmental exposures to LPECs, we developed a pharmacokinetic (PK) model that quantifies mother-to-offspring transfer of LPECs during pregnancy and lactation and facilitates internal dosimetry calculations for offspring. We parameterized the model for mice, rats, and humans using time-varying functions for body mass and milk consumption rates. The only required substance-specific parameter is the elimination half-life of the LPEC in the animal species of interest. We used the model to estimate whole-body concentrations in mothers and offspring following maternal exposures to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) and compared these with measured concentrations from animal studies. We also compared estimated concentrations for humans to those generated using a previously published human LPEC PK model. Finally, we compared human equivalent doses (HEDs) calculated using our model and an allometric scaling method. Estimated and observed whole-body concentrations of HCB and PCB 153 in offspring followed similar trends and differed by less than 60%. Simulations of human exposure yielded concentration estimates comparable to those generated using the previously published model, with concentrations in offspring differing by less than 12%. HEDs calculated using our PK model were about 2 orders of magnitude lower than those generated using allometric scaling. Our PK model can be used to calculate internal dose metrics for offspring and corresponding HEDs and thus informs assessment of developmental toxicity risks associated with LPECs.

Clinical lactation studies and the role of pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation in predicting drug exposures in breastfed infants

The relative lack of information on medication use during breastfeeding is an ongoing problem for health professionals and mothers alike. Most nursing mothers are prescribed some form of medication, yet some mothers either discontinue breastfeeding or avoid medications entirely. Although regulatory authorities have proposed a framework for clinical lactation studies, data on drug passage into breastmilk are often lacking. Model-based approaches can potentially be used to estimate the passage of drugs into milk, predict exposures in breastfed infants, and identify drugs that need clinical lactation studies. When a human study is called for, measurement of the drug concentration in milk are often adequate to characterize safety. Data from these studies can be leveraged to further refine pharmacokinetic models with subsequent Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the spread of exposure values. Both clinical lactation studies and model-based approaches have some limitations and pitfalls which are discussed.

Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling of infant exposure to efavirenz through breastfeeding

Background: Very little is known about the level of infant exposure to many drugs commonly used during breastfeeding. The aim of this study was to develop a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for predicting infant exposure to maternal efavirenz through breastmilk. Methods: A breastfeeding PBPK model combining whole-body maternal and infant sub-models was constructed from drug-specific and system parameters affecting drug disposition using mathematical descriptions. The model was validated against published data on the pharmacokinetics of efavirenz in nursing mother-infant pairs. Further simulations were conducted to assess exposure in the context of the 400 mg reduced dose of efavirenz as well as best- and worse-case scenarios. Results: The model adequately described efavirenz pharmacokinetics, with over 80% of observed data points (203 matched breast milk and plasma pairs) within the predictive interval. All parameters were within 2-fold difference of clinical data. Median (range) predicted versus observed breast milk AUC0-24, Cmax and Cmin at the standard 600 mg dose were 75.0 (18.5-324) versus 68.5 (26.3-257) µg.hr/mL, 4.56 (1.17-16.0) versus 5.39 (1.43-18.4) µg/mL, and 2.11 (0.38-12.3) versus 1.68 (0.316-9.57) µg/mL, respectively. Predicted plasma AUC0-24, Cmax and Cmin at 400 mg reduced dose were similar to clinical data from non-breastfeeding adults. Model-predicted infant plasma concentrations were similar to clinical data, 0.15 (0.026–0.78) μg/mL at the 400 mg maternal dose in pooled analysis, approximately 25% lower than simulated exposure at 600 mg. The maximum exposure index was observed in the youngest infants, 5.9% (2.2-20) at 400 mg and 8.7% (3.2-29) at 600 mg. Thirteen and 36% of 10 days-1 month old infants were predicted to have exposure index above the 10% recommended threshold at 400 mg and 600 mg maternal dose, respectively. Conclusions: This application of PBPK modelling opens up opportunities for expanding our understanding of infant exposure to maternal drugs through breastfeeding.

Persistent Threats by Persistent Pollutants: Chemical Nature, Concerns and Future Policy Regarding PCBs-What Are We Heading For?

