Abstract  Deodorants are one of the most frequently-used types of cosmetics and are a source of allergic contact dermatitis. Therefore, a gas chromatography - mass spectrometric analysis of 71 deodorants was performed for identification of fragrance and non-fragrance materials present in marketed deodorants. Furthermore, the sensitizing potential of these molecules was evaluated using structure activity relationships (SARs) analysis. This was based on the presence of 1 or more chemically reactive site(s), in the chemical structure, associated with sensitizing potential. Among the many different substances used to formulate cosmetic products (over 3500), 226 chemicals were identified in a sample of 71 deodorants. 84 molecules were found to contain at least 1 structural alert, and 70 to belong to, or be susceptible to being metabolized into, the chemical group of aldehydes, ketones and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, ketone or esters.

Abstract  People are exposed to a variety of chemicals throughout their daily lives. To protect public health, regulators use risk assessments to examine the effects of chemical exposures. This book provides guidance for assessing the risk of phthalates, chemicals found in many consumer products that have been shown to affect the development of the male reproductive system of laboratory animals. Because people are exposed to multiple phthalates and other chemicals that affect male reproductive development, a cumulative risk assessment should be conducted that evaluates the combined effects of exposure to all these chemicals. The book suggests an approach for cumulative risk assessment that can serve as a model for evaluating the health risks of other types of chemicals.

Abstract  The testicular effects produced by di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in the rat, characterized by a decrease in the relative organ weight and histological changes in the seminiferous tubules, can also be produced by di-n-butyl, di-n-pentyl and di-n-hexyl phthalates. The corresponding monoesters of these compounds, formed in vivo as a result of the action of nonspecific esterases in the intestinal mucosa and other tissues, were equally effective in inducing testicular damage. Phthalate-induced testicular injury was accompanied by a decrease in the zinc content in the gonads and in increased urinary excretion of this element. Exposure of preparations of rat seminiferous tubule cells in culture to monophthalates capable of producing testicular injury resulted in a dose-related detachment of germinal cells from Sertoli cells in a manner similar to the effect seen in the intact animal. This in vitro system may find application in the elucidation of the toxic mechanisms involved in phthalate-induced testicular injury and in screening compounds likely to act in a manner similar to phthalates.

Abstract  The expanded Second Edition of Dr. Rothman's acclaimed Modern Epidemiology reflects the remarkable conceptual development of this evolving science and the engagement of epidemiologists with an increasing range of current public health concerns. This landmark work is the most comprehensive and cohesive text on the principles and methods of contemporary epidemiologic research.Coauthored by two leading epidemiologists, with 15 additional contributors, the Second Edition presents a much broader range of concepts and methods than Dr. Rothman's single-authored original edition. Coverage of basic measures and study types is more thorough and includes a new chapter on field methods. New chapters on advanced topics in data analysis, such as hierarchical regression, are also included. A new section covers specific areas of research such as infectious disease epidemiology, ecologic studies, disease surveillance, analysis of vital statistics, screening, clinical epidemiology, environmental and occupational epidemiology, reproductive and perinatal epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, and nutritional epidemiology.

Abstract  Recent studies in other European countries suggest that the prevalence of congenital cryptorchidism continues to increase. This study aimed to explore the prevalence and natural history of congenital cryptorchidism in a UK centre.

Between October 2001 and July 2008, 784 male infants were born in the prospective Cambridge Baby Growth Study. 742 infants were examined by trained research nurses at birth; testicular position was assessed using standard techniques. Follow-up assessments were completed at ages 3, 12, 18 and 24 months in 615, 462, 393 and 326 infants, respectively.

The prevalence of cryptorchidism at birth was 5.9% (95% CI 4.4% to 7.9%). Congenital cryptorchidism was associated with earlier gestational age (p<0.001), lower birth weight (p<0.001), birth length (p<0.001) and shorter penile length at birth (p<0.0001) compared with other infants, but normal size after age 3 months. The prevalence of cryptorchidism declined to 2.4% at 3 months, but unexpectedly rose again to 6.7% at 12 months as a result of new cases. The cumulative incidence of "acquired cryptorchidism" by age 24 months was 7.0% and these cases had shorter penile length during infancy than other infants (p = 0.003).

The prevalence of congenital cryptorchidism was higher than earlier estimates in UK populations. Furthermore, this study for the first time describes acquired cryptorchidism or "ascending testis" as a common entity in male infants, which is possibly associated with reduced early postnatal androgen activity.

Abstract  Undescended testis is a common finding in boys, and the majority of cases have no discernible aetiology. There are unexplained geographical differences and temporal trends in its prevalence. Cryptorchidism, especially bilateral, is associated with impaired spermatogenesis and endocrine function and increases the risk of testicular cancer. There is an urgent need to identify factors that adversely affect testicular development and optimize treatment. Conclusion: Cryptorchidism may reflect a primary testicular maldevelopment with long-term consequences.

