Biomedical subjects

Jerzy Falandysz

Publications and source records attributed to Jerzy Falandysz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Polychlorinated biphenyls and -naphthalenes in pine needles and soil from Poland--concentrations and patterns in view of long-term environmental monitoring.

Pine needles were selected as cost effective and easy collectable matrices suitable for long-term monitoring of the lower troposphere pollution with polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes. The fingerprints of PCNs and PCBs in the top layers of agricultural soils were used for determination of point sources of pollution for terrestrial ecosystems. The new idea based on the use of nona- and decachlorinated isomers fingerprint as an additional tool suitable for the identification of potential point sources of pollution with PCBs, seemed to be a capable tool to identify contamination of soil and ambient air related to former manufacturing and the use of highly chlorinated technical PCB preparations.

Air↗

PubMed2007

Thermodynamical and quantum-chemical characterization and chemometrical selection of representative congeners of trans-chloroazoxybenzene.

Polychlorinated trans-azoxybenzenes (PCt-AOBs) consist a group of 399 theoretically possible congeners, which are toxicologically and environmentally relevant compounds. Some of PCt-AOBs have been identified as by-side impurity in technical grade 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA), and also in derived of this chemical pesticides such as Diuron, Linuron or Propanil. In this study 31 quantum-chemical descriptors were in silico generated and used to characterize all 399 PCt-AOBs. Further, the basic thermodynamic and quantum-chemical property data matrix of PCt-AOBs made was interpreted with an aid of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The PCA of these data matrix created a three-dimensional model that explained 77.31% (63.79% + 8.87% + 4.65%) of the total variance. Polarizability, molecular weight, logarithm of the n-octanol/water partition coefficient, molecular refraction, valence molecular index, kappa index, molecular connectivity index, thermal capacity and entropy were the best positively correlated descriptors, which all are connected with molecular shape and size of the molecules. They all are explained by the first principal component (PC1), while energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital, Gibbs free energy in gas phase, standard heat of formation, the total particle energy and thermal energy were negatively correlated. The PC2 depended on polarizability vector Z and energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, while the PC3 was negatively impacted by the most positive partial charge on atoms. The congeners of trans-PCAOBs substituted with chlorine at positions 2' (ortho position) are non-planar. 119 Congeners of trans-chloroazoxybenzene (Ct-AOB) could be classified amongst stereoisomers (analogues) to highly toxic and environmentally persistent 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD). Data obtained after PCA were further used to create Fractional Factorial Design of PCt-AOBs and eight congeners, i.e., 2',3'-DiCt-AOB (no. 11), 2,2',5-TrCt-AOB (no. 32), 3',4'-DiCt-AOB (no. 24), 2,4,5-TrCt-AOB (no. 58), 2,2',3,4',5,5'-HeCt-AOB (no. 271), 2,2',3',4',5,5',6'-HpCt-AOB (no. 360), 2,3,3',4,4',5',6-HpCt-AOB (no. 364) and 2,2',3,3',4',5',6'-HpCt-AOB (no. 337), which probably are the best describers of the whole group, could be assigned.

Chlorobenzenes↗

PubMed2006

Is fish a major source of fluorinated surfactants and repellents in humans living on the Baltic Coast?

Concentrations of 19 perfluorochemicals have been quantified in human blood and in some marine food resources from the region of the Gulf of Gdañsk at the Baltic Sea south coast in Poland. We indicate that in addition to PFOS and PFOA, a further 8 perfluorochemicals bioaccumulate in the human body. Food chain is an important route of exposure for all 10 perfluoroalkyl compounds detected in nonoccupationally exposed humans. Individuals who declared to have a high fish intake in their diet (mainly Baltic fish) on average contained the highest load of all 10 fluorochemicals when compared with the other human subpopulations. Baltic seafood has been found to highly influence human body burden of PFHxS, PFOS, PFOSA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA, and PFDoDA, and to a lesser extent PFOA.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Source determination of highly chlorinated biphenyl isomers in pine needles - comparison to several PCB preparations.

