Retrospective time-trend study of polybrominated diphenyl ether and polybrominated and polychlorinated biphenyl levels in human serum from the United States.

Six polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), one hexabromobiphenyl [polybrominated biphenyl (PBB)], and one hexachlorobiphenyl [polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)] were measured in 40 human serum pools collected in the southeastern United States during 1985 through 2002 and in Seattle, Washington, for 1999 through 2002. The concentrations of most of the PBDEs, which are commercially used as flame retardants in common household and commercial applications, had significant positive correlations with time of sample collection, showing that the concentrations of these compounds are increasing in serum collected in the United States. In contrast, PCB and PBB levels were negatively correlated with sample collection year, indicating that the levels of these compounds have been decreasing since their phaseout in the 1970s

Bioaccumulation in aquatic systems: methodological approaches, monitoring and assessment

Bioaccumulation, the accumulation of a chemical in an organism relative to its level in the ambient medium, is of major environmental concern. Thus, monitoring chemical concentrations in biota are widely and increasingly used for assessing the chemical status of aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, various scientific and regulatory aspects of bioaccumulation in aquatic systems and the relevant critical issues are discussed. Monitoring chemical concentrations in biota can be used for compliance checking with regulatory directives, for identification of chemical sources or event related environmental risk assessment. Assessing bioaccumulation in the field is challenging since many factors have to be considered that can effect the accumulation of a chemical in an organism. Passive sampling can complement biota monitoring since samplers with standardised partition properties can be used over a wide temporal and geographical range. Bioaccumulation is also assessed for regulation of chemicals of environmental concern whereby mainly data from laboratory studies on fish bioaccumulation are used. Field data can, however, provide additional important information for regulators. Strategies for bioaccumulation assessment still need to be harmonised for different regulations and groups of chemicals. To create awareness for critical issues and to mutually benefit from technical expertise and scientific findings, communication between risk assessment and monitoring communities needs to be improved. Scientists can support the establishment of new monitoring programs for bioaccumulation, e.g. in the frame of the amended European Environmental Quality Standard Directive

Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and a mixture of endocrine disrupters reduce thyroxine levels and cause antiandrogenic effects in rats

Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. The developmental toxicity of perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) is largely unknown despite widespread environmental contamination and presence in human serum, tissues and milk. To thoroughly investigate PFHxS toxicity in developing rats and to mimic a realistic human exposure situation, we examined a low dose close to human relevant PFHxS exposure, and combined the dose-response studies of PFHxS with a fixed dose of 12 environmentally relevant endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDmix). Two reproductive toxicity studies in time-mated Wistar rats exposed throughout gestation and lactation were performed. Study 1 included control, two doses of PFHxS, and two doses of PFHxS+EDmix (n=5-7). Study 2 included control, 0.05, 5, or 25 mg/kg body weight/day PFHxS, EDmix-only, 0.05, 5, or 25mg PFHxS/kg plus EDmix (n=13-20). PFHxS caused no overt toxicity in dams and offspring but decreased male pup birth weight and slightly increased liver weights at high doses and in combination with the EDmix. A marked effect on T4 levels was seen in both dams and offspring, with significant reductions from 5 mg/kg/day. The EDmix caused antiandrogenic effects in male offspring, manifested as slight decreases in anogenital distance, increased nipple retention and reductions of the weight of epididymides, ventral prostrate, and vesicular seminalis. PFHxS can induce developmental toxicity and in addition results of the co-exposure studies indicated that PFHxS and the EDmix potentiate the effect of each other on various endpoints, despite their different modes of action. Hence, risk assessment may underestimate toxicity when mixture toxicity and background exposures are not taken into account

Risk to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food

Acknowledgements: The Panel wishes to thank the following for their support provided to this scientific output as Hearing experts: Klaus Abraham, Esben Budtz-Jørgensen, Tony Fletcher, Philippe Grandjean, Hans Mielke and Hans Rumke and EFSA staff members: Davide Arcella, Marco Binaglia, Petra Gergelova, Elena Rovesti and Marijke Schutte. The Panel wishes to acknowledge all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other organisations that provided data for this scientific output. The Panel would also like to thank the following authors and co-authors for providing additional information in relation to their respective studies: Berit Granum, Margie M Peden-Adams, Thomas Webster.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Antimony in the environment - first results from the German environmental specimen bank: Poster at the 1st International Workshop on Antimony in the Environment, 16.05.-19.05.2005, Heidelberg

Research Program The German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB) is an important tool for the long-term monitoring of pollutants in typical ecosystems. Within this program for example in terrestrial ecosystems spruce needles (Picea abies), beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) and Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica') are sampled at different locations in Germany. The specimens are archived and analyzed for environmental relevant substances. The spruce is widespread in Central Europe. Its suitability as a specimen type for the ESB is founded on its economic and ecological significance and the considerable understanding of its pattern of accumulation in relation to many hazardous substances. The target organ is the one-year-old shoot which, when sampled in spring (February to late May before sprouting begins), presents a comprehensive picture of winter pollution in the environment. The common, or European, beech plays a dominant role in most nearly natural and also anthropogenically influenced forest ecosystems in Central Europe. Unlike the coniferous spruce, it prefers lower altitudes. The leaves are the target organ. Sampling takes place in the late summer before the leaves begin to change colour (August to mid-September). The sampling of biota within the ESB program is performed by University of Trier. Results On the poster we present first results on antimony levels. The antimony was co-analyzed with arsenic using hydride-generation ICP-MS with cool plasma/ShieldTorch. For optimum sensitivity, accuracy and precision Sb (As) must be pre-reduced to the most efficient oxidation state for hydride formation. A solution of KI plus ascorbic acid is used. Before analyses the material is digested with a high pressure microwave system (MLS ULTRAClave II). Spruce shoots and leaves showed Sb levels in the ng/g range (dry matter)