RESUMEN
The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is a frequently found contaminant in cereals and cereal-based products. As a German contribution to the European Joint Programme HBM4EU, we analysed the total DON concentration (tDON) in 24-h urine samples from the German Environmental Specimen Bank (ESB). In total, 360 samples collected in 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021 from young adults in Muenster (Germany), were measured by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) after enzymatic deconjugation of the glucuronide metabolites. tDON was found in concentrations above the lower limit of quantification (0.3 µg/L) in 99% of the samples. Medians of the measured concentrations and the daily excretion were 4.3 µg/L and 7.9 µg/24 h, respectively. For only nine participants, urinary tDON concentrations exceeded the provisional Human biomonitoring guidance value (HBM GV) of 23 µg/L. Urinary tDON concentrations were significantly higher for male participants. However, 24-h excretion values normalized to the participant's body weight did not exhibit any significant difference between males and females and the magnitude remained unchanged over the sampling years with exception of the sampling year 2001. Daily intakes were estimated from excretion values. Exceedance of the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 1 µg/kg bw per day was observed for less than 1% of all participants. TDI exceedances were only present in the sampling year 2001 and not in more recent sampling years while exceedance of the HBM guidance value was also observed in 2011 and 2021.
Asunto(s)
Micotoxinas , Tricotecenos , Femenino , Adulto Joven , Humanos , Masculino , Monitoreo Biológico , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Tricotecenos/orina , Micotoxinas/orina , Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales/análisisRESUMEN
Mycotoxin exposure in humans is primarily assessed through its occurrence in external sources, such as food commodities. Herein, we have developed a direct competitive ELISA to facilitate the detection of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), fumonisin (FUM B1/B2), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEA) in human serum. The analytical validation of the assay followed practices endorsed by the international research community and the EU directive 96/23/EC in order to examine detection capability, recovery, and cross-reactivity. The assay demonstrated a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for AFB1 [0.61 ng/mL (hereon ng/mL = ppb)], DON (19.53 ppb), FUM (4.88 ppb), OTA (19.53 ppb), and ZEA (0.15 ppb). Recovery from human serum for all mycotoxins spanned from 73% to 106%. Likewise, the specificity for monoclonal antibodies against cross-reactant mycotoxins ranged from 2% to 11%. This study compares the LLOQ and recovery values with commercial and emerging immuno-based methods for detecting mycotoxins in foodstuffs. The LLOQ values from the present study were among the lowest in commercial or emerging methods. Despite the differences in the extraction protocols and matrices, the recovery range in this study, commercial tests, and other procedures were similar for all mycotoxins. Overall, the assay detected AFB1, DON, FUM, OTA, and ZEA in human serum with excellent accuracy, precision, and specificity.
Asunto(s)
Fumonisinas , Micotoxinas , Zearalenona , Humanos , Micotoxinas/análisis , Fumonisinas/análisis , Zearalenona/análisis , Aflatoxina B1/análisis , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Contaminación de Alimentos/análisisRESUMEN
A method was developed and validated for multi-element analyses of human urine samples using inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry. The combination of a simple sample preparation and the state-of-the-art technique allows high-throughput and lowest limits of quantification up to 1 ng/L. Thereby coefficients of variation ranges from 0.4% (V) to 3.7% (Be), and 0.9% (Cd) to 4.8% (Ni) for intraday and interday precision, respectively. The method's performance is demonstrated by successful participation in international interlaboratory comparison programs as external quality assurance. Moreover, the method was applied for the analysis of first-morning void urine samples of adults (N = 77) living in the German capital region. 15 metals and metalloids (Astotal, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, V, and Zn) were determined. With exception of indium, all elements were found in urine samples above the limit of quantification, demonstrating the suitability to measure the general population's exposure to these metals and metalloids. The method presented here shall be used for analysis of urine samples collected in the upcoming German Environmental Survey, GerES VI, a cross-sectional, population-representative study.