The isomer specific composition of 13 technical PCB formulations of different origin and of pine needles was analyzed using GC/MS and HRGC/HRMS. Nonachlorinated biphenyls were identified in 11 among 13 formulations analyzed, with the highest abundance found for highly chlorinated ones (Aroclors 1268 and 1260, Chlorofen, Sovol, Kanechlors 600 and 500, Delor 106, Clophen A60). Decachlorobiphenyl was identified only in Aroclor 1268, Clophen A60, Aroclor 1260 and Chlorofen, comprising, respectively, 8.9, 2.8, 1.3 and 0.82% of the total bulk of nona- and decaCBs detected. Nona- and decaCB were detected in pine needles in Poland with the highest concentrations found at the sites neighboring to a former production sites of the Polish PCB formulations, while in pine needles collected around the Tokyo Bay nona- and decacCB were detected only in four of 10 sites and the concentrations corresponded to those found at the rural areas of Poland.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2006

Selection of representative congener for polychlorinated trans-azobenzenes (PCt-ABs) based on comprehensive thermodynamical and quantum-chemical characterization.

Thirty-one thermodynamical and quantum-chemical descriptors were used to characterize all 209 chloro trans-azobenzenes (Ct-ABs, PCt-ABs) in terms of their environmental stability and specific dioxin-like toxicity. Some of the PCt-ABs are produced as a by-side impurity during the manufacture of 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA) and its derivatives and thus can be found in technical products of certain chloroaniline herbicides. A prepared basic thermodynamic and quantum-chemical property data matrix of PCt-ABs was interpreted using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The PCA of the thermodynamic and quantum-chemical data matrix created a three-dimensional model that explained 78% (68% + 6% + 4%) of the total variance in the data set. The loading plot shows that the first Principal Component (PC) is influenced by variables describing molecular weight, polarizability and lipophilicity. The second PC was strongly influenced by the most positive partial charge on atoms and the most negative partial charge on atoms. The third PC depends on energy of the highest occupied molecular orbital. Next, factors extracted from PCA were used for selection of a representative set of eight trans-chloroazobenzene congeners, which seemed in the best way reflect a diverse property of all 209 PCt-ABs.

Chlorobenzenes↗

PubMed2006

COMPRENDO: Focus and approach.

Tens of thousands of man-made chemicals are in regular use and discharged into the environment. Many of them are known to interfere with the hormonal systems in humans and wildlife. Given the complexity of endocrine systems, there are many ways in which endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect the body's signaling system, and this makes unraveling the mechanisms of action of these chemicals difficult. A major concern is that some of these EDCs appear to be biologically active at extremely low concentrations. There is growing evidence to indicate that the guiding principle of traditional toxicology that "the dose makes the poison" may not always be the case because some EDCs do not induce the classical dose-response relationships. The European Union project COMPRENDO (Comparative Research on Endocrine Disrupters--Phylogenetic Approach and Common Principles focussing on Androgenic/Antiandrogenic Compounds) therefore aims to develop an understanding of potential health problems posed by androgenic and antiandrogenic compounds (AACs) to wildlife and humans by focusing on the commonalities and differences in responses to AACs across the animal kingdom (from invertebrates to vertebrates) .

Androgens↗

PubMed2006

Perfluorinated compounds in streams of the Shihwa Industrial Zone and Lake Shihwa, South Korea.

Concentrations of perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAs), including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexanesulfonate, perfluorobutanesulfonate, perfluorooctanesulfonamide, perfluorodecanoate, perfluorononanoic acid, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluoroheptanoate, and perfluorohexanoate, were measured in the streams of the Shihwa and Banweol industrial areas on the west coast of South Korea as well as the adjacent Lake Shihwa (an artificial lake) and Gyeonggi Bay. Perfluorinated alkyl compounds were concentrated from water using solid-phase extraction and were identified and quantified by liquid chromatography/ triple-quadrapole tandem mass spectrometry. Of the PFAs measured, PFOS and PFOA occurred at the greatest concentrations. Concentrations of PFOS ranged from 2.24 to 651 ng/L, and concentrations of PFOA ranged from 0.9 to 62 ng/L. The concentrations of PFOS observed in Lake Shihwa were among the greatest ever measured in the environment. These results suggest local industrial sources of PFOS and PFOA as well as other PFAs. Because of dilution, the greatest concentrations occur in a rather restricted area, near the points of discharge of the streams that empty into the lake. The greatest measured concentration of PFOS exceeded the threshold for effects predicted for predatory birds consuming aquatic organisms continuously exposed to this level.

Fluorocarbons↗

PubMed2006

[Perfluorinated chemicals in the environment, food and human body].

