Bisphenol A in Ambient Air Particulates Responsible for theProliferation of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells and Its ConcentrationChanges over 6 Months

Abstract

To survey the estrogenic activity of the organic extracts from particulate matter of urban ambient outdoor air, samples were collected on glass fiber filters using a high-volume air sampler on the rooftop of our institute for 6 months (six filters/month). After extracting the organic materials and separating them into three fractions, i.e., acidic, neutral, and basic, we applied a cell-growth assay using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells to the original extract and the extracts of the fractions. Only the extract in the acidic fraction showed cell proliferation activity in a dose-response manner. To survey the chemical(s) responsible for the activity, a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was conducted after silylating the extract. The presence of bisphenol A (BPA) was confirmed, because the retention times and the MS fragment patterns between the silylated derivative of a component in the sample and that of BPA itself were the same. By using a GC/MS-SIM (selective ion monitoring) technique, the average value was found to be 0.51 ng/m(3) of air (range: 0.02 approximately 1.92 ng/m(3) of air). The trend of the residual levels in air particulates showed seasonal variation, increasing from autumn to winter and decreasing from winter to spring. The only exception was that the value in January was lower than those in December and February. Considering the content of BPA in the extract of the acidic fraction and the strength of the activities with the extract and BPA itself, the estrogenic activity due to BPA in the fraction seemed to decrease. In spite of this decline, the possibility remains that the estrogenic activity mainly originated from BPA.

Assessment of estrogenic activity in PM10 air samples with the ERE-CALUX bioassay: Method optimization and implementation at an urban location in Flanders (Belgium)

“…The EC 50 (median 292 fg per well or 5.64 Â 10 À12 M E2 per well) was relatively low compared to other estrogenic cell lines, where values ranged from 3.7 ± 0.6 Â 10 À12 M E2 to 5.7 Â 10 À11 M E2 (Matsumoto et al, 2005;Berckmans et al, 2007;Wenger et al, 2009;Mertl et al, 2014), which is an indication of high sensitivity. The coefficient of variation (CV) was also lower in comparison with the MELN cell lines (Berckmans et al, 2007;Witters et al, 2010), while the y 0 (background) and h (hill coefficient) values were comparable to the ones obtained in an earlier study, using the same cell line (Vandermarken et al, 2015).…”

Assessing indoor air exposures using passive sampling with bioanalytical methods for estrogenicity and aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity

“…In addition, PBDEs would be resistant to H 2 SO 4 treatment, and in most cases, estrogenicity was reduced with treatment, suggesting the importance of other compounds for the observed effects. More comprehensive chemical analysis in combination with relative potency estimates for individual known xenoestrogens (bisphenol A, as well as certain phthalates, alkylphenols, pyrethroid and organochlorine pesticides [49, 64, 65] for example) would be required to determine the proportion of response potentially attributable to these compounds.…”

Large Effects from Small Exposures. III. Endocrine Mechanisms Mediating Effects of Bisphenol A at Levels of Human Exposure

“…22) is that the doses used are within the range of human exposure based on the rate of leaching of BPA from food and beverage containers, other polycarbonate products, and some dental sealants (14 -18, 79 -84) and as a result of the presence of BPA in rivers and streams (85), in drinking water (86), and in indoor air (87,88). The consequence of this exposure is that the concentration of unconjugated BPA in men and nonpregnant women, as well as pregnant women and their fetuses, is higher than any chemical industry-sponsored models of exposure predict (75,77).…”