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Biomedical subjects

Kevin C Jones

Publications and source records attributed to Kevin C Jones.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Accumulation of persistent organic pollutants in canopies of different forest types: role of species composition and altitudinal-temperature gradient.

Leaves from the dominant tree species in three different alpine forests were sampled along an altitudinal gradient and analyzed for HCB, alpha- and gamma-HCH, and PCBs. The mean canopy concentration was calculated, considering the relative abundance of each species in the respective forest. Compound fractionation occurred in the vegetation along the altitudinal/temperature gradient. Results were compared with air concentrations and in-field plant/air partition coefficients (K(PA)) were calculated for each species; this showed differences between broadleaves and needles. The mean canopy/air partition coefficient (K(CA)) was also calculated by averaging results from single species. The variability of persistent organic pollutants distribution in canopies is discussed considering two main factors, the altitudinal/temperature gradient and the species composition. The latter is responsible for most of the concentration variability of the more volatile compounds. A model to calculate dry gaseous deposition to different forest canopies is presented.

Air Pollutants↗

Microcosm studies on the air-soil exchange of hexachlorobenzene and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Soils have an important role to play in supplying and receiving contaminants from the atmosphere, and in the global cycling of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs). A microcosm study was conducted, in which some aspects of air-soil exchange likely to be important for the global cycling of POPs were simulated. HCB and PCBs were introduced into a sealed chamber, which contained soils of varying organic matter content, and in which soil mixing was a variable. Uptake of these compounds on to the soils was monitored over time. Subsequently, the primary chemical source was removed and further changes in the residues retained on the soils were monitored. The rates of uptake onto the different soil treatments are compared and the influence of the soil organic matter content and mixing evaluated. The implications for the global cycling of POPs are discussed.

Air Pollutants↗

Low-dose treatment with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) induce altered characteristics in MCF-7 cells.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are hydrophobic and persistent additive flame retardants that seemingly transfer into environmental compartments where they bioaccumulate i.e. in human biota. We examined the micronucleus-forming activities of low-dose PBDEs (congeners 47, 99, 153, 183 or 209) in MCF-7 cells along with their ability to modulate growth, cell biochemistry [by infrared (IR) microspectroscopy], clonogenic survival or quantitative expression of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes (CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A [CDKN1A (P21(WAF1/CIP1))], B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (BAX). Elevations in micronucleus formation were observed following treatment with 10(-12) to 10(-9) M PBDE concentrations despite the fact that less than one-fourth of the concentration of each test agent administered partitioned out of the media and into the incubating cells. However, low-dose treatment levels remained within the range of reported concentrations measured in UK serum samples collected in 2003. Clonogenic survival and gene expression was unaltered following 10(-12) to 10(-9) M PBDE treatment but significant (P < 0.05) elevations in growth kinetics were observed. Significant alterations in IR cell spectra were associated with treatments, and plotted clusters following principal component analysis highlighted these changes. Whether such in vitro effects point to an underlying ability of PBDEs to initiate and drive target-cell alterations in vivo now needs to be addressed.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Toward a global network for persistent organic pollutants in air: results from the GAPS study.

The Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling (GAPS) study aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using passive samplers to assess the spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants on a worldwide basis. The GAPS network includes more than 40 sites on 7 continents, mainly in background locations, with some representation of urban and agricultural areas. Here we present concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in polyurethane foam disk samplers, deployed from December 2004 to March 2005. Legacy OCPs such as alpha-HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), Chlordanes (trans- and cis-Chlordane and trans-Nonachlor), Dieldrin, and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane isomers were detected at most sites with some high values that may be related to possible continued use and/or re-emissions related to historic use. Geometric mean (GM) air concentrations (pg/m3) were: 8.5 for sigmaHCH (sum of alpha- and gamma-isomers), 2.6 for sigmaChlordanes, 0.8 for Dieldrin, and 0.8 for p,p'-DDE. Current-use pesticides such as gamma-HCH (lindane) and especially Endosulfan I exhibited more variable and higher concentrations with GMs of 5 and 58, respectively. PCBs and PBDEs were elevated at urban/suburban sites consistent with their historical use pattern. GM concentrations (pg/m3) were 17 for PCBs and 4 for PBDEs. Sampling under GAPS will continue and will eventually allow seasonality effects and longer-term temporal and spatial trends to be evaluated.

