A Covaci

..56, P<0.05). No age dependency was found for PBDEs (r=0.09), while PCBs and DDTs showed higher correlation coefficients with age (r=0.59 and 0.40, respectively, P<0.05)...

..74 and 0.92, P<0.05). We conclude that all investigated organochlorine compounds have an efficient transplacental transfer...

..This means that in pooled serum samples correlations between persistent organochlorine compounds are as strong as for individual POP measurements observed in earlier studies...

..Their distribution was examined in the starting plasma pools for fractionation, Cohn plasma fractions and therapeutic concentrates...

..Since the residue pattern in this commercial episode changes less in the avian species, these results reinforce the value of birds rather than mammals as markers of the source of contamination with persistent organochlorine pollutants...

..Levels of PBDEs in 20 Belgian human adipose tissue samples ranged between 2.18 and 11.70 ng/g lipid weight and were similar to previously reported values from Europe...

..Artificially coloured hair samples were found to have lower, but not statistically significant concentrations of organochlorine pollutants than the non-coloured hair...

..HCB and PCBs were higher in Antwerp cohort. Romanian samples showed a higher ratio DDT/sigmaDDTs, but similar ratios PCB 153/sigmaPCBs...

..They left the hospital after 12 days. To our knowledge, the serum concentrations of aldicarb reported in this paper are the highest reported for a nonfatal case...

..The method was validated through successful participation to several interlaboratory tests and by analysis of human serum with different organochlorine loading...

..4 pg microl(-1) for standard solutions and 0.2 ng g(-1) fat for milk extracts. By using cold splitless injection, relatively high volumes (1 microl) for narrow-bore capillaries could be injected without any peak distortion...

..BDE 183 and BDE 209 were only measured in the terrestrial birds. These results indicate that terrestrial birds may be more exposed to higher brominated BDE congeners than aquatic species...

..To our knowledge, these results are the first indications for the debromination of BDE 209 in birds...

..Various confounding factors (such as habitat, condition, age, sex) may have masked a relationship between delta15N values and organic pollutant levels in the birds under study...

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..Our results show that random egg samples of great tits are suitable as a biomonitoring tool for contamination with persistent organohalogenated pollutants in terrestrial environments...

..This suggests an increasing trend in the concentrations of PBDEs in the Belgian environment...

..This study shows that caged carp might be useful for the assessment of bioaccumulation and some effects of micropollutants in aquatic ecosystems...

..PCB 153 concentrations in the newly grown feathers differed among the treatment groups. To our knowledge, our results provide the first experimental evidence that feathers are useful as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for PCBs...

..The current use of HCH mixtures was suggested to explain the unusually high alpha-HCH concentration. The distribution pattern of these OCPs in humans was also discussed and compared with that in other studies...

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..The calculated daily intake ranged from 3 ng to 330 ng PBDEs/day for normal eel consumers, but was as high as 9800 ng PBDEs/day for anglers, which may be considered at risk...

..The lack of significant external contamination onto the feather surface is an additional asset for the use of feathers as a non-destructive biomonitor for organic pollutants...

..Therefore, measures to limit their contamination in eggs, produced by hens of private owners, were proposed and deserve further attention...

..This profile of PCB congeners closely matched profiles seen in penguin eggs or penguin blood...

..Our study illustrates that insectivorous passerines with a limited home range, such as the great tit, are suitable biomonitors for terrestrial organochlorine contamination...

..38 ng/g ww) and liver (up to 0.05 ng/g ww), while it could not be detected in human brain or lung. The relationship between the concentrations of OCS and HCB was also discussed for each species...

..6 ng/g lw, respectively). An identical trend was observed for PFOS, but not for PFOA. We estimated that newborn exposure to BFRs and PFCs occurs predominantly post-natally, whereas placental transfer has a minor impact on the body burden...

..9 and 3.4, respectively. This suggests that biomagnification occurs in the studied aquatic food chain for anthropogenic brominated compounds, but also for the naturally-produced organobromines...

..Moreover, these profiles differ from those found in other mammals, such as polar bears, porpoises, and otters...

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..A recently introduced and direct nation-wide approach based on measurements of the major urinary excreted metabolite of cocaine, benzoylecgonine, in wastewater is proposed...

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..This is the first paper describing background concentrations of PCBs in animal meat from Belgium...

..Higher enatiomeric ratios (ERs) for the three chiral PCBs were found in liver samples. The mean (range) ERs in liver were 1.69 (1.04-2.97), 1.16 (0.99-1.41), and 0.74 (0.48-0.97) for PCB 95, PCB 149, and PCB 132, respectively...

..No significant correlations were found between eggshell thickness and the analysed organohalogens...

..7 +/- 37.4 ng/g fat for the sum of 12 congeners) were found in Oreochromis niloticus. However, there is no evidence that Lake Tanganyika is more contaminated with pesticides than other African water bodies...

..Food intake appears to be the major source of human exposure to BPA and TBBPA as dermal uptake through personal care products seems to be the major contributor for TCS...

..Because it is not chemically bound to the polymer, HBCD can migrate into the environment, contaminating indoor dust and foodstuff...

..33 ng g(-1)) ranged from 73 to 112% with a mean value of 89%. The coefficients of variation ranged from 5.2 to 12.2%, which is within the acceptable range for environmental analyses...

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..25mm x 0.10microm DB-5 column. A very low detection frequency of the investigated new BFRs in selected Belgian indoor dust samples (n=20) was found, suggesting that these alternate BFRs are only slowly replacing PBDEs in consumer goods...

..Intakes of those risk groups were higher in comparison with average consumers and were above reference doses described in literature which may induce adverse effects...

..23) for the measured chiral MeSO2-PCB congeners was found in all samples. This result may suggest that one atropisomer may be preferentially formed in harbor porpoises or that the atropisomers are retained in a highly selective manner...

..The obtained concentrations of BDE-209 (range 8-292 ng/g dry weight) were in the same range or lower than concentrations in dust from other European countries...

..The estimated intakes obtained in the present study are in good agreement with the higher concentrations of OCPs and the low levels of PBDEs reported recently in Romanian human samples...

..Harbour seals showed a higher ability to metabolize PCBs and PBDEs...

..59ng/kgbwday and declines to approximately 1ng/kgbwday at later age. SigmaBDE(5) intake exhibited a different profile compared to SigmaHBCD with maximal levels for newborns and a decline to approximately 0.7ng/kgbwday at adulthood...

..Instead, it is hypothesized that past and episodic higher current intakes are more important determinants of body burden than continuous background exposures at low levels...

..Recoveries ranged from 48 to 140% for organochlorine pesticides (6.25, 12.5 and 25 ng/ml) and 71 to 126% for polychlorinated biphenyls (0.625, 1.25 and 2.5 ng/ml)...

..84 when excluding 17 starved birds). Our findings provide the first indication that feathers of predatory birds could be useful in non-destructive biomonitoring of organic pollutants, although further validation may be necessary...

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..HO-PBDEs were not found in any species. In general, harbour seals accumulate less compounds and have mostly lower concentrations than harbour porpoises possibly as a result of a better developed metabolism...

..The high p,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDE ratio has previously been described in lapwings, which suggests that low p,p'-DDE accumulation in eggs might be inherent for this species...

..In comparison, exposure to HHCB and AHTN increased up to 10 000 fold between low- and high-exposure...

..In summary, feathers seem to reflect regional variations in contamination, which strengthens their usefulness as a non-destructive biomonitor for organic pollutants...

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..The COC/BE ratio in water samples was significantly higher during winter, most probably due to a slower hydrolysis of cocaine in low-temperature water. COC and BE were removed in the investigated WWTPs with a removal efficiency of >93%...

..64, p<0.01 for PCB 153 alone). Factors, such as exposure pathways (food, dust and air), rates of bioaccumulation, metabolism and elimination, influence the concentrations of PBDEs differently than those of PCBs in humans...

..The presence of these toxic compounds in these antiques requires a better understanding of safety for the persons (conservators, museum employees, restorers, and visitors) coming in contact with these objects...

..Maternal transfer in blue tits seemed to be selective for the more bioaccumulative and persistent congeners/compounds...

..Whether these contaminants can affect circulating levels of thyroid hormones in humans is unclear, however, because the results of available studies are inconsistent...

..The estimation of cocaine abuse through water analysis can be executed on regular basis without cooperation of patients. It also gives clear geographical information, while prevention campaigns can easily be implemented and evaluated...

