Malarvannan Govindan

• PhD - Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicological Center at University of Antwerp

Human milk samples (n = 206) collected in 2014 from Belgian primiparous mothers were analyzed for seven groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs): dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pentach...

Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals, including phthalates and alternative plasticizers (APs). Dismantling and shredding of e-waste may lead to the production of dust that contains these plasticizers. The aim of this study, which was part of the European Human Biomonitoring Init...

Due to adverse health effects, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer used to soften plastic medical devices (PMDs), was restricted, and gradually replaced by alternative plasticizers (APs). Up to this date, urine was the sole matrix studied for plasticizer exposure in neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), a p...

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer used to soften plastic medical devices (PMDs), was restricted in PMDs due to adverse health effects, being gradually replaced by alternative plasticizers (APs). Parenteral nutrition (PN), essential in the care for premature neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit, is stored in plastic storage b...

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, en...

Background Phthalates, plasticizers used to increase elasticity of plastic materials, can leach from medical devices into the human body. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) was the most popular plasticizer. Due to various adverse health effects, the EU has restricted its use in medical devices (EU MDR 2017/45), urging the search for alternative pla...

European Biota Quality Standards (EQSbiota), for compounds with low water solubility and high biomagnification, were created to sustain water quality and protect top predators and humans from secondary poisoning. In reality, for multiple compounds, an exceedance of these standards is often reported in literature without a decrease in ecological wat...

In this study, we evaluated the suitability of body feathers, preen oil and plasma for estimation of organohalogen compound (OHC) exposure in northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis nestlings (n = 37; 14 nests). In addition, body feathers received further examination concerning their potential to provide an integrated assessment of (1) OHC exposure, (2...

Organophosphorus Fipronil Neonicotinoids Urine Biomonitoring a b s t r a c t Pyrethroids, organophosphorus pesticides and fipronil have been listed as priority chemicals in human biomonitoring studies because of their wide use and potential health effects in humans. The determination of 13 pesticides, including pyrethroids (deltamethrin, cyper-meth...

Background: Children who have been critically ill face long-term developmental impairments. Iatrogenic exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a plasticizer leaching from plastic indwelling medical devices used in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), has been associated with the pronounced attention deficit observed in children 4 years...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants widely used to manufacture several commercial plastic products. The major homologue in commercial PBDE mixtures are listed in the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and are scheduled for global elimination. Hence, to understand more about unintentional contamination of p...

BACKGROUND Plasticizers, chemicals used to increase the elasticity of plastic materials, can leach from medical devices into the human body. Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) was the most popular plasticizer. Yet, due to various adverse health effects, the EU has banned its use in medical devices in 2017, urging the search for alternative plastici...

Plasticizers, used to increase the flexibility of plastic materials, can leach into the environment and the human body. Various adverse health effects are attributed to exposure to plasticizers, particularly phthalates. Premature newborns admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to many indwelling plastic devices containing pla...

Many aquatic ecosystems are under persistent stress due to influxes of anthropogenic chemical pollutants. High concentrations can harm entire ecosystems and be toxic to humans. However, in case of highly hydrophobic compounds, their low water solubility precludes direct measurement in water, and thus alternative monitoring strategies are needed. In...

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs); are reported in specimens of fish notothenioids Chaenocephalus aceratus (SSI), Trematomus bernacchii (ERN), and Nototheniops nudifrons (NOD) from the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Significant differences in the accumulation of...

Children spend most of their daily time indoors. Many of the items used indoors, such as furniture, electronics, textile, and children toys, are treated with chemicals to provide longevity and fulfil the safety standards. However, many chemicals added to these products are released into the environment during leaching out from the treated products....

People may spend a significant amount of their daily time in cars and thus be exposed to chemicals present in car dust. Various chemicals are emitted from during car use, contaminating the car dust. In this study, we compiled published and unpublished data on the occurrence of phthalates, flame retardants (FRs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PA...

To control the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Saudi Arabia’s government imposed a strict lockdown during March–July 2020. As a result, the public was confined to indoors, and most of their daily activities were happening in their indoor places, which might have resulted in lower indoor environment quality. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon...