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated sites around the world affect human health for many years, showing long latency periods of health effects. The impact of the different PCB congeners on human health should not be underestimated, as they are ubiquitous, stable molecules and reactive in biological tissues, leading to neurological, endocrine, genetic, and systemic adverse effects in the human body. Moreover, bioaccumulation of these compounds in fatty tissues of animals (e.g., fish and mammals) and in soils/sediments, results in chronic exposure to these substances. Efficient destruction methods are important to decontaminate polluted sites worldwide. This paper provides an in-depth overview of (i) the history and accidents with PCBs in the 20th century, (ii) the mechanisms that are responsible for the hazardous effects of PCBs, and (iii) the current policy regarding PCB control and decontamination. Contemporary impacts on human health of historical incidents are discussed next to an up to date overview of the health effects caused by PCBs and their mechanisms. Methods to decontaminate sites are reviewed. Steps which lead to a policy of banning the production and distribution of PCBs are overviewed in a context of preventing future accidents and harm to the environment and human health.

Use of Physiologically Based Kinetic Modeling-Based Reverse Dosimetry to Predict in Vivo Toxicity from in Vitro Data

The development of reliable nonanimal based testing strategies, such as in vitro bioassays, is the holy grail in current human safety testing of chemicals. However, the use of in vitro toxicity data in risk assessment is not straightforward. One of the main issues is that concentration-response curves from in vitro models need to be converted to in vivo dose-response curves. These dose-response curves are needed in toxicological risk assessment to obtain a point of departure to determine safe exposure levels for humans. Recent scientific developments enable this translation of in vitro concentration-response curves to in vivo dose-response curves using physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modeling-based reverse dosimetry. The present review provides an overview of the examples available in the literature on the prediction of in vivo toxicity using PBK modeling-based reverse dosimetry of in vitro toxicity data, showing that proofs-of-principle are available for toxicity end points ranging from developmental toxicity, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and neurotoxicity to DNA adduct formation. This review also discusses the promises and pitfalls, and the future perspectives of the approach. Since proofs-of-principle available so far have been provided for the prediction of toxicity in experimental animals, future research should focus on the use of in vitro toxicity data obtained in human models to predict the human situation using human PBK models. This would facilitate human- instead of experimental animal-based approaches in risk assessment.

Uncertainties in human health risk assessment of environmental contaminants: A review and perspective

Addressing uncertainties in human health risk assessment is a critical issue when evaluating the effects of contaminants on public health. A range of uncertainties exist through the source-to-outcome continuum, including exposure assessment, hazard and risk characterisation. While various strategies have been applied to characterising uncertainty, classical approaches largely rely on how to maximise the available resources. Expert judgement, defaults and tools for characterising quantitative uncertainty attempt to fill the gap between data and regulation requirements. The experiences of researching 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) illustrated uncertainty sources and how to maximise available information to determine uncertainties, and thereby provide an 'adequate' protection to contaminant exposure. As regulatory requirements and recurring issues increase, the assessment of complex scenarios involving a large number of chemicals requires more sophisticated tools. Recent advances in exposure and toxicology science provide a large data set for environmental contaminants and public health. In particular, biomonitoring information, in vitro data streams and computational toxicology are the crucial factors in the NexGen risk assessment, as well as uncertainties minimisation. Although in this review we cannot yet predict how the exposure science and modern toxicology will develop in the long-term, current techniques from emerging science can be integrated to improve decision-making.

Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling of immune, reproductive and carcinogenic effects from contaminant exposure in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) across the Arctic

