Human health risk assessment associated with the reuse of treated wastewater in arid areas.

Qatar produces more than 850,000 m3/day of highly treated wastewater. The present study aims at characterizing the effluents coming out of three central wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of chemical pollutants including metals, metalloids and antibiotics commonly used in the country. Additionally, the study is assessing human health risks associated with the exposure to the treated wastewater (TWW) via dermal and ingestion routes. Although the origin of domestic wastewater is desalinated water (the only source of fresh water), the results show that the targeted parameters in TWW were within the international standards. Concentrations of Cl, F, Br, NO3, NO2, SO4 and PO4, were 389, <0.1, 1.2, 25, <0.1, 346, and 2.8 mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, among all cations, metals and metalloids, only boron (B) was 2.1 mg/L which is higher than the Qatari guidelines for TWW reuse in irrigation of 1.5 mg/L. Additionally, strontium (Sr) and thallium (Tl) were detected with relatively high concentrations of 30 mg/L and 12.5 µg/L, respectively, due to their natural and anthropogenic sources. The study found that the low concentrations of all tested metals and metalloids do not pose any risk to human health. However, Tl presents exposure levels above the 10 % of oral reference dose (HQ = 0.4) for accidental oral ingestion of TWW. The results for antibiotics show that exposure for adults and children to TWW are far below the admissible daily intakes set using minimum therapeutic dose and considering uncertainty factors. Treated wastewater of Qatar can be used safely for irrigation. However, further investigations are still needed to assess microbiological quality.

Contamination level, spatial distribution, and sources of potentially toxic elements in indoor settled household dusts in Tehran, Iran.

Tehran, the capital city of Iran, has been facing air pollution for several decades due to rapid urbanization, population growth, improper vehicle use, and the low quality of fuels. In this study, 31 indoor dust samples were collected passively from residential and commercial buildings located in the central and densely populated districts of the city. These samples were analyzed after preparation to measure the concentration of elements (As, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, V, Zn). Statistical data analyses were employed to compare their relationship across various uses, variations, and for source identification. Geochemical indices of contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) were utilized to evaluate the degree of contamination. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Pb (938, 206, and 176 µg g-1, respectively) are 6, 5, and 3 times higher than their mean values in worldwide urban soils. Additionally, Cd, Mo, and Ni showed concentrations about 1.5 times higher, while As, Co, Cr, Mn, and Sr fell within the range of reference soils. Be, V, and Sb displayed remarkably lower mean values. Building use did not significantly influence element levels in indoor deposited dust except for Pb and Zn. A comparison of indoor concentrations with previously published data for outdoor dusts revealed higher enrichments of Mo, Cu, Pb, and Ni, while As, Cd, and Zn showed lower enrichments in street dust samples. The order of CF values indicated Hg > Zn > Cd > Pb > Cu > As > Ni > Cr > Co > V. For Hg, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu, all or almost all samples exhibited very high contamination. PLI values were consistently higher than 1, indicating contamination in all samples. Multivariate statistical analysis and Tehran's specific geological location suggested that mafic-intermediate volcanic rocks are primary sources for Cr, Cu, Fe, and Ni (PC1). As, Pb, and V (PC2) were attributed to fossil fuel combustion in vehicles and residential buildings. Pb is a legacy metal remaining from the use of leaded gasoline, which was phased out in the 1990s. Zn (PC3) is derived from vehicle tires.

In vitro bioassays for monitoring drinking water quality of tap water, domestic filtration and bottled water.