Air Movements↗

Measurement of DDT fluxes from a historically treated agricultural soil in Canada.

Organocohlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in agricultural soils are of concern due to the uptake of these compounds by crops, accumulation in the foodchain, and reemission from soils to the atmosphere. Although it has been about three decades since DDT was banned for agricultural uses in Canada, residues persist in soils of some agricultural areas. Emission of DDT compounds to the atmosphere from a historically treated field in southern Ontario was determined in fall 2004 and spring 2005. The sigmaDDTs concentration in the high organic matter (71%) soil was 19 +/- 4 microg g(-1) dry weight. Concentration gradients in the air were measured at 5, 20, 72, and 200 cm above soil using glass fiber filter-polyurethane foam cartridges. Air concentrations of sigmaDDTs averaged 5.7 +/- 5.1 ng m(-3) at 5 cm and decreased to 1.3 +/- 0.8 ng m(-3) at 200 cm and were 60-300 times higher than levels measured at a background site 30 km away. Soil-air fugacity fractions, fs/(fs + fa), of p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, and p,p'-DDT ranged from 0.42 to 0.91 using air concentrations measured above the soil and > or = 0.99 using background air concentrations, indicating that the soil was a net source to the background air. Fractionation of DDT compounds during volatilization was predicted using either liquid-phase vapor pressures (PL) or octanol-air partition coefficients (KOA). Relative emissions of p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT were better described by PL than KOA, whereas either PL or KOA successfully accounted for the fractionation of p,p'-DDT and o,p'-DDT. Soil-to-air fluxes were calculated from air concentration gradients and turbulent exchange coefficients determined from micrometeorological measurements. Average fluxes of sigmaDDTs were 90 +/- 24 ng m(-2) h(-1) in fall and 660 +/- 370 ng m(-2) h(-1) in spring. Higher soil temperatures in spring accounted for the higher fluxes. A volatilization half-life of approximately 200 y was estimated for sigmaDDT in the upper 5 cm of the soil column, assuming the average flux rate for 12 h d-(1) over 8 months of the year. Thus, in the absence of other dissipation processes, the soil will continue to be a source of atmospheric contamination for a very long time.

Agriculture↗

Persistent organic pollutants in European background air: derivation of temporal and latitudinal trends.

Data are presented for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyls ethers (PBDEs) and selected organochlorine compounds (OCs) in passive air samplers (PAS) along a rural/remote latitudinal transect from southern UK to northern Norway during 2002-2004. This study is part of an ongoing campaign, using semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as PAS over two year intervals since 1994. Data for PCBs, selected OCs and PBDEs are compared with that from previous campaigns. Absolute sequestered amounts of selected PCB congeners have decreased in a first order fashion between 1994-2004, with an average atmospheric clearance rate of 4.1 +/- 0.6 years and continue to fractionate with latitude. HCB has also declined between 1998-2004, with a clearance rate of 6 +/- 2.4 years. Data on DDT and its breakdown products indicate little fresh release in Europe. Comparison of PBDEs in 2000-02 and 2002-04 indicates site differences, generally with increases at UK sites and decreases in Norway. BDE-28, 47 and 49 decreased with increasing latitude (p < 0.04), while the other congeners did not show any significant latitudinal dependence. Transect data are presented for PAHs the first time. Three- and 4-ringed compounds dominated the mixture present in the SPMD. The PAH composition of the SPMDs at site 3 was compared to the average composition taken by active sampling at the same site. SPMD performance for sampling PAHs leaves many uncertainties, but they can be successfully used to semiquantitatively detect PAHs in the atmosphere. Fluorene and phenanthrene increased with latitude (p > 0.05), while 1-methylphenanthere, fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene and indeno[123-cd]pyrene decreased. Results are discussed in terms of sources, long-range atmospheric transport, global fractionation and clearance processes.