Some data on production, toxicity, properties, uses, analytics as well as an environmental occurrence of PFCs in Poland are reviewed. In total 16 fluorochemicals were detected in surface water (Radunia River and Gulf of Gdańsk), beaver's liver (Warmia and Mazury region), cod and eider duck blood (Gulf of Gdańsk), young cattle blood (County of Stezyca) and human blood (Gdańsk Coast; donors which declared elevated Baltic fish intake) in Poland. In blood of the Gdańsk Coast inhabitants PFHxS, PFOS, PFOSA, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFOA, PFNA, PFDA, PFUnDA and PFDo-DA were found. In surface water for the first time were found fluorochemicals such as PFBuS, PFOcDA, PFBA and PFPeA, while in beavers' liver also PFTeA and N-Ethyl FOSA.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Selenium in mushrooms].

In the article are reviewed available data from the scientific literature on content as well as speciation of selenium in mainly edible mushrooms collected in Europe. Some species of the genus Albtrellus were found exceptionally rich in selenium, and relatively less are some representatives of the genus Boletus (especially Boletus eduilis), Macrolepiota, Agaricus or Ronmaria, while for many other is less than 1.0 mg/kg dry matters. Nevertheless, tha available database on selenium in higher edible mushrooms is not so great if considering the number of wild growing as well as cultivated species and their spread in space.

Agaricales↗

PubMed2005

Prediction of environmental partition coefficients and the Henry's law constants for 135 congeners of chlorodibenzothiophene.

Polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes (PCDTs) could be classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment and are particularly interesting due to their structural resemblance to highly toxic dioxins. We show here some basic environmental properties such as n-octanol water (K(OW)), n-octanol/air (K(OA)) and air/water (K(AW)) partition coefficients as well as Henry's law constants (K(H)) for all 135 congeners of chlorodibenzothiophene. Predictions were made by regression of principal components (PCR) and with aid of a set of standard chemicals, for which physical-chemical properties are well featured. Computed K(OW), K(OA), K(AW) and K(H) values for mono-CDTs ranged, respectively, between 4.66 and 4.71, 7.48 and 7.55, -2.84 and -2.82, 3.56 and 3.74; for di-CDTs between 5.02 and 5.28, 8.03 and 8.29, -3.01 and -2.95, 2.42 and 2.75; for tri-CDTs between 5.53 and 5.70, 8.65 and 8.87, -3.2 and -3.11, 1.58 and 1.92; for tetra-CDTs between 5.95 and 6.13, 9.27 and 9.50, -3.39 and -3.27, 1.02 and 1.33; for penta-CDTs between 6.38 and 6.51, 9.88 and 10.05, -3.54 and -3.45, 0.72 and 0.88; for hexa-CDTs between 6.83 and 6.97, 10.54 and 10.66, -3.72 and -3.64, 0.47 and 0.56; for hepta-CDTs between 7.28 and 7.35, 11.12 and 11.20, -3.81 and -3.87, 0.33 and 0.38; for octa-CDT 7.74, 11.78, -4.04 and 0.23. An estimated value of the three types of partition coefficient and Henry's law constants suggest that polychlorinated dibenzothiophenes are lipophilic and semi-volatile persistent organic pollutants. Their mobility in the environment seems to be very similar to that of some well-known POPs such as polychlorinated dibenzofurans, -dibenzo-p-dioxins, and -biphenyls or organochlorine pesticides.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed2005

Congener-specific carbon isotopic analysis of technical PCB and PCN mixtures using two-dimensional gas chromatography-isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

Analysis of stable carbon isotope fractionation is a useful method to study the sources and fate of anthropogenic organic contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment. To evaluate the utility of carbon isotopes, determination of isotopic ratios of 13C/12C in source materials, for example, technical PCB preparations, is needed. In this study, we determined delta13C values of 31 chlorobiphenyl (CB) congeners in 18 technical PCB preparations and 15 chloronaphthalene (CN) congeners in 6 polychlorinated naphthalene preparations using two-dimensional gas chromatography-combustion furnace-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (2DGC-C-IRMS). Development of 2DGC-IRMS enabled improved resolution and sensitivity of compound-specific carbon isotope analysis (CSIA) of CB or CN congeners. Delta13C values of PCB congeners ranged from -34.4 (Delors) to -22.0/1000 (Sovol). Analogous PCB preparations with similar chlorine content, but different geographical origin, had different delta13C values. PCB preparations from Eastern European countries--Delors, Sovol, Trichlorodiphenyl, and Chlorofen--had distinct delta13C values. PCB mixtures showed increased 13C depletion with increasing chlorine content. Delta13C values for individual CB congeners varied depending on the degree of chlorination in technical mixtures. Delta13C values of CN congeners in Halowaxes ranged from -26.3 to -21.7/1000 and these values are within the ranges observed for PCBs. This study establishes the range of delta13C values in technical PCB and PCN preparations, which may prove to be useful in the determination of sources of these compounds in the environment. This is the first study to employ 2DGC-IRMS analysis of delta13C values in technical PCB and PCN preparations.

