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Flame retardants, widely used in industry as chemicals in additives for consumer products such as electronics, automobiles, polyurethane foams, and textiles, are used to reduce the likelihood of fire in flammable materials. Traditional flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers have been proved to have environmental pollution and toxicity problems in several studies, and in order to solve these problems, a series of new flame retardants (NBFRs), represented by decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE), have emerged. As a kind of new pollutant, NBFRs have been reported in industrially developed regions such as the Bohai Rim and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regions, as well as in remote regions such as the bipolar regions. As the third pole of the world, the Tibetan Plateau, with low industrialization and sparsely populated, is an important region to study the atmospheric long-range transport and environmental impacts of NBFRs, as is the case for the bipolar regions. In this paper, we summarize the NBFRs studies conducted in the Tibetan Plateau region in recent years, including soil, moss, atmosphere, and water media, and the study area covers a number of typical regions in the Tibetan Plateau. The concentration and detection rate of DBDPE have been reported to be the highest in all matrices on the Tibetan Plateau. However, few studies have been conducted on the Tibetan Plateau and further research is needed to fill the gap of new contaminants in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a replacement for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) have been widely used and detected in different indoor environments all over the world. This paper comprehensively describes the concentration levels and distribution information of 11 kinds of OPFRs from 33 indoor dust and 10 air environments, from which TBOEP, TCIPP, and TDCIPP were observed to have higher concentrations in indoor environments. The ΣOPFRs displayed higher concentrations in indoor dust than in indoor air due to the higher molecular weight and vapor pressure of ΣOPFRs in building decoration materials, specifically for TCIPP and TDCIPP compounds. Considering that it is inevitable that people will be exposed to these chemicals in the indoor environments in which they work and live, we estimated their potential health risks through three human exposure pathways and found that the ingestion exposure to TBOEP for toddlers in Japan may reach up to 1270.80 ng/kg/day, which comprises a significant pathway compared to dermal contact and indoor air inhalation. Specifically, the combined total exposure to OPFRs by air inhalation, dust ingestion, and dermal contact was generally below the RfD values for both adults and toddlers, with a few notable higher exposures of some typical OPFRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk holds an immense nutritional value as it contains health-promoting substances in a unique, optimal form. Additionally, breast milk's significance extends to health and environmental protection, as it serves as an indicator of both maternal and infant exposure. In this study, breast milk samples collected in 2013 and in 2014–2016 from mothers in Vienna (Austria) were analysed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as further substances which have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties. The total concentration of the PBDE congeners in the samples (n = 18, sampled 2013) ranged from 0.055 to 52 ng/g lipid, and from 0.002 to 2.5 ng/g breast milk. In the pooled sample, the sum of PBDEs was detected at a level of 4.4 ng/g lipid. Based on the 2014–2016 study population, certain PFAS were detected in all samples (n = 40). Exposure to the sum of four specific PFAS including perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) ranged between 0.014 and 0.12 ng/L breast milk. In the pooled sample, PFOS and PFOA were found in concentrations of 0.025 ng/g and of 0.045 ng/g, respectively. In addition, the first generation of POPs, mainly organochlorine compounds, was measured in a pooled sample of breast milk from participants sampled in 2014–2016 as part of the WHO/UNEP breast milk monitoring program and compared to the POPs measured in pooled samples collected in 1987/1988 and 1992/1993, respectively. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention on POPs by comparing the Austrian results from the WHO/UNEP global breast milk study from 1987 to 2016. However, the data also show that, despite these reductions, health-relevant levels are still being reached, particularly in terms of children's health when the presence of the new generation of POPs, such as PBDEs and PFAS, in human breast milk is taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a summary of a special issue on molecular toxicology research, focusing on its relevance to cancer prevention. It includes 11 research articles covering various topics such as the effects of smoking on cytokine levels, the impact of nicotine on lung cells, the detection of Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxins in grain crops, the toxicity of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) on immune cells, the mechanisms of intestinal toxicity induced by Euphorbia factors, and the use of maltoside transfection agents to improve adenovirus-mediated cancer gene therapy. The authors hope that these articles will inspire further research in the field of molecular toxicology. [Extracted from the article]