Air Pollutants↗

Evaluation of performance reference compounds in polyethylene-based passive air samplers.

Polyethylene-based passive air samplers (PSDs) were loaded with performance reference compounds (PRCs) and deployed in a wind tunnel to examine the effects of wind speed on sampler performance. PRCs could be loaded reproducibly into PSDs, with coefficients of variation only exceeding 20% for the more volatile compounds. When PSDs were exposed to low (0.5-1.5 m s-1) and high (3.5-4.5 m s-1) wind speeds, PRC loss rate constants generally increased with increasing wind speed and decreased with increasing sampler/air partition coefficients. PSD-based air concentrations calculated using PRC loss rate constants and sampler/air partition coefficients and air concentrations measured using active samplers compared closely. PRCs can be used to account for the effect of differences in wind speeds on sampler performance and measure air concentrations with reasonable accuracy.

Air Pollutants↗

Continental scale passive air sampling of persistent organic pollutants using rapidly equilibrating thin films (POGs).

A novel design of rapidly equilibrating passive air sampler was deployed at 38 sites across 19 European countries to investigate short-term spatial variability of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Devices were sealed in airtight containers to eliminate the possibility of contamination during transit and couriered to recipients with deployment instructions. Exposure times of 7days permitted the use of back trajectory analysis to further understand the factors responsible for influencing the large-scale spatial distribution of PCBs, PBDEs, PCNs, PAHs, lindane and HCB. Following sampler harvest, devices were sealed and returned for analysis. Comparison of sequestered levels showed that PAHs exhibited the greatest spatial variability (by a factor of 30) with higher levels often associated with greater population density. In contrast, HCB values were much more uniform, reflecting its well mixed distribution in the atmosphere. Spatial variation was strongly influenced by air mass origin, with lower levels being observed at most sites impacted by maritime air masses.

Air Movements↗

Influence of the extraction methodology on the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in pasture vegetation.

Pasture vegetation plays an important role in the air-surface exchange and food chain transfer of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Therefore, considerable research has been focused towards measuring PAHs in vegetation using different analytical methods. However, in most cases information on the efficiencies of the different extraction methods employed is missing. This complicates data interpretation and inter-study comparisons. To address this deficiency, the extraction efficiencies of two commonly used pasture vegetation extraction techniques (sonication and soxhlet) and different solvents (hexane, DCM and hexane:acetone [4:1, v/v]) were compared. The completeness of the extraction was investigated using alkaline saponification in methanol. Soxhlet extraction was able to access between 60 and 90% of the total amount of PAHs in the pasture vegetation. Sonication was less efficient, only being able to extract between 10 and 50% of the PAHs. Extraction efficiencies were found to increase with increasing PAH molecular weight. The implications of these findings on data interpretation are discussed.

Molecular Weight↗

Passive air sampling for persistent organic pollutants: introductory remarks to the special issue.

There have been a number of developments in the need, design and use of passive air samplers (PAS) for persistent organic pollutants (POPs). This article is the first in a Special Issue of the journal to review these developments and some of the data arising from them. We explain the need and benefit of developing PAS for POPs, the different approaches that can be used, and highlight future developments and needs.

Aerosols↗

Reductions and changing patterns of ambient PCDD/Fs in the UK: evidence and implications.

