Exposure of children to brominated flame retardants and heavy metals in Morocco: Urine and blood levels in association with global cytosine and adenine methylation

Kaoutar Chbihi; Aziza Menouni; Emilie Hardy; Matteo Creta; Nathalie Grova; An Van Nieuwenhuyse; Lode Godderis; Samir El Jaafari; Radu-Corneliu Duca

Environment International (Jan 2024)

Exposure of children to brominated flame retardants and heavy metals in Morocco: Urine and blood levels in association with global cytosine and adenine methylation

Kaoutar Chbihi,
Aziza Menouni,
Emilie Hardy,
Matteo Creta,
Nathalie Grova,
An Van Nieuwenhuyse,
Lode Godderis,
Samir El Jaafari,
Radu-Corneliu Duca

Affiliations

Kaoutar Chbihi: Cluster of Competences on Health & Environment, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco; Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg; Corresponding authors at: Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Aziza Menouni: Cluster of Competences on Health & Environment, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco; Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
Emilie Hardy: Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg
Matteo Creta: Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg
Nathalie Grova: Immune Endocrine Epigenetics Research Group, Department of Infection and Immunity-Luxembourg Institute of Health, Esch-Sur-Alzette L-4354, Luxembourg; UMR Inserm 1256 nGERE, Nutrition-Génétique et exposition aux risques environnementaux, Institute of Medical Research (Pôle BMS) - University of Lorraine, B.P. 184, Nancy 54511, France
An Van Nieuwenhuyse: Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg
Lode Godderis: Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; IDEWE, External Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Heverlee 3001, Belgium
Samir El Jaafari: Cluster of Competences on Health & Environment, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco
Radu-Corneliu Duca: Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium; Unit of Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), Dudelange L-3555, Luxembourg; Corresponding authors at: Center for Environment & Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 183
p. 108409

Abstract

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Persistent pollutants, namely brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and heavy metals, are compounds that are added to a wide range of products and materials for preventing ignition, increasing the functionality of materials or improving their performance, e.g. electric conductivity. The exposure of children might consequently be inferred, through indoor dust and hand-to-mouth or toy-chewing behaviors. The current study is aimed at assessing the exposure of Moroccan children to BFRs and heavy metal elements, and evaluating their associations with global DNA methylation. First, parents responded to a questionnaire pertaining to children’s lifestyle, then blood and urine samples were collected from (n = 93) children aged between 5 and 11 years for biomonitoring and DNA methylation analysis. BFRs were detected in 54.84% of samples with a median concentration of 0.01 nmol/mL (range: 0.004–0.051 nmol/mL) while metal elements were detected in more than 90% of samples. BFRs showed no variations with global DNA methylation, unlike metal elements, which revealed significant associations with global DNA methylation markers, namely 5-mC, 5-hmC and N⁶-mA levels. Moroccan children may be exposed to flame retardants and heavy metals through several routes. Further research is required to assess the exposure and the health impacts of environmental pollutants and ultimately protect the Moroccan population by the prevention of adverse health effects.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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