The author reflects on the most highly cited articles in Environmental Health from the 2004-2008 period. They included papers concerning exposure and potential adverse health effects of environmental pollutants such as phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and nanomaterials. He argues that these highly cited articles have influenced the research agendas of both individuals and government agencies.

Background: Despite increasing regulation, exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) remains a serious public health concern due to their accumulation in the environment and ability to biomagnify up the food chain. POPs are associated with endocrine-disrupting effects including adverse reproductive outcomes that could affect fecundability, i.e. the capacity to conceive a pregnancy, quantified as time to pregnancy (TTP).Objective and Rationale: Results of epidemiologic studies that examine the impact of various chemical classes of POPs on TTP have not been synthesised. We undertook a systematic review to summarise the strength of evidence for associations of four common groups of POPs with couple fecundability and to identify gaps and limitations in the literature in order to inform policy decisions and future research.Search Methods: We performed an electronic search of literature published between 1 January 2007 and 6 August 2019 in MEDLINE, EMBASE.com, Global Health, DART/TOXLINE and POPLINE. We included empirical research papers that examined human exposure to organochlorine (OC) pesticides, brominated flame retardants, polychlorinated organic compounds and/or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and considered TTP or fecundability as an outcome. Standardised forms for screening, data extraction and study quality were developed using DistillerSR software, and all reviews were completed in duplicate. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess risk of bias and devised additional quality metrics based on specific methodological features of fecundability studies.Outcomes: The search returned 4573 articles, and 28 papers from 19 different studies met inclusion criteria. Among them, four studies measured TTP prospectively, three had data on participants' prenatal exposure, three examined associations in both male and female partners and one focused exclusively on males. Analyses varied widely in terms of exposure characterisation, precluding a meta-analytic approach. Evidence was strongest for adverse associations of female exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls with TTP, with some additional support for associations of female exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and PFAS with longer TTP. Our review provided little or no support for associations between female exposure to OC pesticides or male exposure to any of the POP groups and TTP.Wider Implications: Evidence suggests that female exposure to at least some POPs may reduce fecundability. Although many of these chemicals are no longer in production, they are still detectable in human biosamples because of their persistence in the environment. Replacement chemicals that are being introduced as older ones are restricted may have similar reproductive consequences. Future studies should examine these newer POPs, assess interactions between POPs and other chemical and non-chemical exposures, investigate how POPs are distributed in and metabolised by the human body and focus on populations that may be disproportionately exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Dairy products have a key role in the human diet due to different healthy traits. At the same time, they can contain different environmental pollutants, representing a risk to human health. The dairy characteristics influencing the risk–benefit ratio are affected principally by animal diet. This paper investigates typical stretched cheese, which is obtained from the milk of the Cinisara cattle breed, mainly raised on pasture integrated with various feed, depending on pasture availability. The present study investigated the fatty acid profile and the persistent organic pollutants content in cheeses made by six typical farms, two of which adopted an organic system. The cheeses were made in winter, spring, and summer. The aim of research was to assess the risk and benefits to human health due to cheese consumption. The results showed a better fatty acids profile of cheeses made in spring, for the presence of some fatty acids deriving from grazing fresh forage; higher contaminants were found in products made in winter, especially in those from non-organic farms. The consumption of different cheeses could represent human health risks, mainly from polychlorinated-biphenyl contents. Further studies should be conducted to identify the pollutants' pathways and transfer routes due to ingestion. Dairy products represent an important source of beneficial substances for humans. At the same time, they can expose the consumers to environmental contaminants ingested by animals through their diet, influencing their health negatively. This experiment aims to evaluate the risk and benefits related to the consumption of typical stretched cheeses, considering their fatty acid (FA) profile and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) content. Six representative farms, two of them organic, raising Cinisara cattle were selected, considering the typical extensive management systems, based on feeding of natural pasture integrated with concentrate and hay depending on the availability of forage on pastures. A total of 18 cheeses produced in winter, spring and summer with bulk milk of each farm were sampled and analyzed. The chemical