Abstract  It has been speculated that maternal phthalate exposure may affect reproductive development in human newborns. However, the mechanism awaits further investigation. The aim is to evaluate the association between maternal phthalate exposure and cord sex steroid hormones in pregnant women and their newborns from the general population. A total of 155 maternal and infant pair were recruited and analyzed. Levels of urinary phthalate metabolites and sex steroid hormones were determined using liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and radioimmunoassay (RIA), respectively. No significant correlation was found between each steroid hormones and phthalate metabolites for male newborns, except MMP was marginally significantly correlated with E(2). After adjusting for maternal age, estradiol (E(2)) levels in cord serum from male newborns were not correlated with maternal urinary phthalate metabolites. In female newborns, the maternal urinary levels of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5OH-MEHP) were negatively correlated with the free testosterone (fT) and fT/E(2) levels in cord serum with Pearson correlation coefficients ranging between -0.24 and -0.29 (p<0.05). Additionally, after gestational age was adjusted, the maternal urinary level of DEHP was negatively correlated with the free testosterone (fT) and fT/E(2) levels in cord serum. We suggest that maternal exposure to phthalates may affect sex steroid hormones status in fetal and newborn stage.

Abstract  Anogenital distance (AGD) is sexually dimorphic in rodents and humans, being 2- to 2.5-fold greater in males. It is a reliable marker of androgen and antiandrogen effects in rodent reproductive toxicologic studies. Data on AGD in humans are sparse, with no longitudinal data collected during infancy.

This study was designed to determine AGD from birth to 2 years in males and females and relate this to other anthropometric measures.

Infants were recruited from the Cambridge Baby Growth Study. AGD was measured from the center of the anus to the base of the scrotum in males and to the posterior fourchette in females. Measurements were performed at birth and at 3, 12, 18, and 24 months of age.

Data included 2,168 longitudinal AGD measurements from 463 male and 426 female full-term infants (median = 2 measurements per infant). Mean AGD (+/- SD) at birth was 19.8 +/- 6.1 mm in males and 9.1 +/- 2.8 mm in females (p < 0.0001). AGD increased up to 12 months in both sexes and in a sex-dimorphic pattern. AGD was positively correlated with penile length at birth (r = 0.18, p = 0.003) and the increase in AGD from birth to 3 months was correlated with penile growth (r = 0.20, p = 0.001).

We report novel, longitudinal data for AGD during infancy in a large U.K. birth cohort. AGD was sex dimorphic at all ages studied. The availability of normative data provides a means of utilizing this biological marker of androgen action in population studies of the effects of environmental chemicals on genital development.

Abstract  The nuclear receptor PPARs are fundamentally important for energy homeostasis. Through their distinct yet overlapping functions and tissue distribution, the PPARs regulate many aspects of energy metabolism at the transcriptional level. Functional impairment or dysregulation of these receptors leads to a variety of metabolic diseases, while their ligands offer many metabolic benefits. Studies of these receptors have advanced our knowledge of the transcriptional basis of energy metabolism and helped us understand the pathogenic mechanisms of metabolic syndrome.

Abstract  We developed an on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) method, coupled with isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) and with automated sample preparation, to simultaneously quantify 16 phthalate metabolites in human urine. The method requires a silica-based monolithic column for the initial preconcentration of the phthalate metabolites from the urine and a silica-based conventional analytical column for the chromatographic separation of the analytes of interest. It uses small amounts of urine (100 microL), is sensitive (limits of detection range from 0.11 to 0.90 ng/mL), accurate (spiked recoveries are approximately 100%), and precise (the inter- and intraday coefficients of variation are <10%). The method is not labor intensive, and, because pretreatment of the urine samples was performed automatically using an HPLC autosampler, involves minimal sample handling, thus minimizing exposure to hazardous chemicals. The method was validated on spiked, pooled urine samples and on urine samples from 43 adults with no known exposure to phthalates. The high sensitivity and high throughput (HPLC run time, including the preconcentration step, is 27 min) of this analytical method combined with the ease of use and effective automated sample preparation procedure make it suitable for large epidemiological studies to evaluate the prevalence of human exposure to phthalates.

Abstract  This study aimed to investigate the sources and distribution of phthalate esters (PAEs) in alluvial sediment of humid climate regions where water cycle is very active in order to reveal their behavior of transport from topsoil and/or surface water to deep sediment and groundwater. Topsoil and deeper sediment samples were collected from nine and seventeen sites in July 2007, and January 2008, respectively, from the eastern part of JiangHan Plain, Central China. On each site, samples were collected at every 20-40cm depth within the sediment profiles. Contents of 16 PAEs were detected for each sample. summation operator(16)PAEs contents in the topsoil ranged from 252.6 to 2515.7ngg(-1), with an average value of 926.8ngg(-1). Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were the dominant PAE species. The horizontal distribution of PAEs was related to time (season), cultivation type, distance and exact position from surface water. DEP existed only on the upper layer of soil due to its rapid degradation. However, DEHP, DnBP, and DiBP could be transported downward into deep sediment even though large amount of them were lost due to biodegradation and adsorption. On the other hand, DEHP, DnBP, and DiBP could be transported into deep sediment along with the horizontal flow of shallow groundwater from surface water, such as Yangtze River, Hanjiang River, and Honghu Lake.

