- Belgium
Stefan Voorspoels
VITO, Industrial Innovation, Department Member
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During one to three consecutive periods of 2 weeks, broiler chickens (n = 108) received test dies to which different amount of PCBs (7 congeners) were added. The relationship between exposure time and accumulation of individual congeners... more
During one to three consecutive periods of 2 weeks, broiler chickens (n = 108) received test dies to which different amount of PCBs (7 congeners) were added. The relationship between exposure time and accumulation of individual congeners in different chicken tissues, such as breast, thigh and abdominal fat tissue, was observed. In all tissues, the vast majority of the PCB accumulation occurred during the first 2 weeks of exposures. After that, PCB concentrations only increased in the abdominal fat tissue of the animals. The individual PCBs were distributed differently in the various tissues. While CBs 28, 118, 138, 153 and 180 accumulated in the chickens, CBs 52 and 101 were metabolized, but no methyl sulphone metabolites of these congeners could be detected. Our results provide information on the absorption, tissue distribution and biotransformation of the individual PCB congeners and confirm the structure-activity relationships for metabolism of PCBs in birds, which are different from those in fish or mammalian species.
Research Interests: Biology, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, Animal Feed, Animals, and 15 morePolychlorinated Biphenyls, Absorption, Polychlorinated Biphenyl, GAS LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY, Chickens, Analysis of Variance, Time Factors, Biotransformation, Food Contamination, Abdominal Fat, Structure activity Relationship, Broiler, Biphenyl, Broiler Chicken, and Tissue distribution
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Abstract: Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are good indicators of coastal pollution, because they live in coastal waters and do not present large-scale migration. Relationships between organochlorines and reproductive, endocrine and... more
Abstract: Harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) are good indicators of coastal pollution, because they live in coastal waters and do not present large-scale migration. Relationships between organochlorines and reproductive, endocrine and immunological disorders have been suspected in marine mammals from highly contaminated areas, such as the North or Baltic Sea. Liver samples from 21 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) which were stranded on the French and Belgian North Sea coast between 1997 and 2001, were ...
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... Eric De Wulf; Ralf Eppinger; Didier D'hont; Christophe Dierckxens; Geert Goemans; Claude Belpaire; Hilde Wustenberghs; Stefan Voorspoels; Adrian Covaci; Helga D'Havé; Wim De Coen; Elly den Hond; Bob Peeters;... more
... Eric De Wulf; Ralf Eppinger; Didier D'hont; Christophe Dierckxens; Geert Goemans; Claude Belpaire; Hilde Wustenberghs; Stefan Voorspoels; Adrian Covaci; Helga D'Havé; Wim De Coen; Elly den Hond; Bob Peeters; Stijn Overloop. Title, Verspreiding van bestrijdingsmiddelen. ...
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<p>Plastic is considered one of the most practical inventions of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, providing us with a range of very practical materials. However, due to mismanaged waste the plastic... more
<p>Plastic is considered one of the most practical inventions of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, providing us with a range of very practical materials. However, due to mismanaged waste the plastic pollution has become persistent in aquatic environments. As the plastic products undergo environmental weathering once released in the aquatic environment, they degrade and are fragmented into a highly heterogeneous group of particles with different sizes (i.e., from centimeter over millimeter and micrometer to nanometer scale), shapes, densities, and chemical compositions. However, due to the lack of suitable analytical methodology, knowledge on degradation and/or fragmentation of plastics to nanoplastics (NPs, 1-1000nm), especially in the aquatic environments is still largely lacking.</p> <p>In the framework of the MS4Plastics project, 15 different plastic materials, including a surgical face mask, different polymer pellets, rubber dust, and plastic powders as common examples of plastics expected to be present in the aquatic system were added to  Milli Q water and exposed to UV-light for 120 hours to better understand plastic degradation and/or fragmentation into NPs. Finally, for detection and size determination of NPs formed after accelerated UV-driven plastic fragmentation in water, dynamic light scattering was used. For a fraction of the samples, asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) hyphenated to multi-angle light scattering (MALS) was used as a complementary analytical technique for characterization of NPs.</p> <p>This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 101023205.</p> <p> </p>
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International audienc
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The Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS) collects information on internal exposure to a broad range of environmental chemicals in the general population in Flanders, the Northern region of Belgium. The aim is to establish... more
The Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS) collects information on internal exposure to a broad range of environmental chemicals in the general population in Flanders, the Northern region of Belgium. The aim is to establish biomonitoring exposure distributions for the general population in support of public health and environmental policy, environmental risk assessment and risk management decisions. In 2017-2018, urine and blood samples were collected from 428 teenagers by a stratified clustered two stage randomized design. Samples were analyzed for a broad range of biomarkers related to exposure to chlorinated and newer pesticides, brominated and organophosphate flame retardants (BFR/OPFR), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bisphenols, phthalates and alternative plasticizers, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, metals and trace elements. The geometric mean levels and percentiles of the distribution were estimated for each biomarker, for the whole study population and following stratification for sex, the household educational attainment and the residence area's urbanicity. Geometric means of biomarkers of lead, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), PCBs, PAHs, regulated phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) were lower than in the previous FLEHS cycles. Most biomarker levels were below health-based guidance values (HB-GVs). However, HB-GVs of urinary arsenic, blood lead, blood cadmium, sum of serum perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) and the urinary pyrethroid metabolite (3-PBA) were exceeded in respectively 25%, 12%, 39.5%, 10% and 22% of the teenagers. These results suggest that the levels of exposure in the Flemish population to some environmental chemicals might be of concern. At the same time, we noticed that biomarkers for BPA substitutes, metabolites of OPFRs, an expanded list of PFAS, glyphosate and its metabolite could be measured in substantial proportions of participants. Interpretation of these levels in a health-risk context remains uncertain as HB-GVs are lacking. Household educational attainment and residential urbanicity were significant exposure determinants for many biomarkers and could influence specific biomarker levels up to 70% as shown by multiple regression analysis. The research consortium also took care of the broader external communication of results with participants, policy makers, professional groups and civil society organizations. Our study demonstrated that teenagers are exposed to a wide range of chemicals, it demonstrates the success of public policies to reduce exposure but also points to concern and further priorities and needs for follow up.
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Research Interests: Chemistry and Environment
This report describes the work conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in the context of an Administrative Arrangement between DG Environment and the JRC. The work aimed at technical support in the establishment of an... more
This report describes the work conducted by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in the context of an Administrative Arrangement between DG Environment and the JRC. The work aimed at technical support in the establishment of an approach to identify and prioritise among relevant compounds that have to be considered in European regulation dealing with Sewage Sludge. Particular emphasis was given with regard to resilience in soil or the ability to compromise ecosystems adjacent to sludge-receiving soils. The work includes the results of a targeted and independent screening of typical European situations of sewage sludges with regard to the occurrence and levels of compounds of concern, many of which never assessed in a pan-European dimension. In total, 63 samples, mostly taken as grab samples and originating from 15 countries, were assessed for 22 minor and trace elements and 92 organic compounds including ingredients of personal care products and pharmaceuticals. The underl...
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To screen and identify biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas strains isolated from floral nectar; to characterize the produced biosurfactants; and to investigate the effect of different carbon sources on biosurfactant production. Four out... more
To screen and identify biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas strains isolated from floral nectar; to characterize the produced biosurfactants; and to investigate the effect of different carbon sources on biosurfactant production. Four out of eight nectar Pseudomonas isolates were found to produce biosurfactants. Phylogenetic analysis based on three housekeeping genes (16S rRNA gene, rpoB and gyrB) classified the isolates into two groups, including one group closely related to P. fluorescens and another group closely related to P. fragi and P. jessenii. Although our nectar pseudomonads were able to grow on a variety of water-soluble and water-immiscible carbon sources, surface active agents were only produced when using vegetable oil as sole carbon source, including olive oil, sunflower oil or waste frying sunflower oil. Structural characterization based on thin layer chromatography (TLC) and ultra high performance liquid chromatography-accurate mass mass spectrometry (UHPLC-amMS) reve...
