Enrique Cequier

Determination of emerging halogenated flame retardants and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in serum by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

Emerging flame retardants are used in a great variety of household goods and thus have the potential to pollute our indoor environment. Health concerns regarding exposure to these flame retardants demand new methods to survey their occurrence in humans. This work describes development and optimization of an analytical method comprising solid phase extraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for the determination of besides 15 polybrominated diphenyl ethers, 7 emerging halogenated flame retardants in human serum (1,2-bis[2,4,6-tribromophenoxy] ethane, decabromodiphenyl ethane, hexabromobenzene, Dechlorane Plus(®), hexachlorocyclopentenyl-dibromocyclooctane, dechlorane 602 and 603). The method was thoroughly validated at three spiking levels obtaining averaged recoveries >80% with a RSD of 5% (n=12). Accuracies ranged from 88 to 125% except for DBDPE, which averaged 66% with overall RSD of 11% (n=12). Method limits of detection (MLD) ranged from 0.3 to 5.4 pg/mL serum, except for decabromodiphenyl ether and decabromodiphenyl ethane for which MLDs were 14 and 20 pg/mL serum, respectively. In human serum samples from Norway, we were able to detect and quantify hexabromobenzene, 1,2-bis[2,4,6-tribromophenoxy] ethane, Dechlorane Plus(®), Dechlorane 602 and 603.

A high-throughput method for determination of metabolites of organophosphate flame retardants in urine by ultra performance liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry

Organophosphate triesters are common flame retardants used in a wide variety of consumer products from which they can migrate and pollute the indoor environment. Humans may thus be continuously exposed to several organophosphate triesters which might be a risk for human health. An analytical method based on direct injection of 5 μL urine into an ultra performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been developed and validated to monitor exposure to organophosphate triesters through their respective dialkyl and diaryl phosphate metabolites (DAPs). The targeted analytes were: di-n-butyl phosphate (DNBP), diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), bis(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (BBOEP), bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP), bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCPP) and bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCIPP). Separation was achieved in less than 3 min on a short column with narrow diameter and small particle size (50 mm × 2.1 mm × 1.7 μm). Different mobile phases were explored to obtain optimal sensitivity. Acetonitrile/water buffered with 5mM of ammonium hydroxide/ammonium formate (pH 9.2) was the preferred mobile phase. Quantification of DAPs was performed using deuterated analogues as internal standards in synthetic urine (averaged DAP accuracy was 101%; RSD 3%). Low method limits of quantification (MLQ) were obtained for DNBP (0.40 ng mL(-1)), DPHP (0.10 ng mL(-1)), BDCIPP (0.40 ng mL(-1)) and BBOEP (0.60 ng mL(-1)), but not for the most polar DAPs, BCEP (∼12 ng mL(-1)) and BCPP (∼25 ng mL(-1)). The feasibility of the method was tested on 84 morning urine samples from 42 mother and child pairs. Only DPHP was found above the MLQ in the urine samples with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of 1.1 ng mL(-1) and 0.57 ng mL(-1) for mothers and children respectively. BDCIPP was however, detected above the method limit of detection (MLD) with GM of 0.13 ng mL(-1) and 0.20 ng mL(-1). While occasionally detected, the GM of DNBP and BBOEP were below MLD in both groups.

Persistent and emerging pollutants in the blood of German adults: Occurrence of dechloranes, polychlorinated naphthalenes, and siloxanes.

Human biomonitoring is a valid method to determine exposure, identify time trends, and monitor the effects of restrictions and measures. To characterize the recent exposure of Germans to persistent or emerging substances, we analyzed 4 dechloranes, 33 polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), and 3 cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMS) in 42 plasma samples. The samples were collected from blood donors on a random selection. The median values of both Dechlorane Plus (DDC-CO) isomers were 1.23ng/gl.w. for anti- and 0.77ng/gl.w. for syn-DDC-CO. The two other dechloranes were found at lower levels. The median level of ∑-PCNs was 575pg/gl.w. (range: 101-1406pg/gl.w.). On average, the levels of PCNs in plasma were dominated by the congeners CN73, CN66/67, and CN51, which were responsible for approximately 71% of the total amount of PCNs. The cVMS octa-, deca-, and dodecamethylcyclotetrasiloxane could be determined in only some samples, with maximum values of 0.73, 0.48, and 0.79μg/l, respectively. Regarding dechloranes, our results are similar to those from other western countries but slightly lower than results from China. The levels of PCNs in German blood are similar to those observed in the U.S.A., but considerably lower than those reported for Korea. Using a preliminary TEF (toxic equivalency factor), the mean TEQ of the 9 quantifiable PCNs in Germany was low (0.36pg TEQ/gl.w.). The PCN levels in our study group are lower compared to previous studies.

