Daddy, There's A Monster In My Room by Jeff Prager

Daddy,
There’s A Monster
In My Room
Persistent Organic Pollutants • POPs
THE PEER REVIEW
A Free Jeff Prager Publication
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: IN OUR BEDS, OUR CLOTHES, OUR
HOMES, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR FOOD, OUR WATER, OUR AIR AND OUR SOIL
The Health Damage Associated With The Body Burden Of POPs And PBDEs In
Pregnant Women, Newborns And Adults In 200 Peer Reviewed Reports & Studies

PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: IN OUR BEDS, OUR CLOTHES, OUR HOMES, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR FOOD, OUR WATER, OUR AIR AND OUR SOIL
And The Health Damage Associated With The Body Burden Of POPs And PBDEs In Pregnant Women, Newborns And Adults In 200 Peer Reviewed Reports And Studies
A Free Jeff Prager No-Copyright Publication for Camy, Syrena, Illiana and Kyle
From Anarchy Books & Runaway Slaves Publishing Co.
Fonts Used With Gratitude And Thanks To:
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Daddy, There’s A Monster In My Room
Persistent Organic Pollutants • POPs
Eliminate Plastic Products From Your Life
And Eat Organic!
Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff • Don’t Eat The Food, Don’t Drink The Water, Don’t Buy Their Stuff •
POPs ARE almost ALWAYS FOUND LURKING UNDER THE BED

POP’s & PBDE’s
It wouldn’t be fair to create an eBook about genotoxic,
obesogenic, neurotoxic, fetotoxic, developmentally
toxic poisons without addressing methods for avoid-
ing these contaminates as much as might be possible.
And we can proactively avoid them with a little effort.
And we should. Not that we can avoid all of them all
of the time but we can profoundly mitigate our own
exposures and more importantly, we can significantly
impact the vulnerability of our children.
First,alittleaboutPersistentOrganicPollutants(POPs)
and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs
are primarily flame retardants added to plastic and
foamproductstomakethemdifficulttoburn,whichis
controversial itself since these chemicals give off tox-
ins under fire conditions. The family of PBDEs consists
of 209 possible substances all of which are referred to
as congeners. As an example, the number of isomers
for mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta-, octa-,
nona-, and decabrom diphenyl ethers are 3, 12, 24,
42, 46, 42, 24, 12, 3 and 1, respectively.
In the United States, PBDEs are marketed with trade
names: DE-60F, DE-61, DE-62, and DE-71 applied to
pentaBDE mixtures; DE-79 applied to octaBDE mix-
tures; DE 83R and Saytex 102E applied to decaBDE
mixtures. The available commercial PBDE products
are not single compounds or even single congeners
but rather a mixture of congeners each denoted by
its corresponding number. PBDE-209 is one of the
most egregious human poisons.
Because they’re mixed into plastics and foams and
don’t actually bind to them, PBDEs can leave the
product that contains them and enter the envi-
ronment—your home, the classroom, the day care
center and anywhere else. They also enter the envi-
ronment and are significant pollutants of our soil,
rivers, streams and oceans.
Polybrominated-Biphenyl-Ethers or PBDE’s are
known for being hormone disruptors which can
accumulate in the placenta and even contami-
nate a mother’s breast milk. Another danger con-
nected to these compounds is the fact that they
aren’t biodegradable. They accumulate in the air
in your house, contributing to constant dust pollu-
tion in the home.
We’re surrounded by chemicals all day, all the time,
and our bodies are literally attacked all day, every
day—not just by all sorts of bacteria but by the invis-
ible environmental chemicals we all come into con-
tact with. From automotive exhaust, perfumes, co-
lognes and soaps, the unseen industrial pollution in
the air we breathe, the indoor dust we’re constantly
surrounded by and even the food we eat—these are
all contaminated with various neurotoxins, obeso-
genics, mutagens, genotoxins, endocrine disruptors
and carcinogens from flame retardants, Bispehnol
analogues (A,B,S,F,AF), Pharmaceutical And Personal
Care breakdown products and transformation prod-
ucts, and 100s of other massively produced chemicals
that are now environmentally ubiquitous.
Thepeerreviewisclear,eventhefoodiscontaminated
with industrial chemicals like Polybrominated Diphe-
nyl Ethers and Persistent Organic Pollutants.Yet we all
have, we hope, an active and robust immune system,
an effective internal supply of antioxidants and other
functional systems within our bodies that fight these
attacks effectively every moment of every day. If we
didn’t we’d be sick all the time, or worse. That doesn’t
mean these various 100s of chemicals won’t eventu-
ally make us sick, and some of us are more suscep-
tible than others, so we should all be aware of them
and work proactively to avoid contact and mitigate
our exposures and that of our children.
As of June 1, 2006 the State of California began pro-
hibiting the manufacture, distribution, and processing
of flame-retardant products containing pentabromi-
nated diphenyl ether (pentaBDE) and octabrominat-
ed diphenyl (octaBDE). PBDEs are so pervasive in the
environment that according to the EPA, exposure may
pose health risks. According to U.S. EPA’s Integrated
Risk Information System, evidence indicates that PB-
DEs may possess liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and
neurodevelopmental toxicity.In June 2008, the U.S.
EPA set a safe daily exposure maximum of 7 ug per kg
body weight per day for 4 most common 209 PBDEs.
In April 2007, the legislature of the state of Washing-
ton passed a bill banning the use of PBDEs. The State
of Maine Department of Environmental Protection
found that all PBDEs should be banned. In August,
2003, the State of California outlawed the sale of pen-
ta- and octa- PBDE and products containing them, ef-
fective January 1, 2008. In May 2007, the legislature of
the state of Maine passed a bill phasing out the use of
DecaBDE.
The European Union decided to ban the use of two
classes of flame retardants, in particular, polybromi-
nated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated
biphenyls (PBBs) in electric and electronic devices.
This ban was formalized in the RoHS Directive, and an
upper limit of 1 g/kg for the sum of PBBs and PBDEs
was set. In February 2009, the Institute for Reference
Materials and Measurements (IRMM) released two
certified reference materials (CRMs) to help analytical
laboratories better detect these two classes of flame
retardants. The reference materials were custom-
made to contain all relevant PBDEs and PBBs at levels
close to the legal limit.
At an international level, in May 2009 the Parties of
the Stockholm Convention for Persistent Organic
Pollutants(POPs)tookthedecisiontolistcommer-
cial penta-BDE and commercial octa-BDE as POP
substances. This listing is due to the properties of
hexa-BDE (hexabromodiphenyl ether) and hepta-
BDE (heptabromodiphenyl ether) which are the
main components of commercial octa-BDE, and
due to the properties of tetra-BDE (tetrabromo-
diphenyl ether) and penta-BDE (pentabromodi-
phenyl ether) which are the main components of
commercial penta-BDE.
With 209 different congeners and extraordinary
bio-persistance and environmental persistance,
Persistant Organic Pollutants, POPs, like Polybro-
minated Diphenyl Ethers, PBDEs, aren’t going
away any time soon and the human body burden
for those that don’t become actively involved in
simple mitigation procedures will likely increase
in most areas via food and dust alone.
If you’re raising children then you probably know
that your children are exposed to a wide variety of
POPs can even sneak into your closet when you aren’t paying attention