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) consume large quantities of seal blubber and other high trophic marine mammals and consequently have some of the highest tissue concentrations of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) among Arctic biota. In the present paper we carried out a risk quotient (RQ) evaluation on OHC-exposed polar bears harvested from 1999 to 2008 and from 11 circumpolar subpopulations spanning from Alaska to Svalbard in order to evaluate the risk of OHC-mediated reproductive effects (embryotoxicity, teratogenicity), immunotoxicity and carcinogenicity (genotoxicity). This RQ evaluation was based on the Critical Body Residue (CBR) concept and a Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modelling (PBPK) approach using OHC concentrations measured in polar bear adipose or liver tissue. The range of OHC concentrations within polar bear populations were as follows for adipose, sum polychlorinated biphenyls ∑PCBs (1797-10,537 ng/g lw), sum methylsulphone-PCB ∑MeSO2-PCBs (110-672 ng/g lw), sum chlordanes ∑CHLs (765-3477 ng/g lw), α-hexachlorocyclohexane α-HCH (8.5-91.3 ng/g lw), β-hexachlorocyclohexane β-HCH (65.5-542 ng/g lw), sum chlorbenzenes ∑ClBzs (145-304 ng/g lw), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ∑DDTs (31.5-206 ng/g lw), dieldrin (69-249 ng/g lw), polybrominated diphenyl ethers ∑PBDEs (4.6-78.4 ng/g lw). For liver, the perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) concentrations ranged from 231-2792 ng/g ww. The total additive RQ from all OHCs ranged from 4.3 in Alaska to 28.6 in East Greenland bears for effects on reproduction, immune health and carcinogenicity, highlighting the important result that the toxic effect threshold (i.e. RQ>1) was exceeded for all polar bear populations assessed. PCBs were the main contributors for all three effect categories, contributing from 70.6% to 94.3% of the total risk and a RQ between 3.8-22.5. ∑MeSO2-PCBs were the second highest effect contributor for reproductive and immunological effects (0.17<RQ<1.4), whereas PFOS was the second highest effect contributor for carcinogenic (genotoxic) effects (0.35<RQ<2.5). The results from this study corroborate and lend further support to previous assessments of the possible adverse health effects of exposure to known and measured OHCs in polar bears. We therefore suggest that Critical Daily Doses (CDD) should be investigated in "ex vivo" dose-response studies on polar bears to replace laboratory studies on rats (Rattus rattus) to reveal whether high RQs are maintained.

Improving the risk assessment of lipophilic persistent environmental chemicals in breast milk

Lipophilic persistent environmental chemicals (LPECs) have the potential to accumulate within a woman's body lipids over the course of many years prior to pregnancy, to partition into human milk, and to transfer to infants upon breastfeeding. As a result of this accumulation and partitioning, a breastfeeding infant's intake of these LPECs may be much greater than his/her mother's average daily exposure. Because the developmental period sets the stage for lifelong health, it is important to be able to accurately assess chemical exposures in early life. In many cases, current human health risk assessment methods do not account for differences between maternal and infant exposures to LPECs or for lifestage-specific effects of exposure to these chemicals. Because of their persistence and accumulation in body lipids and partitioning into breast milk, LPECs present unique challenges for each component of the human health risk assessment process, including hazard identification, dose-response assessment, and exposure assessment. Specific biological modeling approaches are available to support both dose-response and exposure assessment for lactational exposures to LPECs. Yet, lack of data limits the application of these approaches. The goal of this review is to outline the available approaches and to identify key issues that, if addressed, could improve efforts to apply these approaches to risk assessment of lactational exposure to these chemicals.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of POPs in Greenlanders

Human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and the potential health impact in the Arctic far from the emission sources have been highlighted in numerous studies. As a supplement to human POP biomonitoring studies, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was set up to estimate the fate of POPs in Greenlandic Inuit's liver, blood, muscle and adipose tissue following long-term exposure to traditional Greenlandic diet. The PBPK model described metabolism, excretion and POP accumulation on the basis of their physicochemical properties and metabolic rates in the organisms. Basic correlations between chemically analyzed blood POP concentrations and calculated daily POP intake from food questionnaire of 118 middle age (18-35years) Greenlandic Inuits from four cities in West Greenland (Qaanaaq: n=40; Qeqertarsuaq: n=36; Nuuk: n=20; Narsaq: n=22) taken during 2003 to 2006 were analyzed. The dietary items included were polar bear, caribou, musk oxen, several marine species such as whales, seals, bird and fish as well as imported food. The contaminant concentrations of the dietary items as well as their chemical properties, uptake, biotransformation and excretion allowed us to estimate the POP concentration in liver, blood, muscle and adipose tissue following long-term exposure to the traditional Greenlandic diet using the PBPK model. Significant correlations were found between chemically analyzed POP blood concentrations and calculated daily intake of POPs for Qeqertarsuaq, Nuuk and Narsaq Inuit but not for the northernmost settlement Qaanaaq, probably because the highest blood POP level was found in this district which might mask the interview-based POP calculations. Despite the large variation in circulating blood POP concentrations, the PBPK model predicted blood concentrations of a factor 2-3 within the actual measured values. Moreover, the PBPK model showed that estimated blood POP concentration increased significantly after consumption of meals. For individuals who had a high internal burden of POPs accumulated over years, the estimated blood levels were less influenced by recent meal intake. The model results also indicated that of the POPs accumulated in the body the concentrations were highest for CB-153 (oxychlordane: 0.6%; DDE and CB-99: 2.9%; HCB: 4.4%; CB-153: 34.5%). Furthermore, the model also estimated a significant internal body POP burden even several years after the mentioned dietetic shift and that contaminant accumulation was 2-6 folds faster than the decay after a shift to a diet low in contaminants. Using the PBPK model approach, we seek to improve the knowledge on contaminant body burden in humans of the Arctic. However, it should be noted that calculations of daily POP intake may be subject to considerable uncertainty due to imprecise information from the dietary interview. Based on these results we suggest that PBPK modeling is implemented as a tool in future human health exposure and effect assessments in Greenland.