In this study, we measured the occurrence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) and phthalates in the settled dust (floor and air conditioner filter dust) and in suspended particulate matter (PM10) from different microenvironments (households (n = 20), offices (n = 10) and hotels (n = 10)) of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Bis (2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was...

Restrictions on the use of legacy phthalate esters (PEs) as plasticizer chemicals in several consumer products has led to the increased use of alternative plasticizers (APs), such as di-(iso-nonyl)-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP). In the fourth cycle of the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEH...

This study investigates the presence of Stockholm Convention listed short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) and their replacement medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCPs) counterparts in polyvinyl chloride and rubber consumer products and toys purchased on the Belgian market in 2019. SCCPs were detected in 27/28 samples at concentrations rangin...

The widespread occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment is a matter of concern. In this study, selected organohalogenated contaminants, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordanes (CHLs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)...

Background Exposure to organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers (PFRs) is commonly estimated by measuring biomarker concentrations in spot urine samples. However, their concentrations in urine can vary greatly over time due to short biological half-lives and variable exposure, potentially leading to exposure misclassification. In this stud...

The evaluation of past and present anthropogenic impacts affecting the ecological quality status of transitional ecosystems is crucial from the perspective of protecting them from further deterioration, and to evaluate remediation and restoration measures. Contamination patterns of thick-lipped grey mullet from two Mediterranean coastal lagoons wit...

Indoor dust has been extensively used for assessment of indoor contamination, especially for semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). In the present study, the occurrence of four groups of SVOCs, i.e. organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs), emerging PFRs (ePFRs), legacy phthalates (LPs), and alternative plasticizers (APs), was investigated in the...

Due to international regulations, commonly used phthalates such as di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are being replaced by other phthalates, such as di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), and di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP) and by alternative plasticizers (APs) with similar chemical characteristics, like di(isononyl)cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate (DINCH), di(2-...

Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) from the Southern Hemisphere carry information on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from their feeding zones in Antarctica to their breeding grounds, making this species a sentinel of contaminants accumulation in the Southern Ocean. This study aimed to evaluate driving factors, namely feeding areas, troph...

Due to worldwide regulations on the application of the high production volume industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in various consumer products, alternative bisphenols such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) are increasingly used. To assess human exposure to these chemicals, biomonitoring of urinary concentrations is frequently used. Howev...

Silver eel samples, collected from the lagoons of Fogliano and Caprolace (Italy), were investigated for a broad range of contaminants (29 polychlorinated biphenyls, 9 polybrominated diphenyl ethers, 5 dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, 5 chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene, 3 hexachlorocyclohexane, and 5 metals). Concentrations of targeted compounds stand...

The European eel is critically endangered. Although the quality of silver eels is essential for their reproduction, little is known about the effects of multiple contaminants on the spawning migration and the European eel management plan does not take this into account. To address this knowledge gap, we sampled 482 silver eels from 12 catchments ac...

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals is suggested to be responsible for the development or progression of uterine fibroids. However, little is known about risks related to emerging chemicals, such as organophosphate esters (OPEs) and alternative plasticizers (APs). A case-control study was conducted to investigate whether exposures to OPEs, A...

Aim: Pediatric intensive care relies on plastic indwelling medical devices softened by phthalates. Phthalates leach into the circulation and concerns about toxicity were raised. Exceeding a certain threshold of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) exposure in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) has been associated with an attention deficit 4 years...

Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns of legacy organochlorines (OCs) is often difficult because monitoring practices differ among studies, fragmented study periods, and unaccounted confounding by ecological variables. We therefore reconstructed long-term (1939–2015) and large-scale (West Greenland, Norway, and central Sweden) trends of major l...

Based on recent data that sperm motility in humans might be (temporarily) affected when lightweight meshes are used for laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, the aim of this study was to identify the plasticizers present in meshes used for hernia repair. Mesh samples (n = 13) were cut into small pieces (1 cm × 1 cm), and, after the addition of inter...

Serum samples from three species of living terrestrial top predators were analysed for six groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polybrominated...