composition of cheeses was influenced by farm management, and the FA profile mainly by the season. In particular, cheeses made in spring showed a healthier FA profile with the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), of omega3-PUFA and omega6/omega3 ratio pair to 7.29%, 1.44% and 1.32, respectively, while in winter 5.44%, 0.98% and 2.55, respectively, and in summer 4.77% 0.49% and 3.04, respectively. Due to high levels of feeding integration, cheese made in winter presented unhealthier characteristics compared to the cheeses made in spring and summer, showing high levels of saturated FA (66.2%, 64.2% and 65.5%, respectively), and large contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (57.07 ng/g fat, 36.25 ng/g fat and 10.22 ng/g fat, respectively) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (36.19 ng/g fat, 4.68 ng/g fat and 3.73 ng/g fat, respectively), mainly in those from non-organic farms. Levels of PCBs considered to be hazardous to human health were found in nine samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Waste Forum is the property of Czech Environment Management Center (CEMC) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A colorimetric aptamer/gold nanoparticle (AuNP) sensor to detect 6-hydroxy-2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (6-OH-BDE-47) was developed using AuNPs and a 6-OH-BDE-47-specific ssDNA aptamer. 6-OH-BDE-47 is mono hydroxyl-substituted form of a major congener (2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether, BDE-47) of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are representative persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and are widely used brominated flame retardants (BFR). AuNPs coated with 6-OH-BDE-47-specific aptamers initially exhibited repulsion; however, the aggregation of AuNPs was induced upon the introduction of 6-OH-BDE-47, detaching the aptamers from the AuNPs due to strong interactions between the aptamers and the target. In the colorimetric assay, the color of the testing solution changed from red to blue according to the degree of AuNP aggregation, with a limit of detection in the region of parts-per-billion (ppb), and a dynamic range of detection ranging from 5 ppb to 1 ppm. This colorimetric assay was then repeated using paper that absorbed AuNPs covered with 6-OH-BDE-47-specific aptamers. Similarly, a color change was observed when the paper was exposed to 6-OH-BDE-47. Compared to conventional trace quantitative analysis methods, this paper-based colorimetric assay is advantageous for quick screening in the case of sudden spills of highly concentrated chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil-air exchange behavior of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) plays a significant role in the distribution and fate in the two phases. This paper summarizes the selective behaviors of typical POPs contaminants and their homologues and isomers in soil-air exchange from the four aspects: sampling techniques, fugacity models, exchange directions and fluxes, as well as influencing factors. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) and their metabolites o, p'-DDT ... p,p.-DDD show the trend of net deposition from various studies. α-, β- hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) prefers to migrate from soil to atmosphere than γ-, δ- HCH. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with lower molecular weight compounds are generally volatilized to the atmosphere. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with low bromination degree have higher liquidity. Compared with other organophosphorus flame retardants, tributyl phosphate has a higher volatilization trend. For the novel pollutants, the exchange fluxes of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and short-/medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (CPs) have been reported. The direction of soil-air exchange is also affected by temperature and soil organic carbon content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

PBDEs are human-influenced chemicals utilized massively as flame retardants. They are environmentally persistent, not easily degraded, bioaccumulate in the biological tissue of organisms, and bio-magnify across the food web. They can travel over a long distance, with air and water being their possible transport media. They can be transferred to non-target organisms by inhalation, oral ingestion, breastfeeding, or dermal contact. These pollutants adsorb easily to solid matrices due to their lipophilicity and hydrophobicity; thus, sediments from rivers, lakes, estuaries, and ocean are becoming their major reservoirs aquatic environments. They have low acute toxicity, but the effects of interfering with the thyroid hormone metabolism in the endocrine system are long term. Many congeners of PBDEs are considered to pose a danger to humans and the aquatic environment. They have shown the possibility of causing many undesirable effects, together with neurologic, immunological, and reproductive disruptions and possible carcinogenicity in humans. PBDEs have been detected in small amounts in biological samples, including hair, human semen, blood, urine, and breastmilk, and environmental samples such as sediment, soil, sewage sludge, air, biota, fish, mussels, surface water, and wastewater. The congeners prevailing in environmental samples, with soil being the essential matrix, are BDE 47, 99, and 100. BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183 are more frequently detected in human tissues, whereas in sediment and soil, BDE 100 and 183 predominate. Generally, BDE 