Metabolomics: A New Approach in the Evaluation of Effects in Human Beings and Wildlife Associated with Environmental Exposition to POPs

Abstract

Human beings and wild organisms are exposed daily to a broad range of environmental stressors. Among them are the persistent organic pollutants that can trigger adverse effects on these organisms due to their toxicity properties. There is evidence that metabolomics can be used to identify biomarkers of effect by altering the profiles of endogenous metabolites in biological fluids or tissues. This approach is relatively new and has been used in vitro studies mainly. Therefore, this review addresses those that have used metabolomics as a key tool to identify metabolites associated with environmental exposure to POPs in wildlife and human populations and that can be used as biomarkers of effect. The published results suggest that the metabolic pathways that produce energy, fatty acids, and amino acids are commonly affected by POPs. Furthermore, these pathways can be promoters of additional effects. In the future, metabolomics combined with other omics will improve understanding of the origin, development, and progression of the effects caused by environmental exposure.

Miniaturized method for the quantification of persistent organic pollutants and their metabolites in HepG2 cells: assessment of their biotransformation

“…Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are highly lipophilic, degradation-resistant, and bioaccumulative in the environment, organisms, and food chain compounds [ 1 , 2 ]. To assess the risk to human health and the environment, the European Registration of Chemicals Regulation (REACH) classifies chemicals according to persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity studies during their entire life cycle, including transformation processes in the environment and metabolization.…”

“…Most metabolization studies have been focused on analyzing tissues from in vivo experiments [ 1 , 9 , 10 ]. However, due to the increasing need for rapid assessment and the high cost and use of animal experimentation of official in vivo methods [ 3 , 11 ], in recent years, there has been considerable interest in developing and refining alternative (in vitro) cell line tests [ 12 – 15 ].…”