Archived herbage samples taken between the mid-1800s and the present day from the Park Grass permanent grassland experiment in the UK were analysed for PCDD/Fs. The concentrations of SigmaP((4-8))CDD/Fs ranged between 15 (in 2003-2004) and 320 pg/g (in 1963) and the SigmaTEQ ranged between 0.11 (2003-2004) and 2.4 pg/g in (1903). The underlying trend from the mid-1970s to the present is of a decline by about factor of 10, indicating a general reduction in the air concentration/deposition fluxes. The homologue pattern in samples from the first half of the 20th century was characterised by the lower (mono- to tri-) PCDFs, indicating the dominance of domestic wood/coal burning on the SigmaP((1-8))CDD/Fs signature. The second half of the 20th century saw a substantial decline in domestic wood/coal burning for space heating in the UK, but also the 'rise and fall' in the production/use of chloroaromatic compounds - notably pentachlorophenol (PCP). The isomer/homologue patterns for the 1960-2004 samples have a much lower contribution from the lower PCDFs and large contributions from the hepta and octa-CDDs. The possibility that these are related to PCP inputs via different routes is discussed. The UK - in line with other countries - has had a policy to reduce the environmental sources and the emissions of PCDD/Fs, by the introduction of new combustion control technologies and emissions standards. However, these were not introduced to specifically address PCDD/F emissions until the 1990s. The declines in PCDD/F levels in these samples: (a) pre-date the introduction of emission control measures on incinerators and other combustion sources in the UK; (b) appear to have been largely unaffected by them.

Benzofurans↗

Visualizing the air-to-leaf transfer and within-leaf movement and distribution of phenanthrene: further studies utilizing two-photon excitation microscopy.

Two-photon excitation microscopy (TPEM) was used to monitor the air-to-leaf transfer and within-leaf movement and distribution of phenanthrene in two plant species (maize and spinach) grown within a contaminated atmosphere. Phenanthrene was visualized within the leaf cuticle, epidermis, mesophyll, and vascular system of living maize and spinach plants. No detectable levels of phenanthrene were observed in the roots or stems of either species, suggesting phenanthrene entered the leaves only from the air. Phenanthrene was observed in both the abaxial and adaxial cuticles of both species. Particulate material (aerosols/dust) contaminated with phenanthrene was located at the surface of the cuticle and became encapsulated within the cuticularwaxes. Overtime, diffuse areas of phenanthrene formed within the adjacent cuticle. However, most of the visualized phenanthrene reaching the leaves arrived via gas-phase transfer. Phenanthrene was found within the wax plugs of stomata of both species and on the external surface of the stomatal pore, but not on the internal surface, or within the sub-stomatal cavity. Phenanthrene diffused through the cuticles of both species in 24-48 h, entering the epidermis to reside predominantly within the cell walls of maize (indicative of apoplastic transport) and the cellular cytoplasm of spinach (indicative of symplastic transport). Phenanthrene accumulated within the spinach cytoplasm where it concentrated into the vacuoles of the epidermal cells. Phenanthrene was not observed to accumulate in the cytoplasm of maize cells. Phenanthrene entered the internal mesophyll of both species, and was found within the mesophyll cell walls, at the surface of the chloroplasts, and within the cellular cytoplasm. Phenanthrene was observed within the xylem of maize following 12 days exposure. The cuticle and epidermis at the edges of spinach leaves had a systematically higher concentration of phenanthrene than the cuticle and epidermal cells at the center of the leaf. These results provide important new information about how such compounds enter, move, and distribute within leaves, and suggest that contemporary views of such processes based on data obtained from traditional analytical methods may need to be revised.

Adsorption↗

Verifying emission factors and national POPs emission inventories for the UK using measurements and modelling at two rural locations.