153 and 154 appear very often across different matrices. However, BDE 209 seems not frequently determined, owing to its tendency to quickly breakdown into smaller congeners. This paper carried out an overview of PBDEs in the environmental, human, and biota niches with their characteristics, physicochemical properties, and fate in the environment, human exposure, and health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to persistent organic pollutants begins in uterine life. The study was conducted to evaluate associations between gestational diabetes mellitus and the presence of persistent organic pollutants in placenta samples. They were derived from a birth cohort study in Ourense (NW Spain). Selective pressurized liquid extraction methodologies were used to determine targeted persistent organic pollutants in placenta samples. Cleanup of extracts was performed by solid-phase extraction using EZ-POP cartridges and detection by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical calculations were performed by comparing the values obtained in the case and control groups. Statistical significance was considered as p < 0.050. Results: The concentrations of several congeners of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) presented lower levels in the placentas of expectant mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus when comparing them to the control cohort. This difference was statistically significant. It was revealed that this association was independent of obesity, age, parity, amenorrhoea at birth, or a family history of diabetes mellitus. To the best of our knowledge, this paper reported an inverse relationship between PBDE and PCB levels in placenta and gestational diabetes mellitus for the first time. We believe this may open a door to future studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), heavily used as flame retardant in plastics, are harmful to environment and human health. It is of great importance for method development to determine PBDEs and PBBs in plastics. A review of developments on the analysis of PBDEs and PBBs in plastics is presented in this paper. The analytical procedures including sample pretreatment, extraction, clean-up/fractionation, and detection are carefully discussed. The drawbacks and merits of each method are summarized. The aim of this review is to improve the analytical accuracy, and precision for the determination of PBDEs and PBBs in plastics on the basis of the published papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging environmental pollutant hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) have been of particular concern in recent years due to their ubiquitous distribution in environmental matrices and adverse health effects. Since there is no industrial-scale manufacturing of OH-PBDEs, their origins are inconclusive and not fully understood, thus triggering extensive discussions among the academic community. Recently, the polymerization of simple bromophenols (BrPs) has been identified as an important origin of OH-PBDEs, which are widely reported in various oxidation processes. This review comprehensively surveyed previous studies about OH-PBDEs formation from BrPs precursors in both natural (e.g., photochemical processes, naturally occurring manganese oxides, enzymes-mediated oxidation) and engineered processes (e.g., ozonation, chlorination, permanganate/ferrate associated oxidation, radicals based oxidation, nonradically activated persulfates). Generally, oxidative coupling reactions of bromophenoxyl radicals resulting from BrPs were recognized as the main mechanism for OH-PBDEs formation, which were discussed emphatically by combining theoretical calculations with the experimental evidence. Some discrepancies were found in interpreting the preferential coupling pathway of bromophenoxyl radicals according to different calculation methods. So, further efforts are needed to use advanced analytical methods for sensitive identification of OH-PBDEs to better evaluate the formation potentials of diverse OH-PBDEs from BrPs. Carbon materials associated oxidation technologies (e.g., carbon nanotube activated ferrate or persulfates) may be applied as a promising method for controlling OH-PBDEs during treatment of BrPs-containing waters. Overall, this review reveals a prevalent phenomenon of BrPs transformation to OH-PBDEs and meanwhile advances the mechanistic understanding. Moreover, the knowledge gaps are identified and some recommendations are proposed for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting mitochondrial metabolism represents a promising approach for cancer treatment. Here, we investigated the mitotoxic potential of the polybrominated diphenyl ether bromoxib, a natural compound isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea family. We could show that bromoxib comprised strong cytotoxicity in different leukemia and lymphoma cell lines (such as HL60, HPBALL, Jurkat, K562, KOPTK1, MOLT4, SUPB15 and Ramos), but also in solid tumor cell lines (such as glioblastoma cell lines SJ-GBM2 and TP365MG). Bromoxib activated the mitochondrial death pathway as evidenced by the rapid translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and the subsequent mitochondrial release of Smac. Accordingly, bromoxib-induced apoptosis was blocked in caspase 9 deficient Jurkat cells and Jurkat cells overexpressing the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. In addition, we could show that bromoxib functioned as an uncoupler of the electron transport chain with similar rapid kinetics as CCCP in terms of dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), processing