Lifetime PCB 153 bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics in pilot whales: Bayesian population PBPK modeling and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for wild animal populations such as marine mammals typically have a high degree of model uncertainty and variability due to the scarcity of information and the embryonic nature of this field. Parameters values used in marine mammals models are usually taken from other mammalian species (e.g. rats or mice) and might not be entirely suitable to properly explain the kinetics of pollutants in marine mammals. Therefore, several parameters for a PBPK model for the bioaccumulation and pharmacokinetics of PCB 153 in long-finned pilot whales were estimated in the present study using the Bayesian approach executed with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations. This method uses 'prior' information of the parameters, either from the literature or from previous model runs. The advantage is that this method uses such 'prior' parameters to calculate probability distributions to determine 'posterior' values that best explain the field observations. Those field observations or datasets were PCB 153 concentrations in blubber of long-finned pilot whales from Sandy Cape and Stanley, Tasmania, Australia. The model predictions showed an overall decrease in PCB 153 levels in blubber over the lifetime of the pilot whales. All parameters from the Sandy Cape model were updated using the Stanley dataset, except for the concentration of PCB 153 in the milk. The model presented here is a promising and preliminary start to PBPK modeling in long-finned pilot whales that would provide a basis for non-invasive studies in these protected marine mammals.

Application of Bayesian population physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling and Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations to pesticide kinetics studies in protected marine mammals: DDT, DDE, and DDD in harbor porpoises

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling in marine mammals is a challenge because of the lack of parameter information and the ban on exposure experiments. To minimize uncertainty and variability, parameter estimation methods are required for the development of reliable PBPK models. The present study is the first to develop PBPK models for the lifetime bioaccumulation of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD in harbor porpoises. In addition, this study is also the first to apply the Bayesian approach executed with Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations using two data sets of harbor porpoises from the Black and North Seas. Parameters from the literature were used as priors for the first "model update" using the Black Sea data set, the resulting posterior parameters were then used as priors for the second "model update" using the North Sea data set. As such, PBPK models with parameters specific for harbor porpoises could be strengthened with more robust probability distributions. As the science and biomonitoring effort progress in this area, more data sets will become available to further strengthen and update the parameters in the PBPK models for harbor porpoises as a species anywhere in the world. Further, such an approach could very well be extended to other protected marine mammals.

Interpreting PCB levels in breast milk using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to reconstruct the dynamic exposure of Italian women

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent contaminants suspected to cause adverse health effects in humans. As PCBs levels in food have not been monitored frequently in the past, modeling approaches based on environmental data have been proposed to predict the human dietary intake. In this work, we propose to improve these approaches by taking into account internal levels of PCBs in humans. This methodology is based on the analysis of biomonitoring data using exposure and physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling to determine the most probable scenario of exposure. Breast milk concentrations were measured in Italian women for PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180. For each congener, three exposure scenarios were derived and a PBPK model was used to relate the lifetime exposure to the breast milk levels. For the three PCBs, we determined the most probable scenario of exposure. Our results support the adequacy of the exposure and the PBPK models for PCB-180 and PCB-153, whereas we observed discrepancies between the models and the biomonitoring data for PCB-138. Our intake estimates are in good agreement with previous exposure assessments based solely on food contamination demonstrating the relevance of our approach to reconstruct accurately the exposure and to fill in data gaps on exposure.