Historically, domestic and wild animals have been used as sentinels for human exposure to environmental contaminants, providing an early warning system for public health intervention. Since domestic animals, particularly cats and dogs, share their (indoor) environment with humans, they can respond to or be affected by toxic assaults like their owne...

A total of 20 organophosphate triesters (OPEs), including seven alkyl-OPEs, three chlorinated (Cl)-OPEs, seven aryl-OPEs, and three oligomeric-OPEs were measured in 341 house dust samples collected from 12 countries during the period 2010-2014. OPEs were ubiquitous in indoor dust, and the total concentrations of OPEs (∑OPEs; sum of 20 OPEs) ranged...

Background Bio-accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environment and in the food chain can lead to high pollutant concentrations in human fat-containing tissues and breast milk. Objectives We aimed to identify the maternal characteristics that determined POP concentrations in breast milk of primiparous mothers in Belgium. Me...

In the present study, concentrations of legacy and emerging contaminants were determined in three non-destructive matrices (plasma, preen oil and body feathers) of northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nestlings. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated dip...

Several regulatory offices called for the phase-out of di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in medical devices if safer alternatives are available. In medical devices, the occurrence of alternative plasticizers (APs) is widely variable among types of devices. However, plasticizer use is constantly evolving, as there is no reference to guide manufactu...

Background: Phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan (TCS) are detectable in the vast majority of people. Most humans are continuously exposed to these chemicals due to their presence in food or in everyday consumer products. The measurement of these compounds in family members may help to explore the impact of major lifestyle factors on exposu...

This is the first study on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish from the Cau Hai lagoon, a part of the largest coastal lagoon in Southeast Asia. Seven selected PCB congeners and organochlorine pesticides in sediments and edible fish tissues were quantified by GC–MS. The sum of ICES-7 PCB and DDTs concentrations in fish species consumed regularl...

Alternative plasticizers (APs) have been increasingly used in the last decade to replace conventional phthalate esters, in particular di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), due to the toxicity of the latter. However, there is currently very little data about the toxicity of and exposure to APs. No method exists so far for the analysis of multiple expos...

Concentrations of organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) can show significant temporal and spatial variation in the environment and wildlife. Most of the variation is due to changes in use and production, but environmental and biological factors may also contribute to the variation. Nestlings of top predators are exposed to maternally transferred OH...

A recent Science report predicted the global killer whale population to collapse due to PCB pollution. Here we present empirical evidence, which supports and extends the reports’ statement. In 2016, a neonate male killer whale stranded on the German island of Sylt. Neonatal attributes indicated an age of at least 3 days. The stomach contained ∼20 m...

The present study aimed to identify plasticizers present in indwelling plastic medical devices commonly used in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We have analyzed a wide range of medical devices (n = 97) daily used in the PICUs of two academic hospitals in Belgium and the Netherlands. Identified compounds varied between the samples. Most of...

Introduction: Flame retardants (FRs) are synthetic chemicals used as additives in polymer consumer products for safety purposes to reduce their flammability. In addition, some of these chemicals, and mainly the non-chlorinated alkyl phosphates, are used as plasticizers1,2. Brominated FRs have been extensively used, but due increasing evidence of th...

While feathers have been successfully validated for monitoring of internal concentrations of heavy metals and legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs), less is known about their suitability for monitoring of emerging contaminants (ECs). Our study presents a broad investigation of both legacy POPs and ECs in non-destructive matrices from a bird o...

Several aspects of the life cycle of the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) remain poorly understood. One such aspect is the broad-versus narrow-head dimorphism, and how this impacts their overall performance at different stages of their life cycle. At the yellow eel stage, the phenotypes show a trophic divergence. We investigat...

This paper reports on the occurrence of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), namely PBDEs, HBCDs, TBBPA, brominated phenols (BrPhs), dechlorane plus (DP) and emerging FRs in a variety of Belgian foodstuffs. A total of 183 composite food samples were analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS techniques for the presence of HFRs. The analyses revealed that 72% o...

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and Dechlorane Plus (DP) are two chlorinated, alternative flame retardants that have been found in wild birds and bird eggs. Little is known about the fate and effect of these compounds in birds, especially during the vulnerable stages of embryonic development. To investigate the ability of birds to bi...