of the dynamin-like GTPase OPA1 and subsequent fragmentation of mitochondria. Beyond that, bromoxib strongly abrogated ATP production via glycolysis as well as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) by targeting electron transport chain complexes II, III, and V (ATP-synthase) in Ramos lymphoma cells. Thus, bromoxib's potential to act on both cytosolic glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration renders it a promising agent for the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corrected Electronic Supplementary Material is presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Chemistry is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, a sensitive biotin-streptavidin (BS)-ELISA was developed for determining the polybrominated diphenyl ethers in PM2.5. For establishing this proposed BS-ELISA, we prepared the biotinylated antibody primarily. And for reducing the background interference, some influencing factors and procedures for this immunoassay were also discussed and optimised. Under the optimal conditions, the IC50 = 0.53 ng/mL; IC10 was 0.002 ng/mL; and the results were almost consistent with those using the gas chromatography and electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Less procedures and simpler sample preparation were required for this method compared with the GC-ECD. The results showed that the highest value of BDE-47 concentration occurred in December, which might reflect the combination of heating and industrial pollution. In our analysis, we studied the Pearson correlations between BDE-47/PM2.5 and gaseous pollutants (such as NO2, SO2, CO, O3, PM10 and PM2.5). BDE-47 showed a higher correlation with NO2 than that with PM10, PM2.5 and SO2, which implied that the BDE-47 emission process might be accompanied by the emission of NO2. Moreover, during the Spring Festival, the concentration of BDE-47 in PM2.5 decreased significantly, whereas the PM2.5 changed little. This suggested factories and vehicles might be the major contributors to BDE-47 emissions (but not to PM2.5). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's environment where the society attaches great importance to environmental pollution, there has been a certain amount of research at home and abroad to explore the solutions to pollution of the large amount of polluting and persistent harmful substances that remain in nature. And most people think that it is necessary to solve the problem of pollution in two ways. (1) Energy: without discussing other energy sources, we will only discuss the main oil of today's energy. The treatment and use of this energy will cause pollution to a certain degree, and it has been overexploited. The exploration of new energy sources and increasing the use of natural energy such as wind and solar energy are the main research directions today. (2) Degradation of existing pollutants: nowadays, due to the rapid development of various industries, attention to environmental pollution has reached a point that cannot be ignored. As a kind of brominated flame retardant, polybrominated diphenyl ethers are widely used because of their low price and stable chemical properties, mostly in electronic appliances, building materials, textiles, furniture, and other products. But the substance is extremely harmful. This article focuses on the degradation treatment of tetrabromodiphenyl ether, which is one of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers that are long-lasting and difficult to be degraded in the environment. It has become an emerging persistent organic pollutant due to its toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Based on the reduction and debromination of zero-valent iron, the effect of debromination of tetrabromodiphenyl ether is explored under the coupling effect of the nanosized iron powder with the smaller particles of zero-valent iron and vitamin B12. The experimental results in this paper show that when the dosage of nanoiron powder is between 0.0 g/L and 0.15 g/L, according to the degradation diagram, the reaction rate is continuously strengthened with the increase of nanoiron powder. When the dosage of nanoiron powder is 0.15 g/L-1.0 g/L, the effect will be weakened with the increase of the concentration. Therefore, an increase in the concentration of nanoiron powder will promote the progress of the debromination reaction. But when it reaches a certain level, the reaction rate will gradually decrease until it stops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk can be contaminated with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs). However, the relationship between the lactation period of cows and the residues of EDCs is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the lactation period in cows and EDCs residues such as OCPs, PCBs, PBDEs, and PAHs. Milk collected from cows during each lactation period was analyzed in terms of fat content and EDC residues. One or more contaminants were detected in almost all (98%) of the milk taken in three lactation periods. Three PCBs and 11 PAHs were found together in 1st lactation period, and one more PAH was added to them in other periods. However, the sample rate exceeded the maximum residue limit of 48%, 10%, and 16% in the first, second and third lactation periods, respectively. Also, it was seen that the riskiest period was the first lactation period, followed by the third and second periods. The same ranking is valid for the fat content in milk. Thus, it was concluded that the excretion of lipophilic EDCs in milk is related to the fat content in milk, and the higher the fat