Exposure and effects assessment of persistent organohalogen contaminants in arctic wildlife and fish

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) encompass an array of anthropogenic organic and elemental substances and their degradation and metabolic byproducts that have been found in the tissues of exposed animals, especially POPs categorized as organohalogen contaminants (OHCs). OHCs have been of concern in the circumpolar arctic for decades. For example, as a consequence of bioaccumulation and in some cases biomagnification of legacy (e.g., chlorinated PCBs, DDTs and CHLs) and emerging (e.g., brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and in particular polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanic acid (PFOA) found in Arctic biota and humans. Of high concern are the potential biological effects of these contaminants in exposed Arctic wildlife and fish. As concluded in the last review in 2004 for the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) on the effects of POPs in Arctic wildlife, prior to 1997, biological effects data were minimal and insufficient at any level of biological organization. The present review summarizes recent studies on biological effects in relation to OHC exposure, and attempts to assess known tissue/body compartment concentration data in the context of possible threshold levels of effects to evaluate the risks. This review concentrates mainly on post-2002, new OHC effects data in Arctic wildlife and fish, and is largely based on recently available effects data for populations of several top trophic level species, including seabirds (e.g., glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus)), polar bears (Ursus maritimus), polar (Arctic) fox (Vulpes lagopus), and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), as well as semi-captive studies on sled dogs (Canis familiaris). Regardless, there remains a dearth of data on true contaminant exposure, cause-effect relationships with respect to these contaminant exposures in Arctic wildlife and fish. Indications of exposure effects are largely based on correlations between biomarker endpoints (e.g., biochemical processes related to the immune and endocrine system, pathological changes in tissues and reproduction and development) and tissue residue levels of OHCs (e.g., PCBs, DDTs, CHLs, PBDEs and in a few cases perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) and perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs)). Some exceptions include semi-field studies on comparative contaminant effects of control and exposed cohorts of captive Greenland sled dogs, and performance studies mimicking environmentally relevant PCB concentrations in Arctic charr. Recent tissue concentrations in several arctic marine mammal species and populations exceed a general threshold level of concern of 1 part-per-million (ppm), but a clear evidence of a POP/OHC-related stress in these populations remains to be confirmed. There remains minimal evidence that OHCs are having widespread effects on the health of Arctic organisms, with the possible exception of East Greenland and Svalbard polar bears and Svalbard glaucous gulls. However, the true (if any real) effects of POPs in Arctic wildlife have to be put into the context of other environmental, ecological and physiological stressors (both anthropogenic and natural) that render an overall complex picture. For instance, seasonal changes in food intake and corresponding cycles of fattening and emaciation seen in Arctic animals can modify contaminant tissue distribution and toxicokinetics (contaminant deposition, metabolism and depuration). Also, other factors, including impact of climate change (seasonal ice and temperature changes, and connection to food web changes, nutrition, etc. in exposed biota), disease, species invasion and the connection to disease resistance will impact toxicant exposure. Overall, further research and better understanding of POP/OHC impact on animal performance in Arctic biota are recommended. Regardless, it could be argued that Arctic wildlife and fish at the highest potential risk of POP/OHC exposure and mediated effects are East Greenland, Svalbard and (West and South) Hudson Bay polar bears, Alaskan and Northern Norway killer whales, several species of gulls and other seabirds from the Svalbard area, Northern Norway, East Greenland, the Kara Sea and/or the Canadian central high Arctic, East Greenland ringed seal and a few populations of Arctic charr and Greenland shark.     