chemicals also, even more so because they’re closer
to the ground, and from an unimaginable number of
sources every day primarily because small children
put things in their mouths. The peer review helps
us understand the dangers of chemical exposure in
the day care environment. For this reason alone it’s
imperative that you shield your children from obvi-
ous, easily avoidable and very dangerous chemicals
without affecting their ability to enjoy their playtime,
friends and youth.
Get rid of any pillows and mattresses that are at least
2 years old. Replace any hypoallergenic pillow stuffed
with synthetic fiber and get untreated pillows that are
made out of feathers or wool. If allergies are a con-
cern, you can opt for a pillow made out of latex foam.
There are many available on the internet. Consider or-
ganic mattresses that are either made up of naturally
fire retardant wool, organic cotton and coils that are
completely untreated. Avoid mattresses containing
PBDE. These can now be easily found in many online
stores. Also, check your local retailer. One brand is the
bioposture but this is not an endorsement, I’ve never
used it, and there are many other quality products
available.
Choose sheets made out of organic and unbleached
hemp, cotton or linen. These will cost more but rest
assured they’re safer and will last longer too, espe-
cially compared to chlorine treated pillowcase and
bed sheets, which is what a majority of people have.
Your duvets should also be made of natural materi-
als. Opt for those with silk, hemp, feathers or down.
Change out plastic shower curtains for washable
cloth curtains. The initial expense may be greater but
you won’t have to continually replace plastic shower
curtains. Have you smelled the odor from new plastic
shower curtains?
For a budget friendly options IKEA may be able to
help. The company has been known to sell PBDE
free mattresses, pillows and bedroom furniture since
2002. Make it a habit to clean and vacuum your bed-
room regularly. Change your bed linens every week.
Another way to detox your bedroom is to simply air
your mattress. The simple act of opening your win-
dows as wide as possible to allow fresh air inside can
do wonders for your health. Every once in a while, es-
pecially when the weather is warm and sunny, take
your mattress outside and leave it sitting in the sun
for a couple of hours. This will ventilate the mattress
and allow for evaporation of some Persistent Organic
Pollutants and result in a cleaner mattress.
In view of its widespread use, toxicity and volatility,
exposure to formaldehyde is also a significant consid-
eration for health. Formaldehyde is known to cause
tiredness, insomnia, headaches, coughing and skin ir-
ritation. In June 10, 2011, the US National Toxicology
Program described formaldehyde as “known to be a
human carcinogen”.
Formaldehyde-based resins are used as adhesives
and resins in the manufacture of particle-board,
plywood, furniture, kitchen cabinets and other
wood and simulated wood products. It’s also used
for the production of material like appliances,
electric controls, telephones, wiring services and
it’s used in the textile, leather, rubber and cement
industries. Other uses are as binders for foundry
sand, stonewool and glasswool mats in insulating
materials, abrasive paper and brake linings.
Dustfurnishingsregularlywithadampclothandlaun-
der the cloth afterwards. Vacuum regularly and clean
filters and discard bags before they’re over-filled. Vac-
uums with a hepa filter are most helpful. You might
consider shampooing the carpet once a year. Wear
only 100% cotton or wool clothing and always wash
new clothing alone in the washer once with normal
detergent and once again with water alone to fully
rinse them. Avoid dry cleaning your clothing. Don’t
wear your shoes in the home. Wearing shoes in the
house brings not just a host of microscopic chemicals
inside but radiation as well. Best to leave all shoes in
the foyer . Place them on a mat outside the front door
before entering your home and don’t allow others to
wear shoes in your home either. Open windows year
around, even if just briefly and keep your home aired
out sufficiently.
A study published in Environmental Health Perspec-
tives in March of 2010 titled, “Polybrominated Di-
phenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Hexabromocyclodecane
(HBCD) in Composite U.S. Food Samples”by Schecter,
et al., stated:
“Total PBDE concentrations in food varied by food
type, ranging from 12 pg/g wet weight (ww) in whole
milk to 1,545 pg/g ww in canned sardines and 6,211
pg/g ww in butter. Total HBCD concentrations also
varied substantially within and among food groups,
ranging from 23 pg/g in canned beef chili to 593 pg/
g in canned sardines. HBCD was not detected in any
dairy samples. Dietary intake of all PBDE congeners
measured was estimated to be 50 ng/day, mostly
from dairy consumption but also from meat and fish.
HBCD intake was estimated at 16 ng/day, primarily
from meat consumption. PBDEs and HBCDs current-
ly contaminate some food purchased in the United
States, although PBDE intake estimated in this study
is lower than reported in our previous market basket
surveys. HBCD is in food at higher levels than expect-
ed based on previously reported levels in milk and
blood compared with PBDE levels and is comparable
to European levels.”
Not all flame retardants present concerns, but the fol-
lowing types often do:

• Halogenated flame retardants (also known as or-
ganohalogen flame retardants) containing chlorine
or bromine bonded to carbon.
• Organophosphorous flame retardants containing
phosphorous bonded to carbon.
For these types of flame retardants some are associ-
ated with health and environmental concerns, many
are inadequately tested for safety and they provide
questionable fire safety benefits as used in some
products
The major uses of flame retardant chemicals by vol-
ume in the U.S. are: Electronics, Building insulation,
Polyurethane foam and wire and cable manufactur-
ing. These chemicals are persistent, they don’t easily
break down into safer chemicals in the environment

and often remain stable and dangerous or create dangerous breakdown or transformation products. They’re
capable of long-range transport— the travel far from the source of release and are distributed around the
world. They’re bio-accumulative so they build up in people and other animals, becoming most concentrated
at the top of the food chain, you and I. Most important, they’re toxic. They’re harmful to life. Flame retardants
often have long-term (chronic) rather than immediate harmful effects. The Stockholm Convention is a global
treaty between over 150 countries which aims to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs. The Convention has
listed 23 chemicals to be banned globally, all of which are organohalogens, and several of which are organo-
halogen flame retardants or their by-products. PBDEs, a class of chemicals used primarily as flame retardants
in furniture and plastics, are structurally similar to the known human toxicants PBBs, PCBs, dioxins, and furans,
all of which have been banned under the Stockholm Convention.
The San Antonio Statement
The San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants was first presented at the 30th
International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants (Dioxin 2010), September 2010 in
San Antonio, Texas, USA. This consensus statement has over 200 signatories from 30 countries, representing
expertise on health, environment and fire safety. The statement was published in the journal Environmental
Health Perspectives, December 2010. The statement is a joint project of the International Panel on Chemical
Pollution (IPCP), International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN), and Green Science Policy Institute.
The San Antonio Statement
on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants
was authored by
Joseph DiGangi1, Arlene Blum2,3, Åke Bergman4, Cynthia A. de Wit5,
Donald Lucas6, David Mortimer7, Arnold Schecter8, Martin Scheringer9,
Susan D. Shaw10 and Thomas F. Webster11 from:
1. International POPs Elimination Network, Berkeley, California, USA
2. Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
3. Green Science Policy Institute, Berkeley, California, USA
4. Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, and
5. Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden
6. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
7. Food Standards Agency, London, United Kingdom
8. University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
9. Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
10. Marine Environmental Research Institute, Center for Marine Studies, USA
11. Dept. of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, USA
The authors declare they have no actual or
potential competing financial interests.
We, scientists from a variety of disciplines, declare the following:
1. Parties to the Stockholm Convention have taken action on three brominated flame retardants that have
been listed in the treaty for global elimination. These substances include components of commercial penta-
bromodiphenyl ether and commercial octa-bromodiphenyl ether, along with hexabromobiphenyl. Another
brominated flame retardant, hexabromocyclododecane, is under evaluation.

2. Many commonly used brominated and chlorinated
flame retardants can undergo long-range environ-
mental transport.
3. Many brominated and chlorinated flame retardants
appear to be persistent and bioaccumulative, result-
ing in food chain contamination, including human
milk.
4. Many brominated and chlorinated flame retardants
lack adequate toxicity information, but the available
data raises concerns.
5. Many different types of brominated
and chlorinated flame retardants have
been incorporated into products even
though comprehensive toxicological
information is lacking.
6. Brominated and chlorinated flame
retardants present in a variety of prod-
ucts are released to the indoor and out-
door environments.
7. Near-end-of-life and end-of-life elec-
trical and electronic products are a
growing concern as a result of dumping
in developing countries, which results
in the illegal transboundary movement
of their hazardous constituents. These
include brominated and chlorinated
flame retardants.
8. There is a lack of capacity to handle
electronic waste in an environ-mentally
sound manner in almost all developing
countriesandcountrieswitheconomies
in transition, leading to the release of
hazardous substances that cause harm
to human health and the environment.
These substances include brominated
and chlorinated flame retardants.
9. Brominated and chlorinated flame
retardants can increase fire toxicity, but
their overall benefit in improving fire
safety has not been proven.
10. When brominated and chlorinated
flame retardants burn, highly toxic di-
oxins and furans are formed.
11.Therefore,thesedatasupportthefollowing:
12. Brominated and chlorinated flame retardants as
classes of substances are a concern for persistence,
bioaccumulation, long-range transport, and toxicity.
13. There is a need to improve the availability of and ac-
cesstoinformationonbrominatedandchlorinatedflame
retardants and other chemicals in products in the supply
chain and throughout each product’s life cycle.
14. Consumers can play a role in the adoption of alter-
natives to harmful flame retardants if they are made
aware of the presence of the substances, for example,
through product labeling.
15. The process of identifying alternatives to flame
retardants should include not only alternative chemi-
calsbutalsoinnovativechangesinthedesignofprod-
ucts, industrial processes, and other practices that do
not require the use of any flame retardant.
16. Efforts should be made to ensure that current and
alternative chemical flame retardants do not have
hazardous properties, such as mutagenicity and car-
cinogenicity, or adverse effects on the reproductive,
developmental, endocrine, immune, or nervous sys-
tems.
17.When seeking exemptions for certain applications
of flame retardants, the party requesting the exemp-
tion should supply some information indicating why
the exemption is technically or scien-tifically neces-
sary and why potential alternatives are not techni-
cally or scientifically viable; a description of potential
alternative processes, products, materi-
als, or systems that eliminate the need
for the chemical; and a list of sources re-
searched.
18. Wastes containing flame retardants
with persistent organic pollutant (POP)
characteristics, including products and
articles, should be disposed of in such a
way that the POP content is destroyed or
irreversibly transformed so that they do
not exhibit the charac-teristics of POPs.
19. Flame retardants with POP character-
istics should not be permitted to be sub-
jected to disposal operations that may
lead to recovery, recycling, reclamation,
direct reuse, or alternative uses of the
substances.
20. Wastes containing flame retardants
with POP properties should not be trans-
ported across international boundaries
unless it is for disposal in such a way that
the POP content is destroyed or irrevers-
ibly transformed.
21. It is important to consider product
stewardship and extended producer re-
sponsibility aspects in the life-cycle man-
agement of products containing flame
retardants with POP properties, includ-
ing electronic and electrical products.
Original Text: http://greensciencepolicy.org/san-antonio-statement/
POPS skulking AROUND THE HOUSE

Daddy, There’s A Monster In My Room
200 Peer Reviewed Reports And Studies Describing The Numerous Health Dangers Associated With The Human Body Burden Of Persistent Organic Pollutants
The Monsters In The Food, Air And Water

Journal Of Occupational And Environmental Hygiene • September 2016
Flame-retardant contamination of firefighter personal protective clothing - A potential health risk for firefighters
Alexander BM1, Baxter CS1.
1a. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27171467
There is a high incidence of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers in firefighters that may be related to their
occupational exposure to hazardous substances. Exposure may result from contaminated personal protective
gear, as well as from direct exposure at fire scenes. This study characterized flame-retardant contamination on
firefighter personal protective clothing to assess exposure of firefighters to these chemicals.These findings, along
with previous research, suggest that firefighters are exposed to PBDE flame retardants at levels much higher than
the general public. PBDEs are found widely dispersed in the environment and still persist in existing domestic ma-
terials such as clothing and furnishings. Firefighter exposure to flame retardants therefore merits further study.

