Differences in tumor-associated protein levels among middle-age Flemish women in association with area of residence and exposure to pollutants

Human biomonitoring and reference values of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene among Iranian adults population

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most important environmental pollutants. Urinary concentrations of 1-hydropyren metabolites of PAHs have been used as biomarkers of these chemicals' exposure in humans. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 468 healthy Iranian adults over 25 years old and non-smokers in six provinces who were selected based on the clustering method. Fasting urine sampling and body composition and demographic measurements were performed. Urine samples were analyzed by GC-MS. The analysis included descriptive statistics and analytical statistics using multiple linear regression by Python software. 1-Hydroxypyrene was found in 100% of samples, and the mean (Reference Value 95%) concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene was 6.12 (RV 95%: 20) μg/L and 5.95 (21) μg/gcrt. There was a direct relationship between the amount of body composition (body fat, visceral fat), BMI, and age with the urinary concentrations of 1-hydropyren metabolites, and this relationship was significant for BMI with urinary concentrations of 1-hydropyren metabolites (P = 0.045). The amount of 1-hydroxypyrene in healthy Iranian adults has been higher than in similar studies in other countries. These results provide helpful information regarding the exposure of Iranian adults to 1-hydroxypyrene, and these data can be used to supplement the national reference values of human biomonitoring for the interpretation of biomonitoring results.

Biomonitoring of Exposure to Metals in a Population Residing in an Industrial Area in Brazil: A Feasibility Study

Background: Industries are sources of environmental pollutants. However, there are few human biomonitoring (HBM) studies in the vicinity of industrial areas. Thus, we evaluate the feasibility of conducting an HBM study to assess exposure to metals in an industrial area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted near a steel factory. Adults (exposed = 775; controls = 775) were randomly selected and sex-matched. Subjects were interviewed using a questionnaire and a 24 h dietary recall. Blood samples were collected to analyze metal concentrations, blood count, biochemical parameters, and thyroid hormones. The feasibility of the survey was assessed following guidelines. The descriptive analysis was performed for the first 250 participants (pilot study). Results: Adjustments were made to the survey execution, including age-matching, fieldwork team, questionnaire, blood collection, and research awareness. The complete questionnaire was answered by ≥97% of participants; metals were measured in ≥98% and clinical parameters in ≥89%, except thyroid hormones (13–44%). The average age and family income were of 50 years and USD 575/month, respectively. The participants had equal distribution among sexes: 50% had a medium education level, and 59% were nonwhite. Conclusion: This preliminary HBM study demonstrates feasibility for the total population, with results indicating representativeness of the target population.

[Exposure to metals in the adult population living in industrial areas: a systematic review of the literature]

This study aimed to review studies of human biomonitoring (HBM) that evaluated exposure to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As) and manganese (Mn) in adults living close to industrial areas. A systematic review of studies was selected, without initial date limit through to December 2017, from the MEDLINE and BVS databases. Original studies in English, Portuguese or Spanish conducted among the adult population using blood and/or urine as biomarkers were included. The articles were evaluated according to methodological criteria, including studies with comparison groups and/or probabilistic sampling. Of the 28 studies selected, 54% were conducted in Europe, 36% in Asia, 7% in North America and 4% in Africa. Foundries, metal works and steel mills were the most frequently studied. Urine and blood were used in 82% and 50% of studies, respectively. The elements most investigated were Cd, Pb and As. Despite using heterogeneous methodologies, the results revealed higher metal concentrations, especially from As and Hg in general, than in the comparison group. This review highlights the need for more rigorous methodological studies of HBM, stressing the importance of public health vigilance among populations exposed to toxic metals, especially in developing countries.

Levels of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine of people living in an oil producing region of the Andean Amazon (Ecuador and Peru)

PURPOSE

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants with carcinogenic effects but little is known about their presence in environments surrounding oil drilling operations and spills or exposure levels in nearby communities. The objective of this study was to characterize PAH levels in people living near oil drilling operations in relation to fish consumption, occupation, source of water and other socio-demographic characteristics.

METHODS

This pilot study examined PAH exposure by measuring 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine samples using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection from 75 women and men in the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon living near oil drilling operations and who answered a questionnaire collecting socio-demographic, occupational and dietary information. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression models.