Concentrations and determinants of organochlorine levels among pregnant women in Eastern Spain

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) comprise a large variety of toxic substances with ample distribution. While exposure to these toxins occurs mainly through diet, maternal POP levels may be influenced by certain sociodemographic, environmental, or lifestyle factors. This is important given that these substances may have adverse effects on fetal development. The aim of this study is to examine the sociodemographic, environmental, lifestyle, and dietary determinants of the levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), b-hexachlorocyclohexane (b-HCH), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (4,4′-DDT), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (4,4′-DDE), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB congeners 118, 138, 153, 180) measured in the blood of pregnant women participating in a mother-child cohort study conducted in Valencia (Spain).The study population consisted of 541 pregnant women who formed part of the INMA (Childhood and the Environment) cohort (2004-2006). POP levels were determined in blood taken during the 12th week of pregnancy with the aid of gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Sociodemographic, environmental, and dietary information was obtained from a questionnaire. Multivariate Tobit regression models were constructed in order to assess the association between POP levels and selected covariates.The results showed that all the women had detectable levels of at least one of these compounds while in 43% of the subjects, all eight compounds were detected. The compounds found in the greatest number of women were 4,4′-DDE (100%) and PCBs 153 and 180 (95%). The most important determinants of high POP levels were the mother's age, country of origin, increased body mass index, and number of weeks of breastfeeding after previous pregnancies. With regard to diet, 4,4′-DDT and 4,4′-DDE levels increased with the intake of meat, fruit, and cereal. PCB 153 levels increased with the intake of seafood. The levels of HCB, b-HCH, 4,4′-DDT, and 4,4′-DDE observed in this study were slightly higher than in other studies, whereas the PCB levels were similar.     

快速溶剂萃取-气相色谱法测定土壤中六六六和滴滴涕残留

建立了快速溶剂萃取-气相色谱法测定土壤中α-HCH、β-HCH、γ-HCH、δ-HCH、p,p′-DDE、p,p′-DDD、o,p′-DDT、p,p′-DDT等8种有机氯农药残留的方法。8种有机氯农药标准曲线方程的相关系数均在0.9990以上;检出限为0.094-0.102μg·kg^-1;基质加标实验的回收率为84%-120%,相对标准偏差为3.06%-5.27%。该方法快速、定性和定量准确可靠,适合土壤中六六六和滴滴涕残留的分析测定。     

Residues of DDT and HCH in wheat samples collected from different states of India and their dietary exposure: A multicentre study

Under a multicentre study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, 1712 samples of wheat grain/flour were collected from urban and rural areas in 11 states representing different geographical regions of India. These samples were analysed for residues of DDT (2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloro ethane) and different isomers of HCH (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachloro cyclohexane, a mixture of isomers) by gas-liquid chromatography. Residues of DDT were detected in 59.4% of 1080 samples of wheat grain and in 78.2% of 632 samples of wheat flour. Different isomers of HCH were present in about 45-80% of the samples of wheat grain/flour. Medians of DDT and total HCH, respectively, for pooled samples of wheat grain were 0.013 and 0.035 mg kg^-1, while those for wheat flour were 0.01 and 0.02 mg kg^-1. Estimated daily intakes of DDT and different isomers of HCH through the consumption of wheat contaminated at their median and 90th percentiles constituted a small proportion of their acceptable daily intakes. Amongst the pesticide residues analysed, statutory maximum residue limits have been fixed only for γ-HCH in wheat in India, as 0.1 mg kg^-1 in wheat grain and zero in wheat flour. Residue levels of γ-HCH exceeded these maximum residue limits in five of 1080 samples of wheat grain and in 340 of 632 samples of wheat flour. The failure to meet the requirement of the γ-HCH maximum residue limit in large number of wheat flour samples was attributed to the fixation of practically unachievable zero limit. Comparing the previous studies and the present one, the levels of residues of DDT and HCH in wheat were significantly decreased.     

2006-2007年福建省地产茶叶中有机氯农药残留调查

目的了解福建省地产茶叶中有机氯农药残留现状。方法2006-2007年在福建省主要产茶地随机抽取不同品种茶叶共72份,参照GB/T5009.19—2003《食品中六六六、滴滴涕残留量的测定方法》,采用毛细管气相色谱法进行检测。结果所测72份茶叶中,六六六残留量合格率为95.8%;滴滴涕残留量合格率为63.9%。六六六的主要残留成分为γ-HCH,滴滴涕的主要残留成分为p,p′-DDE。闽南地区的有机氯农药残留远高于闽北地区。结论福建省地产茶叶中有机氯农药残留状况不容乐观,应引起重视,加强监管。     