Science And The Total Environment • September 2016
Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) as bioindicators of pollution and health in the Atlantic Ocean:
Contamination levels and biochemical stress responses
Alves LM1, Nunes M2, Marchand P3, Le Bizec B3, Mendes S1, Correia JP4, Lemos MF1, Novais SC5.
1. MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal
LUNAM Université, Oniris, USC 1329, Laboratoire d’Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), Nantes, France
3. LUNAM Université, Oniris, USC 1329, Laboratoire d’Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), Nantes, France
4. MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal; Flying Sharks, 9900-361 Horta, Portugal
Electronic address: sara.novais@ipleiria.pt
Marine ecosystems are constantly being threatened by contaminants produced by human activities. The main objective of this study was to find
suitable biomarkers for future marine pollution biomonitoring studies by correlating biochemical responses with tissue contaminant body bur-
den in blue sharks (Prionace glauca), a species heavily caught and consumed by humans, while also addressing their general health. The chemi-
cal contaminants analysed comprised different persistent organic pollutants (POPs) families from polychlorinated compounds to brominated
flame retardants (BFRs) and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and different trace and heavy metals. Concentrations of some contaminants in
sharks’tissues were found to be above the legally allowed limits for human consumption.
DNA damage and lipid peroxidation levels, as well as the inhibition of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase, were the main effects
and consequences of contamination. The impact of contamination on these vital macromolecules underlines the suboptimal conditions of the
sampled P. glauca, which can ultimately lead to the degradation of core ecological aspects, such as swimming, feeding, and reproduction. It can
be concluded that P. glauca demonstrates great potential to be used as environmental sentinel and suitable biomarker candidates were identi-
fied in this work.
Moreover, this study also highlights the risks that the consumption of blue shark derived products can pose to human health, which is of utmost
interest as the sampled organisms were still juveniles and already presented values above regulatory limits.

Reviews In Environmental Contamination Toxicology • September 2016
Persistent Organic Pollutants and Concern Over the Link with Insulin Resistance Related Metabolic Diseases
By S. Mostafalou
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, 5618953141, Ardabil, Iran
s.mostafalou@arums.ac.ir
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are mostly halogenated compounds tending to persist in the environment, enter into the food chain,
and accumulate in fat mass of mammals due to their high lipophilicity.They include some organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphe-
nyls, brominated flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Some of these chemicals were widely used in the past so that their residues can be detected in the human body, though their usage has been
banned for years. POPs have been shown to perturb the health of biological systems in different ways evidenced by carcinogenicity and dis-
rupting effects on endocrine, immune, and reproductive systems.
There are many epidemiologic and experimental studies on the association of exposure to POPs with insulin resistance and related metabolic
disorders like obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Inflammation as a known mechanism accompanying insulin resistance has also
been shown to arise in insulin target tissues exposed to POPs.
This review addresses the breast milk concentration of POPs in different regions of the world, synthesizes the current information on the as-
sociation of POPs with insulin resistance related metabolic disorders, and discusses the inflammation as an involved mechanism.
Considering high prevalence of insulin resistance related metabolic diseases and their relation with POPs, much need is felt regarding interna-
tional and regional programs to not only limit their production and usage but eliminate these persistent pollutants from the environment.

CNS Neurolological Disorders Drug Targets • August 2016
Autism, Mitochondria and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Exposure
Wong S, Giulivi C1.
University of California, Department of Molecular Biosciences
1089 Veterinary Medicine Dr., 3009 VetMed3B, Davis, CA 95616, USA
cgiulivi@ucdavis.edu
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a growing concern with more than 1 in every 68
children affected in the United States by age 8. Limited scientific advances have been
made regarding the etiology of autism, with general agreement that both genetic and
environmental factors contribute to this disorder. In this review, we propose that PBDE,
and possibly other environmental exposures, during child development can induce or
compound mitochondrial dysfunction, which in conjunction with a dysregulated an-
tioxidant response, increase a child’s susceptibility of autism.

Environmental Research • August 2016
Occurrence and sources of brominated and organophosphorus flame retardants in dust
from different indoor environments in Barcelona, Spain
Cristale J1, Hurtado A1, Gómez-Canela C1, Lacorte S1.
1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
In this study, the simultaneous presence of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), nine new bro-
minated flame retardants (NBFRs) and ten organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) was investigated
in dust samples collected from different indoor environments (homes, schools, theatres, a university and a
Research Institute) in Barcelona, Spain.
OPFRs were detected at the highest concentrations followed by PBDEs. tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate
(TCIPP) was the most abundant compound. BDE-209 was the main PBDE congener detected while other PB-
DEsrangedfrom2.6to118ngg(-1).AmongthestudiedNBFRs,decabromodiphenylethanefollowedbybis(2-
ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate were detected at the highest concentration, whereas a lower detection fre-
quency was observed for 2-ethylhexyl 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane,
pentabromotoluene and hexabromobenzene. The levels and profile of flame retardants (FRs) were charac-
teristic of each environment, where theatres followed by homes presented the highest concentrations and
schools had the lowest levels. Principal Component Analysis permitted to identify the main sources and
distribution of all FRs, according to specific uses in each environment. The simultaneous presence of all FR
families in indoor dust points to the need to monitor these compounds to minimize human exposure.

Environment International • August 2016
Trends in the levels of halogenated flame retardants in the Great Lakes atmosphere over the period 2005-2013
Liu LY1, Salamova A1, Venier M1, Hites RA2.
1,2. School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
Electronic address: hitesr@indiana.edu
Air (vapor and particle phase) samples were collected every 12 days at five sites near the North American Great Lakes from 1 January
2005 to 31 December 2013 as a part of the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN).The concentrations of 35 polybromi-
nated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and eight other halogenated flame retardants were measured in each of the ~1,300 samples. The lev-
els of almost all of these flame retardants, except for pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), hexabromobenzene (HBB), and Dechlorane
Plus (DP), were significantly higher in Chicago, Cleveland, and Sturgeon Point. The concentrations of PBEB and HBB were relatively
high at Eagle Harbor and Sturgeon Point, respectively, and the concentrations of DP were relatively high at Cleveland and Sturgeon
Point, the two sites closest to this compound’s production site. The concentrations of PBDEs were decreasing at the urban sites, Chi-
cago and Cleveland, but were generally unchanging at the remote sites, Sleeping Bear Dunes and Eagle Harbor. The concentrations
of PBEB were decreasing at almost all sites except for Eagle Harbor, where the highest PBEB levels were observed. HBB concentrations
were decreasing at all sites except for Sturgeon Point, where HBB levels were the highest. DP concentrations were increasing with
doubling times of 3-9 years at all sites except those closest to its source (Cleveland and Sturgeon Point). The levels of 1,2-bis(2,4,6-
tribromophenoxy)ethane (TBE) were unchanging at the urban sites, Chicago and Cleveland, but decreasing at the suburban and
remote sites, Sturgeon Point and Eagle Harbor.The atmospheric concentrations of 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB)
and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (BEHTBP) were increasing at almost every site with doubling times of 3-6years.

Environmental Researcgh • August 2016
Serum polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations
and thyroid function in young children
Jacobson MH1, Barr DB2, Marcus M3, Muir AB4, Lyles RH5, Howards PP6, Pardo L7, Darrow LA8.
1. Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
2. Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
4. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
5. Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
7. National Center for Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20004, USA
Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA
Thyroid hormones are essential for proper neurodevelopment in early life. There is evi-
dence that exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) affects thyroid function,
but previous studies have been inconsistent, and no studies among children have been
conducted in the United States where PBDE levels are particularly high. Serum levels of
seven PBDE congeners and thyroid hormones and other thyroid parameters were mea-
sured in 80 children aged 1-5 years from the southeastern United States between 2011
and 2012. Results suggest that exposure to PBDEs during childhood subclinically disrupts
thyroid hormone function, with impacts in the direction of hypothyroidism.

Reproductive Toxicology • July 2016
Polybrominated diphenyl ether exposure and reproductive hormones in North American men
Makey CM1, McClean MD2, Braverman LE3, Pearce EN3, Sjödin A4, Weinberg J5, Webster TF2.
1. Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
2. Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
3. Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E. Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
4. Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
5. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 1010 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118, USA
Electronic address: cmakey@bu.edu
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardant chemicals that are persistent
organic pollutants. Animal experiments and some human studies indicate that PBDEs may
adversely affect male reproductive function.
These findings suggest PBDE exposure may affect RHs in older men. We did not measure
other parameters of male reproductive function and therefore these results are preliminary.

