Nanoscale level determination methods of endocrine disruptors in animal fluids, and their effect upon the female genital tract

Abstract

compounds. A wide variety of environmental contaminants disrupt endocrine system of many species (cattle, sheep, horses) including human, known as endocrine disruptors. Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), grouped collectively as organochlorine compounds (OCCs) and heavy metals (HMs), are the most widespread and persistent, being lipophilic and slowly biodegradable. Being ubiquitous in the environment, these compounds are implicitly present in the feed. The main goal of this paper was to determine nanoscale levels of endocrine disruptors in animal fluids (serum/plasma) and risk assessment on the female reproductive system. The blood samples were collected from cows belonging to a private farmer near Cluj-Napoca. Different aged cows were selected, from which we collected 25 ml of blood in tubes containing an anti-clotting agent and 10 ml in tubes with no additives. Extracted plasma and serum were analysed using the following methods: Method for determination of heavy metals in serum/plasma by microwave digestion and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MW-ICP-AES); Method for simultaneous determination of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in serum/plasma by solid phase micro-extraction in headspace and gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detector (HS-SPME- GC-ECD). After determining the level of endocrine disrupting chemicals in each sample it was observed that the organochlorine pesticides were present in different concentrations, the combined value of these values ranging from 35,24 ng/ml in sample 5 to 60,87 ng/ml. Polychlorinated biphenyls were seldom identified, sample number 3 being PCB 28 positive and sample number 1, 2 and 3 to PCB 153. Heavy metals were identified in all the samples collected, with broad ranging results. These results, correlated with other epidemiological studies suggest without a doubt that these endocrine disruptors will also be present in a wide range of animal by-products. Furthermore, broader studies are of utmost importance for fully understanding the risk to human and animal health.