The ubiquitous distribution of microplastics (MP) is a serious environmental issue in Asian countries. In this study, 54 open-dumping site soils collected from Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, the ...Philippines, and Vietnam were analyzed for MP. Soil samples were also divided into light (floating) and heavy (sedimentation) fractions by density separation and analyzed for plastic additives. The highest abundance of MP was found in a soil from Cambodia at 218,182 pieces/kg. The median of MP in soils ranged from 1411 pieces/kg in India to 24,000 pieces/kg in the Philippines, suggesting that dumping sites are a major source of MP into the environment. Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were dominant polymers in soil samples analyzed. This indicates that daily-used plastic products are main sources of MP in dumping site soils in Asian countries. The high concentrations and burdens of phthalates and an antioxidant were detected in floating fraction accounting for 40 to 60% of the total additives in soils. Previous studies on soil pollution have assumed that the organic hydrophobic chemicals analyzed are adsorbed on the surface of soil particles. However, this result indicates that approximately half of the additives in dumping site soils were derived from MP, not soil particle. Monitoring study on soil pollution should be considered the occurrence of MP in the matrices.
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•Microplastics (MP) was analyzed in 54 dumping site soils from 6 Asian countries.•The highest abundance of MP was identified in Cambodian samples at 218,182 pieces/kg.•PE and PP were dominant polymers, suggesting daily-used plastics are main sources of MP.•Soil samples were divided into floating and sedimentation fractions for additive analysis.•The half amount of plastic additives in dumping site soils are derived from MP.
In Asian developing countries, undeveloped and ineffective sewer systems are causing surface water pollution by a lot of contaminants, especially pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). ...Therefore, the risks for freshwater fauna need to be assessed. The present study aimed at: i) elucidating the contamination status; ii) evaluating the bioaccumulation; and iii) assessing the potential risks of PPCP residues in surface water and freshwater fish from three Asian countries. We measured 43 PPCPs in the plasma of several fish species as well as ambient water samples collected from India (Chennai and Bengaluru), Indonesia (Jakarta and Tangerang), and Vietnam (Hanoi and Hoa Binh). In addition, the validity of the existing fish blood–water partitioning model based solely on the lipophilicity of chemicals is assessed for ionizable and readily metabolizable PPCPs. When comparing bioaccumulation factors calculated from the PPCP concentrations measured in the fish and water (BAFmeasured) with bioconcentration factors predicted from their pH-dependent octanol–water partition coefficient (BCFpredicted), close values (within an order of magnitude) were observed for 58–91 % of the detected compounds. Nevertheless, up to 110 times higher plasma BAFmeasured than the BCFpredicted were found for the antihistamine chlorpheniramine in tilapia but not in other fish species. The plasma BAFmeasured values of the compound were significantly different in the three fish species (tilapia > carp > catfish), possibly due to species-specific differences in toxicokinetics (e.g., plasma protein binding and hepatic metabolism). Results of potential risk evaluation based on the PPCP concentrations measured in the fish plasma suggested that chlorpheniramine, triclosan, haloperidol, triclocarban, diclofenac, and diphenhydramine can pose potential adverse effects on wild fish. Results of potential risk evaluation based on the PPCP concentrations measured in the surface water indicated high ecological risks of carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, and triclosan on Asian freshwater ecosystems.
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•Chlorpheniramine and triclosan showed species-specific bioaccumulation factors.•Protein binding may cause high bioaccumulation of chlorpheniramine in tilapia plasma.•High levels of parabens indicated inflows of untreated wastewater into urban rivers.•Carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, erythromycin, and triclosan reached high risk levels.