JAMA Neurology • July 2016
Association of Environmental Toxins With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Su FC1, Goutman SA2, Chernyak S1, Mukherjee B3, Callaghan BC2, Batterman S1, Feldman EL4.
1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2. Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
3. Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
4. Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Persistent environmental pollutants may represent a modifiable risk factor involved in
the gene-time-environment hypothesis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this
study, persistent environmental pollutants measured in blood were significantly asso-
ciated with ALS and may represent modifiable ALS disease risk factors.

Current Problems In Pediatric And Adolescent Health Care • July 2016
Developmental Exposure to Environmental Chemicals and Metabolic Changes in Children
Russ K1, Howard S2.
1. University of Maryland, School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD
2. National Coordinator, Diabetes and Obesity Initiative, Collaborative on Health and the Environment, Bolinas, CA
Electronic address: kruss003@son.umaryland.edu.
The incidence of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other forms of metabolic disease
havebeenrisingoverthepastseveraldecades.Althoughdietandphysicalactivityplayim-
portant roles in these trends, other environmental factors also may contribute to this sig-
nificant public health issue. Prenatal exposure to EDCs, particularly the persistent organic
pollutant DDT and its metabolite DDE, may influence growth patterns during infancy and
childhood. The altered growth patterns associated with EDCs vary according to exposure
level, sex, exposure timing, pubertal status, and age at which growth is measured. Early
exposure to air pollutants also is linked to impaired metabolism in infants and children. As
a result of these and other studies, professional health provider societies have called for a
reduction in environmental chemical exposures.We summarize the resources available to
health care providers to counsel patients on how to reduce chemical exposures.

Current Obesity Reports • July 2016
Infectious and Environmental Influences on the Obesity Epidemic
Huo L1, Lyons J2,3, Magliano DJ4,5.
1. Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China
2. School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
3. Department of Clinical Diabetes and Epidemiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Level 4, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
4. Department of Clinical Diabetes and Epidemiology, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Level 4, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
5. Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Victoria, Australia
Dianna.magliano@bakeridi.edu.au
Over the last two decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly. While it is intuitively appealing to believe that the
causes of obesity are manifestly related to excess dietary intake, combined with a reduced expenditure of energy via a decrease in
physical activity, it is also been noted that the evidence for these as the sole causes of the obesity epidemic is incomplete.
This review will explore two putative causes of obesity: infections and environmental pollutants. It will focus on the key human
infection associated with obesity-human adenovirus 36 (Ad36) and will discuss several environmental pollutants which have been
postulated to be involved in the development of obesity: bisphenol A, phthalates and persistent organic pollutants. For each of
these, the epidemiology and biological mechanisms underpinning the association of these agents with obesity will be reviewed.

Environmental Toxicology • July 2016
Metabolite profiling study on the toxicological effects of polybrominated diphenyl ether in a rat model
Jung YS1, Lee J1,2, Seo J3, Hwang GS1,4.
1. Integrated Metabolomics Research Group, Western Seoul Center, Korea Basic Science Institute, Seoul, 120-140, Republic of Korea
2. Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Suwon, 440-746, Republic of Korea
3. Mass Spectrometry & Advanced Instrumentation Group, Ochang Headquters, Korea Basic Science Institute, Cheongju, 363-886, Republic of Korea
4. Department of Chemistry & Nanoscience, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 120-750, Republic of Korea
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are commonly used to retard the combustion of materials such as
foam padding, textiles, or plastics, and numerous studies have confirmed the accumulation thereof in the
environment and in fish, mammals, and humans.
In this study, we used metabolomics to conduct an environmental risk assessment of the PBDE-209 … de-
spite the weak PBDE-209 effects, we observed that choline, acetylcholine, 3-indoxylsulfate, creatinine, urea,
and dimethyl sulfone levels were decreased, whereas that of pyruvate was significantly increased. Further-
more, we suggest that the increased pyruvate level and decreased levels of choline, acetylcholine, and ure-
mic toxins were suggestive of endocrine disruption and neurodevelopmental toxicity caused by PBDEs.

Journal Of Chromatography A • July 2016
Simultaneous determination of 16 brominated flame retardants in food and feed of animal origin
by fast gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation
Bichon E1, Guiffard I2, Vénisseau A2, Lesquin E2, Vaccher V2, Brosseaud A2, Marchand P2, Le Bizec B2.
1,2. LABoratoire d’Étude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), USC INRA 1329, Oniris, LUNAM Université, BP 50707, 44307 Nantes Cedex 3, France
Electronic address: emmanuelle.bichon@oniris-nantes.fr
A gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method using atmospheric pres-
sure chemical ionisation was developed for the monitoring of 16 brominated flame
retardants (7 usually monitored polybromodiphenylethers (PBDEs) and BDE #209 and
8 additional emerging and novel BFRs) in food and feed of animal origin.

Environmental Pollution • July 2016
Statewide surveillance of halogenated flame retardants in fish in Illinois, USA
Widelka M1, Lydy MJ2, Wu Y1, Chen D3.
1. Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
2. Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
3. Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
Electronic address: dachen@siu.edu
The data revealed that polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) generally dominated the flame retar-
dant residues in Illinois fish. Concentrations of ΣPBDEs (including all detectable PBDE congeners) ranged
from 24.7 to 8270 ng/g lipid weight (median: 135 ng/g lw) in common carp and 15-3870 ng/g lw (medi-
an: 360 ng/g lw) in largemouth bass. In addition to PBDEs, Dechlorane analogues (i.e. Dec-603, Dec-604,
and Chlordane Plus) were also frequently detected. Median concentrations of ΣDechloranes (including
all detected Dechlorane analogues) were 34.4 and 23.3 ng/g lw in common carp and largemouth bass,
respectively. Other emerging flame retardants, including tetrabromo-o-chlorotoluene (TBCT), hexabro-
mobenzene (HBBZ), 2-ethylhexyltetrabromobenzoate (EH-TBB), and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabro-
mo-phthalate (BEH-TEBP), were also detected in 40-78% of the fish at the monitored stations. Spatial
analysis revealed significantly greater PBDE concentrations in fish living in impaired urban streams and
lakes compared to those from the impaired agricultural and unimpaired agricultural/urban waters,
demonstrating a significant urban influence on PBDE contamination. Future studies and environmental
monitoring are recommended to focus on temporal trends of PBDEs and alternative flame retardants, as
well as human exposure risks via edible fishes, in the identified Areas of Concern within Illinois.

Life Science • July 2016
Pollutants make rheumatic diseases worse: Facts on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure and rheumatic diseases
Abella V1, Pérez T2, Scotece M2, Conde J2, Pirozzi C2, Pino J2, Lago F3, González-Gay MÁ4, Mera A4, Gómez R2, Gualillo O5.
1. SERGAS, Research Laboratory 9, NEIRID Lab (Neuroendocrine Interactions in Rheumatology and Inflammatory Diseases), Institute of Medical Research (IDIS), Santiago University Clinical Hospital, Spain
Departamento de Bioloxía Celular e Molecular, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña (UDC), Campus de A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
3. SERGAS, Research Laboratory 7, Cellular and Molecular Cardiology Laboratory, Institute of Medical Research (IDIS), Santiago University Clinical Hospital, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
4. SERGAS, Division of Rheumatology, Santiago University Clinical Hospital, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Electronic address: oreste.gualillo@sergas.es.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that bioaccumulate in adipose tissue, disturbing its
metabolism and the balance of adipokines, related to obesity. The altering secretion pattern of adipokines from the
adipose tissue and the increasing mechanical load in weight-bearing joints presented in obesity condition, are risk fac-
tors for osteoarthritis development.
Analysis of two cohorts exposed to PCBs food contamination showed high incidence of arthritis. In addition, PCBs in
serum correlated positively with the prevalence of self-reported arthritis. Few studies support the hypothesis that os-
teoarthritis development could be related to PCBs induction of chondrocytes apoptosis.
EvidenceshaveemergedforarelationshipbetweenPCBsanddevelopmentofseveraltypesofarthritis.Furtherresearch
is encouraged to determine the correlation between PCBs exposure and the development of rheumatic diseases.