content in milk, the more lipophilic EDCs are excreted in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic matters (DOM) have important influence on the environmental behavior and fate of organic pollutants, therefore rationalization of interaction mechanisms between pollutants and DOM has become a hot topic in the field of environmental studies. In this paper, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), widely detected pollutants, were chosen as target compounds. The effects of substituent position on the interaction between PBDEs/PCBs and DOM were explored. Equilibrium dialysis technique combined with quantum chemistry and molecular docking calculations were employed to reveal the interaction mechanism from the view of charge distribution and molecular conformation. It is shown that non- ortho-substituted isomers have larger volumes and stronger hydrophobicity than those of ortho-substituted, therefore non- ortho-substituted isomers bind more favorably with DOM by hydrophobic partition. By calculating the atomic charge distribution of target chemicals and Leonardite humic acid (LHA) molecular model, π-π interactions between the aromatic rings of target chemicals with LHA are proposed and further proved in molecular docking calculations. There were 10, 8, 6 docking conformations demonstrating π-π interaction with LHA for CB-77, BDE-77 and BDE-47, respectively, but none was found for CB-47. By comparing the change of dihedral angle of the aromatic rings and energy barrier, non- ortho-substituted PBDEs/PCBs have larger dihedral angle adjustment space and flexibility, which results in stronger interaction and binding capability with DOM than ortho-substituted isomers. This paper shed some lights on the effect of substituent position on the environmental behaviors of PBDEs and PCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alkylphenolic surfactants (alkylphenol polyethoxylates) and the polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants are important environmental contaminants and have been implicated as endocrine disrupters. Both groups of compounds have come under increasing scrutiny from legislators and there are proposals to curb their use. However, these compounds continue to enter the environment and there is a need to determine their occurrence, fate and behaviour throughout the hydrosphere and in wastewater treatment processes to determine mass fluxes and sources. This paper reviews analytical methods for their determination in the aqueous and solid (sediment/sludge) phase. Extraction, cleanup and quantification by gas and liquid chromatographic (GC and LC) techniques linked to mass spectrometric (MS) detectors are considered. The literature indicates that for the alkylphenols research papers favour the use of LC/MS which is more amenable to determination of more highly ethoxylated oligomers, however, standard methods focus on GC/MS and the less ethoxylated oligomers and parent alkylphenols. The use of GC with negative chemical ionisation MS techniques predominates for the analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are additive flame retardants which have found applications in polymers for many consumer plastic and electronic goods. Wide use of these chemicals has led to their extremely high concentrations in the indoor environments. This paper presents an exploratory study of the photodebromination of five individual lower polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners (BDE-28, BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100 and BDE-101) irradiated with white light and different UV (A, B, C) light ranges. The capability of photodegradation of lower PBDEs under room lights was proven by the debromination which occurred with various effectiveness for the selected PBDE congeners and depended of light source. Almost all PBDE congeners showed the greatest decay when exposed to UV-C, with the exception of BDE-100. The decay of irradiated congeners occurred rapidly during the first 5 min of experiment. The final degradation varied from 38% decay (BDE-28, UV-C) to 94% (BDE-47, UV-C). These findings can help in predicting PBDE behavior in indoors and also be useful in the design of PBDE remediation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent industrialization and urbanization have increased the aqueous concentrations of a wide range of contaminants, which are toxic to human health and the environment. Therefore, remediation of aqueous solutions has turned into an important environmental issue. Over the last decade, growing attention has been paid to clay-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) composite materials as efficient and promising remediation materials in wastewater treatment and groundwater remediation technologies. This paper gives an overview of the clay minerals, zero-valent iron materials, clay-supported nZVI composites, and progress obtained during the remediation of contaminated aqueous solutions utilizing the clay-supported nZVI composites for the removal of heavy metals, nitrate, selenate, dyes, phenolic compounds, chlorinated organic compounds, nitroaromatic compounds and polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Reaction mechanisms and removal efficiencies were studied and evaluated. It was reported that the clay-supported nZVI composites have appreciable removal efficiency for different types of contaminants. This paper also reviews the use of ZVI-clay technology for the remediation of contaminated sites. Concerning clay-supported nZVI composites for future research, some recommendations are proposed and conclusions