This study investigated the occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and several additive brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in indoor dust and air from two Vietnamese informal e-waste ...recycling sites (EWRSs) and an urban site in order to assess the relevance of these media for human exposure. The levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) in settled house dust from the EWRSs (130–12,000, 5.4–400, 5.2–620 and 31–1400ngg−1, respectively) were significantly higher than in urban house dust but the levels of PCBs (4.8–320ngg−1) were not higher. The levels of PCBs and PBDEs in air at e-waste recycling houses (1000–1800 and 620–720pgm−3, respectively), determined using passive sampling, were also higher compared with non-e-waste houses. The composition of BFRs in EWRS samples suggests the influence from high-temperature processes and occurrence of waste materials containing older BFR formulations. Results of daily intake estimation for e-waste recycling workers are in good agreement with the accumulation patterns previously observed in human milk and indicate that dust ingestion contributes a large portion of the PBDE intake (60%–88%), and air inhalation to the low-chlorinated PCB intake (>80% for triCBs) due to their high levels in dust and air, respectively. Further investigation of both indoor dust and air as the exposure media for other e-waste recycling-related contaminants and assessment of health risk associated with exposure to these contaminant mixtures is necessary.
► Indoor environment in EWRSs was investigated in views of BFR and PCB contamination. ► High levels of BFRs in settled dust and tri–tetraCBs in air were observed. ► The profiles of BFRs reflect the abundance of old electronics and thermal processing. ► Dust was the dominant human exposure source of PBDEs in EWRSs, unlike in other sites. ► High intake of tri–tetraCBs from inhalation was consistent with their levels in human milk.
Indoor dust is a sink for many kinds of pollutants, including flame retardants (FRs), plasticizers, and their contaminants and degradation products. These pollutants can be migrated to indoor dust ...from household items such as televisions and computers. To reveal high-priority end points of and contaminant candidates in indoor dust, using CALUX reporter gene assays based on human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cell lines, we evaluated and characterized the endocrine-disrupting potencies of crude extracts of indoor dust collected from Japan (n = 8), the United States (n = 21), Vietnam (n = 10), the Philippines (n = 17), and Indonesia (n = 10) and for 23 selected FRs. The CALUX reporter gene assays used were specific for compounds interacting with the human androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2). Indoor dust extracts were agonistic to ERα, GR, and PPARγ2 and antagonistic against AR, PR, GR, and PPARγ2. In comparison, a majority of FRs was agonistic to ERα and PPARγ2 only, and some FRs demonstrated receptor-specific antagonism against all tested nuclear receptors. Hierarchical clustering clearly indicated that agonism of ERα and antagonism of AR and PR were common, frequently detected end points for indoor dust and tested FRs. Given our previous results regarding the concentrations of FRs in indoor dust and in light of our current results, candidate contributors to these effects include not only internationally controlled brominated FRs but also alternatives such as some phosphorus-containing FRs. In the context of indoor pollution, high-frequency effects of FRs such as agonism of ERα and antagonism of AR and PR are candidate high-priority end points for further investigation.
This study investigated the contamination status of PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs in human and possible exposure pathways in three Vietnamese e-waste recycling sites: Trang Minh (suburb of Hai Phong city), ...Dong Mai and Bui Dau (Hung Yen province), and one reference site (capital city Hanoi) by analysing human breast milk samples and examining the relationships between contaminant levels and lifestyle factors. Levels of PBDEs, but not PCBs and HBCDs, were significantly higher in Trang Minh and Bui Dau than in the reference site. The recyclers from Bui Dau had the highest levels of PBDEs (20–250
ng
g
−
1
lipid wt.), higher than in the reference group by two orders of magnitude and more abundant than PCBs (28–59
ng
g
−
1
lipid wt.), and were also the only group with significant exposure to HBCDs (1.4–7.6
ng
g
−
1
lipid wt.). A specific accumulation, unrelated to diet, of low-chlorinated PCBs and high-brominated PBDEs was observed in e-waste recyclers, suggesting extensive exposure to these compounds during e-waste recycling activities, possibly through inhalation and ingestion of dust. The estimated infant intake dose of PBDEs from breast milk of some mothers occupationally involved in e-waste recycling were close to or higher than the reference doses issued by the U.S. EPA.
