Sampling and Analysis Artifacts Caused by Elevated Indoor Air Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations

Wallace, Jeffrey C.; Basu, Ilora; Hites, Ronald A.

doi:10.1021/es950862d

Cited by 37 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…PCAs (C 10 -C 13 , 60-70% Cl) were also detected in DCM (0.15 mg l -1 ) left to evaporate in an open flask overnight; it was unclear, however, whether contamination was a result of airborne PCAs or was from the DCM itself [28]. Similar problems have been encountered with airborne PCB contamination of analytical labs [65]. Significant procedural blanks result in higher method detection limits, i.e., the mean plus three times the standard deviation in the background signals from procedural blanks (sodium sulfate) [14,66,67].…”

Section: Quality Assurancementioning

confidence: 99%

Chlorinated Paraffins

Muir

Stern

Tomy

2000

Volume 3 Anthropogenic Compounds Part K

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Chlorinated paraffins or polychlorinated n-alkanes (PCAs) consist of C 10 to C 30 n-alkanes with chlorine content from 30 to 70% by mass. PCAs are used as high temperature lubricants, plasticizers, flame retardants, and additives in adhesives, paints, rubber, and sealants. This chapter reviews the existing data on the production, uses, reactions, methods of quantitative analysis, and levels of PCAs, and includes an assessment of environmental distribution using a steady state non-equilibrium fugacity-based chemical fate models. Short chain PCAs (C 10 to C 13 with 60-70% chlorine) have similar molecular weight and physical properties (octanolwater partition coefficient, water solubility, vapor pressure) to many persistent organochlorines such as PCBs and toxaphene. Medium chain (C 14 to C 17 ) and long chain (C 18 to C 30 ) PCAs are extremely hydrophobic and nonvolatile and likely to be associated with particles in aquatic systems. The limited biodegradation data suggests that PCAs are less persistent in water, sediments, or biota than other organochlorines. To date there is limited information on the distribution and fate of PCAs in the environment. There have been recent advances in the analysis of C 10 to C 13 PCAs using high resolution negative ion mass spectrometry. Interlab comparisons have shown that both high resolution and low resolution negative ion mass spectrometry can be employed to determine PCAs in environmental samples, although agreement between laboratories is poor compared with the determination quantitation of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides. There are indications that PCAs are widespread environmental contaminants at ng/l levels in surface waters and ng/g (wet weight) levels in biota. However, environmental measurements of PCAs are very limited at the present time in the USA and Canada and are only slightly more detailed in western Europe. Application of the Equilibrium Criterion Model, Level III (steady state, nonequilibrium) to representative short (C 12 H 20 Cl 6 ) and medium chain PCAs, (C 16 H 24 Cl 10 ) using the best available physical-chemical property data and estimated degradation rates, showed that that medium chain compound C 16 H 24 Cl 10 would achieve higher concentrations in sediment and soil than the short chain C 12 H 20 Cl 6 because of slower degradation rates and lower water solubility. Volatilization from water to air of both compounds was predicted by the model suggesting the possibility of long range transport via atmosphere and oceans. The environmental residence time of C 16 H 24 Cl 10 is estimated to be 350 days compared to 170 days for C 12 H 20 Cl 6 . Future studies will require better analytical methods and reference materials certified for PCA content. Additional data is needed to evaluate exposure to PCAs in the environment, particularly in light of their continued production and usage around the globe. Keywords. Chlorinated paraffins, Polychlorinated n-alkanes, IntroductionAs their name implies, chlorinated paraffins are chlorinated derivatives of paraffinic...

