Systematic investigation of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls blood levels in Greek children from the Rhea birth cohort suggests historical exposure to DDT and through diet to DDE

Data availability: Data will be made available on request.Supplementary data are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412024002721#s0090:~:text=Appendix%20A.-,Supplementary%20data,-Data%20availability .The blood levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been thoroughly investigated in Greek children from the Rhea birth cohort study. This investigation aimed to assess exposure levels, explore their possible relationship with children's age and sex, and indicate potential sources of exposure. Exposure patterns and common sources of PCBs and OCPs were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate statistics. A total of 947 blood samples from study participants were analyzed for OCP and PCB exposure, with 375 samples collected at 4 years old, 239 at 6.5 years old, and 333 at 11 years old. Elevated levels of DDE were observed in 6.5-year-old children compared to corresponding levels in other European countries. Higher levels of DDE were found in 4-year-old children, with the lowest concentrations in the 11-year-old group. The DDT/DDE ratio was consistently less than 1 among all the examined subjects. These results indicate exposure to DDT and DDE both in utero and through breastfeeding and dietary intake. For the entire cohort population, the highest concentration was determined for PCB 28, followed by PCBs 138, 153, and 180. The sum of the six indicator PCBs implied low exposure levels for the majority of the cohort population. Spearman correlations revealed strong associations between PCBs and OCPs, while principal component analysis identified two different groupings of exposure. DDE exhibited a correlation with a series of PCBs (153, 156, 163, 180), indicating a combined OCP-PCB source, and an anticorrelation with others (52, 28, 101), implying a separate and competing source.Hellenic Ministry of Health and the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation

Prothymosin alpha: a ubiquitous polypeptide with potential use in cancer diagnosis and therapy

The thymus is a central lymphoid organ with crucial role in generating T cells and maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. More than 30 peptides, initially referred to as “thymic hormones,” are produced by this gland. Although the majority of them have not been proven to be thymus-speciWc, thymic peptides comprise an eVective group of regulators, mediating important immune functions. Thymosin fraction Wve (TFV) was the Wrst thymic extract shown to stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and diVerentiation. Subsequent fractionation of TFV led to the isolation and characterization of a series of immunoactive peptides/polypeptides, members of the thymosin family. Extensive research on prothymosin (proT) and thymosin 1 (T1) showed that they are of clinical signiWcance and potential medical use. They may serve as molecular markers for cancer prognosis and/or as therapeutic agents for treating immunodeWciencies, autoimmune diseases and malignancies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying their eVect are yet not fully elucidated proT and T1 could be considered as candidates for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will focus in principle on the eventual clinical utility of proT, both as a tumor biomarker and in triggering anticancer immune responses. Considering the experience acquired via the use of T1 to treat cancer patients, we will also discuss potential approaches for the future introduction of proT into the clinical setting

Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from aquaculture farms in central macedonia region, greece, using gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method

A new sensitive and selective gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed for the analysis of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 15 + 1 European Union (EU) PAHs, in mussel samples from aquaculture farms in Thermaikos and Strymonian Gulf, Central Macedonia Region, in three sampling periods. Concentrations were found at moderate to low values at all sampling sites, without exceeding maximum levels set by EU. Low molecular weight PAHs were predominant in all samples. Seasonal variation of the concentrations was observed; values were slightly higher in the winter period. Use of diagnostic ratios for potential sources of PAHs showed both petrogenic and pyrolitic origin. In comparison to other related studies of mussels from the Mediterranean Sea, Greek mussels cultivated in the studied gulfs are low in contaminants due to minimal environmental pollution effects. Low concentrations of PAHs are in compliance with the low values of other POPs which were found in the mussels. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Direct ELISA method for the specific determination of prothymosin alpha in human specimens

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, specific for prothymosin alpha (ProTα) was developed using an antibody against the synthetic C-terminal peptide ProTα[101-109] and isolated bovine ProTα for the preparation of standard solutions and immunoplates. Due to the antibody used, the ELISA developed was capable of fully discriminating between ProTα, the naturally occuring and partially homologous peptide parathymosin alpha (ParaTα) and the peptide thymosin α1 (Tα1), whose sequence is identical to the [1-28] sequence of ProTα, and its in vivo occurrence is under question. Moreover, due to its improved sensitivity, the ELISA was capable of directly determining ProTα concentration in human serum and tissue extracts, without any pretreatment of the samples. ProTα levels were directly measured in sera obtained from 48 apparently healthy individuals and 27 patients with diagnosed breast cancer and found to range from 0.67 to 2.34 μg/ml (mean value 1.27 ± 0.49 μg/ml) and from 0.47 to 1 74 μg/ml (mean value 1.02 ± 0.29 μg/ml), respectively. ProTα levels were also measured in four breast tumor and adjacent normal breast tissue extracts and found to be elevated in the tumor extracts