International Journal Of Hygiene And Environmental Health • July 2016
Occurrence of chlorinated and brominated dioxins/furans, PCBs, and brominated flame retardants in blood of German adults
Fromme H1, Hilger B2, Albrecht M3, Gries W4, Leng G4, Völkel W2.
1. Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany
Electronic address: hermann.fromme@lgl.bayern.de
2. Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
3. Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Pesticides, Contaminants, Nitrosamines, Radioactivity, Dioxins, Irradiation
Veterinaerstrasse 2, D-85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
4. Currenta, CUR-SI-GS-Biomonitoring; D-51368 Leverkusen, Germany
Persistent organic pollutants are widespread in the environment, and are associated with a particular health and ecological concern. The hu-
man body burden of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans
(PBDDs/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylether (PBDEs), and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) was deter-
mined.
Blood samples were collected in Germany, originating from 42 randomly selected subjects between 20 and 68 years old.
The median (95th percentile) concentrations, expressed as WHO2005-TEQ for PCDD/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs, were 6.2 (19.1) pg/g l.w. and
4.1 (8.8) pg/g l.w., respectively. PBDDs/Fs were found with a median of 2.8 pgTEQ/g l.w. and a 95th percentile of 8.7 pgTEQ/g l.w. (using similar
interim TEF values as for PCDDs/Fs) On a median basis, the contribution of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs, and PBDDs/Fs to total TEQ were 47%, 31%,
and 21%, respectively.The sum of the 6 non-dioxin-like PCBs exhibited a median of 267ng/g l.w. and a 95th percentile of 834ng/g l.w.The median
value for the sum of six tetra- to hepta-PBDE congeners was 1.7ng/g l.w. (95th percentile: 4.9ng/g l.w.).
BDE 209 was the most abundant congener with a median of 1.8ng/g l.w. HBCDs were only found in some samples, and concentrations ranged
between the limit of detection (5ng/g l.w.) and the limit of quantification (16ng/g l.w.). Results for PBDEs and HBCDs are comparable to other
European studies. Our study demonstrated that the body burden of PCDD/Fs and PCBs declined continuously since the last three decades, but
exposure may exceed precautionary guideline levels.

Environmental Research • July 2016
Relationships between concentrations of selected organohalogen contaminants and thyroid hormones
and vitamins A, E and D in Faroese pilot whales
Hoydal KS1, Ciesielski TM2, Borrell A3, Wasik A4, Letcher RJ5, Dam M6, Jenssen BM2.
1. Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Environment Agency, Traðagøta 38, FO-165 Argir, Faroe Islands
2. Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
3. Department of Animal Biology and Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, Spain
4. Gdańsk University of Technology, Chemical Faculty, Department of Analytical Chemistry, G. Narutowicza 11/12 St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland
5. Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr. (Raven Road), Ottawa K1A 0H3, Canada
6. Environment Agency, Traðagøta 38, FO-165 Argir, Faroe Islands
Electronic address: katrinh@us.fo
Pilot whales (Globicephala melas) from the Faroe Islands, North-East Atlantic, have high body concentrations of organohalogenated compounds
(OHCs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
The aim of the present study was to examine if and to what extent blood plasma and liver concentrations of several groups of these OHCs are re-
lated to concentrations of relevant nutritional and hormonal biomarkers in pilot whales.Thyroid hormones (THs: total and free thyroxine and total
and free triiodothyronine) and vitamin A (retinol), D (25-hydroxyvitamin D3) and E (α-tocopherol) were analysed in plasma (n=27) and vitamin A
(total vitamin A, retinol and retinyl palmitate) and E (α- and γ-tocopherol) were analysed in liver (n=37) of Faroe Island pilot whales. Correlative rela-
tionships between the biomarkers and OHC concentrations previously analysed in the same tissues in these individuals were studied. The TH con-
centrations in plasma were significantly higher in juveniles than in adults.Vitamin D concentrations in plasma and α- and γ-tocopherol in liver were
higher in adults than in juveniles. Multivariate statistical modelling showed that the age and sex influenced the relationship between biomark-
ers and OHCs. Some significant positive relationships were found between OHCs and thyroid hormone concentrations in the youngest juveniles
(p<0.05). In plasma of juvenile whales α-tocopherol was also positively correlated with all the OHCs (p<0.05). Only few significant correlations were
found between single OHCs and retinol and vitamin D in plasma within the age groups. There were significant negative relationships between
hepatic PBDE concentrations and retinol (BDE-47) and γ-tocopherol (BDE-49, -47, -100, -99, -153) in liver. The relationships between organohalo-
genated compounds and THs or vitamins suggest that in pilot whales OHCs seem to have minor effects on TH and vitamin concentrations.

Environmental Health Perspectives • July 2016
Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Human Milk and Serum from the US EPA MAMA Study:
Modeled Predictions of Infant Exposure and Considerations for Risk Assessment
Marchitti SA1, Fenton SE2, Mendola P3, Kenneke JF4, Hines EP5.
Full text with references
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/advpub/2016/7/EHP332.acco.pdf
Serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in U.S. women are be-
lieved to be among the world’s highest, however, little information exists on the partition-
ing of PBDEs between serum and breast milk and how this may impact infant exposure.

Environment International • July 2016
Trends in the levels of halogenated flame retardants in the Great Lakes atmosphere over the period 2005-2013
Liu LY1, Salamova A1, Venier M1, Hites RA2.
1,2. School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Electronic address: hitesr@indiana.edu
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=27160856
DP concentrations were increasing with doubling times of 3-9 years at all sites except those closest to its source
(Cleveland and Sturgeon Point). The levels of 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (TBE) were unchanging at
the urban sites, Chicago and Cleveland, but decreasing at the suburban and remote sites, Sturgeon Point and Ea-
gle Harbor.The atmospheric concentrations of 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB) and bis(2-eth-
ylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (BEHTBP) were increasing at almost every site with doubling times of 3-6 years.

Environmental Health Perspectives • June 2016
Prenatal Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Exposure and Body Mass Index in Children Up To 8 Years of Age
Vuong AM1, Braun JM2, Sjödin A3, Webster GM4, Yolton K5, Lanphear BP4, Chen A1.
1. Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
2. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
3. Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
4. Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
5. Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Full text with references
Prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors has been associated with increased risk of
childhood obesity. We investigated whether maternal concentrations of BDE-28, -47,
-99, -100, -153, and ∑PBDEs during pregnancy were associated with anthropometric
measures in children aged 1-8 years. Reverse causality may have resulted in prenatal
PBDEs, particularly BDE-153, and decreased BMI, waist circumference, and body fat.

Environmental Toxicology And Chemistry • June 2016
Exposure to a PBDE/OH-BDE mixture alters juvenile zebrafish (Danio rerio) development
Macaulay LJ1, Chernick M1, Chen A1, Hinton DE1, Bailey JM2, Kullman SW3, Levin ED1,2, Stapleton HM1.
1. Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
3. Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their metabolites (e.g. hydroxylated BDEs
(OH-BDEs)) are contaminants detected together frequently in human tissues, and are
structurally similar to thyroid hormones (TH). THs partially mediate metamorphic tran-
sitions between life stages in zebrafish, making this a critical developmental window
which may be vulnerable to chemicals disrupting thyroid signaling.
Exposure to the high mixture resulted in > 85% mortality within one week of exposure,
despite being below reported acute toxicity thresholds for individual congeners. The
low mixture and 6-OH-BDE-47 groups exhibited reductions in body length and delayed
maturation, specifically relating to swim bladder, fin, and pigmentation development.
Reducedskeletalossificationwasalsoobservedin6-OH-BDE-47treatedfish.Assessment
of thyroid and osteochondral gene regulatory networks demonstrated significantly in-
creased expression of genes that regulate skeletal development and THs.
Overall, these results indicate that exposures to PBDEs/OH-BDEs mixtures adversely im-
pact zebrafish maturation during metamorphosis.

Environmental Science And Pollution Research International • June 2016
Modeling the dynamics of DDT in a remote tropical floodplain: indications of post-ban use?
Mendez A1, Ng CA2, Torres JP3, Bastos W4, Bogdal C1,5, Dos Reis GA3, Hungerbuehler K1.
1. Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
2. Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, CH-8093, Zürich, Switzerland
3. Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
4. Department of Biology, Federal University of Rondônia, Porto Velho, Brazil
5. Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences ISS, CH-8046, Zürich, Switzerland
carla.ng@chem.ethz.ch.
Significant knowledge gaps exist regarding the fate and transport of persistent organic
pollutants like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) in tropical environments. In Bra-
zil, indoor residual spraying with DDT to combat malaria and leishmaniasis began in the
1950s and was banned in 1998. Nonetheless, high concentrations of DDT and its metab-
olites were recently detected in human breast milk in the community of Lake Puruzinho
in the Brazilian Amazon.
These observations strongly suggest recent use. Therefore, both soil and sediment com-
parisons suggest re-emissions indeed occurred between 2005 and 2014, but additional
measurements would be needed to better understand the actual re-emission patterns.

Birth Defects Research Part B Developmental And Reproductive Toxicology • June 2016
Gestational and Early Postnatal Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Mixture of
Brominated Flame Retardants: General Toxicity and Skeletal Variations
Tung EW1, Yan H2, Lefèvre PL2, Berger RG2, Rawn DF3, Gaertner DW3, Kawata A1, Rigden M1, Robaire B2,4, Hales BF2, Wade MG1.
1. Environmental Health Science & Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
3. Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are stable environmental contaminants known to
exert endocrine-disrupting effects. Developmental exposure to polybrominated di-
phenyl ethers (PBDEs) is correlated with impaired thyroid hormone signaling, as well
as estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects. As previous studies have focused on a sin-
gle congener or technical mixture, the purpose of the current study was to examine
the effects of gestational and early postnatal exposure to an environmentally relevant
mixture of BFRs designed to reflect house dust levels of PBDEs and hexabromocy-
clododecane on postnatal developmental outcomes.
Therefore, BFR exposure during gestation through to weaning alters developmental
programming in the offspring. The persistence of BFRs in the environment remains a
cause for concern with regards to developmental toxicity.

