Showing papers by "Marc Elskens published in 2016"
TL;DR: Endocrine activity of 65 compounds migrating from polycarbonate replacement plastic baby bottles was assessed using in vitro cell based assays (reporter gene assays) involving 7 nuclear receptors, i.e. human steroid hormones receptors, human thyroid beta and peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma receptors, and the mouse aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
24 citations
TL;DR: An estrogen responsive elements chemically activated luciferase gene expression bioassay was characterized and implemented for the analysis of 12 dust samples from kindergartens in Flanders and Brussels and shows that the ERE-CALUX can provide relevant results concerning exposure to EEDCs from indoor dust.
24 citations
TL;DR: Analysis of trace metals in sediment samples and giant tiger prawns from the Tanzanian coast revealed that As, Cd, and Hg present moderate risks to fauna, and calls for measures to control Hg emissions and to strengthen sewage and waste treatment in coastal cities and urban centres.
23 citations
TL;DR: Four baby bottles were considered of high concern because of the potential toxicity of migrating compounds and the potential migration risks associated with these alternative materials were investigated.
19 citations
TL;DR: None of the investigated substances could be unequivocally identified as genotoxic, but the presence of genot toxic effects could neither be excluded for any of them and all substances require more data to investigate thegenotoxic potential.
18 citations
TL;DR: The numerous eddies generated at the NW-AzC/AzF seem to enhance exchanges of plankton between water masses, as well as vertical and horizontal diapycnal diffusion of nutrients, whose increase probably enhances the growth of diazotrophs and the productivity of C-fixers.
Abstract: To understand the impact of the northwestern Azores Current Front (NW-AzC/AzF) system on HCO3--and N2-fixation activities and unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria (UCYN) distribution, we combined geochemical and biological approaches from the oligotrophic surface to upper mesopelagic waters. N2-fixation was observed to sustain 45-85% of the HCO3--fixation in the picoplanktonic fraction performing 47% of the total C-fixation at the deep chlorophyll maximum north and south of the AzF. N2-fixation rates as high as 10.9 μmol N m-3 d-1 and surface nitrate δ15N as low as 2.7‰ were found in the warm (18-24°C), most saline (36.5-37.0) and least productive waters south of the AzF, where UCYN were the least abundant. However, picoplanktonic UCYN abundances up to 55 cells mL-1 were found at 45-200m depths in the coolest nutrient-rich waters north of the AzF. In this area, N2-fixation rates up to 4.5 μmol N m-3 d-1 were detected, associated with depth-integrated H13CO3--fixation rates at least 50% higher than observed south of the AzF. The numerous eddies generated at the NW-AzC/AzF seem to enhance exchanges of plankton between water masses, as well as vertical and horizontal diapycnal diffusion of nutrients, whose increase probably enhances the growth of diazotrophs and the productivity of C-fixers.
10 citations
TL;DR: This study showed that no androgenic activity was present in PM10 and that although the median estrogenic activitywas rather low and comparable in the three locations, high fluctuations in estrogenic response exist over time.
9 citations
TL;DR: Comparison of results obtained with different extraction solvents indicated that acetone/hexane extracts contained more compounds that were cytotoxic and suppressive of responses than those extracted using ultra-pure ethanol, and the use of a more polar extraction solvent seems to be advisable.
7 citations
15 Mar 2016
1 citations