BACKGROUND: Location-specific patterns of regulated and non-regulated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) were detected in tap water samples of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. However, it remains unclear if the detected DBPs together with undetected DPBs and organic micropollutants can lead to mixture effects in drinking water. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neurotoxicity, oxidative stress response and cytotoxicity of 42 tap water samples, 6 treated with activated carbon filters, 5 with reverse osmosis and 9 bottled waters. To compare the measured effects of the extracts with the mixture effects predicted from the detected concentrations and the relative effect potencies of the detected DBPs using the mixture model of concentration addition. METHODS: Mixtures of organic chemicals in water samples were enriched by solid phase extraction and tested for cytotoxicity and neurite outgrowth inhibition in the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y and for cytotoxicity and oxidative stress response in the AREc32 assay. RESULTS: Unenriched water did not trigger neurotoxicity or cytotoxicity. After up to 500-fold enrichment, few extracts showed cytotoxicity. Disinfected water showed low neurotoxicity at 20- to 300-fold enrichment and oxidative stress response at 8- to 140-fold enrichment. Non-regulated non-volatile DBPs, particularly (brominated) haloacetonitriles dominated the predicted mixture effects of the detected chemicals and predicted effects agreed with the measured effects. By hierarchical clustering we identified strong geographical patterns in the types of DPBs and their association with effects. Activated carbon filters did not show a consistent reduction of effects but domestic reverse osmosis filters decreased the effect to that of bottled water. IMPACT STATEMENT: Bioassays are an important complement to chemical analysis of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water. Comparison of the measured oxidative stress response and mixture effects predicted from the detected chemicals and their relative effect potencies allowed the identification of the forcing agents for the mixture effects, which differed by location but were mainly non-regulated DBPs. This study demonstrates the relevance of non-regulated DBPs from a toxicological perspective. In vitro bioassays, in particular reporter gene assays for oxidative stress response that integrate different reactive toxicity pathways including genotoxicity, may therefore serve as sum parameters for drinking water quality assessment.

Air concentrations of trace elements in a municipality under the influence of Tarragona petrochemical complex: Human health risks.

One of the largest petrochemical complexes of southern Europe is located in Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain). Despite environmental monitoring is routinely conducted in the area, the long-term occurrence of airborne trace elements has been poorly investigated. In the present study, the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V) were analysed in air samples collected in El Morell, a town potentially impacted by the petrochemical. Air samples were simultaneously collected in the town of Cambrils, as a background site. Meteorological data and retro trajectories analysis were used to evaluate the impact of the petrochemical industry on the levels of trace elements in air. Subsequently, human health risks due to inhalation exposure to the trace elements were also assessed. Except for V, air concentrations were significantly higher near the oil refinery than the background levels. Human health risks were also estimated to be higher in the vicinity of the petrochemical complex. In turn, air inhalation of Pb and V was higher than their dietary intakes. The present data should be considered only as preliminary, since the sampling was taken during only three weeks, which is an insufficient period to extract reliable conclusions. Further long-term studies should be focused on assessing the influence of temporary variables, such as meteorological conditions and fugitive or sporadic emissions.

Human health risks associated with the consumption of groundwater in the Gaza Strip.

Groundwater of the Gaza Strip, the main source of drinking water for the Gazans, is highly contaminated by several chemicals of natural and anthropogenic origins. The results of this study confirm the findings of several studies conducted over the past two decades. Over those two decades, the population of Gaza has doubled, resulting in heavy demand for the limited reserves of groundwater. After 20 years since the first comprehensive study, it was found that groundwater salinity increased by 30 %, due to seawater intrusion. On the other hand, nitrate (NO3) decreased by 30 %, due to expansion of the sewer network and decrease in the number and distribution of septic tanks. Salinity, chloride (Cl), NO3 and fluoride (F) distribution maps for the year 2022 are very similar to those of the year 2002. This indicates that sources and loads of such contaminants are still the same. Metals and metalloids are still within the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Strontium (Sr) only showed concentrations of 12 mg/L across the Gaza Strip, which calls for further investigations. Maximum concentrations of the NO3 and F were 365 and 2.6 mg/L, respectively. The results of probabilistic risk assessment using Monte Carlo simulation showed that NO3 and F consumption through drinking water were above the reference dose for 35 % and 5 % of the trials performed, respectively. Consequently, the hazard quotient (HQ) is larger than 1 for 35 % and 5 % of the exposure scenarios simulated for these ions. For all metals and metalloids analyzed, HQ were below one (HQ1) indicating no risk; however, Sr presented an HQ 95th percentile equal to 0.19. Exposure routes such as dietary intake and soil ingestion, among others, should be further investigated to ensure that cumulative exposure does not surpass the safety limit. Recent advances in desalination technology should put an end to this truly regrettable situation.

