Serum levels of Organochlorine Pesticides and Breast Cancer Risk in Iranian Women Abstract Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease and its etiology is linked to multiple risk factors. There are shreds of controversial evidence that exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are important in the etiology of breast cancer. The present study aimed to determine the circulating levels of OCPs in patients with breast tumors in Southeastern of Iran. This case–control study included 27 patients with malignant breast tumors (MBT), 31 patients with benign breast tumors (BBT), and 27 healthy women as a control group. Serum OCPs levels, including α-hexachlorocyclohexane (α-HCH), β-HCH, γ-HCH, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (2,4-DDT), 4,4-DDT, 2,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (2,4-DDE), and 4,4-DDE, were measured using gas chromatography. Our data revealed significantly higher concentrations of 2,4-DDT in MBT and BBT groups compared with control ones (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). Patients with breast cancer suffered significantly higher accumulation levels of 4,4-DDE compared with control subjects (P = 0.04). Significant correlations were found among organochlorine compounds with each other in both patients’ groups. There was a significant positive correlation between body mass index and serum levels of 2,4-DDT in BBT group (r = 0.407, P = 0.02). The present findings suggest that the serum levels of 4,4-DDE and 2,4-DDT are associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in Southeastern women of Iran.

Contaminant Concentrations in Sediments, Aquatic Invertebrates, and Fish in Proximity to Rail Tracks Used for Coal Transport in the Pacific Northwest (USA): A Baseline Assessment Abstract Railway transport of coal poses an environmental risk, because coal dust contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), mercury, and other trace metals. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, proposed infrastructure projects could result in an increase in coal transport by train through the Columbia River corridor. Baseline information is needed on current distributions, levels, and spatial patterns of coal dust-derived contaminants in habitats and organisms adjacent to existing coal transport lines. To that end, we collected aquatic surface sediments, aquatic insects, and juvenile fish in 2014 and 2015 from Horsethief Lake State Park and Steigerwald National Wildlife Refuge, both located in Washington state close to the rail line and within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. Two subsites in each area were selected: one close to the rail line and one far from the rail line. Detected PAH concentrations were relatively low compared with those measured at more urbanized areas. Some contaminants were measured at higher concentrations at the subsites close to the rail line, but it was not possible to link the contaminants to a definitive source. Trace metal concentrations were only slightly higher than background concentrations, but a few of the more sensitive benchmarks were exceeded, including those for arsenic, lead, and selenium in fish tissue and fluoranthene, cadmium, copper, manganese, nickel, zinc, iron, and arsenic in sediments. At Horsethief Lake, Chinook salmon and yellow perch showed lower total mercury body burdens than other species, but PAH body burdens did not differ significantly among species. Differences in the species caught among subsites and the low number of invertebrate samples rendered food web comparisons difficult, but these data show that the PAHs and trace metals, including mercury, are accumulating in these wetland sites and in some resident organisms.

Urinary Metal Concentrations and the Incidence of Hypertension Among Adult Residents Along the Yangtze River, China Abstract Metals from the natural environment have potential hypertension effects. However, relevant studies on this topic are few. A total of 1358 adults aged 18–74 years from Chizhou, Maanshan, and Tongling of Anhui Province participated in the baseline study from 2014 to 2015. The follow-up study was performed from 2016 to 2017. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (7000 DV) was used to measure urinary Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn of residents. Urinary concentrations of Cd determined via TAS-900 atomic absorption spectrophotometry at 228.8 nm wavelength. A total of 275 hypertension cases were identified. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and risk factors for hypertension, four metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, and Mn) were significantly associated with hypertension in the single-metal model. Upon including all metals in the same model, the hazard ratios of the highest quartiles Cd and Cu compared with the reference group were 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–2.02) and 1.56 (95% CI 1.16–2.09) for cases of hypertension. Our findings suggested that high levels of Cd and Cu might increase the incidence of hypertension. Further studies involving larger population should be conducted to confirm these findings.