Different approaches are used to verify the adequacy of emission factors (EFs) and their use in emission inventories of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The applicability of EFs was tested using atmospheric dispersion modelling to predict atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and resulting toxic equivalents (SigmaTEQ) and particulate matter <10 microm (PM(10)) in two rural locations in northern England (UK). The modelling was based on general assumptions of fuel composition, consumption and heating needs to simulate emissions of POPs from the domestic burning of coal and wood where ambient measurements were made in the winter of 1998. The model was used to derive the local contribution to ambient air concentrations, which were estimated independently based on comparative air measurements. The results support the hypothesis that in both villages, the majority of PAHs and the lower chlorinated PCDFs were locally released. The situation for PCBs and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) was different. While the EFs show the release of both compound groups from the domestic burning of coal and wood, the ambient levels of these "legacy POPs" in the villages were still clearly dominated by other sources. Rural areas relying mainly on fossil fuels can exceed the proposed UK ambient air quality standard for benzo[a]pyrene during winter. The measured EFs were then used to estimate the importance of the domestic burning of coal and wood to national emission inventories for these compound classes. Extrapolations to the UK suggest that the domestic burning of pure wood and coal were minor emitters for chlorinated POPs but contributed strongly to PAH and PM(10) levels in 2000. Finally, the UK's national POPs emission inventories based on source inventories and EF, as used here, were compared to estimates derived using the increase in atmospheric concentration of selected POPs.

Air Pollutants↗

Air-vegetation transfer of PCDD/PCDFs: an assessment of field data and implications for modeling.

This study was designed to evaluate soil and air (gas and particle) transfer of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) to vegetation in residential and industrial areas. In a first part, soil-vegetation transfer was assessed. The levels of PCDD/Fs in 120 soil and 120 herbage samples collected from 1996 to 2002 in an industrial area of Montcada (Barcelona, Spain), near a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI), were determined. Some additional individual samples were also evaluated. It was concluded that high soil concentrations, which are not at steady state with the air layer above it, show a tendency for PCDD/Fs to escape via volatilization. In a second part of the study, air-vegetation transfer was examined. PCDD/F concentrations from 24 herbage samples were used, while PCDD/F concentrations were also measured in seven high-volume air samples and seven passive air-vapor samples. Scavenging coefficients (m3 air "sampled"/g grass d.m.) ranged from 1.9 to 11.3 m3/g. A good trend with K(OA) was observed for PCDDs (R=0.82), while it was lower for PCDFs (R=0.55). The current results corroborate that PCDD/F concentrations in vegetation are associated with atmospheric deposition. For the highest substituted PCDD/F congeners, the air-particle uptake from plants is the principal pathway. In regions impacted by combustion emission sources, PCDD/F gas-particle partitioning is influenced by a higher concentration of particles in the air. Particles and associated particle-bound PCDD/Fs would sorb to leaf surfaces, and are subject to removal via wash off. However, in areas where emissions to air are not very notable, vapor absorption would be the principal source of vegetation pollution. The results of this investigation can have a potential interest in risk assessment studies and environmental fate models.

Benzofurans↗

Chiral organochlorine pesticide signatures in global background soils.

Chiral pesticides frequently undergo enantioselective degradation in soils. Prior studies to characterize chiral signatures have focused on treated agricultural soils, rather than background (untreated) soils, and tracking signatures in the atmosphere for source apportionment purposes. In this study, we investigated the chiral signatures in 65 background soils collected from different locations across the world. The soils were taken from different ecosystems (e.g., grasslands, forests), and the enantiomeric fractions (EFs) of chiral chlordanes, alpha-hexachlorocyclohexane (alpha-HCH), and o,p'-DDT were determined. Chlordanes in most of the soils showed the usual pattern of enantioselective degradation seen in agricultural soils, depletion of (+)-trans-chlordane (TC) and (-)-cis-chlordane (CC). However, some samples showed opposite enantiomer degradation patterns for TC, CC, and chlordane compound MC5. Correlations were tested between the deviation of EFs from racemic (DEVrac = absolute value of 0.500 - EF), the percent soil organic matter (% SOM), annual mean temperature, and the ratio of TC to the more stable compound trans-nonachlor (TN). Significant positive correlations were found between DEVrac and % SOM for TC and CC (p = 0.0022 and 0.0031), but not for the other OCPs. No significant correlations were found between DEVrac and annual mean temperature for any of the OCPs. DEVrac for TC was negatively correlated with the TC/TN ratio, but the regression was driven by two points with high ratios of TC/CC. Removing these two points resulted in a nonsignificant regression. The range of EFs for TC, CC, and alpha-HCH in soils was greater than in ambient air, providing evidence of in situ degradation after atmospheric deposition in some cases. Variable EFs in soil suggest that caution is needed when considering the enantiomer signatures in air as a marker of volatilization of weathered soil-derived organochlorines.

