Predictive analysis of the effects ofpharmaceutical mixtures on microbial communities
Hans Blanck (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Göteborg University.
Email: hans.blanck@botany.gu.se
In analyses of chemical hazards, each compound is assessed in isolation, although everybody is aware that the ecosystem is exposed to many chemicals either simultaneously or in turn. When it is said that chemicals can interact, it is often a sudden and enhanced effect that is causing concern, but predictable synergistic effects are already a worry since existing hazard analysis underestimates the risk of toxic effects. Conventional methods can however be applied also in ecological contexts to pharmaceuticals and certain personal care products when an estimate is made of their joint effect on the basis of what is known of the toxic effect of each individual compound.
The project focused on compounds which are suspected of being able to affect the organisms in natural planktonic and periphytic communities. Both plankton and periphyton contain a large number of bacteria, algae and microfauna, but they are nevertheless manageable and have a high test capacity. Through chemical analysis of sewage effluent, a 15-component mixture of pharmaceuticals was made up. The mixture contained antiepileptics, lipid regulators, antiphlogistics, antibiotics and analgesics. The most important conclusions are that pharmaceuticals and personal care products interact in a way that is predictable. Mixture effects should therefore be taken into consideration also in environmental administration. To evaluate each substance in isolation is to ignore environmental hazards.
Pesticide exposure of the general population in Central America
Christian Lindh (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from University Hospital, Lund.
Email: christian.lindh@med.lu.se
Exposure to chemical pesticides is a serious global problem for human health. It is not only those who handle pesticides occupationally, but also the population in nearby areas who are exposed either directly through e.g. aerial spraying, or indirectly through water or food. The use of chemical pesticides in the home environment is also common in many countries, and children are a group at special risk.
In order to describe human exposure to chemical pesticides, biomarkers such as blood and urine were analysed. Unfortunately, there are few developed methods for analysing urine for low concentrations in the general population. The specific objective of this project was therefore to develop new and more sensitive methods which can be used in conjunction with both occupational exposure, environmental exposure and the exposure of consumers. A more general aim was to promote collaboration among Central American laboratories, to enhance capacity in chemical analysis, and to strengthen the fundamental resources needed for continued interdisciplinary research. The project has generated large quantities of data and results which have been presented at several scientific conferences.
Bone development and homeostasis are critical targets for chemicals and environmental pollutants
Monica Lind (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute.
Email: monica.lind@ki.se
The project is based on the suspicion that there is a causal relationship between environmental exposure to organic environmental pollutants and the increase in osteoporosis in both animals and humans. Persistent organic environmental pollutants such as PCB and DDT could be a cause of the skeletal damage found among grey seals in the Baltic Sea. It may also be a partial explanation for the increase in osteoporosis related fractures in humans. The overall objective has therefore been to characterise these effects and to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effect of endocrine disruptive environmental pollutants on bone tissue.
Methods have been developed and refined for studying the effects on bone tissue, and comprise e.g. computed tomography and biomechanical investigations of bone tissue, but also biochemical and molecular biological investigations of blood and other tissues. One study on Swedish men and women showed sex specific differences in bone mineral density. Whether these endocrine disruptive environmental pollutants are also behind the dramatic increase in bone fractures among the populations in industrialised countries is still not clear and ought to be investigated further.
Interaction between exposure to cadmium and persistent organohalogenic environmental pollutants with respect to osteoporosis
Staffan Skerfving (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Lund.
Email: Staffan.Skerfving@med.lu.se
Osteoporosis and fractures are increasing, especially among women. Sweden is a high risk country, but the reasons are not known. Osteoporosis is however an important symptom associated with exposure to cadmium, but low exposure may also affect the skeleton.
Tobacco smoke is a major source of cadmium. It is also possible that the association between smoking and osteoporosis is due to cadmium. It is however conceivable that other aspects of the smoke might affect the skeleton. One possibility is that obese women have higher bone mineral density. Smokers have a lower body weight and smoking affects hormone metabolism, which affects the skeleton.
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