Methods of Assessment of Metal Contamination in Bottom Sediments (Case Study: Straszyn Lake, Poland) Abstract The concentrations of six metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, and Cd) were investigated in bottom sediments of Straszyn Lake (North Poland). This study was designed to determine a total content of metals and to assess their mobility and bioavailability. The sequential extraction was used to fractionate metals into five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe–Mn oxides, bound to organic matter, and residual. The evaluation of sediments contamination degree by metals was performed by applying the geochemical quality guidelines, the pollution load index, and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo). The assessment based on these methods demonstrated that sediments were polluted with Cr and the sediments quality guidelines confirmed these results. Moreover, the average concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Cr were respectively 3.4, 3.9, and 21.2 times higher than their background values. According to ecological risk index and risk assessment code Cd was the most important factor affecting the ecological environment of the Straszyn Lake. The metal speciation analysis demonstrated that the mean percentage of metals in the exchangeable and carbonate fractions decreased in the following order: Cd (59.1%) > Zn (19.8%) = Ni (19.8%) > Pb (16.6%) > Cu (3.3%) > Cr (2.7%). The very strong correlation calculated between all the metals indicated their common origin.

Spatial and Historical Occurrence, Sources, and Potential Toxicological Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediments of the Largest Chinese Deep Lake Abstract Lake sediments are important reservoirs for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in catchments. Knowledge of occurrence, sources, and toxicological risk of PAHs is crucial to abate their pollution and risk. We investigated the spatial and temporal occurrence, sources, and potential toxicological risks of 12 PAHs in the surface sediments and one sediment core of the largest deep lake (Lake Fuxian) of China. Our results indicated the average ΣPAH12 in the surface sediments of this lake was 1550.6 ± 231.4 ng g dw −1 , much higher than those of most Chinese shallow lakes. The average ΣPAH12 in the lake area was higher than that in the estuaries. The average ΣPAH12 in the estuaries of influent rivers was higher than that of the outlet river. Coal combustion, gasoline combustion, and diesel combustion were the major sources, which contributed 68.5%, 19.8%, and 11.8% to the ΣPAH12. The average total benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalent concentration (TEQcarc) of the six most carcinogenic PAHs was 317.1 ± 86.3 ngTEQcarc g−1 in the surface sediments. The ΣPAH12 increased from 301.7 to 1964.4 ng g dw −1 from 1945 to 2011 and significantly increased with the GDP and population of the catchment. The contribution of coal combustion to the concentrations of PAHs increased gradually with time. The total TEQcarc, and the percentage of ΣPAHcarc to ΣPAH12 in the sediment core increased from 5.0 to 84.6 ngTEQcarc g−1 and from 5.7 to 23.3%, respectively. Our study highlights the importance of such deep waters in burying PAHs and the increasing risk of PAHs from human activities.

Concentration and Source Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Street Soil of Ma’an City, Jordan Abstract In this study, the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the street soil of Ma’an City, Jordan. The probable sources of PAHs in the soils were estimated by using diagnostic ratios. PAHs were extracted from soil samples via the ultrasonic extraction method using three portions of 20 mL of n-hexane/acetone mixture. The most priority environmental protection agency 13 PAHs were determined in the extract using gas chromatography–mass spectrometer. The results showed that average concentrations of ∑13PAHs ranged from 77.0 to 917.4 ng/g, and the 3- and 4-rings PAHs were the most abundant PAHs detected in the soil samples (~ 60% of the PAH total concentrations). The ratios showed that the PAHs in Ma’an’s street soil have both petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis showed that the content of ∑13PAHs is directly correlated to the total organic matter (TOM) in the soil. Analysis of variance indicated that Ma’an city mostly had the same sources for ∑13PAHs.

Seasonal, Spatial Variation, and Potential Sources of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water and Sediment in the Lower Reaches of the Dong Nai River System in Vietnam Abstract The goals of the current study were (1) to examine seasonal and spatial variation of selected OCPs concentrations and (2) to identify potential sources of the pollutants in the lower reaches of the Dong Nai River system. Forty-eight water and sediment samples were taken from 12 stations in the dry and rainy seasons to determine the concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (total DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (total HCHs), heptachlor, aldrin, dieldrin, and endrin. The concentrations of total DDTs (0.30), total HCHs (0.29), Aldrin (0.068), heptachlor (0.04, µg L−1) in water, and total DDTs (8.04), total HCHs (4.51), and Aldrin (1.52, µg kg−1) in sediment were significantly higher in the rainy season than in the dry season (0.14, 0.12, 0.008, 0.009 in water and 3.49, 2.29, and 0.4 in sediment, respectively). Cluster analysis grouped 12 sampling stations into 2 groups, of which group 1 (3 stations) had higher concentrations of total DDTs, total HCHs, Aldrin, heptachlor, and dieldrin in both water and sediment than in group 2. Compositional analysis of total DDTs revealed that DDT residue could be decomposed significantly for the past years and that anaerobic decomposition could be predominant. Principal component analysis/factor analysis (PCA/FA) indicated that the potential sources of OCPs in the study stations could come from residential and agricultural areas located in the upper catchment or areas surrounding the studied stations. In short, OCPs concentration in the studies area could depend on seasonal, spatial variation, and transport of OCPs from upper parts or surrounding areas.