Diabetes And Metabolism • June 2016
Adverse effects of weight loss: Are persistent organic pollutants a potential culprit?
Cheikh Rouhou M1, Karelis AD2, St-Pierre DH3, Lamontagne L1.
1. Department of Biological Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal, H3C 3P8 Montréal, Canada
2,3. Department of Exercise Science, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succursale centre-ville, H3C 3P8 Montréal, Canada
Electronic address: karelis.antony@uqam.ca.
Health professionals commonly recommend weight loss to individuals with obesity. However, unex-
pected adverse health effects after a weight-loss program have been reported in several studies. The
factors that could explain this phenomenon are currently poorly understood. However, one potential
factor that has emerged is persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Due to their lipophilic nature, POPs are known to accumulate in the adipose tissue and their concentra-
tions are found to be higher in obese individuals than lean subjects. There is evidence to suggest that
weight loss induces a significant increase in POPs levels in the bloodstream. Furthermore, the increases
in plasma POPs levels after weight loss are even greater with an intensive weight loss.
Thus, a critical question that remains unresolved is whether POPs released from the adipose tissue to
the bloodstream during intensive weight loss could increase the risk of cardiometabolic disturbances.
In turn, the accumulation of POPs released in response to an intensive weight loss may impair energy
metabolism and stimulate a subsequent weight regain.Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide in-
sights about the role of POPs on cardiometabolic risk factors during weight loss and weight regain that
could potentially explain, at least in part, the adverse effects observed in certain weight-loss studies.

Andrology • June 2016
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals and neurodevelopmental alterations
Pinson A1, Bourguignon JP1, Parent AS1.
1. Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA Neurosciences, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
The developing brain is remarkably malleable as neural circuits are formed and these
circuits are strongly dependent on hormones for their development. For those reasons,
the brain is very vulnerable to the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) dur-
ing critical periods of development. This review focuses on three ubiquitous endocrine
disruptors that are known to disrupt the thyroid function and are associated with neu-
robehavioral deficits: polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and
bisphenol A. The human and rodent data suggesting effects of those EDCs on memory,
cognition, and social behavior are discussed.Their mechanisms of action go beyond rel-
ative hypothyroidism with effects on neurotransmitter release and calcium signaling.

Environment International • June 2016
Propelling plastics into the circular economy - weeding out the toxics first
Leslie HA1, Leonards PE2, Brandsma SH2, de Boer J2, Jonkers N3.
1. Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), VU University Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Electronic address: heather.leslie@vu.nl
2. Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), VU University Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3. IVAM, University of Amsterdam, Plantage Muidergracht 24, 1018 TV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Stockholm Convention bans toxic chemicals on its persistent organic pollutants (POPs) list in order to promote cleaner pro-
duction and prevent POPs accumulation in the global environment. The original ‘dirty dozen’set of POPs has been expanded to
include some of the brominated diphenyl ether flame retardants (POP-BDEs).
Our study revealed that banned BDEs and other toxic flame retardants are found at high concentrations in certain plastic materi-
als destined for recycling markets. They were also found in a variety of new consumer products, including children’s toys. A mass
flow analysis showed that 22% of all the POP-BDE in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is expected to end up in
recycled plastics because these toxic, bioaccumulative and persistent substances are currently not effectively separated out of
plastic waste streams.
In the automotive sector, this is 14%, while an additional 19% is expected to end up in second-hand parts (reuse). These results
raise the issue of delicate trade-offs between consumer safety/cleaner production and resource efficiency.
As petroleum intensive materials, plastic products ought to be repaired, reused, remanufactured and recycled, making good use
of the‘inner circles’of the circular economy. Keeping hazardous substances - whether they are well known POPs or emerging con-
taminants - out of products and plastic waste streams could make these cycles work better for businesses, people and nature.

Zhonghua Yu Fang Yi Xue Za Zhi • June 2016
Research progress of health effect of polybrominated diphenyl ethers
Zhai JX1, Tong SL.
1. Department of Occupational and Environmental, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was one of the most common brominated flame
retardants, it has been widely used in products such as furnitures, polymer and plastical ma-
terial, textiles, electronic products and building materials. PBDEs have potential effect such
as neurodevelopmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, thyroid toxicity, immunological toxic-
ity, embryo toxicity, liver toxicity, teratogenicity and potential carcinogenicity. This paper was
aimed to review the environmental exposure way, current level, neurotoxicity, neurodevelop-
mental toxicity and reproductive toxicity of PBDEs. In recent years, PBDEs has been detected
in environment, wildlife animal and human body around the world, there were the significant
differences of exposure levels of PBDEs.The most abundant congener were tetra-BDE or BDE-
47, hexa-BDE or BDE-153, and deca-BDE or BDE-209. Prenatal exposure to PBDEs has great
impact on the infants’ neurodevelopmental function, induces changes in neuropsychologi-
cal developmental behavior, decreases of congnition, motivation and attention. High levels
of PBDEs have positive relationship with Luteinizing hormone levels, testis disfunction and
children’s cryptorchidism, and have negative relationship with sperm number and testis size.

Journal Of Environmental Science And Health Part A Toxic/Hazardous Substances And Environmental Engineering • June 2016
The cytotoxicity of organophosphate flame retardants on HepG2, A549 and Caco-2 cells
An J1, Hu J1, Shang Y1, Zhong Y1, Zhang X1, Yu Z2.
1a. Institute of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
2b. State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
In order to elucidate the cytotoxicity of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), three
human in vitro models, namely the HepG2 hepatoma cells, the A549 lung cancer cells and
the Caco-2 colon cancer cells, were chosen to investigate the toxicity of triphenyl phosphate
(TPP), tributylphosphate (TBP), tris(2-butoxyexthyl) phosphate (TBEP) and tris (2-chloroiso-
propyl) phosphate (TCPP).
The results showed that all these four OPFRs could inhibit cell viability, overproduce ROS lev-
el, induce DNA lesions and increase the LDH leakage. In addition, the toxic effects of OPFRs
in Caco-2 cells were relatively severer than those in HepG2 and A549 cells, which might result
from some possible mechanisms apart from oxidative stress pathway. In conclusion, TBP, TPP,
TBEP and TCPP could induce cell toxicity in various cell lines at relatively high concentrations
as evidenced by suppression of cell viability, overproduction of ROS, induction of DNA lesions
and increase of LDH leakage. Different cell types seemed to have different sensitivities and
responses to OPFRs exposure, as well as the underlying potential molecular mechanisms.

Science Reports • June 2016
Environmental exposure to BDE47 is associated with increased diabetes prevalence:
Evidence from community-based case-control studies and an animal experiment
Zhang Z1,2, Li S1,2, Liu L1,2, Wang L1, Xiao X1,2, Sun Z1,2, Wang X1,2, Wang C1,2, Wang M1, Li L1, Xu Q3, Gao W4, Wang SL1,2.
Full text with 33 references
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4904204/
Brominated flame retardants exposure has been associated with increasing trends of diabetes and metabolic disease.
Thus, the purpose of this study was to provide evidence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) exposure in rela-
tion to diabetes prevalence and to reveal the potential underlying mechanism in epidemiological and animal stud-
ies. The results indicated that environmental exposure to BDE47 was associated with increased diabetes prevalence.
However, further prospective and mechanistic studies are needed to the causation of diabetes in relation to BDE47.

Neurotoxicology • May 2016
Childhood exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and neurodevelopment at six years of age
Chevrier C1, Warembourg C2, Le Maner-Idrissi G3, Lacroix A3, Dardier V3, Le Sourn-Bissaoui S3, Rouget F4,
Monfort C2, Gaudreau E5, Mercier F6, Bonvallot N6, Glorennec P6, Muckle G7, Le Bot B6, Cordier S2.
1. U1085 Irset Research Institute of Health Environment and Work, Inserm, Rennes, France; University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France
2. U1085 Irset Research Institute of Health Environment and Work, Inserm, Rennes, France; University of Rennes 1, Rennes, France
3. Research Centre for Psychology, Cognition and Communication, University of Rennes 2, Rennes, France
4. U1085 Irset Research Institute of Health Environment and Work, Inserm, Rennes, France; Réseau « Bien Naître en Ille et Vilaine », Rennes, France
5. Laboratoire du Centre de Toxicologie (CTQ), Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), Québec, Canada
6. U1085 Irset Research Institute of Health Environment and Work, Inserm, Rennes, France; EHESP School of Public Health, Sorbonne, Paris Cité, Rennes, France
7. École de psychologie, Université Laval, Centre de recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
Mixtures of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are present in indoor environments. Studies of the developmental
effects of exposure to these chemicals in large prospective mother-child cohorts are required, with data on prenatal
exposure and long-term follow-up of the children. We aimed to investigate the relationship between prenatal and child-
hood exposure to PBDEs and neurodevelopment at the age of six years. We determined the levels of PBDEs and other
neurotoxicants in cord blood and dust collected from the homes of children for 246 families included in the PELAGIE
mother-child cohort in France. Our findings are in agreement with those of four previous studies suggesting adverse cog-
nitive outcomes among children associated with early-life exposure to penta-BDE mixtures, and provide new evidence
for the potential neurotoxicity of BDE209. Several countries are in the process of banning the use of PBDE mixtures as
flame-retardants. However, these compounds are likely to remain present in the environment for a long time to come.