Dietary intake of metals, metalloids, and persistent organic pollutants in Spanish pregnant women. ECLIPSES study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe dietary intake and important dietary sources to pollutants as well as to identify maternal socio-economic and lifestyle factors associated with high intake during pregnancy in women residing in a Mediterranean city with heavy industrial activity. METHODS: Dietary intake during pregnancy of As, InAs, Cd, MeHg, Pb, PCDD/Fs, DL-PCBs, and NDL-PCBs in 701 pregnant women participating in the longitudinal ECLIPSES study was calculated based on a 45-item food-frequency questionnaire and a database of pollutants in food of the Catalan Food Safety Agency. Details on socio-economic, lifestyle, and anthropometric variables were also collected. RESULTS: The mean dietary intake of pollutants per day and the food group that contributed the most (%) was: 286.51 µg of As (71.27% from white fish), 4.14 µg of InAs (70.16% from cereals-tubers), 6.27 µg of Cd (47.51% from seafood), 5.00 µg of MeHg (52.88% from blue fish), 3.32 µg of Pb (30.15% from cereals-tubers), 9.93 pg of PCDD/Fs (from many food categories), 18.39 pg of DL-PCBs (59.74% from blue fish) and 181.00 ng of NDL-PCBs (44.58% from blue fish). Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that older age was associated with high As intake, higher educational level was related to low InAs, Cd, and DL-PCBs intake, and alcohol use and smoking were linked with high Pb intake. CONCLUSION: The dietary intake of pollutants including As and DL-PCBs among pregnant women exceeds or almost reaches the EFSA safety threshold. These findings support the urgent need for local governments to pay special attention to this situation and develop specific prevention strategies for this vulnerable group.

Assessment of urinary aromatic amines in Brazilian pregnant women and association with DNA damage: Influence of genetic diversity, lifestyle, and environmental and socioeconomic factors.

Aromatic amines (AAs) are polar organic chemicals with a wide environmental distribution originating from various sources, such as tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust, and dermal absorption from textile products with azo dyes. The toxicity profile of AAs is directly related to the amino group's metabolic activation and the generation of the reactive intermediate, forming DNA adducts and potential carcinogenicity. Urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) are an important biomarker of DNA damage. Since AAs have been shown to cross the placental barrier, being a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes, prenatal exposure is a great public health concern. The present study aimed to measure the urinary levels of 58 AAs in Brazilian pregnant women (n = 300) and investigated the impact of this exposure on DNA damage by quantifying 8OHdG levels. The influence of tobacco smoke exposure and dermal absorption of AAs by clothes on urinary levels was also assessed. The results showed a 100% detection rate for eight AAs, two of them regulated by the European Union (2,6-dimethylaniline and 2,4-diaminotolune). Hundreds of AAs may be derived from aniline, which here showed a median of 1.38 ng/mL. Aniline also correlated positively with 2,6-dimethylaniline, p-aminophenol, and other AAs, suggesting exposure to multiple sources. The present findings suggest that both tobacco smoke and dermal contact with clothes containing azo dyes are potential sources that might strongly influence urinary levels of AAs in Brazilian pregnant women. A multiple regression linear model (R2 = 0.772) suggested that some regulated AAs (i.e., 2-naphthylamine and 4-aminobiphenyl), nicotine, smoke habit, age, and Brazilian region could induce DNA damage occurrence, increasing the levels of 8OHdG. Given the limited available data on human exposure to carcinogenic AAs, as well as the lack of toxicological information on those non-regulated, further studies focused on measuring their levels in human fluids and the potential exposure sources are clearly essential.

