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Background: Human are often simultaneously exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, yet relatively little is known regarding their co-exposure effects on oxidative damage. Genetic factors and the gene-environment interactions can also determine the severity of oxidative damage. Four polymorphisms in microRNA (miRNA) genes (rs11614913, rs2292832, rs2910164, and rs3746444) have been well-studied to be associated with oxidative damage-related diseases. Objective: To investigate the influences of PAH-metal co-exposure, four polymorphisms, and their interactions on oxidative damage levels. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 1385 coke oven workers. We quantified exposure levels of PAHs and metals by urinary monohydroxy-PAHs, plasma benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide-albumin adducts, and urinary metals, respectively, and measured oxidative damage levels by 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine. We also genotyped four polymorphisms. Results: In multiple-pollutant models, 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were associated with multiple PAH exposure biomarkers, as well as with multiple metals (ptrend 7.75%, false discovery rate-adjusted pinteraction ≤ 2.25 × 10−5). Significantly higher 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine was observed in carriers of rs11614913 CC variant homozygote than TC carriers (p = 0.037). Associations of the number of rs11614913 C allele with increased 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine were significant (βstd > 0, ptrend

Information on biomagnification of alternative brominated flame retardants (ABFRs) is limited and results are inconclusive, due in part to uncertainty in the understanding of predator/prey relationships. In the present study, a predatory fish, Channa argus , and several forage fish species were obtained from an ABFR contaminated site. The predator/prey relationships were identified based on fatty acid (FA) signatures in the predator and prey. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) for several ABFRs including decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), 1,2‑bis(2,4,6‑tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromotoluene (PBT), and pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) were estimated based on the identified predator/prey relationships. The results showed that crucian carp was the main prey of C. argus , contributing to 71%–100% to its total diet. The mean BMFs for DBDPE, BTBPE, and HBB were 0.06, 0.40, and 0.91, respectively, indicating trophic dilution of these ABFRs. However, biomagnification of PBT and PBEB, with BMFs of 2.09 and 2.13, respectively, was observed. The BMFs for PBT, PBEB and HBB were comparable to or even higher than those for some polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners estimated in the same individual predator, indicating that these emerging pollutants may pose significant environmental risks. The BMFs for ABFRs and PBDEs were significantly and negatively correlated to the log K OW s of these chemicals, suggesting that the biomagnification of these chemicals was depressed due to their superhydrophobic nature. • BMFs for ABFRs were estimated based on diet composition of the predator. • PBT and PBEB magnified while DBDPE, BTBPE, and HBB diluted in the predator. • BMFs for ABFRs are comparable to or even higher than those for PBDEs. • One of the few reports on the biomagnification potential of ABFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • QFASA was used for the first time to identify sources of indoor organic pollutants. • OPFR concentrations and lipid content in house dust were significantly related. • Clothing was the predominant contributing vector introducing indoor OPFRs. • QFASA can accurately predict most of OPFR concentrations in clothing. Indoor dust has been used as a proxy for estimating human indoor pollutant exposure risks, yet source identification remains challenging. This study tentatively investigated whether quantitative fatty acid signature analysis (QFASA) of dust, could be applied to indicate sources and their respective contributions for a major class of indoor organic pollutants organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). We observed significant correlations between OPFR concentrations and lipid content (p < 0.05) in house dusts. Using 15 signature fatty acids (FAs) in various indoor sources and the QFASA model, we found that clothing (39.1% in Australia and 36.5% in China) was the predominant contributing vector of dust OPFR followed by cooking oil and pet hair. Among these sources, clothing materials were proposed to be important vectors introducing organic pollutants to the indoor environment. Our QFASA contribution estimation analyses allowed for accurate prediction of most OPFR concentrations in clothing, validating our findings that clothing materials may serve as important carrier for OPFRs in indoor migration. This is the first study attempting to identify sources of organic pollutants using QFASA in an indoor setting and will provide important insight into the transfer of organic pollutants in indoor environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]