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated (in-house) for the quantification of selected brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), tetrabromobisphenol S (TBBPS) and bromophenols (BPs), in various food...

We have investigated the dynamics of various persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the serum of 94 obese adolescents (34 boys and 60 girls: age range 11-19. years) before (0. M) and after 5. months (5. M) of undergoing weight loss treatment. Six groups of POPs, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its meta...

To support environmental management programs, there is an urgent need to know about the presence and understand the dynamics of major contaminants in seabird communities of key marine ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the concentrations and trophodynamics of trace elements in six seabird species and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in...

A sensitive method for the simultaneous quantification of dechloranes, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) has been developed for gas chromatography (GC) coupled to tandem mass spectrometry operating in electron capture negative ionization (ECNI) mode. The major advance has been achieved by combining...

Furniture flammability standards are typically met with chemical flame retardants (FRs). FRs can migrate out of products into dust and are linked to cancer, neurological impairment, and endocrine disruption. We collected 95 dust samples from dormitory common areas and student rooms on two U.S. college campuses adhering to two different furniture fl...

Little is known about the accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and its consequences for seabirds in the Mediterranean basin. We characterised the plasma contaminant profile (polychlorinated biphenyls ΣPCBs; organochlorine pesticides ΣOCPs; polybrominated diphenyl ethers ΣPBDEs) of a population of the seabird Scopoli's shearwater (Ca...

Blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCP) are used to investigate physiological consequences attributed to exposure to anthropogenic stressors, such as exposure to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and Dechlorane Plus (DP), which are flame retardants (FR), on avian health. Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) were used as a model species...

The occurrence of eight phosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) was investigated in 53 composite food samples from 12 food categories, collected in 2015 for a Swedish food market basket study. 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPHP), detected in most food categories, had the highest median concentrations (9 ng/g ww, pastries). It was followed by triphe...

Long-lived, upper trophic level marine mammals are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Internal tissues may accumulate and mobilize POP compounds at different rates related to the body condition of the animal and the chemical characteristics of individual POP compounds; however, collection of samples from multiple...

First study on the incidence of FRs from different micro-environments of KSA • First study in literature reporting emerging Br/Cl FRs and OPFRs in AC filter dust • Chlorinated alkyl phosphate, BDE-209, and DBDPE were major chemicals. • Lower levels were observed in house dust than those of car and AC filter dust. • Estimated risk assessment of BDE-...

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and their hydroxylated metabolites (HO-PCBs) interfere with thyroid hormone action both in vitro and in vivo. However, epidemiologic studies on the link between PCB exposure and thyroid function have yielded discordant results, while very few data are available for HO-PCBs. Objectives: Our study aimed...

Background: A subset of obese individuals does not exhibit metabolically unfavorable features; this group is referred to as metabolically healthy obese (MHO). Serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are chemicals with endocrine-disrupting properties, have been shown to be lower in MHO than in metabolically unhealthy obese (...

In this work, a new simple method based on a two-step clean-up and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis for the determination of emerging halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), such as dechlorane plus (DP) and brominated phthalates, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in different food items was optimized and validated. Several types...

Purpose: Environmental phthalate exposure has been associated with attention deficit disorders in children. We hypothesized that in children treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), circulating phthalates leaching from indwelling medical devices contribute to their long-term attention deficit. Methods: Circulating plasma concentratio...

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs), including 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene (BHT) and gallic acid esters (gallates), are extensively used in food, cosmetic and plastic industries. Nevertheless, limited information is available on human exposures, other than the dietary sources, to SPAs. In this study, occurrence of nine SPAs and their meta...

Context: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are implicated as potential endocrine disruptors and obesogens. These lipophilic substances are preferentially stored in the fat compartment and released into the circulation during weight loss. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of abdominal adiposity, visceral adiposity i...

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), and tetrabromobisphenol-A (TBBP-A), have routinely been added to consumer products for several decades in an effort to reduce fire-related injury and property damage. Yet, concerns for this class of chemicals have risen because of th...