Tracing the fate of microplastic in wastewater treatment plant: A multi-stage analysis of treatment units and sludge.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is ubiquitous in the environment presenting a global problem for both scientists and the general public. One of the major pathways of MPs entering the natural environment is through wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Once MPs reach the natural environment, they are posing threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health. The aim of this study is to investigate the concentration, morphology, and composition of MPs in different treatment units of a WWTP. Sampling included different points across WWTP in the water and sludge lines. Pre-treatment of the samples consists of advanced Fenton oxidation, and alkaline and enzymatic digestion followed by density separation. Once the particles were isolated, their morphology and size were studied using a stereoscopic and optical microscope followed by final confirmation with ATR-FTIR and micro-FTIR spectroscopy. Microplastic particle concentrations exhibit significant reductions as water undergoes treatment in the WWTP. For summer sampling, concentrations decreased from 351 MP/L (influent) to 35 MP/L (primary clarifier), 32 MP/L (biological reactor), and 13 MP/L (2.3 MP/L) (secondary clarifier). Similarly, winter sampling showed reductions from 403 MP/L (influent) to 159 MP/L (primary clarifier), 178 MP/L (biological reactor), and 26 MP/L (5.6 MP/L) (secondary clarifier). Removal efficiency of WWTP is high and exceeds 96%. The most abundant morphology is fibers followed by fragments and films. Polymers such as PE, synthetic cellulose, PP, PVC, PE-PP, PEEA, PA, acrylamide, and PES are widely detected in different units of WWTP. The number of MPs that are avoided from being emitted into the environment through direct water discharge was estimated to be 9.1 × 1012 MP/year. Removed MPs tend to accumulate in the sludge that is used for agricultural purposes although it should be managed as waste properly, avoiding the transition of MPs pollutants to terrestrial ecosystems adding to the number of MPs that will inevitably end up in receiving water bodies through direct WWTP effluent discharge that was set in 5.1 × 1010 MP/year in the studied WWTP.

Clothing as a potential exposure source of trace elements during early life.

In recent years, the interest in determining the chemical composition of textile products has increased among the scientific community and regulatory agencies, driven by toxicological issues and environmental concerns. Chemical elements are naturally present in clothing as natural fibers or intentionally added during manufacture. Some of them show physical-chemical properties that allow their absorption through the skin. In addition, chronic situations increase the dermal exposure capacity. Because of age-specific behavioral characteristics and underdeveloped physiological function, children may be especially sensitive to exposure to trace elements. This study aimed to analyze the levels of twenty trace elements in 120 clothing items commercialized in Spain. Textile products for pregnant women and children <36 months old were included. The potential health implication of this dermal exposure in early life was also evaluated. Aluminum, zinc, and titanium showed the highest concentrations, with median levels of 27.6, 5.6, and 4.2 mg/kg, respectively. Since chromium is employed as a metal complex dye in synthetic fibers, high levels of this element were found in black polyester. Dermal exposure to titanium, which is a ubiquitous element in clothes made of synthetic fibers, was associated with a hazard quotient (HQ) higher than the threshold value (HQ > 1), with values of 1.13 for pregnant women and 1.22 for newborns. On the other hand, HQ values of other elements and cancer risks were lower than the recommended values. Assessing early-life exposure to toxic elements can help to identify potential sources and to prevent or reduce human exposure, mainly in vulnerable groups.

Non-regulated aromatic amines in clothing purchased in Spain and Brazil: Screening-level exposure and health impact assessment.

The staggering amount of chemicals in clothes and their harmful effects on human health and the environment have attracted the attention of regulatory agencies and the scientific community worldwide. Azo dyes are synthetic dyestuffs with widespread use in textile industries, currently classified as emerging pollutants of great health concern to consumers. These compounds may release one or more aromatic amines (AAs) after reductive cleavage of their azo bounds. Twenty-two AAs have already been regulated due to their carcinogenic effects. However, since information on their potential toxicity is not currently available, several AAs have not been still regulated by the European Union. Considering this gap, the present study aimed to assess the levels of forty non-regulated AAs in 240 clothing items from Spain and Brazil. The potential impact on the health of vulnerable population groups after dermal exposure to those garments was also evaluated. In Brazil, at least one AA was detected in the clothes, while in samples obtained in Spain, only two of them showed values below the limit of detection for AAs. In 75 clothes, at least one of the measured AAs was higher than the hazardous threshold (30 mg/kg), which can mean risks to human health since these compounds are suspected to be mutagenic. Aniline, the most common AA, showed a high detection rate (82%) in clothes, with significantly higher concentrations in items commercialized in Brazil (0.35 vs. 0.17 mg/kg; p = 0.032). Moreover, o-aminobenzenesulfonic and p-phenylenediamine, suspected mutagenic, were found at relevant concentrations in several clothes, mainly made of synthetic fibers. In this study, the hazard index associated with exposure to AAs through clothing was low (0.006-0.13) for all the population groups of both countries in the medium-bound scenario. However, its value was close to 1 for Brazilian pregnant women (0.998) when the maximum concentration value was considered under an upper-bound scenario. The risk of exposure to non-regulated AAs may be underestimated since only dermal exposure was considered for risk assessment. Moreover, the co-occurrence of other carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic substances present in skin-contact clothes should mean an additional source of potential risk.