This study investigated the status of contamination of organohalogen compounds (OCs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and brominated flame retardant (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ...ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) in human milk samples from several locations in India. The levels of OCs were significantly higher in the milk of mothers living in and near municipal dumping site than other locations indicating that the open dumping sites for municipal wastes act as potential sources of these contaminants in India. The PCB concentrations observed in this study tended to decrease compared to those in the matched locations reported previously, probably due to the restriction of technical PCB usage in India. PBDE levels in human milk were two to three folds lower than those of PCBs in all the sampling locations investigated. Congener profiles of PCBs and PBDEs were different between samples from the dumping site mothers and general populations in other areas suggesting the presence of region-specific sources and pathways. HBCDs were detected in human milk from only two sites, with much lower concentrations and detection frequencies compared to PCBs and PBDEs. When hazard quotients (HQs) of PCBs and PBDEs were estimated for infant health risk, the HQs in some milk samples from the dumping site exceeded the threshold value (HQ
>
1) of PCBs, indicating the potential risk for infants in the specific site.
► Contamination status of organohalogen compounds in human milk samples from India was investigated. ► Significantly high levels in municipal dumping site indicate that the open dumping sites could act as potential sources. ► Different organohalogen profiles between dumping site and general population suggest region-specific sources and pathways. ► Hazard Quotient values for PCBs exceeded one, indicating that infants/mothers living around dumping site are at high risk. ► This is the first comprehensive study on the pollution of BFRs from India.
Human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) was evaluated in Ghana ...using breast milk samples collected in 2004 and 2009. Mean levels and ranges of PBDEs (4.5; 0.86–18ng/g lw) and PCBs (62; 15–160ng/g lw) observed in the present study were unexpectedly high, in spite of the fact that Ghana is a non-industrialized country when compared with many of the Asian and European countries. Significant increases were found in the concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs over the years, while no significant increase was observed for HBCDs. Estimated hazard quotient (HQ) showed that all the mothers had HQ values exceeding the threshold of 1 for PCBs, indicating potential health risk for their children. PCBs in dirty oils and obsolete equipment should be of concern as potential sources in Ghana, and e-waste recycling with little or no experience in safe handling could be a threat to this sub-region noted for unregulated disposal of e-waste. The results may point towards an increase in trends in human milk in Ghana, especially in the larger cities but further analysis would be required to confirm this upward trend in levels. This is the first study to report BFRs in human breast milk from Africa, and undoubtedly from Ghana.
► Human exposure to PCBs, PBDEs and HBCDs was done in Ghana using breast milk samples. ► Significant increases were found in the levels of PCBs and PBDEs over the years. ► All the mothers had hazard quotient values exceeding the threshold of 1 for PCBs. ► This is the first study to report BFRs in human breast milk from Africa.
Apart from in deep and mainly enclosed systems, the occurrence of hypoxic conditions in coastal seas is generally only a seasonal phenomenon. Despite this, we observed quasi-persistent hypoxia in an ...equatorial shallow open bay (Jakarta Bay, Indonesia) between 2015 and 2018. There are 3 reasons for the persistence of this hypoxic water mass, namely 1) This bay tends to be stratified due to weak tidal mixing and high river discharge; 2) Due to the lack of continuous vertical convection caused by surface cooling in an equatorial climate, here the water column tends to remain stratified; 3) The oxygen demand in the water is high. Recovery from hypoxia in Sep. 2017 followed the intrusion of offshore water induced by wind. In this study it is suggested that estuaries and ROFIs (Region of Fresh Water Influence) in equatorial regions are susceptible to hypoxia under increasing anthropogenic impacts.
•Though Jakarta Bay is a shallow open bay, a hypoxic water mass was formed quasi-persistently.•The hypoxia was generated by large oxygen demand of water and persistent formation of stratification.•Persistent stratification was generated by weak tidal mixing, high river discharge and lack of continuous convection.•The recovery of hypoxia was caused by the intrusion of offshore water in the bottom layer induced by wind.
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