Phthalate metabolites in Norwegian mothers and children: Levels, diurnal variation and use of personal care products

Exposure to phthalates has been associated with reproductive and developmental toxicity. Data on levels of these compounds in the Norwegian population is limited. In this study, urine samples were collected from 48 mothers and their children in two counties in Norway. Eleven different phthalate metabolites originating from six commonly used phthalates in consumer products were determined. Concentrations of phthalate metabolites were significantly higher in children compared to mothers except for mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP). The mothers provided several urine samples during 24hours (h) and diurnal variation showed that the concentrations in the morning urine samples (24-8h) were significantly higher than at other time-periods for most of the phthalate metabolites. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for 24-hour time-period were in the range of 0.49-0.81. These moderate to high ICCs indicate that one spot urine sample can be used to estimate the exposure to phthalates. Since a significant effect of time of day was observed, it is still advisable to standardize the collection time point to reduce the variation. For the mothers, the use of personal care products (PCPs) were less associated with morning urine samples than early day (8-12h) and evening (16-24h) urine samples. The use of perfume and hair products were positively associated with the urinary concentrations of low molecular weight phthalates. Use of shower soap and shampoo were positively associated with urinary concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites. For children, face cream use was positively associated with phthalate metabolites in the morning samples, and hand soap use was negatively associated with concentration of urinary DEHP metabolites in afternoon/evening samples. Since different PCPs were associated with the urinary phthalate metabolites in different time-periods during a day, more than one spot urine sample might be required to study associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and the use of PCPs.

Development of an ion-pair liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry method for determination of organophosphate pesticide metabolites in large-scale biomonitoring studies

Organophosphate based pesticides are widely used in the agricultural sector, and exposure to these chemicals is common for the general population. Pesticides are toxic due to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterases, and the potential for adverse health effects have been investigated in past and recent studies. Human biomonitoring of organophosphate pesticide exposure is carried out through the determination of the metabolites in urine (dialkylphosphates, DAPs). Hereby we present a new method for determination of the 6 non-specific metabolites dimethyl phosphate (DMP), diethyl phosphate (DEP), dimethyl thiophosphate (DMTP), diethyl thiophosphate (DETP), dimethyl dithiophosphate (DMDTP), and diethyl dithiophosphate (DEDTP) in urine based on off-line solid phase extraction (anion exchange, 96-well plates) followed by ion-pair ultra-performance liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Recoveries and accuracies in control urine spiked at 5ng/mL ranged from 48% to109% and from 91% to 115%, respectively. The method limits of detection for the DAPs were 1.2ng/mL for DMP, 0.38ng/mL for DEP, 0.20ng/mL for DMTP, 0.33ng/mL for DETP, 0.64ng/mL for DMDTP, and 0.15ng/mL for DEDTP. The method was applied to samples from a Norwegian mother/child study group (n=48/56) and the DAPs detection frequencies in urine from mothers and children were about: 40% for DMP, 95% for DEP, 96% for DMTP, 50% for DETP, 15% for DMDTP, and 1% for DEDTP. In both mothers and children, the most abundant DAPs were DMTP (median 2.4/5.2ng/mL) and DEP (median 2.6/3.4ng/mL) followed by DMP (median 1.5/2.1ng/mL). The SG corrected concentrations of DEP and DETP in mothers were statistically higher than in children (p-value<0.05; Mann-Whitney test) which might suggest a higher exposure to pesticides in these mothers, or significant differences in toxicokinetics between adults and children. The method was proven robust and suitable for large-scale biomonitoring studies.

Levels, variability and determinants of environmental phenols in pairs of Norwegian mothers and children

BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental phenols including parabens, bisphenols (BPs), oxybenzone/benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and triclosan (TCS) is ubiquitous. Due to evidence of their estrogenic activity, they have been considered as chemicals of concern. The exposure of the Norwegian population to these compounds is presently unknown. AIMS To measure urinary levels of twelve different environmental phenols including four emerging bisphenols: S, F, B and AF (abbreviated as BPS, BPF, BPB and BPAF, respectively) in a healthy Norwegian population. We have calculated short-term variability, estimated daily intakes and investigated important determinants of exposure. METHODS Urine samples were collected from mothers (n = 48) and their children (n = 56) during spring/summer 2012 in two counties in Norway. RESULTS Six environmental phenols namely methyl, ethyl and propyl paraben, BPA, BP-3 and TCS were detected in almost 100% of the urine samples. Among the emerging bisphenols, BPS was detected most frequently in the urine samples (42-48%) followed by BPF (4-15%). Parabens were positively and significantly correlated to each other in both mothers and children. Levels of parabens and BP-3 were higher in mothers compared to children. All mothers and children had lower estimated daily intakes (back calculated from the urinary concentrations) of parabens and BPA than the respective acceptable and tolerable daily intakes (ADIs and TDIs) established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Observed intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) indicated moderate to high reliability of spot urine measurements for all the environmental phenols (ICCs: 0.70-0.97). Use of hair products, deodorants, face and hand creams were significantly associated with higher urinary levels of parabens. CONCLUSIONS Occurrence of environmental phenols in healthy Norwegian women and children is abundant. Among emerging bisphenols, there is widespread exposure to BPS. A single spot urine sample can be used for estimating short-term exposures of environmental phenols. Urinary levels of parabens were associated with use of PCPs.