RESULTS

The mean value of 1-OHP was 0.40 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.32-0.46 μmol/mol creatinine. Women who used water from a surface source (for washing clothes or bathing) had almost twice the amount of 1-OHP in their urine (mean 1-OHP = 0.41 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.28-0.54 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 23) as women who used water from either a well, a spring or rain (mean 1-OHP = 0.22 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.11-0.34 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 6). Men who reported eating a bottom-dwelling species as their most commonly consumed fish (mean 1-OHP = 0.50 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.36-0.64 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 31) had twice as much 1-OHP in their urine as men who reported a pelagic fish (mean 1-OHP = 0.25 μmol/mol creatinine, 95% CI 0.15-0.35 μmol/mol creatinine, n = 15), signaling either oral (fish consumption) or dermal (while standing in water fishing benthic species) exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

More contact with surface water and benthic fish may result in higher levels of 1-OHP in human urine among the study population. Reducing the amount of oil and wastes entering the waterways in Andean Amazonia would be one way to reduce exposure.

HPLC-fast scanning fluorimetric detection determination of risk exposure to polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons biomarkers in human urine

Aim: An HPLC method for the determination of 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHF), various hydroxyphenanthrene metabolites (1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, OHPhs), 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPy) and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OHB[a]Py) in human urine, has been developed using fast scanning fluorimetric detection and gradient elution mode. Materials & methods: All reagents were of analytical grade. Standard solutions were prepared separately, by exact weighing or dilution with ultrapure acetonitrile, and were stored at 4 ºC in darkness. The standard addition method was used for the analysis of urine samples. Results: In the optimized conditions, 2- and 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1- and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene metabolites eluted at the same retention time; however, all other hydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were well resolved. Multi-emission detection allows us to monitor each metabolite at its most sensitivity emission wavelength. Detection limits ranged between 0.9 and 4.26 ng ml-1. Conclusion: Fortified urine samples of nonexposure and nonsmoker volunteers, previous precipitation step with acetonitrile, were used to test the proposed method. The obtained results confirm the goodness of the method.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Part II, Urine Markers

There has been increasing demand for simple, rapid, highly sensitive, inexpensive yet reliable method for detecting predisposition to cancer. Human biomonitoring of exposure to the largest class of chemical carcinogen, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are rapidly transformed into detectable metabolites (eg, 1-hydroxypyrene), can serve as strong pointers to early detection of predisposition to cancer. Given that any exposure to PAH is assumed to pose a certain risk of cancer, several biomarkers have been employed in biomonitoring these ninth most threatening ranked compounds. They include metabolites in urine, urinary thioethers, urinary mutagenicity, genetoxic end points in lymphocytes, hemoglobin adducts of benzo(a)pyrene, PAH-protein adducts, and PAH-DNA adducts among others. In this chapter, the main focus will be on the urine metabolites since urine samples are easily collected and there is a robust analytical instrument for the determination of their metabolites.

Electrospun nanofiber sorbents for the pre-concentration of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene

Background

Synthetic polymers have some qualities that make them good candidates for pre concentration of trace analytes biological fluids because of their great potentials to be functionalized and electrospun into nanofibres.

Methods

In this study, Electrospun nanofiber sorbents fabricated from 11 polymers {poly(styrene-co-methacrylic acid), poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) (SDVB), poly(styrene-co-acrylamide), poly(styrene-co-p-sodium styrene sulfonate), polystyrene, poly(vinyl benzyl chloride), cellulose acetate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polysulfone, nylon 6} were evaluated for the extraction and pre-concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene from a water sample.

Results

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies revealed the formation of continuous fine bead-free and randomly arrayed fibers with their average diameters ranging from 110 to 650 nm. The percentage recoveries were highest for nylon 6 with 72%, SDVB with 70%, whereas PET achieved the lowest recovery at 34%. Under optimized conditions, the analyte followed a linear relationship for all sorbents in the concentration range of 1 to 1,000 μg/L. The coefficient of determination (r 2) was between 0.9990 to 0.9999, with precision (%relative standard deviation (RSD)) ≤ 9.51% (n = 6) for all the analysis. The %RSD for intra- and inter-day precision at three different concentrations, 10, 25, and 50 μg/L, was ≤7.88% for intraday and ≤8.04% inter-day (3 days), respectively, for all evaluated sorbents. The LOD and LOQ were found to be between 0.054 and 0.16 μg/L and 0.18 and 0.53 μg/L, respectively, using a fluorescent detector.