Asunto(s)
Metaloides , Oligoelementos , Adulto , Monitoreo Biológico , Estudios Transversales , Humanos , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem , Oligoelementos/análisisRESUMEN
A historic soil contamination of chlorinated hydrocarbons from a former dry cleaning shop caused intrusion of vapors into a building currently used as bookshop. The aim of this study was to determine the indoor air quality and the uptake of soil contaminants and their degradation products. Samples of indoor air were collected over one week in the warm and one week in the cold season. Pre-shift and post-shift samples of end-exhaled air were collected from two employees. Chlorinated hydrocarbons were analyzed in indoor air and exhaled air samples using thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Tetrachloroethylene (PER), and its degradation products trichloroethylene (TRI), 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), 1,2-cis-dichloroethylene (1,2-cis-DCE), 1,2-trans-dichloroethylene (1,2-trans-DCE), methylene chloride (MC) and vinyl chloride (VC) were determined in ambient air. PER was the prime contaminant with a week average (±sd) of 805.2⯱â¯598.6⯵g/m3 in June 2016 and 1031⯱â¯499.3⯵g/m3 in December 2017. MC, 1,2-cis-DCE and TRI were detected at concentrations below 2.3⯵g/m3. 1,1-DCE and VC were not detected. In exhaled air PER, 1,1-DCE, and MC were detected in both June and December, whereas TRI, 1,2-cis-DCE and 1,2-trans-DCE were only detected on one or two days in the cold season. VC was not detected in exhaled air. For PER, the mean concentrations (±sd) in end-exhaled air increased from a five days (Mon-Fri) average pre-shift value of 22.2⯱â¯8.0 to a post-shift value of 52.6⯱â¯15.5â¯ng/L in the male shop owner (pâ¯<â¯0.01) and in the female cashier these values were 26.0⯱â¯3.6 and 63.6⯱â¯12.7â¯ng/L, respectively (pâ¯<â¯0.01). Intrusion of chlorinated soil contaminants resulted in contamination of indoor air above the current accepted indoor air level for PER of 250⯵g/m3. For PER in end-exhaled air an accumulation over the workweek was not observed.
Asunto(s)
Contaminación del Aire Interior/análisis , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Hidrocarburos Clorados/análisis , Contaminantes del Suelo/análisis , Adulto , Pruebas Respiratorias , Femenino , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países BajosRESUMEN
The circadian time structure (CTS) and its disruption by rotating and nightshift schedules relative to work performance, accident risk, and health/wellbeing have long been areas of occupational medicine research. Yet, there has been little exploration of the relevance of the CTS to setting short-term, time-weighted, and ceiling threshold limit values (TLVs); conducting employee biological monitoring (BM); and establishing normative reference biological exposure indices (BEIs). Numerous publications during the past six decades document the CTS substantially affects the disposition - absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination - and effects of medications. Additionally, laboratory animal and human studies verify the tolerance to chemical, biological (contagious), and physical agents can differ extensively according to the circadian time of exposure. Because of slow and usually incomplete CTS adjustment by rotating and permanent nightshift workers, occupational chemical and other contaminant encounters occur during a different circadian stage than for dayshift workers. Thus, the intended protection of some TLVs when working the nightshift compared to dayshift might be insufficient, especially in high-risk settings. The CTS is germane to employee BM in that large-amplitude predictable-in-time 24h variation can occur in the concentration of urine, blood, and saliva of monitored chemical contaminants and their metabolites plus biomarkers indicative of adverse xenobiotic exposure. The concept of biological time-qualified (for rhythms) reference values, currently of interest to clinical laboratory pathology practice, is seemingly applicable to industrial medicine as circadian time and workshift-specific BEIs to improve surveillance of night workers, in particular. Furthermore, BM as serial assessments performed frequently both during and off work, exemplified by employee self-measurement of lung function using a small portable peak expiratory flow meter, can easily identify intolerance before induction of pathology.