Dermal exposure to bisphenols in pregnant women's and baby clothes: Risk characterization.

Textile manufacturing consists of a multiple-step process in which a wide range of chemicals is used, some of them remaining in the final product. Bisphenols (BPs) are non-intentionally added compounds in textiles, whose prolonged skin contact may mean a significant source of daily human exposure, especially in vulnerable groups of the population. The present study aimed to determine the levels of bisphenol A (BPA) and some BP analogs (BPB, BPF, and BPS) in 120 new clothes commercialized in Spain for pregnant women, newborns, and toddlers. In addition, exposure assessment and risk characterization were also carried out. Traces of BPA were found in all the samples, with a median concentration of 7.43 ng/g. The highest values were detected in textile samples made of polyester. Regarding natural fibers, higher concentrations of BPs were observed in garments made of conventional cotton than in those made of organic cotton, with a significant difference for BPS (1.24 vs. 0.76 ng/g, p < 0.05). Although toddlers have a larger skin-area-to-body-weight ratio, pregnant women showed higher exposure to BPs than children. Anyhow, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with BPA exposure were below the unity, even under the upper-bound scenario. However, risks could be underestimated because other exposure routes were not considered in this study. The use of BPA has been restricted in some food-related products; therefore, BPA should also be regulated in the textile industry.

Screening of regulated aromatic amines in clothing marketed in Brazil and Spain: Assessment of human health risks.

Azo dyes used in textile products contain aromatic amines (AAs), which may be released into the environment after skin bacteria cleavage the azo bond. In Europe, 22 carcinogenic AAs are regulated. Unfortunately, no information is available in many non-European countries, including Brazil. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of 20 regulated AAs in clothes marketed in Brazil and Spain. Generally, higher levels of regulated AAs were found in samples sold in Brazil than in Spain, which is linked to the lack of regulation. Sixteen AAs showed concentrations above 5 mg/kg in samples commercialized in Brazil, while 11 exceeded that threshold in Spain. Regulated AAs with levels above 5 mg/kg were more found in synthetic clothes of pink color. Concentrations in clothing were also used to evaluate the dermal exposure to AAs in 3 vulnerable population groups. The highest exposure corresponded to 2,4-diaminoanisole for toddlers in Brazil and 4,4-oxydianiline for newborns in Spain. Non-cancer risks associated with exposure to 4,4-benzidine by Brazilian toddlers was 14.5 (above the threshold). On the other hand, 3,3-dichlorobenzidine was associated with potential cancer risks for newborns and toddlers in Brazil. Given this topic's importance, we recommend conducting continuous studies to determine the co-occurrence of carcinogenic substances.

Essential Trace Elements Prevent the Impairment in the Retention Memory, Cerebral Cortex, and Cerebellum Damage in Male Rats Exposed to Quaternary Metal Mixture by Up-regulation, of Heme Oxygynase-1 and Down-regulation of Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2-NOs Signaling Pathways.

In the present study, we examined adverse effects of metals and metalloids in the Cerebral cortex (CC) and Cerebellum (CE). Group 1 comprised from the controls while other four groups of male Wistar rats were treated with following pattern: Group II (Heavy Metal Mixture HMM only: PbCl2, 20 mg·kg-1; CdCl2, 1.61 mg·kg-1; HgCl2, 0.40 mg·kg-1, and NaAsO3,10 mg·kg-1), Groups III (HMM + ZnCl2); Group IV (HMM + Na2SeO3) and Group V (HMM + ZnCl2 + Na2SeO3) for 60 days per os. HMM promoted oxidative stress in the CC and CE of treated rats compared to controls; moreover, exposure to HMM led to increased activity of the AChE and pro-inflammatory cytokines; also, HMM promoted accumulation of caspase 3 and other transcriptional factors such as Nrf2 and decreased levels of Hmox-1. Essential metals reduced increased bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, As and Hg in CC and CE caused by HMM exposure. Also, all mentioned adverse effects were diminished by essential metals treatment (Se and Zn). HMM exposed rats had considerably less escape dormancy than controls. Histopathological analysis revealed moderate cell loss at the intermediate (Purkinje cell) and granular layer. Zinc and selenium supplementations could reverse adverse effects of heavy metals at various cellular levels in neurons.

