@article {92, title = {Hydroxylated 2-Ethylhexyl tetrabromobenzoate isomers in house dust and their agonistic potencies with several nuclear receptors.}, journal = {Environ Pollut}, volume = {227}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 Aug}, pages = {578-586}, abstract = {

In the current study, by combining ultra-high resolution (UHR) MS spectra, MS spectra, and derivatization, three hydroxylated isomers of 2-ethylhexyl tetrabromobenzoate (OH-TBB) were identified in Firemaster 550 and BZ-54 technical products. Also, a new LC-UHRMS method, using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), was developed for simultaneous analysis of OH-TBB, TBB, hydroxylated bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (OH-TBPH) and TBPH in 23 samples of dust collected from houses in Saskatoon, SK, Canada. OH-TBBs were detected in 91\% of samples, with a geometric mean concentration of 0.21\ ng/g, which was slightly less than those of OH-TBPH (0.35\ ng/g). TBB was detected in 100\% of samples of dust with a geometric mean concentration of 992\ ng/g. Significant (p\ \<\ 0.001) log-linear relationships between concentrations of OH-TBBs, TBB, or OH-TBPHs and TBPH in dust support the hypothesis of a common source of these compounds. OH-TBBs were found to be strong agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARĪ³) and weaker agonists of the estrogen receptor (ER), but no agonistic potencies was observed with the androgen receptor (AR). Occurrence of OH-TBBs in technical products and house dust, together with their relatively strong PPARĪ³ potencies, indicated their potential risk to health of humans.

}, keywords = {Air Pollution, Indoor, Bromobenzoates, Canada, Dust, Environmental Monitoring, Flame Retardants, Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers, Humans}, issn = {1873-6424}, doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.094}, author = {Peng, Hui and Sun, Jianxian and Saunders, David M V and Codling, Garry and Wiseman, Steve and Jones, Paul D and Giesy, John P} } @article {95, title = {Mutagenic Azo Dyes, Rather Than Flame Retardants, Are the Predominant Brominated Compounds in House Dust.}, journal = {Environ Sci Technol}, volume = {50}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 12 06}, pages = {12669-12677}, abstract = {

Characterization of toxicological profiles by use of traditional targeted strategies might underestimate the risk of environmental mixtures. Unbiased identification of prioritized compounds provides a promising strategy for meeting regulatory needs. In this study, untargeted screening of brominated compounds in house dust was conducted using a data-independent precursor isolation and characteristic fragment (DIPIC-Frag) approach, which used data-independent acquisition (DIA) and a chemometric strategy to detect peaks and align precursor ions. A total of 1008 brominated compound peaks were identified in 23 house dust samples. Precursor ions and formulas were identified for 738 (73\%) of the brominated compounds. A correlation matrix was used to cluster brominated compounds; three large groups were found for the 140 high-abundance brominated compounds, and only 24 (17\%) of these compounds were previously known flame retardants. The predominant class of unknown brominated compounds was predicted to consist of nitrogen-containing compounds. Following further validation by authentic standards, these compounds (56\%) were determined to be novel brominated azo dyes. The mutagenicity of one major component was investigated, and mutagenicity was observed at environmentally relevant concentrations. Results of this study demonstrated the existence of numerous unknown brominated compounds in house dust, with mutagenic azo dyes unexpectedly being identified as the predominant compounds.

}, keywords = {Azo Compounds, Dust, Flame Retardants, Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers, Hydrocarbons, Brominated, Mutagens}, issn = {1520-5851}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6b03954}, author = {Peng, Hui and Saunders, David M V and Sun, Jianxian and Jones, Paul D and Wong, Chris K C and Liu, Hongling and Giesy, John P} } @article {103, title = {Untargeted Screening and Distribution of Organo-Bromine Compounds in Sediments of Lake Michigan.}, journal = {Environ Sci Technol}, volume = {50}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jan 05}, pages = {321-30}, abstract = {

Previously unreported natural and synthetic organo-bromine compounds (NSOBCs) have been found to contribute more than 99\% of total organic bromine (TOB) in environmental matrices. We recently developed a novel untargeted method (data-independent precursor isolation and characteristic fragment, DIPIC-Frag) and identified \~{}2000 NSOBCs in two sediments from Lake Michigan. In this study, this method was used to investigate the distributions of these NSOBCs in 23 surficial samples and 24 segments of a sediment core from Lake Michigan. NSOBCs were detected in all 23 surficial samples and exhibited 10- to 100-fold variations in peak abundance among locations. The pattern of distributions of NSOBCs was correlated with depth of the water column (r(2) = 0.61, p \< 0.001). Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that sediments in close proximity exhibited similar profiles of NSOBCs. Distributions of NSOBCs in 24 segments of a sediment core dated from 1766 to 2008 were investigated, and samples from similar depths exhibited similar profiles of NSOBCs. NSOBCs were grouped into four clusters (soft-cluster analysis) with different temporal trends of abundances. 515 and 768 of the NSOBCs were grouped into cluster 1 and cluster 3 with increasing temporal trends, especially since 1950, indicating that abundances of these compounds might have been affected by human activities.

}, keywords = {Bromine Compounds, Environmental Monitoring, Geologic Sediments, Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers, Hydrocarbons, Brominated, Lakes, Michigan, Water Pollutants, Chemical}, issn = {1520-5851}, doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5b04709}, author = {Peng, Hui and Chen, Chunli and Cantin, Jenna and Saunders, David M V and Sun, Jianxian and Tang, Song and Codling, Garry and Hecker, Markus and Wiseman, Steve and Jones, Paul D and Li, An and Rockne, Karl J and Sturchio, Neil C and Giesy, John P} }