Chlordan↗

Passive air sampling of polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine compounds, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers across Asia.

Asia is of global importance economically, yet data on ambient persistent organic pollutant levels are still sparse for the region, despite international efforts under the Stockholm Convention to identify and reduce emissions. A large-scale passive air sampling survey was therefore conducted in Asia, specifically in China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Polyurethane foam disks were deployed simultaneously at 77 sites, between Sept 21 and Nov 16, 2004, and analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine compounds (hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), chlordane), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The meteorological conditions prevailing in the region at this time facilitated the assessment of local/regional differences in atmospheric emissions, because large-scale advection effects due to monsoons or dust storms did not occur. Air concentrations estimated assuming an average sampler uptake rate of 3.5 m3/day ranged as follows (pg m(-3)): PCBs, 5-340; HCB, 10-460; DDTs, 0.4-1800; chlordanes, 1-660; PBDEs, < 0.13-340. South Korea and Singapore generally had regionally low concentrations. Elevated concentrations of PCBs, DDTs, and HCB occurred at sites in China, higher than reported in a similar recent sampling campaign in Europe. Chlordane was highest in samples from Japan (which also had elevated levels of PCBs and DDTs) and was also elevated in some Chinese locations. PBDE levels were generally low in the region.

Air Pollutants↗

Organohalogen chemicals in human blood from the United Kingdom.

Blood serum from 154 volunteers at 13 UK locations in 2003 were analysed for a range of PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and PBDEs. HCB, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT and beta-HCH were the dominant organochlorine pesticides in most samples. BDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183 were the most regularly detected PBDEs. This study is the first report of BDE209 in UK human blood (found in 11 samples, range < 15-240 ng/g lipid). Concentration and age correlated for the less easily metabolised PCBs, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, HCB and HCHs. With increasing age females tended to have lower concentrations of the more chlorinated PCBs than males. Similar PBDE concentrations, and distributions, to those reported in the general population in Sweden in 2002 were found, despite differences in historical PBDE production and usage. There is increasing regulation to control persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals, and establishing human exposure will help to identify substances which should be urgently phased out.

Adult↗

Hexachlorobenzene in the global environment: emissions, levels, distribution, trends and processes.

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is considered here as a 'model persistent organic pollutant.' Data on its sources, emissions, environmental levels and distributions and trends are compiled and used to assess its fate and behaviour in the global environment. Consideration is given as to the extent to which it has undergone repeated air-surface exchange or 'hopping' to become globally dispersed, the balance between primary and secondary sources in maintaining ambient levels, and its ultimate sinks in the environment. Global production exceeded 100,000 tonnes and primary emissions to atmosphere probably peaked in the 1970s. There has been a consistent downward trend in the environment over the past 20 years. Temporal trends of HCB in the environment vary, dependent on time period measured, media studied and study location, but the average half-life from all the studies is approximately 9 years. Estimates are made of the contemporary burden in the environment; these range between 10,000 and 26,000 tonnes and are dominated by the loadings in treated and background soils, sediments and oceans. Estimates of the trends of HCB emissions from treated soils are derived. At its peak, the amount of HCB emitted from soil to air may have been in the hundreds to thousands of tonnes per year, which would have made it a significant source of HCB to the environment. Whilst the amount of HCB being emitted from contemporary soil is much lower, only a small amount of re-emission of HCB from soil to air is required to maintain contemporary air concentrations under the current primary emission scenario.

Air Pollutants↗