Carbon Isotopes↗

PubMed2004

Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in human blood from several countries.

Perfluorooctanesulfonyl fluoride based compounds have been used in a wide variety of consumer products, such as carpets, upholstery, and textiles. These compounds degrade to perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), a persistent metabolite that accumulates in tissues of humans and wildlife. Previous studies have reported the occurrence of PFOS, perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) in human sera collected from the United States. In this study, concentrations of PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA, and PFOSA were measured in 473 human blood/serum/plasma samples collected from the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Poland, India, Malaysia, and Korea. Among the four perfluorochemicals measured, PFOS was the predominant compound found in blood. Concentrations of PFOS were the highest in the samples collected from the United States and Poland (>30 ng/mL); moderate in Korea, Belgium, Malaysia, Brazil, Italy, and Colombia (3 to 29 ng/mL); and lowest in India (<3 ng/mL). PFOA was the next most abundant perfluorochemical in blood samples, although the frequency of occurrence of this compound was relatively low. No age- or gender-related differences in the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA were found in serum samples. The degree of association between the concentrations of four perfluorochemicals varied, depending on the origin of the samples. These results suggested the existence of sources with varying levels and compositions of perfluorochemicals, and differences in exposure patterns to these chemicals, in various countries. In addition to the four target fluorochemicals measured, qualitative analysis of selected blood samples showed the presence of other perfluorochemicals such as perfluorodecanesulfonate (PFDS), perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) in serum samples, at concentrations approximately 5- to 10-fold lower than the concentration of PFOS. Further studies should focus on identifying sources and pathways of human exposure to perfluorochemicals.

Alkanesulfonic Acids↗

PubMed2004

Dioxin-like compounds in pine needles around Tokyo Bay, Japan in 1999.

Pine needle samples collected at ten spatially distant sites around Tokyo Bay in 1999 indicated a widespread lower troposphere pollution with ultra-trace dioxin-like compounds such as chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), -furans (PCDFs), non-ortho- and mono-ortho-chlorobiphenyls (pPCBs), and -naphthalenes (PCNs). Elevated concentration of planar PCBs and the total PCNs were found at the sites which are located innermost to the Bay, suggesting the regional importance of the evaporative nature of the source of pollution by those compounds over this vast area. The concentrations and profiles for PCDDs and PCDFs remained largely uniform. An exception was the site near the town of Tateyama in the Chiba Prefecture, which is the southernmost but also relatively separate from the inner Bay. The site near Tateyama showed somehow background contamination with all compound groups and highly different profiles of PCNs. The principal component analysis (PCA) of the data matrix has revealed that around the Tokyo Bay, apart from the evaporative emission sources for PCNs and PCBs, combustion related processes also play an important role as sources of the ambient air contamination not only with PCDDs/Fs but also with chloronaphthalenes and planar chlorobiphenyls.

Benzofurans↗

PubMed2004

Mercury in wild mushrooms and underlying soil substrate from Koszalin, North-central Poland.