Birth weight and prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE): a meta-analysis within 12 European Birth Cohorts

OBJECTIVES

Exposure to high concentrations of persistent organochlorines may cause fetal toxicity, but the evidence at low exposure levels is limited. Large studies with substantial exposure contrasts and appropriate exposure assessment are warranted. Within the framework of the EU (European Union) ENRIECO (ENvironmental Health RIsks in European Birth Cohorts) and EU OBELIX (OBesogenic Endocrine disrupting chemicals: LInking prenatal eXposure to the development of obesity later in life) projects, we examined the hypothesis that the combination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) adversely affects birth weight.

METHODS

We used maternal and cord blood and breast milk samples of 7,990 women enrolled in 15 study populations from 12 European birth cohorts from 1990 through 2008. Using identical variable definitions, we performed for each cohort linear regression of birth weight on estimates of cord serum concentration of PCB-153 and p,p´-DDE adjusted for gestational age and a priori selected covariates. We obtained summary estimates by meta-analysis and performed analyses of interactions.

RESULTS

The median concentration of cord serum PCB-153 was 140 ng/L (range of cohort medians 20-484 ng/L) and that of p,p´-DDE was 528 ng/L (range of cohort medians 50-1,208 ng/L). Birth weight decreased with increasing cord serum concentration of PCB-153 after adjustment for potential confounders in 12 of 15 study populations. The meta-analysis including all cohorts indicated a birth weight decline of 150 g [95% confidence interval (CI): -250, -50 g] per 1-µg/L increase in PCB-153, an exposure contrast that is close to the range of exposures across the cohorts. A 1-µg/L increase in p,p´-DDE was associated with a 7-g decrease in birth weight (95% CI: -18, 4 g).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that low-level exposure to PCB (or correlated exposures) impairs fetal growth, but that exposure to p,p´-DDE does not. The study adds to mounting evidence that low-level exposure to PCBs is inversely associated with fetal growth.

Translational research to develop a human PBPK models tool kit-volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Toxicity and exposure evaluations remain the two of the key components of human health assessment. While improvement in exposure assessment relies on a better understanding of human behavior patterns, toxicity assessment still relies to a great extent on animal toxicity testing and human epidemiological studies. Recent advances in computer modeling of the dose-response relationship and distribution of xenobiotics in humans to important target tissues have advanced our abilities to assess toxicity. In particular, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are among the tools than can enhance toxicity assessment accuracy. Many PBPK models are available to the health assessor, but most are so difficult to use that health assessors rarely use them. To encourage their use these models need to have transparent and user-friendly formats. To this end the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is using translational research to increase PBPK model accessibility, understandability, and use in the site-specific health assessment arena. The agency has initiated development of a human PBPK tool-kit for certain high priority pollutants. The tool kit comprises a series of suitable models. The models are recoded in a single computer simulation language and evaluated for use by health assessors. While not necessarily being state-of-the-art code for each chemical, the models will be sufficiently accurate to use for screening purposes. This article presents a generic, seven-compartment PBPK model for six priority volatile organic compounds (VOCs): benzene (BEN), carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)), dichloromethane (DCM), perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and vinyl chloride (VC). Limited comparisons of the generic and original model predictions to published kinetic data were conducted. A goodness of fit was determined by calculating the means of the sum of the squared differences (MSSDs) for simulation vs. experimental kinetic data using the generic and original models. Using simplified solvent exposure assumptions for oral ingestion and inhalation, steady-state blood concentrations of each solvent were simulated for exposures equivalent to the ATSDR Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs). The predicted blood levels were then compared to those reported in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). With the notable exception of BEN, simulations of combined oral and inhalation MRLs using our generic VOC model yielded blood concentrations well above those reported for the 95th percentile blood concentrations for the U.S. populations, suggesting no health concerns. When the PBPK tool kit is fully developed, risk assessors will have a readily accessible tool for evaluating human exposure to a variety of environmental pollutants.

Reconstructing human exposures using biomarkers and other "clues"

Biomonitoring is the process by which biomarkers are measured in human tissues and specimens to evaluate exposures. Given the growing number of population-based biomonitoring surveys, there is now an escalated interest in using biomarker data to reconstruct exposures for supporting risk assessment and risk management. While detection of biomarkers is de facto evidence of exposure and absorption, biomarker data cannot be used to reconstruct exposure unless other information is available to establish the external exposure-biomarker concentration relationship. In this review, the process of using biomarker data and other information to reconstruct human exposures is examined. Information that is essential to the exposure reconstruction process includes (1) the type of biomarker based on its origin (e.g., endogenous vs. exogenous), (2) the purpose/design of the biomonitoring study (e.g., occupational monitoring), (3) exposure information (including product/chemical use scenarios and reasons for expected contact, the physicochemical properties of the chemical and nature of the residues, and likely exposure scenarios), and (4) an understanding of the biological system and mechanisms of clearance. This review also presents the use of exposure modeling, pharmacokinetic modeling, and molecular modeling to assist in integrating these various types of information.

