The study search and selection process.

<p>The study search and selection process.</p

Exposure to Organochlorine Pollutants and Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Though exposure to organochlorine pollutants (OCPs) is considered a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), epidemiological evidence for the association remains controversial. A systematic review and meta-analysis was applied to quantitatively evaluate the association between exposure to OCPs and incidence of T2DM and pool the inconsistent evidence.</p><p>Design and Methods</p><p>Publications in English were searched in MEDLINE and WEB OF SCIENCE databases and related reference lists up to August 2013. Quantitative estimates and information regarding study characteristics were extracted from 23 original studies. Quality assessments of external validity, bias, exposure measurement and confounding were performed, and subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the heterogeneity sources.</p><p>Results</p><p>We retrieved 23 eligible articles to conduct this meta-analysis. OR (odds ratio) or RR (risk ratio) estimates in each subgroup were discussed, and the strong associations were observed in PCB-153 (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.19–1.94), PCBs (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.53–2.99), and <i>p,p′</i>-DDE (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.15–1.54) based on a random-effects model.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This meta-analysis provides quantitative evidence supporting the conclusion that exposure to organochlorine pollutants is associated with an increased risk of incidence of T2DM.</p></div

Subgroup analysis of the included epidemiological studies.

a<p>Based on fixed model, others based on random model.</p><p>Subgroup analysis of the included epidemiological studies.</p

Study characteristics.

a<p>Different models adjusted by confounding, such as sex, age, BMI, total cholesterol and triglycerides, and various compounds.</p>b<p>stratified by BMI.</p>c<p>stratified by the years diagnosed after the baseline investigation.</p><p>Study characteristics.</p

A funnel plot of SE versus ln(OR) for the meta-analyses.

<p>(<i>A</i>) Funnel plot for the meta-analysis on T2DM from background exposure to PCB-153. (<i>B</i>) Funnel plot for the subgroup analysis of serum lipid on T2DM from exposure to PCB-153. (<i>C</i>) Funnel plot for the subgroup analysis on T2DM from background exposure to <i>p,p′</i>-DDE. (<i>D</i>) Funnel plot for the subgroup analysis of the cross-sectional study on T2DM from exposure to <i>p,p′</i>-DDE. (<i>E</i>) Funnel plot for the subgroup analysis of the general population on T2DM from exposure to <i>p,p′</i>-DDE. (<i>F</i>) Funnel plot for the subgroup analysis of serum lipid on T2DM from exposure to <i>p,p′</i>-DDE.</p

Subgroup analysis forest plots of the studies on T2DM risk from exposure to all three biomarkers.

<p>(<i>A</i>) Result of exposure to PCB-153. (<i>B</i>) Result of exposure to PCBs. (<i>C</i>) Result of exposure to <i>p,p′</i>-DDE.</p

Particle Size-Specific Distributions and Preliminary Exposure Assessments of Organophosphate Flame Retardants in Office Air Particulate Matter

In this study, the concentrations, size-specific distributions, and preliminary exposure assessments of 10 organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) were investigated in suspended particulate matter collected from offices. OPFRs were detected in a range of 5.00–147.77 ng/m³. Tri­(chloropropyl) phosphate (TCPP) was the most abundant analog followed by tri­(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). Chlorinated OPFRs (TCPP, TCEP, and tris­(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCPP)) contributed to about 77% of the total OPFRs. Size-specific distributions revealed that TCEP, tri-n-propyl phosphate (TnPP), TCPP, and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) shared a similar distribution pattern with a peak in the fraction 4.7–5.8 μm. A peak was also found in the distributions of tricresyl phosphate (TCrP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), and tri­(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) but in different fractions. A bimodal distribution was observed for TDCPP, TPhP, and tributoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP). The results of mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) indicated that TDCPP, TCrP, and TEHP were mainly located on ultrafine particles (≤1 μm), while TnPP, TBEP, and EHDPP mainly on fine particles (≤2.5 μm). Furthermore, MMADs of OPFRs were found to be positively correlated with their vapor pressures (Vp) (<i>p</i> < 0.01), indicating that OPFR analogs with low Vp were inclined to adsorb on small size particles. Preliminary exposure assessments suggested a low risk of exposure to OPFRs for people working in such offices, and inhaled OPFRs would mainly deposit in the head region of the respiratory tract

Status, Influences and Risk Assessment of Hexachlorocyclohexanes in Agricultural Soils Across China

Large amounts of hexaclorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were historically applied to Chinese soils. However, there has been limited information on the residue patterns of HCHs in soils at a national scale in China. In this study, surface soil samples were collected from agricultural fields across China, and the concentrations of HCHs and enantiomeric fractions (EFs) of α-HCH were measured. The results showed that the average concentrations of α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, and total HCHs in Chinese agricultural soils were 0.190, 1.31, 0.236, and 1.74 ng g^–1, respectively. Residues of HCHs likely originated from past usage of technical HCHs. The isomers of α-HCH and γ-HCH tended to accumulate in the sites with lower total HCH concentrations, lower temperature, higher elevation, and less wet precipitation when compared to β-HCH. Enantiomeric analysis showed a preferential degradation of (−)-α-HCH. Human health risks via various exposure routes to HCHs in soils were further estimated. Overall, the mean hazard index (HI) linked to noncarcinogenic risks was below 1, suggesting an absence of noncarcinogenic risks of HCHs in Chinese soils. In addition, the cancer risk values were all below 10^–4, which indicates low or very low risks