Screening of microplastics in water and sludge lines of a drinking water treatment plant in Catalonia, Spain.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants detected everywhere in the environment, with the potential to harm living organisms. The present study investigated the concentration, morphology, and composition of MPs, between 20 µm and 5 mm, in a drinking water treatment plant (DWTP) located close to Barcelona (Catalonia, NE Spain). The sampling included different units of the DWTP, from influent to effluent as well as sludge line. Sampling strategy, filtration, allows sampling of large volumes of water avoiding sample contamination, and during 8 h in order to increase the representativeness of MPs collected. The pre-treatment of the samples consisted of advanced oxidation with Fenton's reagent and hydrogen peroxide, followed by density separation of the particles with zinc chloride solution. Visual identification was performed with an optical and stereoscopic microscope with final Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) confirmation. MPs were found in all DWTP samples, with concentrations from 4.23 ± 1.26 MPs/L to 0.075 ± 0.019 MPs/L in the influent and effluent of the plant, respectively. The overall removal efficiency of the plant was 98.3%. The most dominant morphology was fibers followed by fragments and films. Twenty-two different polymer types were identified and synthetic cellulose, polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and polyacrylonitrile were the most common. Although MPs could be incorporated from the distribution network, MPs intake from drinking water from this DWTP was not an important route compared to fish and seafood ingestion.

Banana peel ameliorated hepato-renal damage and exerted anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in metal mixture mediated hepatic nephropathy by activation of Nrf2/ Hmox-1 and inhibition of Nfkb pathway.

This study evaluated the protective role of banana peel extract (BP) on heavy metal mixture (HMM) mediated hepatorenal toxicity using a rat model. Twenty-five female Wistar albino rats were weight-matched and divided into five groups of five female rats each. Group 1(control) received deionized water only. Group 2 received HMM only (20 mg kg-1 of Pb, 0.40 mg kg-1 of Hg, 0.56 mg kg-1 of Mn and 35 mg kg-1 of Al). Groups 3, 4 and 5 were co-administered with the same metal mixture with BP at 200, 400 and 800 mg kg-1, respectively. Treatments were through oral gavage for 60 days; animals were sacrificed pentobarbital anesthesia and liver and kidney harvested for test. Thereafter, metal levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO), catalase (CAT), glutathione content (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), interlukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis alpha (Tnf-α), caspase-3 (Cas-3), Nuclear factor kappa B (Nfkb), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox-1) were assayed. HMM group presented higher levels of metal, IL-6 and Tnf-α, MDA, NO, Nfkb and Hmox-1 in HMM group which were significantly reduced by BP. BP was protective against metal mixture induced histopathological distortions. HMM exposure significantly distorted hepatorenal functions and BP treatment reduced metal bioavailability and abrogated most of these alterations.

Early-Life Exposure to Formaldehyde through Clothing.

Clothes contain a wide range of chemicals, some of them potentially hazardous. Recently, there has been a growing interest in eco-friendly clothing, including the use of organic cotton. However, the process of eco-friendly fabric production does not exclude the use of toxic substances, such as formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. The present investigation was aimed at determining the presence of formaldehyde in eco-friendly and conventional clothing of pregnant women, babies, and toddlers from the Catalan (Spain) market. The potential effects of washing were also investigated by comparing the reduction of formaldehyde in unwashed and washed clothing. Formaldehyde was detected in 20% of samples, with a mean level of 8.96 mg/kg. Formaldehyde levels were surprisingly higher in eco-friendly than in regular garments (10.4 vs. 8.23 mg/kg). However, these differences were only significant (p < 0.05) for bras (11.6 vs. 7.46 mg/kg) and panties (27.1 vs. 6.38 mg/kg) of pregnant women. Dermal exposure and health risks were assessed for three vulnerable population groups: pregnant women, babies, and toddlers. In general, exposure was higher in babies (up to 1.11 × 10−3 mg/kg/day) than in other groups (2.58 × 10−4 and 4.50 × 10−3 mg/kg/day in pregnant women and toddlers, respectively). However, both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks were below the safety limits (<1 and <10−5, respectively) according to national regulations. Notwithstanding, although formaldehyde levels were below the legal limits (<75 mg/kg) and health risks were within acceptable ranges, clothing may contain other toxic substances in addition to formaldehyde, thus increasing the risks. Finally, since no formaldehyde was detected in washed textile samples, a safe and simple practice for the consumers is to wash clothing before the first use.