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and trace elements dietary intake in inhabitants of Athens, Greece, based on a duplicate portion study

Concentration levels of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and 20 trace elements were measured in dietary samples, in order to estimate the dietary intake and the potential exposure risk of the Greek population. Dietary samples were collected with the help of 30 volunteers inhabitants of Athens, Greece, according to the duplicate portion study (DPS) method where the determination of the compounds is conducted in the final consumed meal. DPS was selected as an alternative to a total diet study for its feasibility, low cost and realistic image that it provides. PAHs determination was performed by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and trace elements determination by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The estimated mean daily dietary exposure on 26 PAHs for an adult was estimated at 101.47 ng kg−1 body weight day−1, while moderate to low exposure was related to the type and amount of food consumed. Exposure levels to PAHs do not indicate a possible risk for the health of the study group. For toxic, potentially essential and/or essential trace elements the daily exposure calculated for Greek population was in accordance with the reference values of the health-based guidances and compared to previous diet studies reported for the population of other countries was in general similar to the lower bound exposure. © 2022 Elsevier Lt

Atmospheric concentrations and health implications of pahs, pcbs and pcdd/fs in the vicinity of a heavily industrialized site in Greece

Background: Thriassion Plain is considered the most industrialized area in Greece and thus a place where emissions of pollutants are expected to be elevated, leading to the degradation of air quality. Methods: Simultaneous determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was performed in PM10 samples. SPSS statistical package was employed for statistical analysis and source apportionment purposes. Cancer risk was estimated from total persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) dataset according to the available literature. Results: POPs concentrations in particulate matter were measured in similar levels compared to other studies in Greece and worldwide, with mean concentrations of ΣPAHs, ΣPCDD/Fs, dioxin like PCBs, and indicator PCBs being 7.07 ng m−3, 479 fg m−3, 1634 fg m−3, and 18.1 pg m−3, respectively. Seasonal variations were observed only for PAHS with higher concentrations during cold period. MDRs, D/F ratios, and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted combustions as the main source of POPs’ emissions. Estimation of particles’ carcinogenic and mutagenic potential indicates the increased toxicity of PM10 during cold periods, and cancer risk assessment concludes that 3 to 4 people out of 100,000 may suffer from cancer due to POPs’ inhalation. Conclusions: Increased cancer risk for citizens leads to the necessity of chronic POPs’ monitoring in Thriassion Plain, and such strategies have to be a priority for Greek environmental authorities. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) in home and commercially produced chicken eggs from the Netherlands and Greece

Dietary intake is a major route of human exposure to perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs). However, the available information on PFAS levels in food, including chicken eggs, is limited. In the present study, home produced and commercially produced eggs (organic, battery and free range eggs) were collected from the Netherlands (n = 95) and Greece (n = 76). The egg yolks were analysed for 11 PFASs by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using isotope dilution. PFAS levels in yolk were higher in home produced eggs from the Netherlands (median 3.1, range < LOQ - 31.2 ng g-1) and Greece (median 1.1, range < LOQ - 15.0 ng g-1) compared to the eggs collected from supermarkets. In these eggs, all PFAS levels were below the LOQ of 0.5 ng g-1, except for a small amount of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in 1 sample in each country (1.1 ng g-1 and 0.9 ng g-1 for the Netherlands and Greece respectively).PFOS was the predominant PFAS, making up on average 85% of ∑PFASs. The highest PFOS concentration was detected in a Dutch home produced egg sample (24.8 ng g-1). The contamination pattern was similar in both countries with the long-chain PFASs (C ≥ 8) being most frequently detected, while short-chain PFASs were rarely found. The most likely cause of the contamination of home produced eggs is ingestion of soil through pecking. Although regular consumption of home produced eggs will lead to an increased PFOS exposure, it is not expected that it will lead to exceedance of the tolerable daily intake established by EFSA. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Levels of perfluorinated compounds in raw and cooked Mediterranean finfish and shellfish

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) were analyzed in several species of small Mediterranean fish and shellfish, all of which are popular in Greek diet. Analysis was conducted in raw samples and in samples cooked by the two ways preferred in Greek cuisine, i.e. fried in olive oil and grilled. PFCs above the detection limit were found in all raw samples except sardine, mussel and squid. The predominant PFC was PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), the highest concentration of which was measured in picarel (20.4ngg-1 fresh weight). The PFOS values for the rest of the samples were between <LOD and 5.66ngg-1 fw. The concentrations of the detected PFCs were in most cases higher after frying or grilling, this increase being statistically significant. Based on these results, the Tolerable Daily Intake for PFOS and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) through consumption of fish and seafood was well below the values proposed by EFSA. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd