Faculty Bibliography

The occurrence and fate of 14 triester organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and plasticizers and their two diester metabolites were investigated in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the Albany area of New York State. All target OPFRs were found in wastewater, with average concentrations that ranged from 20.1 ng/L for tris(methylphenyl) phosphate (TMPP) to 30 100 ng/L for tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate (TBOEP) in influents and from 7.68 ng/L for TMPP to 12 600 ng/L for TBOEP in final effluents. TBOEP was the dominant compound in influents (max: 69 500 ng/L) followed in decreasing order by tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TCIPP; max: 14 500 ng/L), bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (BDCIPP; max: 4550 ng/L), tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate (TDCIPP; max: 3150 ng/L) and tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP; max: 8450 ng/L). The fraction of TMPP sorbed to suspended particulate matter (SPM) was 56.4% of the total mass in wastewater, which was the highest among the target chemicals analyzed. The average concentrations of OPFRs in sludge were between 4.14 ng/g dw for tripropyl phosphate (TPP) and 7290 ng/g dw for TBOEP; for ash, they were between 2.17 ng/g dw for TMPP and 427 ng/g dw for triphenyl phosphate (TPhP). The mass loadings of OPFRs into the WWTP ranged from 0.02 mg/day/person for TPP to 28.7 mg/day/person for TBOEP, whereas the emission from the WWTP ranged from 0.01 mg/day/person for 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP) to 5.12 mg/day/person for TCIPP. The removal efficiencies for OPFRs were slightly above 60% for TMPP, TBOEP, and tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate (TEHP) whereas those for other OPFRs were <40% (TPhP and BDCIPP) to negative values, suggesting incomplete removal in WWTPs.

Chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ClPAHs) with three to five aromatic rings have been documented to ubiquitously occur in environmental matrices. In this study, residual concentrations and profiles of 20 individual ClPAHs were determined in 35 surface sediment samples from Maowei Sea, a semi-enclosed shallow inland bay located in the northwestern part of South China Sea. The concentrations of ΣClPAHs in sediment ranged from 313 to 9650 pg/g dw with a detection rate of 43-100%. Of the individual ClPAH congeners, 9-ClPhe was the most abundant in Maowei Sea with the concentrations that ranged from 99.9 to 3610 pg/g dw (mean 1120 pg/g dw). High-molecular-weight ClPAH congeners (four to five rings) were predominant in sediments from sampling locations near a petrochemical industrial complex, whereas low-molecular-weight ClPAH congeners (three rings) were predominant in sediments from estuarine and mangrove locations. A positive matrix factorization (PMF) model in combination with dioxin-like toxic equivalency quotient (TEQ) results was used to apportion sources of ClPAHs. Vehicular emission, combustion/chemical industrial processes, and two other unknown sources accounted for 40.1, 25.5, 20.8, and 13.6%, respectively, of ClPAH sources in sediment; their contribution to TEQs in sediments were 24.2, 40.5, 19.3, and 16.0%, respectively. Further investigations are needed to elucidate potential sources and ecological risks of ClPAHs in sediments.

BACKGROUND: The health effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) have been studied extensively in children. The impact of other chemicals in these two classes has not been investigated as fully. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional pilot study of 10-13 year old healthy children. We assessed descriptive, univariable and multivariable associations of urinary metabolites of bisphenols and phthalates with oxidant stress, insulin resistance, body mass, and endothelial dysfunction. Possible associations with brachial artery distensibility, pulse wave velocity (markers of vascular stiffness), and serum endothelial cell-derived microparticle levels were also assessed. RESULTS: We enrolled 41 participants, 12.1 +/- 1.0 years, most of whom were Mexican-Americans (42%) or other Hispanics (34%). Increased BPA levels were associated with increased levels of F2-isoprostane (ng/ml) (P=0.02), with a similar trend for DEHP metabolites. Each log unit increase of high molecular weight (HMW) phthalate metabolites was associated with 0.550 increase in HOMA-IR units (p=0.019) and altered circulating levels of activated endothelial cell-derived microparticles (% per ml) (P=0.026). Bisphenol S (BPS), a replacement for BPA, was associated with increased albumin (mg):creatinine (g) ratio (P=0.04). Metabolites of HMW phthalates were also associated with decreased brachial artery distensibility (P=0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to bisphenols and phthalates, including a BPA replacement, is associated with increased oxidant stress, insulin resistance, albuminuria, as well as disturbances in vascular function in healthy children.Pediatric Research (2017); doi:10.1038/pr.2017.16.

Minimal data exist regarding the neurotoxicity of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aging populations and the possible mediating effects of thyroid hormones (THs). Hence, the aims of this study were to: (i) assess associations between PFASs and neuropsychological function, and (ii) determine if such associations are mediated by changes in circulating THs in an aging population. We measured perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), total thyroxine (T4) and free thyroxine (fT4) in serum and performed neuropsychological tests in 126 men and women aged 55-74 years and living in upper Hudson River communities. Multivariable linear regressions were conducted to assess associations between PFASs and neuropsychological test scores. Mediation analyses were performed in a subset of 87 participants for whom information was available on both PFASs and THs. We calculated TH-mediated, non-TH mediated, and total effects of PFASs on neuropsychological test scores. Higher PFOA was associated with better performance in tasks of the California Verbal Learning Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Higher PFOS was associated with improved performance in a Wechsler Memory Scale subtest and Block Design Subtest (BDT) total scores. There was no evidence of mediation by THs for PFOA-neuropsychological function associations. However, T4 and fT4 partially mediated the protective effect of PFOS on BDT total scores. Our findings do not suggest that PFASs are associated with poor neuropsychological function. There was some evidence of mediation for the association between PFASs and neuropsychological functions by THs, although some other modes of action also appear likely.

Exposure of humans to phthalates has received considerable attention due to the ubiquitous occurrence and potential adverse health effects of these chemicals. Nevertheless, little is known about the exposure of the Brazilian population to phthalates. In this study, concentrations of 25 phthalate metabolites were determined in urine samples collected from 300 Brazilian children (6-14years old). Further, the association between urinary phthalate concentrations and a biomarker of oxidative stress, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHDG), was examined. Overall, eleven phthalate metabolites were found in at least 95% of the samples analyzed. The highest median concentrations were found for monoethyl phthalate (mEP; 57.3ngmL^-1), mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (mECPP; 52.8ngmL^-1), mono-isobutyl phthalate (mIBP; 43.8ngmL^-1), and mono-n-butyl phthalate (mBP; 42.4ngmL^-1). The secondary metabolites of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and mEP, mIBP, and mBP were the most abundant compounds, accounting for >90% of the total concentrations. On the basis of the measured concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites, we estimated daily intakes of the parent phthalates, which were 0.3, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, and 7.2μg/kg-bw/day for dimethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, and DEHP, respectively. Approximately one-quarter of the Brazilian children had a hazard index of >1 for phthalate exposures. Statistically significant positive associations were found between 8OHDG and the concentration of the sum of phthalate metabolites, sum of DEHP metabolites, mEP, mIBP, mBP, monomethyl phthalate, mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, monobenzyl phthalate, monocarboxyoctyl phthalate, monocarboxynonyl phthalate, monoisopentyl phthalate, and mono-n-propyl phthalate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the exposure of a Brazilian population to phthalates.

Surface waters including river water and effluent from sewage treatment plants (STPs) were collected from Tokyo Bay watershed, Japan, and analyzed for seven cyclic and linear volatile methylsiloxanes (VMSs), i.e., D3, D4, D5, D6, L3, L4, and L5 by an optimized purge and trap extraction method. The total concentrations of seven VMSs (ΣVMS) in river water ranged from <4.9 to 1700ng/L (mean: 220ng/L). The individual mean concentrations of cyclic VMSs in surface waters were; 10ng/L for D3, 13ng/L for D4, 180ng/L for D5, and 18ng/L for D6. The concentrations of ΣVMS determined in STP effluents varied widely from 99 to 2500ng/L and the individual mean concentrations were 21ng/L for D3, 27ng/L for D4, 540ng/L for D5, and 45ng/L for D6. D5, which is widely used in personal-care products, was found to be the most abundant compound in both river water and STP effluent. Linear VMSs were detected at much lower frequency and concentrations than those of cyclic VMSs. The measured concentrations of D4 were below the no-observed effect concentration (NOEC). The annual emission of ΣVMS through STPs into Tokyo Bay watershed was estimated at 2300kg. Our results indicate widespread distribution of VMSs in Tokyo Bay watershed and the influence of domestic wastewater discharges as a source of VMSs in the aquatic environment.

Little is known with regard to the occurrence of potentially toxic chemicals in textiles and clothes. In this study, 77 textiles and infant clothing pieces were analyzed for the determination of bisphenols including bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), benzophenones, bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers (BADGEs), and novolac glycidyl ethers (NOGEs). BPA and BPS occurred in 82% and 53% of the textile samples, respectively, and at mean concentrations of 366 and 15 ng/g, respectively. Benzophenone-3 (BP3) occurred in 70% of the samples at a mean concentration of 11.3 ng/g. Among 11 BADGEs and NOGEs analyzed, BFDGE was the predominant compound, with a mean concentration of 13.6 ng/g. Concentrations of target chemicals were assessed by fabric type, color, and uses. Socks contained the highest concentrations of BPA (mean: 1810 ng/g) with concentrations as high as 13 300 ng/g in a 97% polyester fabric marketed for infants. Calculated dermal exposure dose to BPA by infants via textiles was as high as 7280 pg/kg BW/d. This is the first study to report the occurrence of, and exposure to, BPA, BPS, BADGEs, and NOGEs in textiles and clothing.

The World Trade Center (WTC) disaster released large amounts of various chemical substances into the environment, including perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Yet, no studies have examined exposures in children living or attending schools near the disaster site. We measured serum PFASs in WTC Health Registry (WTCHR) respondents who were