In vitro neurotoxicity data in human risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): overview and perspectives

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants routinely detected in samples of cord blood and breast milk. Concerns have been raised with regard to the toxicity of both pre- and postnatal exposures towards the developing nervous system. Although there is an increasing body of literature on the disruption of brain cell functions by certain PBDE congeners in vitro, some challenges have yet to be tackled to enable the translation of in vitro findings into their in vivo counterparts. In this paper, we review findings on the PBDE neurotoxicity in human cells and discuss the research gaps to be addressed. Moreover, we propose a scheme for the incorporation of in vitro data in human risk assessment, namely through (i) the determination of in vitro cell benchmark levels; (ii) the consideration of uncertainties in establishing equivalency between the in vitro and the in vivo tissue benchmark levels (e.g., chronic vs. acute exposure, interactions with other chemicals); and (iii) relating tissue benchmark levels to surrogate levels of internal exposure. Alongside the assessment of brain dosimetry following exposure to PBDEs, in vitro neurotoxicity data provide a unique opportunity to evaluate the risks of prenatal and early life exposures on children neurodevelopment.

Intrinsic human elimination half-lives of polychlorinated biphenyls derived from the temporal evolution of cross-sectional biomonitoring data from the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND

Most empirical estimates of human elimination kinetics for persistent chemicals reflect apparent elimination half-lives that represent the aggregated effect of intrinsic elimination, ongoing exposure, and changes in body weight. However, estimates of intrinsic elimination at background levels are required for risk assessments for the general population.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate intrinsic human elimination half-lives at background levels for nine polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, we used a novel approach based on population data.

METHODS

We used a population pharmacokinetic model to interpret two sets of congener-specific cross-sectional age-concentration biomonitoring data of PCB concentrations measured in lipid and blood samples that were collected from 229 individuals in 1990 and 2003. Our method is novel because it exploits information about changes in concentration in the human population along two dimensions: age and calendar time.

RESULTS

Our approach extracted information about both elimination kinetics and exposure trends from biomonitoring data. The longest intrinsic human elimination half-lives estimated in this study are 15.5 years for PCB-170, 14.4 years for PCB-153, and 11.5 years for PCB-180.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results are further evidence that a maximum intrinsic elimination half-life for persistent chemicals such as PCBs exists and is approximately 10-15 years. A clear conceptual distinction between apparent and intrinsic half-lives is required to reduce the uncertainty in elimination half-lives of persistent chemicals. The method presented here estimates intrinsic elimination half-lives and the exposure trends of persistent pollutants using cross-sectional data available from a large and growing number of biomonitoring programs.

Persistent Organochlorine Exposure and Pregnancy Loss: A Prospective Cohort Study

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (DDE) are suspected reproductive toxicants. We assessed serum concentration of 76 PCB congeners, DDE, and risk of human chorionic gonadotropin confirmed pregnancy loss among 79 women followed for up to 12 menstrual cycles or until pregnancy. 55 women had live births, 14 experienced pregnancy losses, and 10 did not achieve pregnancy. PCBs and DDE were quantified using gas chromatography with electron capture. PCBs were grouped a priori by biologic activity. Cox proportional hazard regression adjusting for age (categorized 24 - 29, 30 - 34) and average standardized alcohol and cigarette intake (continuous) was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) of pregnancy loss. Estrogenic PCBs (HR = 1.66, 95% CI: 0.68, 4.02), anti-estrogenic PCBs (HR = 0.10, 95% CI: <0.01, 67.07) and DDE (HR = 1.43, 95% CI: 0.45, 4.52) were not statistically significantly associated with pregnancy loss. Our results provide some signal that estrogenic and antiestrogenic PCBs may be differentially associated with pregnancy loss. Further research is needed to elucidate these associations.