are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are synthetic phosphoric acid derivatives used in a wide variety of applications including as flame retardants and plasticizers. Their production and usage has increased in recent years, due to the phase-out of other flame retardant formulations (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers). As such, there has been a recent push to understand the global distribution of OPEs and their behaviour in biota. Multiple studies have been published over the last few years pertaining to OPE concentrations in biotic and abiotic environmental compartments, as well as the metabolism of OPEs in biota. This paper aims to provide a brief review of the occurrence and levels of OPEs in the environment, as well as recent developments concerning the elucidation of OPE metabolism in biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a combination of modification of the source and regulation of the process was used to control the degradation of PBDEs by plants and microorganisms. First, the key proteins that can degrade PBDEs in plants and microorganisms were searched in the PDB (Protein Data Bank), and a molecular docking method was used to characterize the binding ability of PBDEs to two key proteins. Next, the synergistic binding ability of PBDEs to the two key proteins was evaluated based on the queuing integral method. Based on this, three groups of three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models of plant-microbial synergistic degradation were constructed. A total of 30 PBDE derivatives were designed using BDE-3 as the template molecule. Among them, the effect on the synergistic degradation of six PBDE derivatives, including BDE-3-4, was significantly improved (increased by more than 20%) and the environment-friendly and functional evaluation parameters were improved. Subsequently, studies on the synergistic degradation of PBDEs and their derivatives by plants and microorganisms, based on the molecular docking method, found that the addition of lipophilic groups by modification is beneficial to enhance the efficiency of synergistic degradation of PBDEs by plants and microorganisms. Further, while docking PBDEs, the number of amino acids was increased and the binding bond length was decreased compared to the template molecules, i.e., PBDE derivatives could be naturally degraded more efficiently. Finally, molecular dynamics simulation by the Taguchi orthogonal experiment and a full factorial experimental design were used to simulate the effects of various regulatory schemes on the synergistic degradation of PBDEs by plants and microorganisms. It was found that optimal regulation occurred when the appropriate amount of carbon dioxide was supplied to the plant and microbial systems. This paper aims to provide theoretical support for enhancing the synergistic degradation of PBDEs by plants and microorganisms in e-waste dismantling sites and their surrounding polluted areas, as well as, realize the research and development of green alternatives to PBDE flame retardants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flame retardants have been shown to cause widespread physiological effects, in particular on endocrine organs such as the thyroid. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature on the association between flame retardants and thyroid function within humans. A search in the National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health PubMed database through January 2024 yielded 61 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently analyzed flame retardants across all thyroid hormones were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in particular BDE-47 and BDE-99. Ten studies demonstrated exclusively positive associations between flame retardants and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Six studies demonstrated exclusively negative associations between flame retardants and TSH. Twelve studies demonstrated exclusively positive associations for total triiodothyronine (tT3) and total thyroxine (tT4). Five and eight studies demonstrated exclusively negative associations between flame retardants and these same thyroid hormones, respectively. The effect of flame retardants on thyroid hormones is heterogeneous; however, the long-term impact warrants further investigation. Vulnerable populations, including indigenous people, individuals working at e-waste sites, firefighters, and individuals within certain age groups, such as children and elderly, are especially critical to be informed of risk of exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been used for many years as flame retardants. Due to their physicochemical and toxicological properties, they are considered to be persistent organic pollutants (POPs). BDE-209 is the main component of deca-BDE, the one PBDE commercial mixture currently approved for use in the European Union. The aim of this study was to analyse BDE-209 in surface soil samples from Warsaw and surrounding areas (Poland) as an indicator of environmental pollution with PBDEs, and to characterise the associated health risk. A total of 40 samples were analysed using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-µECD). Concentrations of BDE-209 in soil ranged from 0.4 ng g−1 d.w. (limit of quantification) to 158 ng g−1 d.w. Overall, 52.5% of results were above the method's limit of quantification. The highest levels were found at several locations with heavy traffic and in the vicinity of a CHP plant in the city. The lowest concentrations were observed in most of the samples collected from low industrialized or green areas (<0.4 to 