Abstract  BIOSIS COPYRIGHT: BIOL ABS. Bottom ash is the main solid residue (in weight) which is produced by municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) facilities. To be reused in public works, it has to be stored previously a few months. This material is composed primarily of a mineral matrix but also contains unburnt organic matter. The mineral content and its change in the course of aging are relatively well-known, in contrast with the organic content. So in order to detect the phenomena responsible for changes in organic matter an vailable in bottom ash, composed essentially of carboxylic acids and n-alkanes (steroids and PAH's to a lesser extent), and consequently that it would improve the bottom ash quality. Furthermore these results were confirmed by the study of aging conducted in conditions used in the industrial scale (over 12 months).

Abstract  Sediments of the Ems Estuary and the Helgoland Bight (West Germany) were analyzed for organohalogens and phthalates. Procedures for sediment extraction are discussed. A standardized method to fractionate the extracts by high performance liquid chromatography is presented.

Abstract  Foodstuffs contribute to the total exposure of man to pesticides and other contaminants. To estimate the mean daily intake of such substances in Switzerland, during the period 1991 to 1996 a total of 36 ready-to-eat food samples representative for daily nutrition were analyzed with a multi residue method capable of detecting more than 300 contaminants. 66 different pesticides and pesticide metabolites, 8 plasticizers and 6 PCB-congeners were found and quantitatively determined. For most pesticides and organochlorine contaminants the estimated daily intake was found to be much less than 1% of the corresponding ADI values. Among the investigated plasticizers, the results obtained for phthalates are of particular interest. The highest value being 10 % of the ADI was found for bis-n-butyl-phthalate. This finding indicates that more attention should be drawn to this class of substances in future. Interesting is the fact that the intake of fungicides from fruits is more important than from salad. This observation is in contrast to the opinion that salad in wintertime is the main source.

Abstract  A climate chamber was constructed for model studies of mobility and effects of chemical substances within simplified terrestrial systems. The chamber functions and its performance were tested by foliar applications of phthalates on higher plants. A low elimination rate from foliage was observed for DEHP. More than 95% of DiBP and DBP were eliminated within 15 days. 1.5 μg cm−2 of DBP caused chlorosis on the leaves of Sinapis alba L.

Abstract  Because of their wide use as plasticizers and production in millions of tons per year, phthalate esters have become environmental pollutants. Phthalates or metabolites of them are suspected to be hepatocarcinogenic [1,2] and teratogenic [3] after chronic exposure and/or high dosage. Their metabolism in rats and humans involves the hydrolysis of one ester bond. and further metabolites are formed from the monoesters [1, 4]. Hydrolytic activity has been detected in rat pancreas, liver, mucosa, kidney and lung [5], but apart from the characterization of a pancreatic hpase [6] the identification of mammalian esterases or lipases involved in the metabolism of phthalate esters is unsatisfactory so far. Since in mammals hepatic carboxylesterases are mainly responsible [7,8] for the hydrolysis of many ester- or amide-type drugs, we determined the action of purified carboxylesterases from rat and human liver on various phthalate diesters, in order to evaluate the contribution of these detoxication enzymes on the metabolism of these xenobiotics.

Abstract  Phthalic acid and phthalate esters are of growing interest due to their significant usage and potential toxicity. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass are both widely used materials for bottled drinking water. In this study, phthalic acid (PhA), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiisoBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were analysed in a large number of Italian bottled water samples. These samples showed different concentrations of phthalates are nearly 20 times higher in samples bottled in PET than those from glass bottles with total levels of phthalates of 3.52 and 0.19 microg l(-1), respectively. However, the observed levels do not represent a significant exposure pathway when considering the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) reference dose (an estimate of a daily oral exposure to the human population, including sensitive subgroups, that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of deleterious effects during a lifetime). In addition, no significant correlation was found between the phthalate concentrations and the physicochemical properties of the different water samples, apart from the still/sparkling water parameter for the PET samples. In this instance, slightly higher concentrations were observed for the PET bottled still water samples than for the sparkling water samples, although no explanation has been found yet.

Abstract  This paper deals with the study of the kinetic migration of a series of organic compounds representative of potential contaminants in packaging materials and used as surrogates (o-xylene, acetophenone, dodecane, naphthalene, 2,3,4-trichloroanisole, benzophenone, isomeric mix of diisopropylnaphthalene, diisobutyl phthalate and methyl stearate). Migration to one side of a solid simulant, Tenax, also referred to as MPPO (modified polyphenylene oxide), was investigated in this study. One spiked sample of multilayer material was used to optimise the extraction procedures for the multilayer paper-based material and the Tenax as well as to perform kinetic migration studies. Three sequential extractions using ethanol were necessary for the strips of the multilayer material but only one extraction was necessary for the solid simulant to obtain >70% recovery of the surrogates. These results enabled us to specify the extraction requirements of the multilayer sample and the solid simulant and as well as those of the migration tests at high temperature using Tenax as solid simulant. The matrix effect associated with the extraction of the contaminants from the multilayer sample is also discussed.