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for lifetime exposure to PCB 153 in male and female harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena): model development and evaluation

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models were developed for the most persistent polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB 153) in male and female harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) to elucidate processes such as uptake, distribution, and elimination. Due to its limited metabolic capacities, long life span, and top position in marine food chains, this species is highly sensitive to pollution. The models consist of 5 compartments, liver, blubber, kidney, brain, and a compartment which accounts for the rest of the body, all connected through blood. All physiological and biochemical parameters were extracted from the literature, except for the brain/blood partition coefficient and rate of excretion, which were both fitted to data sets used for validation of the models. These data sets were compiled from our own analyses performed with GC-MS on tissue samples of harbor porpoises. The intake of PCB 153 was from milk from birth to 4 months, and after weaning fish was the main food source. Overall, these models reveal that concentrations of PCB 153 in males increase with age but suggest that, as the animals grow older, metabolic transformation can be a possible pathway for elimination as well. In contrast, the model for females confirms that gestation and lactation are key processes for eliminating PCB 153 as body burdens decrease with age. These PBPK models are capable of simulating the bioaccumulation of PCB 153 during the entire life span of approximately 20 years of the harbor porpoises.

A stochastic whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetic model to assess the impact of inter-individual variability on tissue dosimetry over the human lifespan

Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have proven to be successful in integrating and evaluating the influence of age- or gender-dependent changes with respect to the pharmacokinetics of xenobiotics throughout entire lifetimes. Nevertheless, for an effective application of toxicokinetic modelling to chemical risk assessment, a PBPK model has to be detailed enough to include all the multiple tissues that could be targeted by the various xenobiotics present in the environment. For this reason, we developed a PBPK model based on a detailed compartmentalization of the human body and parameterized with new relationships describing the time evolution of physiological and anatomical parameters. To take into account the impact of human variability on the predicted toxicokinetics, we defined probability distributions for key parameters related to the xenobiotics absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. The model predictability was evaluated by a direct comparison between computational predictions and experimental data for the internal concentrations of two chemicals (1,3-butadiene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin). A good agreement between predictions and observed data was achieved for different scenarios of exposure (e.g., acute or chronic exposure and different populations). Our results support that the general stochastic PBPK model can be a valuable computational support in the area of chemical risk analysis.

Reproductive performance in East Greenland polar bears (Ursus maritimus) may be affected by organohalogen contaminants as shown by physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) feed mainly on ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and consume large quantities of blubber and consequently have one of the highest tissue concentrations of organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) worldwide. In East Greenland, studies of OHC time trends and organ system health effects, including reproductive, were conducted during 1990-2006. However, it has been difficult to determine the nature of the effects induced by OHC exposures on wild caught polar bears using body burden data and associated changes in reproductive organs and systems. We therefore conducted a risk quotient (RQ) evaluation to more quantitatively evaluate the effect risk on reproduction (embryotoxicity and teratogenicity) based on the critical body residue (CBR) concept and using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. We applied modelling approaches to PCBs, p,p'-DDE, dieldrin, oxychlordane, HCHs, HCB, PBDEs and PFOS in East Greenland polar bears based on known OHC pharmacokinetics and dynamics in laboratory rats (Rattus rattus). The results showed that subcutaneous adipose tissue concentrations of dieldrin (range: 79-1271 ng g(-1) lw) and PCBs (range: 4128-53,923 ng g(-1) lw) reported in bears in the year 1990 were in the range to elicit possible adverse health effects on reproduction in polar bears in East Greenland (all RQs > or = 1). Similar results were found for PCBs (range: 1928-17,376 ng g(-1) lw) and PFOS (range: 104-2840 ng g(-1) ww) in the year 2000 and for dieldrin (range: 43-640 ng g(-1) lw), PCBs (range: 3491-13,243 ng g(-1) lw) and PFOS (range: 1332-6160 ng g(-1) ww) in the year 2006. The concentrations of oxychlordane, DDTs, HCB and HCHs in polar bears resulted in RQs<1 and thus appear less likely to be linked to reproductive effects. Furthermore, sumRQs above 1 suggested risk for OHC additive effects. Thus, previous suggestions of possible adverse health effects in polar bears correlated to OHC exposure are supported by the present study. This study also indicates that PBPK models may be a supportive tool in the evaluation of possible OHC-mediated health effects for Arctic wildlife.