1.68 ng g−1 d.w.). Exposure to BDE-209 was estimated for one of the most sensitive populations, i.e., young children. The following exposure routes were selected: oral and dermal. No risk was found to young children's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,2′,4,4′-Tetrabrominated biphenyl ether (BDE-47) is a polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) homologue that is ubiquitous in biological samples and highly toxic to humans and other organisms. Prior research has confirmed that BDE-47 can induce oxidative damage in RAW264.7 cells, resulting in apoptosis and impaired immune function. The current study mainly focused on how Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) and Licochalcone B (LCB) might protect against BDE-47's immunotoxic effects on RAW264.7 cells. The results show that ISL and LCB could increase phagocytosis, increase the production of MHC-II, and decrease the production of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) and co-stimulatory factors (CD40, CD80, and CD86), alleviating the immune function impairment caused by BDE-47. Secondly, both ISL and LCB could reduce the expressions of the proteins Bax and Caspase-3, promote the expression of the protein Bcl-2, and reduce the apoptotic rate, alleviating the apoptosis initiated by BDE-47. Additionally, ISL and LCB could increase the levels of antioxidant substances (SOD, CAT, and GSH) and decrease the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby counteracting the oxidative stress induced by BDE-47. Ultimately, ISL and LCB suppress the NF-κB pathway by down-regulating IKBKB and up-regulating IκB-Alpha in addition to activating the Nrf2 pathway and promoting the production of HO-1 and NQO1. To summarize, BDE-47 causes oxidative damage that can be mitigated by ISL and LCB through the activation of the Nrf2 pathway and inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, which in turn prevents immune function impairment and apoptosis. These findings enrich the current understanding of the toxicological molecular mechanism of BDE-47 and the detoxification mechanism of licorice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC requires monitoring of organic priority pollutants in so-called whole water samples, i.e. in aqueous non-filtered samples that contain natural colloidal and suspended particulate matter. Colloids and suspended particles in the liquid phase constitute a challenge for sample homogeneity and stability. Within the joint research project ENV08 'Traceable measurements for monitoring critical pollutants under the European Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC', whole water test materials were developed by spiking defined amounts of aqueous slurries of ultra-finely milled contaminated soil or sediment and aqueous solutions of humic acid into a natural mineral water matrix. This paper presents the results of an European-wide interlaboratory comparison (ILC) using this type of test materials. Target analytes were tributyltin, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the ng/L concentration range. Results of the ILC indicate that the produced materials are sufficiently homogeneous and stable to serve as samples for, e.g. proficiency testing or method validation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that ready-to-use water materials with a defined amount of suspended particulate and colloidal matter have been applied as test samples in an interlaboratory exercise. These samples meet the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive. Previous proficiency testing schemes mainly employed filtered water samples fortified with a spike of the target analyte in a water-miscible organic solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast milk holds an immense nutritional value as it contains health-promoting substances in a unique, optimal form. Additionally, breast milk’s significance extends to health and environmental protection, as it serves as an indicator of both maternal and infant exposure. In this study, breast milk samples collected in 2013 and in 2014–2016 from mothers in Vienna (Austria) were analysed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as further substances which have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties. The total concentration of the PBDE congeners in the samples (n = 18, sampled 2013) ranged from 0.055 to 52 ng/g lipid, and from 0.002 to 2.5 ng/g breast milk. In the pooled sample, the sum of PBDEs was detected at a level of 4.4 ng/g lipid. Based on the 2014–2016 study population, certain PFAS were detected in all samples (n = 40). Exposure to the sum of four specific PFAS including perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) ranged between 0.014 and 0.12 ng/L breast milk. In the pooled sample, PFOS and PFOA were found in concentrations of 0.025 ng/g and of 0.045 ng/g, respectively. In addition, the first generation of POPs, mainly organochlorine compounds, was measured in a pooled sample of breast milk from participants sampled in 2014–2016 as part of the WHO/UNEP breast milk monitoring program and compared to the POPs measured in pooled samples collected in 1987/1988 and 1992/1993, respectively. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention on POPs by comparing the Austrian results from the WHO/UNEP global breast milk study from 1987 to 2016. However, the data also show that, despite these reductions, health-relevant levels are still being reached, particularly in terms of children’s health when the presence of the new generation of POPs, such as PBDEs and PFAS, in human breast milk is taken into account.