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Section: Quality Assurancementioning

confidence: 99%

Chlorinated Paraffins

Muir

Stern

Tomy

2000

Volume 3 Anthropogenic Compounds Part K

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“…Other possible sources for indoor PCBs are believed to be data screen terminals (Digernes and Astrup, 1982), ceiling tiles (Anonymus, 1988) and fluorescent lights (Harris, 1985). It was reported that the concentration of PCBs in indoor air can be at least an order of magnitude higher than outdoor air (Balfanz et al, 1993;Vorhees et al, 1997;Wallace et al, 1996), although the sources are not completely clear. A recent publication from Great Britain found a daily average total PCB intake of 0.49 μg/person/day for adults of which 30.6% (4.2 -63%) was derived from inhalation exposure (Harrad et al, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic activation of PCBs to carcinogens in vivo—A review

Ludewig

Lehmann

Esch

et al. 2008

Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

101

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Many higher-chlorinated biphenyls, persistent and predominant in foods, are active as promoters in hepatocarcinogenesis. Lower-chlorinated biphenyls, predominating in indoor and outdoor air, are more readily metabolized and therefore shorter lived, 'episodic' contaminants. Thus inhalation of such lower chlorinated biphenyls may expose humans to reactive, possibly genotoxic/carcinogenic intermediates. Lower chlorinated biphenyls may be metabolized via arene-oxides to mono-and dihydroxylated intermediates and further to (semi)quinones, highly reactive intermediates. Covalently bound lower chlorinated biphenyls have been detected in rodent tissues in vivo. We recently showed using the modified Solt-Farber foci assay that several mono-to tetrachlorinated biphenyls have initiating activity in the livers of rats. In a follow-up study of PCB3 (4-chlorobiphenyl) metabolites only one monohydroxy-and one quinoid-metabolite showed initiating activity, indicating that the metabolic activation of PCB3 proceeds via hydroxylation and oxidation to the 3,4-quinone, the ultimate carcinogen. Since cancer initiation is based on genotoxic event(s), we hypothesized that PCB3 and/or its metabolite(s) are mutagenic in rat liver in vivo. To investigate this, BigBlue® rats, transgenic for the lacI reporter gene, were exposed to PCB3 and 4-hydroxy-PCB3 (4-HO-PCB3). In male rats the mutant frequency (MF) of lac I in the liver was significantly elevated and the mutation spectrum differed significantly from the control. 4-HO-PCB3 caused a non-significant (p = 0.115) doubling of the MF compared to the control. These studies prove that lower halogenated biphenyls may be metabolically activated in vivo to genotoxic and initiating intermediates.

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“…The concentration of PCBs can be at least an order of magnitude higher indoors than outdoors (Wallace et al, 1996;Vorhees et al, 1997), although not all PCB sources are known. Ambient PCB concentrations were reported to have declined slowly from the 1980s to the 1990 by one study (Vorhees, 2001), but another study has suggested no significant decline in PCBs between 1997 and 2005 .…”

Section: Polychlorinated Biphenylsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Persistent Organic Pollutants and Male Reproductive Health

Hsu

Guo

Smith³

et al. 2014

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food chain, and exhibit toxic effects that threaten the health of humans and animals alike. The potential influence of POPrelated air pollution on male reproductive outcomes has attracted increasing interest in the scientific community and among policymakers and the public. Therefore, epidemiological studies on fertility should examine the impact of chronic exposure to POPs via inhalation. The objective of this review is to present and discuss the available evidence linking the exposure to airborne POPs to male reproductive health problems. This study focuses on the air concentrations, biomarkers, and potential effects on the male reproductive health of two classes of POPs: the industrial polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Although the association between atmospheric pollutants and male reproductive health has been extensively investigated, particularly in relation to semen quality and endocrine outcomes, the molecular mechanisms of action, the adverse effects, and the dose-response relationships for many of these chemicals remain poorly understood. No systematic screening of common chemicals for negative endocrine effects is currently underway, and many questions remain regarding the impact on male reproductive health of exposures to these POPs. This review presents the air concentrations, biomarkers, and adverse male reproductive effects of PCBs and PBDEs pollutants. Given the dearth of information on this topic in the literature, studies are clearly needed to assess how pre-and post-natal exposure to airborne PCBs and PBDEs affects the male reproductive system. Future studies must also identify aerosols and airborne POPs that have a significant impact on male reproductive health and the pathways responsible for those effects.

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Sampling and Analysis Artifacts Caused by Elevated Indoor Air Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations

Cited by 37 publications

References 12 publications

Chlorinated Paraffins

Chlorinated Paraffins

Metabolic activation of PCBs to carcinogens in vivo—A review

Airborne Persistent Organic Pollutants and Male Reproductive Health

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