Concentrations of total mercury were determined by cold-vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) in 221 caps and 221 stalks of 15 species of wild growing higher fungi/mushrooms and 221 samples of corresponding soil substrate collected in 1997-98 in Manowo County, near the city of Koszalin in North-central Poland. Mean mercury concentrations in caps and stalks of the mushroom species examined and soils varied between 30+/-31 and 920+/-280, 17+/-11 and 560+/-220, and 10+/-9 and 170+/-110 ng/g dry matter, respectively. Cap to stalk mercury concentration quotients were from 1.0+/-0.4 in poison pax (Paxillus involutus) to 2.8+/-0.7 in slippery jack (Suillus luteus). Brown cort (Cortinarius malicorius), fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), orange-brown ringless amanita (A. fulva), red-aspen bolete (Leccinum rufum) and mutagen milk cap (Lactarius necator) contained the highest concentrations of mercury both in caps and stalks, and mean concentrations varied between 600+/-750 and 920+/-280 and 370+/-470 and 560+/-220 ng/g dry matter, respectively. An estimate of daily intake of mercury from mushroom consumption indicated that the flesh of edible species of mushrooms may not pose hazards to human health even at a maximum consumption rate of 28 g/day. However, it should be noted that mercury intake from other foods will augment the daily intake rates. Species such as the sickener (Russula emetica), Geranium-scented russula (R. fellea) and poison pax (P. involutus) did not concentrate mercury as evidenced from the bioconcentration factors (BCFs: concentrations in mushroom/concentration in soil substrate), which were less than 1. Similarly, red-hot milk cap (L. rufus), rickstone funnel cap (Clitocybe geotropa) and European cow bolete (S. bovinus) were observed to be weak accumulators of mercury. Fly agaric (A. muscaria) accumulated great concentrations of mercury with BCFs reaching 73+/-42 and 38+/-22 in caps and stalks, respectively. Mercury BCFs of between 4.0+/-2.3 and 23+/-25 (caps) and 2.6+/-1.9 and 14+/-12 (stalks) were noted for the other mushroom species. Relatively great concentrations of mercury in fly agaric (A. muscaria) were due to preferential uptake of this element by this species.

Agaricales↗

PubMed2003

Mercury content and its bioconcentration factors in wild mushrooms at Łukta and Morag, northeastern Poland.

Total concentrations of mercury were determined using cold-vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy (CV-AAS) in the fruiting bodies of 16 species of wild mushrooms and underlying soil (0-10 cm) substrates collected in the areas of the Communes of Morag and Łukta in the county of Ostróda in northeastern Poland in 1997-1998. A total of 174 composite samples of caps, 174 stalks, 80 whole fruiting bodies (collectively 1254 specimens), and 252 soils were examined. Among several species of mushrooms analyzed, the greatest concentrations were between 1300 and 71000 ng.g(-1) of dry matter. These levels were found in the caps of Sweating mushroom (Clitocybe rivulosa), King Bolete (Boletus edulis), and Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) and also were characterized by the highest bioconcentration factors (BCF) for Hg, which ranged between 160 +/- 82 and 110 +/- 34. The cap to stalk quotient for mercury concentrations was approximately 2 for most of the species except Poison Pax (Paxilus involutus), which had a greater concentration in caps than in stalks and a quotient of 4.4 +/- 7.2. Hg concentrations in the underlying soil substrates (0-10 cm layer) ranged between 21 +/- 21 and 390 +/- 130 ng.g(-1) of dry matter. The results showed that the consumption of mushrooms, considered to be the sole dietary source of mercury at the highest or mean element concentrations found, is not hazardous at daily ingestion rates of less than 70 and 210 g of fresh product, which would result in a hazard index value of less than unity.

Agaricales↗

PubMed2003

Prediction of log K(OA), T(C), and log P(L) for 281 chlorosubstituted pyrenes as the key parameters featuring environmental transport and fate of these compounds.

Polychlorinated pyrenes (PCPYs) are relatively less studied hazardous substances, which recently were identified and qualified in the environment as persistent contaminants. Within this study the "key" physico-chemical parameters, like logarithm of n-octanol/air partition coefficient (log K(OA)), temperature of condensation (T(C)), and logarithm of vapor pressure of the subcooled liquid (log P(L)), which characterize environmental behavior of persistent organic micropollutants, were predicted. Monochloro- and dichloropyrenes may be classified as relatively low mobile POPs, while the higher chlorinated congeners are definitely low mobile compounds under real environmental conditions.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed2003

[Butyltin and its degradation products in the aspect of food toxicology].

The paper briefly reviews and up-dates available data on some aspects of toxicity of organotins and especially of butyltins, their applications, legal aspects as well as aquatic environment, seafood and food contamination. Special attention is paid on assessed rates of daily intake of butyltins with fish diet by some local groups of inhabitants with high consumption rates of fish originating from the region of the Gulf of Gdański.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

PubMed2003

[The use amount of chlordane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide in Poland].

Chlordanes, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide exposure from a particular food items in Poland in 1970-1996 was calculated by multiplying its annualized mean consumption rates by residue concentration in the food. Estimated daily dietary intakes of chlordanes were from 0.35 to 0.42 microgram per person while of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide from 0.51 to 0.58 microgram per person, on the average. Fish, meat and meat products and butter are a main source of chlordanes intake in a total diet in Poland, while in the case of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide a main source are meat, meat products and animal fats.

Chlordan↗