Cotinine, as the main metabolite of nicotine, has been determined in urine using solid-phase extraction and the high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (SPE-HPTLC) method. The urine samples were collected from a group of 35 male adolescents which were moderate or significantly exposed to home environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). l-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone was used as the internal standard in th...

A simple procedure for graphite-furnace atomic absorption analysis of cadmium in urine, based on the use of a temperature-controlled heating unit, is described. The temperature of the carbon rod is measured by resistance and controlled by electronic feedback. We studied the influence of various heating times and temperatures of ashing and atomization, as well as suitable diluents. Urine samples...

Using a dataset obtained in an earlier published epidemiological study that revealed the dependence of the probability of subclinical kidney damage in 260 children on the concentration of lead and cadmium in their urine, we have tested some methodological approaches to assessing the type of combined nephrotoxicity produced by these two metals. We have found that the environmentally caused damag...

BACKGROUND This study intended to investigate whether residence in areas polluted by heavy industry, waste incineration, a high density of traffic and housing or intensive use of pesticides, could contribute to the high incidence of cancer observed in Flanders. METHODS Subjects were 1583 residents aged 50-65 from 9 areas with different types of pollution. Cadmium, lead, p,p'-DDE, hexachlorobe...

It isn’t well understood how chronic low-level exposures to toxic metals contribute to disease, but a growing number of studies suggest epigenetic mechanisms may play a role. In this issue of EHP, investigators report a novel association between metals exposure and DNA hydroxymethylation, an epigenetic modification that has only recently entered the research spotlight. Epigenetic modifications ...

The major purpose of human biomonitoring is the mapping and assessment exposure to chemicals. European initiative HBM4EU has prioritized seven substance groups two metals relevant for exposure: Phthalates substitutes (1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester, DINCH), bisphenols, per- polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), halogenated organophosphorous flame retardants (HFRs OPFRs), polyc...

BACKGROUND Cadmium is a commonly occurring toxic food contaminant, but health consequences of early-life exposure are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES We evaluated the associations between cadmium exposure and neurobehavioral development in preschool children. METHODS In our population-based mother-child cohort study in rural Bangladesh, we assessed cadmium exposure in 1,305 women in early pre...

BACKGROUND In the United States, cigarette flavorings are banned, with the exception of menthol. The cooling effects of menthol could facilitate the absorption of tobacco toxicants. We examined levels of biomarkers of tobacco exposure among U.S. smokers of menthol and nonmenthol cigarettes. METHODS We studied 4,603 White, African-American, and Mexican-American current smokers 20 years of age ...