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Surface Soils from the Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve, China: Occurrence, Sources, and Potential Risk Abstract A total of 39 lower brominated PBDE congeners in surface soils from the Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve (YRDNR) were analyzed in the present study. The total concentrations of PBDEs (ΣPBDEs) ranged from “not detected” to 0.732 ng g−1, with a mean concentration of 0.142 ng g−1. The concentrations of the ΣPBDEs displayed no correlation with the content of the total organic carbon in the YRDNR. The ΣPBDEs concentrations in the Experimental Area were significantly higher than that of the Buffer Area and Core Area, and ΣPBDEs in soils in the North were lower than that of the South. PentaBDEs and HexaBDEs were the most abundant homologues, and the occurrence of PBDEs in the YRDNR may be attributed to the debromination and long range transport of DecaBDEs. Even though the cancer risk and mass inventory of PBDEs in the present study area were estimated to be very low, due to the widespread presence of PBDEs and the particularity of the natural reserve, vigilance should not be let up on the issue of environmental contamination caused by these compounds despite the gradual phase out of their commercial products in the world.

Anionic Surfactants and Traffic Related Emission from an Urban Area of Perak, Malaysia Abstract Anionic surfactants are one of the pollutants derived from particulate matter (PM) and adversely affect the health of living organisms. In this study, the compositions of surfactants extracted from PM and vehicle soot collected in an urban area were investigated. A high-volume air sampler was used to collect PM sample at urban area based on coarse (> 1.5 µm) and fine (< 1.5 µm) mode particles. Meanwhile, the vehicle soot was collected randomly from the exhaust pipe of various types of diesel and petrol vehicles using a soft brush during dry days. The concentration of anionic surfactants, such as Methylene Blue Active Substances (MBAS), was determined by the colorimetric method using UV–Vis Spectrophotometer. Morphological properties of the PM and exhaust soot sample was studied using field-emission scanning electron microscope. Results revealed that the MBAS concentration was dominated by fine mode particles (6.03 ± 3.97 µmol g−1), whereas heavy-duty vehicles, such as buses, demonstrated the highest surfactant concentration with an average value of 0.340 ± 0.180 µmol g−1. The structure of collected PM for all samples mostly appeared to be an irregular shape with the size range of ultrafine particles (0.05–0.2 µm). The emission of surfactants from diesel and petrol vehicles, especially at urban areas, should be a major concern, because they could negatively affect human health and the environment.

Distribution of Organochlorine Pesticide and Polychlorinated Biphenyl Residues in Lake Sediment Cores from the Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) Abstract The occurrence and distribution of 11 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and their degradation products as well as of 17 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners (PCBs) were investigated for the first time in sediments of three (Lake Prošće, Lake Kozjak, Lake Kaluđerovac) out of 16 cascading karst lakes within the protected area of the Plitvice Lakes National Park in central Croatia. The 15-cm-long sediment cores were divided for analysis into three 5-cm-long segments. The abundance and levels of sediment-associated OCPs and PCBs were evaluated with respect to sampling location and sediment depth, presumed age of deposition, and organic carbon content. The burden of sediments with OCPs and PCBs decreased downstream with the highest mass fractions measured in the uppermost Lake Prošće (total OCPs 2.72–5.86 μg kg−1 d.m., total PCBs 0.37–1.78 µg kg−1 d.m.) and the lowest in Lake Kaluđerovac (total OCPs 0.30–0.58 μg kg−1 d.m., total PCBs 0.07–0.12 µg kg−1 d.m.). The predominant organochlorine pollutants were DDT-type compounds (total DDX, w = 0.30–5.72 µg kg−1 d.m.) with p,p′-DDE and p,p′-DDD accounting for up to 100% and 50%, respectively, of the total DDX. The findings indicated an old input of p,p′-DDT that largely converted to its degradation products. The OCP and PCB mass fractions in the Plitvice lake sediments were at trace levels characteristic for preserved pristine natural environments with no or limited anthropogenic impact wherein long-range atmospheric transport is considered as their main source.