A novel method for rapid and quantitative detection of bisphenol A in urine.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is classified as an endocrine disruptor (ED) and it can interact with variety of hormone receptors leading to hormonal disruption and increased risk of various adverse health effects. Reducing human exposure to BPA is one of the main challenges of public health, as it is constantly present in daily life. A low-cost and commonly applied method to enable determination of BPA in the patient's body has yet to be developed. Currently available techniques are expensive, time-consuming, and require access to highly equipped analytical chemistry laboratories. Here we describe a fast and cheap engineered lateral flow assay of our design, to detect of BPA in urine samples. The technology not only provides an opportunity to perform rapid medical diagnostics without the need for an access to the central laboratory but also a means for self-diagnosis by the patient. The addition of ß-glucuronidase improves the sensitivity of detection as it releases the free BPA from glucuronide complexes in urine. This invention may become a demonstrated analytical means for lowering human exposure to BPA and probably also to other EDs and consequently, may be useful in decrease of the risk for several lifestyle diseases.

Nanomaterials in food contact materials; considerations for risk assessment

Nanotechnology applications in the food industry, including food contact materials, offer many potential benefits for consumers and manufacturers alike. The article discusses the migration of nanoparticles from food contact materials and the possible health risks associated with in the context of insufficient knowledge of the potential exposure to nanomaterial. The importance of gaps in the general knowledge on the behaviour and biological interactions of nanomaterials in biological systems becomes crucial for risk assessment. The article also discussed numerous doubts concerning the measurements of biological reactions in animal tests and the need for new approaches in the interpretation of data from nanoparticles studies in vivo. The article underlines the need to develop predictive and validated toxicological tests that can be used to screen for potential hazards, and also to develop new methodology for measuring nanoparticles in biological matrices to assess human exposure. Further studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms of action. Nanoparticles exhibit chemical and physical properties that significantly differ from those substances at a large size. Different properties of nanoparticles may lead to different toxicological properties. From that reason nanoparticles, in each case, are individually assessed by the European Food Standard Agency (EFSA) in terms of health risk before the European Commission authorizes them to be used in food contact materials.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in cord blood from women in Poland.

The purpose of this study was to assess human exposure in the prenatal period to selected PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153) and PCBs (CB-77, CB-101, CB-118, CB-126, CB-138, CB-153, CB-170, CB-180) basing on the analysis of these compounds in cord blood. The experimental material consisted of 89 cord blood samples taken from women resident in Warsaw and its vicinity. In over 90% of all tested samples the presence of congeners CB-153, CB-138, CB-180 and BDE-47 was identified. The least frequently found were CB-126 and BDE-153, which were present at relatively low concentration levels. Among all analysed PCBs, the highest average concentrations were found in the case of congeners CB-138 (11.8 ng/g of fat) and CB-153 (43.4 ng/g of fat), whereas the lowest was in the case of CB-170 (0.4 ng/g of fat) and CB-126 (0.1 ng/g of fat). In the case of PBDEs the greatest share in the total concentration was that of the congeners BDE-47 and BDE-99, whereas the smallest share was that of the higher brominated congener BDE-153. These results suggest that human exposure to the examined compounds begins already in the period of intrauterine life. The comparison of our own results with the findings of other authors indicates that the PCBs and PBDEs levels in cord blood of women living in Poland do not differ from the respective concentrations in cord blood of other female inhabitants of Europe.

Influence of chlorpyrifos on the profile of subpopulations of immunoactive cells and their phagocytic activity in an experimental in vivo model.

Many environmental factors, including pesticides, cause immunological system disorders by inducing changes in humoral and cellular response. They may stimulate or trigger immunological autoaggression, hypersensitivity and allergy, as well as lead to immunosuppression, thus increasing the incidence of infectious diseases and cancers. Such activity is also attributed to organophosphorus compounds used in agriculture as insecticides, and commonly in households as biocides. The aim of the study was to define possible mechanisms of the immunotoxic activity of the chlorpyrifos (an organophosphorus compound) on experimental animals following their exposure to the compound via the oral route. The present study attempts to define the influence of chlorpyrifos on the profile of subpopulations of immunoactive cells: B, T, CD4+, CD8+, and NK, and on their phagocytic activity in an experimental in vivo model. For this purpose, the Wistar rats, were exposed orally to increasing doses of chlorpyrifos: 0.1 LD(50), 0.15 LD(50), 0.2 LD(50), 0.3 LD(50) and 0.4 LD(50) for 28 days. In the study animals, we failed to demonstrate a statistically significant decrease in the phagocytic activity of the granulocyte.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in human milk as markers of environmental exposure to these compounds.

This study aimed at the generation of preliminary results allowing for the assessment of breastfed infants exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which constitute important contaminants in places of human habitation. The second goal was to compare the concentrations of these compounds with other contaminants which people are exposed to via food chain. 28 breast milk samples from women living in Warsaw and neighbourhood were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153), polychlorinated biphenyls (CB-77, CB-101, CB-118, CB-126, CB- 138, CB-153, CB170, CB-180) and organochlorine pesticides (HCB, ß-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT). The ΣDDT levels noted in our studies were higher than in other European countries. The concentrations of the examined polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers did not diverge from the levels presented by other authors and are comparable to the levels noted in other countries in Europe.

[Violations of mrls for pesticide residues in food reported for risk assessment according to RASFF procedures in Poland]. / Przekroczenia dopuszczalnych poziomów pozostalosci pestycydów w zywnosci zglaszane do oceny ryzyka zgodnie z procedurami RASFF w Polsce.

The results of risk assessment to evaluate the potential risk from food products of plant origin in cases of violations of maximum residue limits for pesticides (MRLs) have been presented. According to the rules set in the RASFF any violation of legally established limit should undergo the risk assessment to allow quantitative approach in hazard evaluation for consumers. The basis of risk assessment have been presented as tool for risk management in the official food control. In case of MRLs violations the risk was assessed for general population as well as for small children as the most vulnerable part of the population. Since beginning of the RASFF in Poland--since mid of 2003 till the end of 2007--148 notifications of MRLs violations underwent risk assessment procedures. This means 2.5% of the overall number of analyzed samples. However, as much as 0.39% of the samples taken for analysis posed a real, considerable risk for consumers health, and the small children seem to be the group at greatest risk.