Mixture of environmental pollutants in breast milk from a Spanish cohort of nursing mothers.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, with several benefits for both the infants and their mothers. However, breast milk can contain environmental pollutants with endocrine disruption capacity, neurotoxicity and/or potential to alter microbiota. Monitoring breast milk provides information on the current chemical exposure of breastfed infants and, in addition, on the current and historical exposure of nursing mothers. In this study, the levels of a wide range of pollutants were measured in breast milk of Spanish nursing mothers. Target chemicals were dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxy-chlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)), chlorpyrifos, bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and a number of toxic and essential elements. Traces of most chemicals were found. A correlation between the levels of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and maternal characteristics (age and body mass index) was observed, while smoking was associated to higher concentrations of some toxic elements. Higher levels of PCBs were detected in samples from Spanish primiparous mothers compared to non-Spanish multiparous women. Breast milk from low-income mothers showed higher content of DDT and DDE than high-income mothers. Although breastfeeding is clearly beneficial for babies, the exposure to this mixture of hazardous substances, as well as their interaction and combined effects must not be disregarded.

Levels of microplastics and their characteristics in molluscs from North-West Mediterranean Sea: Human intake.

Microplastics (MPs) are accessible for organisms with active filter feeding strategies, as are many marine molluscs, which live attached or semi-buried in sediments. In the present study, MPs (from 0.02 to 5 mm) concentration, morphology, and composition were determined in consumed mollusc species of the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean Sea). Microplastic concentrations, morphologic characteristics and composition were studied according to species, catchment zones and depuration condition. Finally, human intake of MPs through molluscs' consumption was determined. >2300 individuals were analysed, being 1460 MPs extracted and their size, and polymeric composition registered. Big oysters and mussels showed the highest MPs concentration by individual, with levels of 22.8 ± 14.4 and 18.6 ± 23.0 MPs/individual, respectively. Mean annual MPs (≥20 µm) consumption for adult population was estimated in 8103 MPs/year, with a 95th percentile of 19,418 MPs/year. It suggests that the consumption of molluscs is an important route of MPs exposure for the Catalan population.

Health risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in baby clothes. A preliminary study.

Clothes may contain a large range of chemical additives and other toxic substances, which may eventually pose a significant risk to human health. Since they are associated with pigments, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be especially relevant. On the other hand, infants are very sensitive to chemical exposure and they may wear some contact and colored textiles for a prolonged time. Consequently, a specific human health risk assessment is required. This preliminary study was aimed at analyzing the concentrations of PCBs in ten bodysuits purchased in on-line stores and local retailers. The concentrations of 12 dioxin-like and 8 non-dioxin-like PCB congeners were determined by gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry, with detection limits ranging between 0.01 and 0.13 pg/g. The dermal absorption to PCBs of children at different ages (6 months, 1 year and 3 years old) was estimated, and the non-cancer and cancer risks were evaluated. Total levels of PCBs ranged from 74.2 to 412 pg/g, with a mean TEQ concentration of 13.4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg. Bodysuits made of organic cotton presented a total mean PCB concentration substantially lower than clothes made of regular cotton (11.0 vs. 15.8 pg WHO-TEQ/kg). The dermal absorption to PCBs for infants was calculated in around 3·10-5 pg WHO-TEQ/kg·day, regardless the age. This value is > 10,000-fold lower than the dietary intake of PCBs, either through breastfeeding or food consumption. Furthermore, this exposure value would not pose any health risks for the infants wearing those bodysuits. Anyhow, as it is a very preliminary study, this should be confirmed by analyzing larger sets of textile samples. Further investigations should be also focused on the co-occurrence of PCBs and other toxic chemicals (i.e., formaldehyde, bisphenols and aromatic amines) in infant clothes.