The effect of different storage conditions on the migration of chemicals from polyethylene terephthalate and polycarbonate bottles to water

Objective: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) bottles have been used widely in the last years for the consumption of water and the increased use of these chemicals has raised many concerns regarding their adverse effects on health. Phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) are the main endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can migrate from these plastics into potable water. Materials and Methods: The concentrations of phthalate and BPA were measured in water samples that were stored in PET and PC bottles at different storage conditions. The method of ELISA was used for the determination of phthalate and BPA levels. A standard curve is obtained from the standards prepared at known concentrations of phthalate, BPA, according to their absorbance at 450 nm. The BPA levels of the samples were obtained through the calculation of the absorbance values acquired using the standard curve. Results: Different storage and heating processes applied on the samples significantly increased the levels of BPA and phthalate. One year of storage led to a statistically significant increase in phthalate levels when compared to the control group. Both BPA and phthalate levels detected in the water samples were higher than the control group depending on the storage conditions including exposure to high temperatures, sunlight and outdoor conditions. Conclusion: Our results indicate the necessity to establish the environmental conditions that must be ensured during the production, transportation and storage processes of the bottles, on a legal basis with legal regulations

Determination of bisphenol a and phthalate levels in wastewater samples

Objective: The use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as bisphenol A (BPA) in plastics manufacturing, agriculture, livestock, and paint manufacturing increas daily. The water treated in wastewater treatment plants is used in many areas such as irrigation of parks and gardens, and reinforcement of underground water resources. However, whether the treatment process eliminates EDCs in wastewater is not exactly known, and determining this as well as the amounts of these chemicals in treated water are important in terms of protecting the environment and human health. The aim of the study was to determine BPA and phthalate concentrations in the influent and effluent flow samples obtained from wastewater treatment plants. Materials and Methods: BPA and phthalate concentrations were measured in influent and effluent flow samples using the enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. BPA and phthalate measurements were performed as competitive measurements of BPA and total phthalates in samples using specific monoclonal antibodies. Results: BPA and phthalate levels were measured respectively as 7.69 μg/L and 78.27 μg/L in the influent water samples and 3.17 μg/L and 25.56 μg/L in the effluent water samples. The concentration of BPA and phthalates in the effluent samples decreased significantly compared to the influent water samples. Conclusion: This study is believed to shed light on the importance of monitoring BPA and phthalate concentrations in wastewater treatment plants and inspections for detecting other EDCs in wastewater

Differential effects of bisphenol a and di (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure on crestin and the expression of some genes related to apoptosis and inflammation in zebrafish embryos

Objective: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) in plastics may disrupt proper endocrine system functioning. Zebrafish embryos are formed through external fertilization, and their rapid development, short life cycle, and transparency provide imaging advantages. In zebrafish embryos, neural crest development occurs similarly to other vertebrate embryos and crestin is found in the neural crest during embryogenesis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which are the most widely used EDCs, on the expression of crestin, apoptosis, and inflammation-related parameters in zebrafish embryos. Materials and Methods: The embryos were exposed to either DEHP or BPA in well plates for 72 h post fertilization (hpf). Expressions of crestin were evaluated by in situ hybridization, while the expressions of bax, casp8, casp3a, ifng1, fas, and tp53 were evaluated by RT-PCR. Results: Expressions of bax and casp8 increased and casp3a, ifng1, and fas decreased in BPA and DEHP groups. tp53 expression increased in the BPA group but decreased in the DEHP group compared with the control group. In the DEHP group, casp3a, ifng1, fas, bax, casp8, and tp53 expressions decreased compared with the BPA group. No significant change was observed in the crestin expressions in the groups. When compared with the control group, an inverse relation between ifng1 expression and apoptosis, as evidenced by increased bax and casp8 expressions, was observed in the BPA and DEHP groups. Conclusion: Our study provided important data on the effects of EDCs on the relationship between inflammation and apoptosis

Stevioside ameliorates hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance, in a diet-induced obese zebrafish model, through epigenetic, oxidative stress and inflammatory regulation

Obesity is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms affect obesityrelated mechanisms. Due to weight gain concern in society, artificial sweeteners with no nutritional value have been increasingly consumed. Stevia is a sweet natural glycoside and a calorie-free sweetner extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and used as a substitute for artificial sweetners. This study evaluates the effects of stevioside on glucose tolerance, epigenetic and metabolic regulators of insulin resistance, oxidant-antioxidant status and tissue histology in a diet-induced obese (DIO) zebrafish model. After 15 days of overfeeding body weight, and fasting blood glucose, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels and the expressions of fbf21, lepa, ll21, tnf alpha were elevated, where as there was impaired glucose tolerance and lower superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities, dnmt3a expression which is an epigenetic tool of insulin resistance. Beneficial effects of stevioside were observed on glucose tolerance, oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators linking obesity to insulin resistance and its epigenetic regulation, in DIO model.Marmara Universit