..Nestling birds may therefore not be good sentinels for local contamination with persistent pollutants...

..Although low contaminated, meat products account for around 30% of the total dietary intake of PBDEs. Dairy products and eggs contribute to a lesser degree (less than 30%)...

..However, even at constant environmental concentrations a 10- to 100-fold variation in BAFs/BSAFs was observed. This study illustrated the need for biological monitoring since neither environmental..

..With this study, we were able to prove the applicability of transplanted mussels as a biomonitoring tool for the accumulation of pollutants over a wide range of pollution...

..Lipid analysis of the organs suggested that the lipid composition of brain may be an important factor explaining the low PCB accumulation in this tissue...

..In the future, this analytical method will be used to determine if there is a relationship between pharmaceutical sales figures and concentrations of these compounds in influent wastewater...

..Our results suggest that POPs in tissues should be measured from an adequate number of individuals per population instead of relying on indirect estimates from levels in soil or prey items...

..BDE 183 and 209 could not be quantified in biota, although these congeners were undoubtedly present in the sediments. This raises questions about the bioavailability of these congeners in the environment...

..000, p < 0.05), which suggests that the pollution can be classified as historical. However, because urban and industrial centres may still be emitting these compounds, more recent point and non-point sources cannot be ruled out...

..Enantiomeric ratios in brain were the highest measured values between all organs. For all studied animals, ERs increased in the order fat < muscle < liver < brain...

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..Whenever possible, HBCDs should be analyzed as individual stereoisomers in order to address their fate and effects...

..Our data confirms unambiguously that BDE 209 does bioaccumulate in terrestrial top predators, such as the red fox...

..37 < r < 0.78). The present study demonstrated that hair is a suitable indicator of PBDE exposure in terrestrial mammals which can be used in nondestructive monitoring schemes...

..In the future, the new HILIC-MS/MS method will be applied to assess the use of DOAs in Belgium using the "sewage epidemiology" approach...

..Levels of PCBs and PBDEs in blubber were lower than concentrations reported for harbour porpoises from the North Sea, while concentrations of DDXs were higher...

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..The method was applied to serum samples from a random Belgian population. The obtained results were within the range of PBDE levels in other non-exposed population from Europe...

..Calculated human exposure was below the reference dose values set by the US-EPA for BDE 209, HBCD and below the provisional tolerable daily intakes proposed by European Food Safety Authority for PFOS and PFOA...

..In conclusion, our results suggest the usefulness of eggs from passerine birds as a biomonitoring tool for OHPs on a large geographical scale...

..To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the impact of an experimentally increased clutch size on the levels and profiles of contaminants in eggs has been investigated...

..Further research with larger sample weights and sizes is therefore necessary to draw more definitive conclusions on the usefulness of hair for biomonitoring OHCs in polar bears and other fur mammals...

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..These PBPK models are capable of simulating the bioaccumulation of PCB 153 during the entire life span of approximately 20 years of the harbor porpoises...

..In addition, egg weight and volume were significantly higher in the exposed group. These results suggest that, at the investigated exposure levels (150 microg sum PBDEs/bird), PBDEs may have a negative effect on reproductive performance...

..None of the investigated organohalogen pollutants except for PFOS were suggested to be involved in the observed biological alterations...

..This temporal difference may have been caused by seasonal changes in lipid reserves. Although further research is required, feathers appear to be a promising new, nondestructive biomonitor for PCBs and DDTs in avian wildlife...

..50) and most were statistically not significant (p > 0.05). This suggests that the exposure to contaminants arises from local sources possessing different signatures of PBDEs and organochlorine pollutants...

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..Passive (lipid content related) diffusion could not completely describe the PBDE tissue distribution, e.g. the lowest PBDE-load was measured in brain, a fairly lipid rich tissue...

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..Some species, such as dab, plaice bib, and whiting, showed preferential accumulation of PBDEs in the liver. Higher brominated congeners in general showed higher affinity for liver than for muscle tissue...

..The calibration curve concentrations ranged from 50 to 1200 pg/mg for meconium and from 20 to 1000 pg/mg for hair. Real meconium and hair samples were analyzed and results were consistent with literature...