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Research Interests: Engineering, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Chromatography, Biology, and 14 moreMedicine, Multidisciplinary, Biological Sciences, Humans, Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Liquid Phase Microextraction, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Sonication, Solvent, Nails, Solvents, and limit of detection
Research Interests: Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollution, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, and 15 moreLiver, Starlings, Europe, Animals, Muscles, Ether, Biotransformation, Body Weight, Environmental Pollutants, Environmental, Environment, Environmental Exposure, Flame Retardants, European Starling, and Sturnus vulgaris
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Risk assessment of pollutants requires both monitoring studies in the field and experimental exposure studies. In this study, we evaluated silastic implants as an alternative method of exposure for use in toxicological studies and at the... more
Risk assessment of pollutants requires both monitoring studies in the field and experimental exposure studies. In this study, we evaluated silastic implants as an alternative method of exposure for use in toxicological studies and at the same time evaluated the usefulness of feathers as a non-destructive biomonitor for PCBs. European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were exposed to different doses (including a control group) of environmentally relevant concentrations of PCB 153 during a 15-week period using silastic implants with both ends/only one end sealed. After implantation, there was a rapid and significant increase in PCB 153 blood concentration in the exposed groups. The significant differences in blood concentrations among the treatment groups show that silastic implants are useful as a method of exposure. Moreover, the ratio between the tissue concentrations of two treatment groups reflected the difference in implantation doses between these groups. There was also a clear difference in tissue concentrations among the treatment groups, although we could not test this statistically due to the small sample sizes. The slow release kinetics for a prolonged period and the relatively stable blood concentrations during the 15-week period render silastic tubes very interesting to study the effects of chronic exposure to pollutants. Our results also revealed that sealing both ends of the implant instead of only one did not significantly affect the exposure. There were strong, significant positive correlations between the blood and the tissues, which confirm the use of blood to monitor PCBs. To evaluate the usefulness of feathers as a non-destructive biomonitor for PCBs, we plucked the original and newly grown wing and tail feathers. We observed strong, significant positive correlations between the concentrations in the newly grown feathers and concentrations in the muscle, liver, brain and blood. PCB 153 concentrations in the newly grown feathers differed among the treatment groups. To our knowledge, our results provide the first experimental evidence that feathers are useful as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for PCBs.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Kinetics, Environmental Monitoring, Risk assessment, Medicine, and 15 moreMultidisciplinary, Starlings, Animals, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Biphenyl, Experimental Evaluation, Feathers, Body Weight, Risk Assessment, Environmental Pollutants, Feather, Environment, Control Group, European Starling, and Small Sample Size
Risk assessment of pollutants requires both monitoring studies in the field and experimental exposure studies. In this study, we evaluated silastic implants as an alternative method of exposure for use in toxicological studies and at the... more
Risk assessment of pollutants requires both monitoring studies in the field and experimental exposure studies. In this study, we evaluated silastic implants as an alternative method of exposure for use in toxicological studies and at the same time evaluated the usefulness of feathers as a non-destructive biomonitor for PCBs. European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were exposed to different doses (including a control group) of environmentally relevant concentrations of PCB 153 during a 15-week period using silastic implants with both ends/only one end sealed. After implantation, there was a rapid and significant increase in PCB 153 blood concentration in the exposed groups. The significant differences in blood concentrations among the treatment groups show that silastic implants are useful as a method of exposure. Moreover, the ratio between the tissue concentrations of two treatment groups reflected the difference in implantation doses between these groups. There was also a clear difference in tissue concentrations among the treatment groups, although we could not test this statistically due to the small sample sizes. The slow release kinetics for a prolonged period and the relatively stable blood concentrations during the 15-week period render silastic tubes very interesting to study the effects of chronic exposure to pollutants. Our results also revealed that sealing both ends of the implant instead of only one did not significantly affect the exposure. There were strong, significant positive correlations between the blood and the tissues, which confirm the use of blood to monitor PCBs. To evaluate the usefulness of feathers as a non-destructive biomonitor for PCBs, we plucked the original and newly grown wing and tail feathers. We observed strong, significant positive correlations between the concentrations in the newly grown feathers and concentrations in the muscle, liver, brain and blood. PCB 153 concentrations in the newly grown feathers differed among the treatment groups. To our knowledge, our results provide the first experimental evidence that feathers are useful as a non-destructive biomonitoring tool for PCBs.