分散固相萃取-气相色谱法测定大米中六六六 和滴滴涕残留量

目的 建立气相色谱-电子捕获检测器法(GC-ECD)测定大米中六六六和滴滴涕(α-六六六、β-六六六、γ-六六六、δ-六六六、o, p’-滴滴滴、o, p’-滴滴伊、o, p’-滴滴涕、p, p’-滴滴滴、p, p’-滴滴伊、p, p’-滴滴涕)残留量的方法。方法 大米样品经乙腈超声提取后,应用PSA进行分散固相萃取净化,高速离心后氮吹浓缩定容,最后使用气相色谱电子捕获检测器测定。结果 六六六和滴滴涕在0.002~0.1 mg/L浓度范围内呈现良好线性关系,R2大于0.99;在0.002、0.005、0.01 mg/kg三个添加浓度上回收率范围为84.10%~111.43%,相对标准偏差小于9.23%,检出限在0.0001~0.0007 mg/kg。结论 该方法前处理操作快速简单,重复性好且灵敏度高,满足国内外对大米中六六六和滴滴涕快速、准确检测的要求,可应用于大量样品的定性定量分析。     

Estimated daily intake of organochlorine pesticides from dairy products in Brazil

The estimated daily intake (EDI) of organochlorine (OC) pesticides (HCB, α-HCH, lindane, aldrin, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD, and o,p′-DDT) through consumption of dairy products from Rio Grande do Sul State (Brazil) was investigated. Fluid milk and cheese had similar ΣOC levels (26.04 and 26.14 ng g⁻¹ fat, respectively), whereas milk powder had lower levels (2.23 ng g⁻¹ fat). OC levels in UHT milk exhibited a declining trend over time (ΣOC = 27.70 ng g⁻¹ fat in 2000 vs. 1.50 ng g⁻¹ fat in 2009/2010). The EDI of OC pesticides was remarkably higher for children (8.266 ng kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) than for adolescents, adults, and the elderly (ranging from 0.393 ng kg⁻¹ day⁻¹ to 0.614 ng kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). The average EDIs for OC pesticides were below the acceptable daily intakes (ADI), with the exception of aldrin, which greatly exceeded the ADI for children. In addition, some samples (8.8%) exceeded the maximum residue limit for the compounds evaluated.     

Assessment of organochlorine pesticides in human milk and risk exposure to infants from North-East India

Despite the worldwide ban on use of persistent organochlorine pesticides, their usage continued until recently in India, for vector-borne disease eradication programs and agricultural purposes. The concentrations of organochlorine contaminants, DDT and HCH, have been determined in human breast milk from Dibrugarh and Nagaon districts of Assam state, North-East India. The results demonstrated that the mean levels of total DDT were 3210 ng/g lipid wt. and 2870 ng/g lipid wt. and total HCH were 2720 ng/g lipid wt. and 2330 ng/g lipid wt. in Nagaon and Dibrugarh respectively. There was no significant difference in the levels of investigated pollutants between the two districts. Significant differences in ADI (Average daily intake) for total DDT were found between the two districts. In addition, a positive correlation was observed between OCP levels in breast milk and age of mothers. Based on OCP levels in human breast milk, the ADI by the infants has been estimated. It has been found that high daily intake of DDTs and HCHs by the infants exceeded the TDI (Tolerable daily intake) which implied that infants of the region are potentially at high risk by these contaminants.     

测量大米中六六六、滴滴涕残留量不确定度评定

介绍了气相色谱法测定大米中六六六、滴滴涕残留量的不确定度评定方法.从测量程序各步骤评定了不确定度的各项来源,对该方法所得分析结果的已识别来源的不确定度影响进行评价.并且可为实验室在该检测过程中进一步提高检测数据的可靠性和一致性作参考.     

不同类型土壤中六六六的吸附研究

采用吸附试验研究三种不同类型土壤对六六六的吸附性能。结果表明:三种土壤对六六六溶液的吸附在振荡0.5h时可以达到最大值;三种土壤中六六六溶液的残留浓度和加入浓度的比值在60⁶2%范围内,相差不大。