Nutrition, Metabolism And Cardiovascular Disease • May 2016
The effect of a vegetarian versus conventional hypocaloric diet on serum concentrations
of persistent organic pollutants in patients with type 2 diabetes
Kahleova H1, Tonstad S2, Rosmus J3, Fisar P3, Mari A4, Hill M5, Pelikanova T6.
1. Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1958/9, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic
2. Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
3. State Veterinary Institute Prague, Sidlistni 24, 165 03 Prague, Czech Republic
4. C.N.R. (National Research Council) Institute of Systems Science and Biomedical Engineering, Padua, Italy
5. Institute of Endocrinology, Narodni 8, 11394 Prague, Czech Republic
6. Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Videnska 1958/9, 140 21 Prague, Czech Republic
Electronic address: hana.kahleova@gmail.com
The aim of this study was to explore the effect of a vegetarian versus conventional diet on the serum levels of
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in patients with T2D after 12 weeks of dietary intervention and to assess their
relationships with metabolic parameters.
Short-term hypocaloric vegetarian and conventional diets did not reduce the POP levels, possibly due to mobili-
zation of fat stores. Our findings support the relationship between POPs and diabetes, especially β-cell function.

Environmental Health Perspectives • May 2016
Occupational Exposure to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals and Birth Weight and Length of Gestation: A European Meta-Analysis
Birks L1,2,3, Casas M1,2,3, Garcia AM2,4,5, Alexander J6, Barros H7, Bergström A8, Bonde JP9, Burdorf A10, Costet N11, Danileviciute A12, Eggesbø M6, Fernández MF2,13, González-Galarzo MC4,
Gražulevičienė R12, Hanke W14, Jaddoe V15, Kogevinas M1,2,16,17, Kull I18,19, Lertxundi A20,21, Melaki V22, Andersen AN23, Olea N2,13, Polanska K14, Rusconi F24,
Santa-Marina L2,23,25, Santos AC8, Vrijkotte T26, Zugna D27, Nieuwenhuijsen M1,2,3, Cordier S11, Vrijheid M1,2,3.
Full text, PDF, with 57 references
Women of reproductive age can be exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals at work and exposure to endo-
crine-disruptingchemicalsinpregnancymayaffectfetalgrowth.Resultsfromourlargepopulation-basedbirth
cohort design indicate that employment during pregnancy in occupations classified as possibly or probably
exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals was associated with an increased risk of term low birth weight.

Neurotoxicology And Teratology • May 2016
Developmental exposure of zebrafish larvae to organophosphate flame retardants causes neurotoxicity
Sun L1, Xu W2, Peng T3, Chen H4, Ren L2, Tan H3, Xiao D2, Qian H5, Fu Z6.
1. College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, PR China
2. Department of Food Science and Technology, Ocean College, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
3. College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
4. South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, No. 231 Xingangxi Road, Guangzhou 510300, PR China
5. College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China.
6. College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, PR China
Electronic address: azwfu@zjut.du.cn
With the gradual ban on brominated flame retardants (FRs), the application of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs)
has increased remarkably. Considering the structural similarity between OPFRs and organophosphate pesticides, hypoth-
eses that OPFRs may interfere with neurodevelopment as organophosphate pesticides are reasonable.
Inthisstudy,theneurotoxicityofthreeOPFRs,includingtri-n-butylphosphate(TNBP),tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate(TBOEP)
and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), was evaluated in zebrafish larvae and then compared with the neurotoxicity of
organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF).
The results showed that similar to CPF, exposure to OPFRs for 5 days resulted in significant changes in locomotor behavior,
either in free swimming or in photomotor response.
In summary, the results confirm the potential neurodevelopmental toxicity of OPFRs and underscore the importance of
identifying the mechanistic targets of the OPFRs with specific moieties. Furthermore, as the neurobehavioral responses are
well conserved among vertebrates and the exposure of children to OPFRs is significant, a thorough assessment of the risk of
OPFRs exposure during early development should be highly emphasized in future studies.

Environmental Research • May 2016
Presence of endocrine disruptors in freshwater in the northern Antarctic Peninsula region
Esteban S1, Moreno-Merino L2, Matellanes R3, Catalá M4, Gorga M5, Petrovic M6, López de Alda M5, Barceló D7, Silva A8, Durán JJ2, López-Martínez J9, Valcárcel Y10.
1. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health Research Group (Toxamb), Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain
Electronic address: segn82@gmail.com
2. Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME), C/ Ríos Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Biology and Geology Department, ESCET, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda Tulipán s/n, Mostoles, (Madrid), Spain
5. Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
6. Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, Edifici H2O, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
7. Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, Edifici H2O, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain
8. National Institute of Water, Empalme J. Newbery km 1,620, Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argentina
9. Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Department of Preventive Medicine, Public Health, Inmunology and Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciencies, Rey Juan Carlos University, Avda. Atenas s/n, E-28922 Alcorcón, (Madrid), Spain
Electronic address: yolanda.valcarcel@urjc.es
The increasing human presence in Antarctica and the waste it generates is causing an impact on the environment at local and border
scale. The main sources of anthropic pollution have a mainly local effect, and include the burning of fossil fuels, waste incineration, ac-
cidental spillage and wastewater effluents, even when treated. The aim of this work is to determine the presence and origin of 30 sub-
stances of anthropogenic origin considered to be, or suspected of being, endocrine disruptors in the continental waters of the Antarctic
Peninsula region.We also studied a group of toxic metals, metalloids and other elements with possible endocrine activity.Ten water sam-
ples were analyzed from a wide range of sources, including streams, ponds, glacier drain, and an urban wastewater discharge into the
sea. Surprisingly, the concentrations detected are generally similar to those found in other studies on continental waters in other parts of
the world. The highest concentrations of micropollutants found correspond to the group of organophosphate flame retardants (19.60-
9209ngL(-1)) and alkylphenols (1.14-7225ngL(-1)); and among toxic elements the presence of aluminum (a possible hormonal modifier)
(1.7-127µgL(-1)) is significant. The concentrations detected are very low and insufficient to cause acute or subacute toxicity in aquatic
organisms. However, little is known as yet of the potential sublethal and chronic effects of this type of pollutants and their capacity for
bioaccumulation. These results point to the need for an ongoing system of environmental monitoring of these substances in Antarctic
continental waters, and the advisability of regulating at least the most environmentally hazardous of these in the Antarctic legislation.

Science Of The Total Environment • May 2016
Associations of persistent organic pollutants in serum and adipose tissue with breast cancer prognostic markers
Arrebola JP1, Fernández-Rodríguez M2, Artacho-Cordón F2, Garde C3, Perez-Carrascosa F4, Linares I4, Tovar I4, González-Alzaga B5, Expósito J4, Torne P3, Fernández MF6, Olea N6.
1. Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs. GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada, Spain
Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, Oncology Unit, Granada, Spain
CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
University of Granada, Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, Spain
Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Radiation Oncology Department, Oncology Unit, Granada, Spain
Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Granada, Spain
CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain
University of Granada, Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, Spain
Electronic address: jparrebola@ugr.es.
This study aimed to evaluate associations between exposure to a group of persistent organic pollutants, measured in both adipose tis-
sue and serum samples from breast cancer patients, and a set of tumor prognostic markers. The study population comprised 103 breast
cancer patients recruited in Granada, Southern Spain.
These findings indicate that human exposure to certain persistent organic pollutants might be related to breast cancer aggressiveness.

Chemosphere • May 2016
Inhalation a significant exposure route for chlorinated organophosphate flame retardants
Schreder ED1, Uding N2, La Guardia MJ3.
1,2. Washington Toxics Coalition, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
3. Department of Aquatic Health Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, VA 23062, USA
Electronic address: eschreder@watoxics.org
Chlorinated organophosphate flame retardants (ClOPFRs) are widely used as additive flame retardants
in consumer products including furniture, children’s products, building materials, and textiles. Tests of
indoor media in homes, offices, and other environments have shown these compounds are released
from products and have become ubiquitous indoor pollutants. In house dust samples fromWashington
State, U.S.A., ClOPFRs were the flame retardants detected in the highest concentrations. Two ClOPFRs,
tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCPP or TDCIPP) and tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP), have
been designated as carcinogens, and there is growing concern about the toxicity of the homologue
tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCPP or TCIPP).
In response to concerns about exposure to these compounds, the European Union and a number of
U.S. states have taken regulatory action to restrict their use in certain product categories.To better char-
acterize exposure to ClOPFRs, inhalation exposure was assessed using active personal air samplers in
Washington State with both respirable and inhalable particulate fractions collected to assess the likeli-
hood particles penetrate deep into the lungs.
Concentrations of ∑ClOPFRs (respirable and inhalable) ranged from 97.1 to 1190 ng m(-3) (mean
426 ng m(-3)), with TCPP detected at the highest concentrations. In general, higher levels were detect-
ed in the inhalable particulate fraction. Total intake of ClOPFRs via the inhalation exposure route was
estimated to exceed intake via dust ingestion, indicating that inhalation is an important route that
should be taken into consideration in assessments of these compounds.