Conclusions

The study suggested that if packed into cartridges, nylon 6 and SDVB nanofiber sorbents could serve as alternatives to the conventional C-18 sorbents in the pre-concentration and clean-up of the tumorigenic biomarker, 1-hydroxypyrene in human urine. The fabrication of selective nanofibers could also extend and simplify sample preparation for organic and biological analytes.

Endocrine actions of pesticides measured in the Flemish environment and health studies (FLEHS I and II)

Within the Flemish Environment and Health studies (FLEHS I, 2002-2006, and FLEHS II, 2007-2012), pesticide exposure, hormone levels and degree of sexual maturation were measured in 14-15-year-old adolescents residing in Flanders (Belgium). In FLEHS II, geometric mean concentrations (with 95 % confidence interval (CI)) of 307 (277-341) and 36.5 ng L(-1) (34.0-39.2) were found for p,p'-dichlorophenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). These values were respectively 26 and 60 % lower than levels in FLEHS I, 5 years earlier. Metabolites of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) and of para-dichlorobenzene were measured for the first time in FLEHS II, yielding concentrations of 11.4, 3.27 and 1.57 μg L(-1) for the sum of dimethyl- and diethyl phosphate metabolites and 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), respectively. Data on internal exposure of HCB showed a positive correlation with sexual maturation, testosterone and the aromatase index for boys and with free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (both boys and girls). For both p,p'-DDE and HCB, a negative association with sexual development in girls was found. The OPP metabolites were negatively associated with sex hormone levels in the blood of boys and with sexual maturation (both boys and girls). The pesticide metabolite 2,5-DCP was negatively correlated with free T4, while a positive association with TSH was reported (boys and girls). These results show that even exposure to relatively low concentrations of pesticides can have significant influences on hormone levels and the degree of sexual maturation in 14-15-year-old adolescents.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Part I. Exposure

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) comprise the largest class of cancer-causing chemicals and are ranked ninth among chemical compounds threatening to humans. Although interest in PAH has been mainly due to their carcinogenic property, many of these compounds are genotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic. They tend to bioaccumulate in the soft tissues of living organisms. Interestingly, many are not directly carcinogenic, but act like synergists. PAH carcinogenicity is related to their ability to bind DNA thereby causing a series of disruptive effects that can result in tumor initiation. Thus, any structural attribute or modification of a PAH molecule that enhances DNA cross linking can cause carcinogenicity. In part I, we review exposure to these dangerous chemicals across a spectrum of use in the community and industry.

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. This review raises the hypothesis that in addition to known human carcinogens, exposure to low dose of other chemicals present in our modern society could contribute to carcinogenesis by indirectly affecting genome stability. The selected chemicals with their mechanisms of action proposed to indirectly contribute to genome instability are: heavy metals (DNA repair, epigenetic modification, DNA damage signaling, telomere length), acrylamide (DNA repair, chromosome segregation), bisphenol A (epigenetic modification, DNA damage signaling, mitochondrial function, chromosome segregation), benomyl (chromosome segregation), quinones (epigenetic modification) and nano-sized particles (epigenetic pathways, mitochondrial function, chromosome segregation, telomere length). The purpose of this review is to describe the crucial aspects of genome instability, to outline the ways in which environmental chemicals can affect this cancer hallmark and to identify candidate chemicals for further study. The overall aim is to make scientists aware of the increasing need to unravel the underlying mechanisms via which chemicals at low doses can induce genome instability and thus promote 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 2.4 times higher than for an exposure equal to the 10th percentile. For both men and women dioxin-like activity and serum hexachlorobenzene (HCB) showed a significant positive association with risk of diabetes and of hypertension. Detailed analysis suggested that an increase in BMI might be part of the mechanism through which HCB contributes to diabetes and hypertension. Serum dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) concentration showed a significant positive association with diabetes and hypertension in men, but not in women. Serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) 118 showed a significant positive association with diabetes in both men and women, and after adjustment for correlated exposures, also with hypertension in men. Urinary cadmium concentrations showed a significant positive association with hypertension. Urinary cadmium concentrations were (in 2004-2005) significantly higher in persons who felt in less than good health (in 2011) than in persons who felt in very good health. After adjustment for correlated exposures (to HCB, p,p'-DDE and PCB118) marker PCBs showed a significant negative association with diabetes and hypertension. Serum p,p'-DDE showed in men a significant negative association with risk of diseases based on atheromata. Our findings suggest that exposure to pollutants can lead to an important increase in the risk of diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension. Some pollutants may possibly also decrease the risk of some health problems, although this requires confirmation by other approaches.