Asunto(s)
Ritmo Circadiano/fisiología , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Valores Limites del Umbral , Adulto , Animales , Humanos , Horario de Trabajo por Turnos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Background: Industrial activity in Thailand’s coastal areas has significantlyincreased mercury concentrations in seawater, causing accumulation through thefood chain. Continuous exposure to mercury has been linked to bioaccumulationin living organisms and potential adverse health effects in children.Methods: Blood samples were collected from 873 schoolchildren aged 6–13years living in four sites near the eastern seaboard industrial estates of the Gulfof Thailand in 2011. Total mercury level in whole blood (Hg-B) was compared withstandard reference values.Results: Mean (± standard deviation) concentrations of Hg-B from schoolgirls(2.19 ± 0.5 μg/L; n = 405) and schoolboys (2.29 ± 0.3 μg/L; n = 468) did notexceed the regulatory limits of the United States Environmental Protection Agency(US EPA), the German Commission on Human Biological Monitoring (HBM I, II)or Clarke’s analysis of drugs and poisons reference values. Nevertheless, 67children (34 girls and 33 boys) had individual values that exceeded the lowest ofthese standards (4 μg/L).Conclusion: The relatively low concentrations of Hg-B detected in this studysuggested a relatively low risk for schoolchildren. However, 67 children hadelevated mean total Hg-B concentrations, especially in the two sites locatednearest the industrial area. This information may serve as an early warning ofthe potential for pollution to affect children living around industrial areas. Furtherregular monitoring, including studies assessing the health impact of mercurypollution in this region of Thailand, is to be encouraged
Asunto(s)
United States Environmental Protection Agency , Mercurio , TailandiaRESUMEN
Consumers who use personal care products (PCPs) are internally exposed to some of the organic components present of which some may be detected in exhaled air when eliminated. The aim of this study was the quantitative determination of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in end-exhaled air to study dermal absorption of substances in PCPs. We exposed the forearm of fifteen healthy volunteers for 60min to pure D4 or D5 and to commercial products containing D4 and D5. Inhalation uptake was kept to a minimum by keeping the forearm in a flow cabinet during dermal exposure and supplying filtered air to the breathing zone of the volunteer during the post-exposure period. End-exhaled air was collected using a breath sampler (Bio-VOC), transferred to carbograph multi-bed adsorbent tubes and analyzed by thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). In the end-exhaled air of non-exposed volunteers background concentrations of D4 (0.8-3.5ng/L) and D5 (0.8-4.0ng/L) were observed. After exposing the volunteers, the level of D4 and D5 in end-exhaled air did not or barely exceed background concentrations. At t=90min, a sharp increase of the D4/D5 concentration in end-exhaled air was observed, which we attributed to the inhalation of the substances during a toilet visit without using inhalation protection devices. When this visit was taken out of the protocol, the sharp increase disappeared. Overall, the results of our study indicate that dermal absorption of D4 and D5 contributes only marginally to internal exposure following dermal applications. As in our study inhalation is the primary route of entry for these compounds, we conclude that its risk assessment should focus on this particular exposure route.
Asunto(s)
Cosméticos , Dermis/metabolismo , Siloxanos/farmacocinética , Administración Cutánea , Adulto , Cosméticos/administración & dosificación , Femenino , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas , Humanos , Exposición por Inhalación , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Medición de Riesgo , Siloxanos/administración & dosificación , Siloxanos/análisis , Absorción CutáneaRESUMEN
Human biological monitoring (HBM) is an established method for chemical exposure characterization. Over the past few years HBM complemented environmental modelling and measurement strategies in several large scale chemical incidents in Belgium and Germany. These applications showed biomarkers to persist in body fluids, allowing sample collection to start in the aftermath of the incident. In addition, integration of exposure over time and from different routes and sources of exposure were reflected in HBM results. Especially adducts to hemoglobin were used to study exposures of workers and of the general population in retrospect. HBM results confirmed the exposure, sometimes pointing to a-typical sources and routes of exposure, not foreseen in incident scenarios. As a next step in Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands guidelines were prepared to support a role for HBM in the response to chemical incidents. Current practices indicate that the interpretation of HBM outcome can still be improved, using refined sample collection strategies and reverse dose calculations to facilitate the use of available exposure standards in the interpretation of HBM results. Exchange of knowledge and experience as well as sharing technical resources will further strengthen the role of HBM in the response to public health incidents and disasters.