Search

Human exposure to chemicals through the oral, dermal, or inhalation routes is significant. To assess this exposure, a human biomonitoring study was conducted in Norway to examine the plausibility of source-to-dose calculations for chemical mixtures. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are man-made compounds used for their surfactant properties, and several are persistent and bioaccumulative. Some PFASs are toxic and are regarded as endocrine disruptors and have been shown to suppress immune function and affect cholesterol homeostasis. Using the participants from the EuroMix BM study, we set out to describe PFAS concentrations and to evaluate associations with diet and use of personal care products (PCPs). Participants (44 males and 100 females) kept detailed diaries on their food consumption and their PCP use for two non-consecutive days. All urine (24 h) and blood samples were collected at the end of each study day. Levels of 25 PFASs were analysed in serum from study day 1 using a high throughput online solid phase extraction ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Multivariable linear regressions were performed between each food and PCP category and each chemical and were sex-stratified when the consumption of food or use of PCPs was significantly different between men and women. Eight PFASs were detected in all analysed samples (PFHxS, PFHpS, PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDoDA), and four PFASs were below the limit of detection (PFOPA, PFDPA, PFHxA, and EtFOSA). Several PFASs were found to be positively associated with fish consumption (PFOS, PFNA, PFUnDA, PFDoDA, PFDA, PFDS and PFTrDA). Sunscreen, mouthwash, and lip gloss/lip balm were found to be positively associated with PFASs (PFOA, PFTrDA, and PFOSA). The participants in the EuroMix study were exposed to PFASs through their diet and PCP use. Several foods and PCPs were found to be potential sources of exposure to PFASs. • Eight PFASs were detected in all analysed samples (PFHxS, PFHpS, PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDoDA). • Several PFASs were positively associated with fish consumption. • Sunscreen, mouthwash and lip gloss/lip balm were positively associated with several PFASs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a large group of compounds that are water, stain, and oil repellent. Numerous sources contribute to the blood levels of PFAS in the European population. The main contributor for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is food, house dust, consumer products and personal care products (PCPs). The purpose of the present work is to calculate the dietary and dermal external exposure to PFOA, estimate the aggregated internal exposure from diet and PCPs using a PBPK model, and compare estimates with measured concentrations. Detailed information on diet and PCP use from the EuroMix study is combined with concentration data of PFOA in food and PCPs in a probabilistic exposure assessment. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) was further refined by incorporating a dermal exposure pathway, and changes in the kidney and faecal excretion. The aggregated internal exposure using the PBPK model shows that the major contributor to the internal exposure is diet for both males and females. The estimated internal exposure of PFOA for the EuroMix population was in the same range but lower than the measured blood concentrations using the lower bound (LB) external exposure estimates, showing that the LB estimates are underestimations. For seven females the internal exposure of PFOA were higher from PCPs than from diet. PCPs and diet contributed in the same range to the internal PFOA exposure for several women participating in EuroMix. This calls for additional studies on exposure to PFOA and possibly other PFAS from PCPs, especially for women. Overall, PBPK modelling was shown as valuable tool in understanding the sources of PFOA exposure and in guiding risk assessments and regulatory decisions. • The aggregated internal exposure to PFOA using the PBPK model shows that the major contributor to the internal exposure is diet. • For seven females the internal exposure of PFOA were higher from PCPs than from diet. • Our work demonstrates the importance of creating awareness of among PCP users, especially women, on the potential PFAS exposure from PCPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To collect information on the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the rural areas in Flanders (Belgium), 84 breastfeeding mothers were recruited in rural communities in East and West Flanders and Flemish Brabant in 2009–2010. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardants, perfluorinated compounds, polychlorinated dibenzodioxines and dibenzofurans, and dioxin-like PCBs were measured in individual milk samples and in a pooled milk sample, while some additional pollutants were only measured in the pooled sample. For most pollutants, the concentrations in this study were lower or comparable to the concentrations measured in the pooled Belgian sample of the WHO human milk study of 2006, except for the pesticides dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane DDT (+25% for ΣDDT and metabolites) and trans-nonachlor (+94%), and for the brominated flame retardant hexachlorocyclododecane HBCD (+153%). Perfluorinated compounds were for the first time determined in human milk samples from Belgium and the concentrations were comparable to those from other European countries. Also, interesting associations were found between the concentrations of POPs measured in human milk and personal characteristics as well as dietary habits of the study population. PFOS en PFOA concentrations were significantly higher in milk of primiparous participants compared to mothers who gave birth to their second child. Lower brominated PBDE congeners increased with increasing BMI of the mothers (p =0.01 for BDE 47, p =0.02 for BDE 99 and p =0.02 for BDE 100). Participants consuming milk or dairy products daily had significant higher concentrations of ΣDDTs (p =0.03) and oxychlordane (p =0.047) in their human milk samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]