Application of Nanofiber-packed SPE for Determination of Urinary 1-Hydroxypyrene Level Using HPLC

It is always desirable to achieve maximum sample clean-up, extraction, and pre-concentration with the minimum possible organic solvent. The miniaturization of sample preparation devices was successfully demonstrated by packing 10 mg of 11 electrospun polymer nanofibers into pipette tip micro column and mini disc cartridges for efficient pre-concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine samples. 1-hydroxypyrene is an extensively studied biomarker of the largest class of chemical carcinogens. Excretory 1-hydroxypyrene was monitored with HPLC/fluorescence detector. Important parameters influencing the percentage recovery such as fiber diameter, fiber packing amount, eluent, fiber packing format, eluent volume, surface area, porosity, and breakthrough parameters were thoroughly studied and optimized. Under optimized condition, there was a near perfect linearity of response in the range of 1-1000 μg/L with a coefficient of determination (r (2)) between 0.9992 and 0.9999 and precision (% RSD) ≤7.64% (n = 6) for all the analysis (10, 25, and 50 μg/L). The Limit of detection (LOD) was between 0.022 and 0.15 μg/L. When compared to the batch studies, both disc packed nanofiber sorbents and pipette tip packed sorbents exhibited evident dominance based on their efficiencies. The experimental results showed comparable absolute recoveries for the mini disc packed fibers (84% for Nylon 6) and micro columns (80% for Nylon 6), although the disc displayed slightly higher recoveries possibly due to the exposure of the analyte to a larger reacting surface. The results also showed highly comparative extraction efficiencies between the nanofibers and conventional C-18 SPE sorbent. Nevertheless, miniaturized SPE devices simplified sample preparation, reducing back pressure, time of the analysis with acceptable reliability, selectivity, detection levels, and environmental friendliness, hence promoting green chemistry.

1-hydroxypyrene levels in blood samples of rats after exposure to generator fumes

Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a major component of fuel generator fumes. Carcinogenicity of these compounds has long been established. In this study, 37 Swiss albino rats were exposed to generator fumes at varied distances for 8 hours per day for a period of 42 days and the level of 1-hydroxypyrene in their blood was evaluated. This study also tried to correlate the level of blood 1-hyroxypyrene with the distance from the source of pollution. Plasma was collected by centrifuging the whole blood sample followed by complete hydrolysis of the conjugated 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide to yield the analyte of interest, 1-hydroxypyrene, which was achieved using beta glucuronidase. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detector was used to determine the 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations in the blood samples. The mobile phase was water:methanol (12:88 v/v) isocratic run at the flow rate of 1.2 mL/min with CI8 stationary phase at 250 nm. After 42 days of exposure, blood concentration level of 1-hydroxypyrene ranged from 34 μg/mL to 26.29 μg/mL depending on the distance from source of exposure. The control group had no 1-hydroxypyrene in their blood. After the period of exposure, percentage of death correlated with the distance from the source of exposure. Percentage of death ranged from 56% to zero depending on the proximity to source of pollution.

