Parabens, a group of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), are well known preservatives in pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). However, studies on parabens exposure and their cumulative effects in Asian population are limited. This study aimed to identify the exposure characteristics and estimate the cumulative risk of four parabens in the general Taiwanese.

Childhood and adolescent mental health problems may increase the global burden of disease. Neurotoxic metals are associated with inflammation and cytotoxicity in the brain. In addition, prenatal phthalate ester (PAE) exposure is associated with cognitive function deficits. However, the effect of co-exposure to toxic metals, PAEs, and their association with child behavior is less well studied. Hence, we aimed to investigate prenatal co-exposure to the metals and PAEs and the consequent behavioral outcomes in early childhood.

We previously found that cigarette sidestream smoke particulate matter (CSSP) could activate estrogen receptor ER_ to generate estrogen-like tumor-promoting effects. This study sought to identify the compounds responsible for CSSP estrogenicity. We first identified the component compounds using a combination of GC-MS and mass spectral matching. Based on computational estrogenicity prediction, nine potential estrogenic compounds were selected for second GC-MS identification and quantification. Their estrogenic activities at levels detected in the CSSP were verified using an estrogen-responsive reporter assay. Only catechol, a possible human carcinogen, showed significant estrogenic activity, but the activity was too low to justify CSSP estrogenicity.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) is associated with vascular diseases. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM(2.5) are highly hazardous; however, the contribution of PM(2.5)-bound PAHs to PM(2.5)-associated vascular diseases remains unclear. The ToxCast high-throughput in vitro screening database indicates that some PM(2.5)-bound PAHs activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The present study investigated whether the AhR pathway is involved in the mechanism of PM(2.5)-induced vascular toxicity,

In a combined population-based and case-control study, exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), particularly benzene, concomitant with increased oxidative stress and sphingolipid dysregulation, posed a significant, but differential, risk for current asthma, its severity and phenotypic clusters.

We found that the concentrations of Fe, Zn, V, Cu, and Mn (industry-related metals) were higher at the industrial site (Kaohsiung) and Ba, Cr, Ni, Mo, and Co (traffic-related metals) were higher at the urban site (Taipei). The rural site (Hualian) had good air quality, with low PM2.5 and metal concentrations. Most metal concentrations were higher during the cold season for all study sites, except for the rural.