Environment International • May 2016
Brominated flame retardants in the indoor environment - Comparative study of indoor contamination from three countries
Venier M1, Audy O2, Vojta Š2, Bečanová J2, Romanak K1, Melymuk L2, Krátká M2, Kukučka P2, Okeme J3, Saini A3, Diamond ML4, Klánová J2.
1. RECETOX, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, pavilion A29, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
2. School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 702 Walnut Grove Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
3. Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
4. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Russell Street, Toronto, Canada M5S 3B1
Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON, Canada
Concentrations of more than 20 brominated flame retardants (FRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and emerging
FRs, were measured in air, dust and window wipes from 63 homes in Canada, the Czech Republic and the United States in the spring
and summer of 2013. Among the PBDEs, the highest concentrations were generally BDE-209 in all three matrices, followed by Penta-
BDEs. Among alternative FRs, EHTBB and BEHTBP were detected at the highest concentrations. DBDPE was also a major alternative
FR detected in dust and air. Bromobenzenes were detected at lower levels than PBDEs and other alternative FRs; among the bromo-
benzenes, HBB and PBEB were the most abundant compounds. In general, FR levels were highest in the US and lowest in the Czech
Republic - a geographic trend that reflects the flame retardants’market. No statistically significant differences were detected between
bedroom and living room FR concentrations in the same house (n=10), suggesting that sources of FRs are widespread indoors and
mixing between rooms. The concentrations of FRs in air, dust, and window film were significantly correlated, especially for PBDEs.

Pharmacology • May 2016
Effects of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers on Rat and Human 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 1 and 2 Activities
Chen X1, Dong Y, Cao S, Li X, Wang Z, Chen R, Ge RS.
1. Center of Scientific Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, PR China
In conclusion, some PBDEs are selective inhibitors of HSD11B2, possibly causing excessive glucocorticoid action in local tissues.

Environmental Health • May 2016
PBDE flame retardants, thyroid disease, and menopausal status in U.S. women
Allen JG1, Gale S2, Zoeller RT3, Spengler JD2, Birnbaum L4, McNeely E2.
1,2. Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
3. University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
4. National Cancer Institute/NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
jgallen@hsph.harvard.edu
Women have elevated rates of thyroid disease compared to men. Environmental toxicants have
been implicated as contributors to this dimorphism, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs), flame retardant chemicals that disrupt thyroid hormone action. PBDEs have also been
implicated in the disruption of estrogenic activity, and estrogen levels regulate thyroid hor-
mones. Post-menopausal women may therefore be particularly vulnerable to PBDE induced
thyroid effects, given low estrogen reserves. The objective of this study was to test for an as-
sociation between serum PBDE concentrations and thyroid disease in women from the United
States (U.S.), stratified by menopause status.
Women in the highest quartile of serum concentrations for BDEs 47, 99, and 100 had increased
odds of currently having thyroid disease compared to the reference group (1st and 2nd quar-
tiles combined); stronger associations were observed when the analysis was restricted to post-
menopausal women.
Exposure to BDEs 47, 99, and 100 is associated with thyroid disease in a national sample of U.S.
women, with greater effects observed post-menopause, suggesting that the disruption of thy-
roid signaling by PBDEs may be enhanced by the altered estrogen levels during menopause.

Environmental Science And Technology • May 2016
Styrofoam Debris as a Source of Hazardous Additives for Marine Organisms
Jang M1,2, Shim WJ1,2, Han GM1, Rani M1, Song YK1,2, Hong SH1,2.
1. Oil and POPs Research Laboratory, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology , Jangmok-myon 391, Geoje 656-834, Republic of Korea
2. Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, South Korea
There is growing concern over plastic debris and their fragments as a carrier for hazardous substanc-
es in marine ecosystem. The present study was conducted to provide field evidence for the transfer
of plastic-associated chemicals to marine organisms. Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), bromi-
nated flame retardants, were recently detected in expanded polystyrene (styrofoam) marine debris.
We hypothesized that if styrofoam debris acts as a source of the additives in the marine environment,
organisms inhabiting such debris might be directly influenced by them. The high HBCD levels up to
5160 ng/g lipid weight and the γ-HBCD dominated isomeric profiles in mussels inhabiting styrofoam
strongly supports the transfer of HBCDs from styrofoam substrate to mussels. Furthermore, micro-
sized styrofoam particles were identified inside mussels, probably originating from their substrates.

Science Of The Total Environment • May 2016
Persistent organic pollutants and pregnancy complications
Smarr MM1, Grantz KL2, Zhang C3, Sundaram R4, Maisog JM5, Barr DB6, Louis GM7.
1. Office of the Director, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
National Institutes of Health, 6100 Executive Blvd., Rockville, MD 20852, USA
2,3. Epidemiology Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
4. Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Electronic address: sundaramr2@mail.nih.gov
5. Glotech, Inc., Rockville, MD 20852, USA
Electronic address: bravas02@gmail.com
6. Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
Electronic address: dbbarr@emory.edu
7. Office of the Director, Division of Intramural Population Health Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Electronic address: louisg@mail.nih.gov
We sought to investigate the relationship between maternal preconception exposures to
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes
(GDM) and gestational hypertension. Data from 258 (51%) women with human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG) confirmed pregnancies reaching ≥24weeks gestation, from a prospec-
tive cohort of 501 couples who discontinued contraception to attempt pregnancy, were
analyzed. Preconception concentrations of 9 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 10
polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were quantified in serum. Our findings suggest
that at environmentally relevant concentrations, maternal exposure to POPs prior to con-
ception may contribute to increased chance of developing gestational diabetes (GDM).

Environmental Research • May 2016
Prenatal polybrominated diphenyl ether and perfluoroalkyl substance exposures and executive function in school-age children
Vuong AM1, Yolton K2, Webster GM3, Sjödin A4, Calafat AM4, Braun JM5, Dietrich KN1, Lanphear BP3, Chen A6.
1. Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
2. Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
3. Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
4.Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
5. Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
6. Division of Epidemiology, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Electronic address: aimin.chen@uc.edu
Executive function is a critical behavioral trait rarely studied in relation to potential neurotoxicants. Prenatal expo-
sure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has been associated with
adverse neurodevelopment, but there is limited research on executive function. Data from 256 mother-child pairs
in the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study, a prospective birth cohort (2003-2006, Cincin-
nati, OH), was used to examine maternal serum PBDEs and PFASs and executive function in children ages 5 and 8
years. Maternal serum PBDEs and PFASs were measured at 16±3 weeks gestation. A 10-fold increase in BDE-153
was associated with poorer behavior regulation. Higher odds of having a score ≥60 in behavior regulation or glob-
al executive functioning was observed with increased BDE-153. Each ln-unit increase in perfluorooctane sulfonate
(PFOS) was associated with poorer behavior regulation, metacognition, and global executive functioning. Prena-
tal exposures to BDE-153 and PFOS may be associated with executive function deficits in school-age children.

Environmental Research • April 2016
Determinants of plasma PCB, brominated flame retardants, and organochlorine pesticides
in pregnant women and 3 year old children in The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study
Caspersen IH1, Kvalem HE2, Haugen M3, Brantsæter AL3, Meltzer HM3, Alexander J3, Thomsen C3, Frøshaug M3, Bremnes NM3, Broadwell SL3, Granum B3, Kogevinas M4, Knutsen HK3.
1. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
Bjørknes College, Lovisenberggata 13, NO-0456 Oslo, Norway
2,3. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway
4. Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona, Spain
IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
Electronic address: ida.henriette.caspersen@fhi.no
Exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) during prenatal and postnatal life has been extensively studied in relation to adverse health
effects in children.
The aim was to identify determinants of the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), brominated flame retardants (polybrominated
diphenyl ethers, PBDEs; polybrominated biphenyl, PBB), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in blood samples from pregnant women and
children in The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Blood samples were collected from two independent subsamples within
MoBa; a group of women (n=96) enrolled in mid-pregnancy during the years 2002-2008 and a group of 3 year old children (n=99) participat-
ing during 2010-2011. PCB congeners (74, 99, 138, 153, 180, 170, 194, 209, 105, 114, 118, 156, 157, 167, and 189), brominated flame retardants
(PBDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and PBB-153), as well as the OCPs hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxychlordane, 4,4’dichlorodiphenyltrichloroeth-
ane (DDT), and 4,4’dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) were measured in both pregnant women and children. Age, low parity, and low
pre-pregnant BMI were the most important determinants of increased plasma concentrations of POPs in pregnant women. In 3 year old chil-
dren, prolonged breastfeeding duration was a major determinant of increased POP concentrations. Estimated dietary exposure to PCBs during
pregnancy was positively associated with plasma concentrations in 3 year old children, but not in pregnant women. Plasma concentrations
were approximately 40% higher in children compared to pregnant women.
Several factors associated with exposure and toxicokinetics, i.e. accumulation, excretion and transfer via breastmilk of POPs were the main pre-
dictors of POP levels in pregnant women and children. Diet, which is the main exposure source for these compounds in the general population,
was found to predict PCB levels only among children. For the PBDEs, for which non-dietary sources are more important, toxicokinetic factors
appeared to have less predictive impact.

Daddy, There's A Monster In My Room by Jeff Prager

Daddy, There's A Monster In My Room by Jeff Prager

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