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a biomarker to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure

In order to capture the extent of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), various biomarkers have been employed. The biomarkers employed for PAHs include PAHs genetoxic end points in lymphocytes, urinary metabolites, PAH-DNA adducts, and PAH-Protein adducts. Of these, excretory 1-hydroxypyene, a metabolite of pyrene, has been used extensively as a biological monitoring indicator of exposure to PAHs. This study attempts to assess the level of this biomarker in the body fluid of 68 exposed subjects using high performance liquid chromatography HPLC. The subjects screened included auto mechanics, drivers, and fuel attendants. 1-hydroxypyrene was extracted from the urine of the subjects using solid phase extraction method. The HPLC analysis was done in isocratic mode using water:methanol (12:88 v/v) mobile phase. The stationary phase was XBridge C18 (150 × 4.6 mm) 5 μm column. The wavelength was 250 nm at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. The oven temperature was 30 ºC and the injection volume was 20 μL. The run time was 3 minutes. The level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene detected varied for the different categories of occupation studied. About 27% of sampled fuel attendants and 22% of auto mechanics had detectable 1-hydroxypyrene in their urine samples. There was no detectable 1-hydroxypyene in the urine samples of commercial drivers or in the urine samples of students used as controls. The results of this study showed that fuel attendants and auto mechanics have significant exposures to PAHs. So far, there is no established benchmark for level of PAHs in urine, but our findings indicate the possibility of future cancer cases in this population as a result of their occupational exposure. The study was not able to link the level of 1-hydroxypyene with the smoking habits of the subjects.

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. Effect biomarkers were prostate specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and p53 protein serum levels, number of micronuclei per 1000 binucleated peripheral blood cells, DNA damage (comet assay) in peripheral blood cells and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine in urine. Confounding factors were taken into account.

RESULTS

Overall significant differences between areas were found for carcinoembryonic antigen, micronuclei, 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine and DNA damage. Compared to a rural area with mainly fruit production, effect biomarkers were often significantly elevated around waste incinerators, in the cities of Antwerp and Ghent, in industrial areas and also in other rural areas. Within an industrial area DNA strand break levels were almost three times higher close to industrial installations than 5 kilometres upwind of the main industrial installations (p < 0.0001). Positive exposure-effect relationships were found for carcinoembryonic antigen (urinary cadmium, t,t'-muconic acid, 1-hydroxypyrene and blood lead), micronuclei (PCB118), DNA damage (PCB118) and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (t,t'-muconic acid, 1-hydroxypyrene). Also, we found significant associations between values of PSA above the p90 and higher values of urinary cadmium, between values of p53 above the p90 and higher serum levels of p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene and marker PCBs (PCB 138, 153 and 180) and between serum levels of p,p'-DDE above the p90 and higher serum values of carcinoembryonic antigen. Significant associations were also found between effect biomarkers and occupational or lifestyle parameters.

CONCLUSION

Levels of internal exposure, and residence near waste incinerators, in cities, or close to important industries, but not in areas with intensive use of pesticides, showed positive correlations with biomarkers associated with carcinogenesis and thus probably contribute to risk of cancer. In some rural areas, the levels of these biomarkers were not lower than in the rest of Flanders.

Oncogene and tumor-suppressor gene products as serum biomarkers in occupational-derived lung cancer

Since lung cancer is the most frequent occupational cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in the world, it is one of the biggest challenges for research. In the literature, there are inconsistent results regarding the utility of the serum biomarkers p53, anti-p53 antibodies, EGF receptor or Ras. Based on the published results, routine use of these biomarkers for detection of occupationally derived lung carcinomas is not currently recommended. In this review, we summarize the literature and discuss the relevance of these oncogene and tumor-suppressor gene products as serum biomarkers in occupational-derived lung cancer.

Blood cadmium may be associated with bladder carcinogenesis: the Belgian case-control study on bladder cancer

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between exposure to cadmium and bladder cancer risk.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study in Belgium and measured the blood levels of cadmium in 172 bladder cases and 359 population controls. The data were analyzed as tertiles after logarithmic transformation. Cut-off points were based on the levels among the controls. Logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for bladder cancer occurrence with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

RESULTS

After adjustment for sex, age, and occupational exposure to PAHs or aromatic amines, the OR for cadmium was 8.3 (95% CI 5.0-13.8) comparing the highest to the lowest tertile (p for trend <0.001). Additional adjustment for smoking (current cigarette smoking status, years of cigarette smoking and number of cigarettes smoked per day) decreased the OR, however it remained strongly significant (OR: 5.7; 95% CI 3.3-9.9).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that individuals with increased exposure to cadmium have an increased risk of bladder cancer. Future studies should expand on this investigation by studying a larger number of bladder cancer patients and by collecting extensive information on the lifetime occupational, residential, and environmental exposures to clarify the role of cadmium in bladder cancer.