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Kinetics, Environmental Monitoring, Risk assessment, Medicine, and 15 moreMultidisciplinary, Starlings, Animals, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated Biphenyl, Experimental Evaluation, Feathers, Body Weight, Risk Assessment, Environmental Pollutants, Feather, Environment, Control Group, European Starling, and Small Sample Size
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Research Interests: Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollution, Medicine, Multidisciplinary, and 15 moreLiver, Starlings, Europe, Animals, Muscles, Ether, Biotransformation, Body Weight, Environmental Pollutants, Environmental, Environment, Environmental Exposure, Flame Retardants, European Starling, and Sturnus vulgaris
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Research Interests: Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollution, Multidisciplinary, Belgium, Liver, and 15 morePesticides, Birds, Animals, Fishes, Barn Owl, Ardea, Brominated Flame Retardant, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, Food Chain, Accipiter, Condition Factor, Environmental Exposure, Hexachlorobenzene, Flame Retardants, and Organochlorine pesticide
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In the present study, concentrations and tissue distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs; IUPAC # 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209) were examined in brain, adipose tissue, liver, muscle, and serum of birds of prey.... more
In the present study, concentrations and tissue distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs; IUPAC # 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209) were examined in brain, adipose tissue, liver, muscle, and serum of birds of prey. Median SigmaPBDE levels (BDE 28-183) in the tissues of sparrowhawks ranged from 360 to 1900 ng/g lipid weight (lw), which was in general one order of magnitude higher than in the tissues of common buzzards (26-130 ng/g lw). There were no differences in PBDE congener patterns between the various tissues within individuals of a certain species. Inter-species differences in PBDE patterns and in particular the percentage of BDE 99, 100 and 153 were, however, pronounced between sparrowhawk and common buzzard. BDE 209 was detected in nearly all serum and in some liver samples, but not in any other tissues. This observation suggests that exposure to BDE 209 is low or that this congener is poorly accumulated. Passive (lipid content related) diffusion could not completely describe the PBDE tissue distribution, e.g. the lowest PBDE-load was measured in brain, a fairly lipid rich tissue.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Bioaccumulation, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollution, Medicine, and 15 moreMultidisciplinary, Belgium, Lipids, Adipose tissue, Liver, Birds of prey, Birds, Animals, Muscles, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers, Environmental Pollutants, Brain Chemistry, Predatory Behavior, Environmental Exposure, and Flame Retardants
In the present study, concentrations and tissue distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs; IUPAC # 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209) were examined in brain, adipose tissue, liver, muscle, and serum of birds of prey.... more
In the present study, concentrations and tissue distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs; IUPAC # 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209) were examined in brain, adipose tissue, liver, muscle, and serum of birds of prey. Median SigmaPBDE levels (BDE 28-183) in the tissues of sparrowhawks ranged from 360 to 1900 ng/g lipid weight (lw), which was in general one order of magnitude higher than in the tissues of common buzzards (26-130 ng/g lw). There were no differences in PBDE congener patterns between the various tissues within individuals of a certain species. Inter-species differences in PBDE patterns and in particular the percentage of BDE 99, 100 and 153 were, however, pronounced between sparrowhawk and common buzzard. BDE 209 was detected in nearly all serum and in some liver samples, but not in any other tissues. This observation suggests that exposure to BDE 209 is low or that this congener is poorly accumulated. Passive (lipid content related) diffusion could not completely describe the PBDE tissue distribution, e.g. the lowest PBDE-load was measured in brain, a fairly lipid rich tissue.