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Environmental Science & Technology Jun 2018Chlorinated paraffins are industrial chemicals that can be subdivided into short-chain (SCCP), medium-chain (MCCP), and long-chain (LCCP) chlorinated paraffins. The... (Review)
Review
Chlorinated paraffins are industrial chemicals that can be subdivided into short-chain (SCCP), medium-chain (MCCP), and long-chain (LCCP) chlorinated paraffins. The global production volumes of MCCPs are nowadays suspected to be much higher than those of S- and LCCPs, and the few available studies on the environmental occurrence of chlorinated paraffins report often higher MCCP concentrations than S- or LCCP concentrations in the environment. The present review focuses, therefore, on MCCPs specifically and provides a literature overview and a data analysis of the production volumes, PBT properties (persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity), and the worldwide measured concentrations of MCCP in environmental samples, biota, and humans. Furthermore, we include our own measurements of technical CP formulations from China, the major global producing country, to estimate the global production amounts of MCCPs. The key findings from this review are that (1) MCCPs are toxic to the aquatic environment, and the available data suggest that they are also persistent; (2) available time trends for MCCPs in soil, biota, and most of the sediment cores show increasing time trends over the last years to decades; and (3) MCCP concentrations in sediment close to local sources exceed toxicity thresholds (i.e., the PNEC). Our study shows that overall, MCCPs are of growing concern, and regulatory actions should be considered seriously.
Topics: China; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Paraffin; Soil
PubMed: 29791144
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b06459 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Apr 2021Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are anthropogenic pollutants of growing environmental concern. These highly complex mixtures of thousands of homologs and congeners are...
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are anthropogenic pollutants of growing environmental concern. These highly complex mixtures of thousands of homologs and congeners are usually applied as additives in lubricants or as flame retardants and plasticizers in polymers and paints. Recent studies indicated the presence of high amounts of CPs in the kitchen environment whose sources could not be unequivocally identified. One option was the use of CPs as or in lubricants of hinges. To test this hypothesis, we performed wipe tests on lubricants on 29 hinges of different types of kitchen appliances (refrigerators, baking ovens, dishwashers, freezers, microwave oven, pasta machine, food processor, steam cooker) and analyzed them for short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs). CPs were detected in 21 samples (72%). Per wipe, SCCP concentrations ranged between 0.02 and 10 µg (median 0.23 µg), while MCCPs ranged from 0.09 to 750 µg (median 1.0 µg). Highest MCCP amounts (380 and 750 µg per wipe, respectively) were determined in new and unused appliances. A medium correlation between SCCP content and appliance age was observed, but no additional statistic correlation between SCCP/MCCP amount and appliance type or manufacturer could be observed. CPs released from hinges by volatilization, abrasion, and cleaning processes could enter the environment and come in contact with persons living in the corresponding households.
Topics: China; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Flame Retardants; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Paraffin
PubMed: 33829339
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09023-z -
Ceskoslovenska Patologie 2022Penile paraffinoma or sclerosing lipogranuloma is a disease occurring uncommonly in Czechia; a pathologist meets this only rarely. Microscopically, we deal with chronic...
Penile paraffinoma or sclerosing lipogranuloma is a disease occurring uncommonly in Czechia; a pathologist meets this only rarely. Microscopically, we deal with chronic fibroproductive inflammation localised usually in subcutaneous tissue of the penis. It is caused by previous voluntary injection of liquid paraffin / mineral oil for the purpose of penis circumference augmentation, usually performed by a non-healthcare person or by the patient himself. Human tissues do not have enzymes that can break down synthetic lipids. The application leads, with a variable time lag, to a foreign body giant-cell reaction lasting for years, and often to annoying complications frequently associated with a genital mutilation and sexual dysfunction. The lesion often requires surgical treatment to remove the paraffin substance from the subcutaneous tissue. The surgery does not always lead to satisfying results and the paraffinoma tends to recur. In this article, we describe a case of a man with relapsing paraffinoma, which required excision of subcutis with subsequent plastic surgery with skin graft. During histological examination, lipid droplets were found in dermis and in subcutis, along with xantogranulomatous inflammation. The lipid nature of the material was proven by oil red and Sudan stain. The paper includes clinical and histopathological differential diagnostic consideration, summary of treatment options and relevant literature review.
Topics: Granuloma; Humans; Inflammation; Male; Paraffin; Penis
PubMed: 35387457
DOI: No ID Found -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Feb 2021In the past decades, the environmental presence and ecological risks of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), an emerging class of organic halogen compounds, have been receiving... (Review)
Review
In the past decades, the environmental presence and ecological risks of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), an emerging class of organic halogen compounds, have been receiving increasing attention worldwide. Short-chain CPs (SCCPs) and medium-chain CPs (MCCPs) constitute the important CPs of considerable concern. In this review article, the state-of-the-art research status on the environmental transformation of CPs, including thermal decomposition, photolytic and photocatalytic degradation, biological metabolism, and atmospheric transformation, was summarized and integrated in detail. The degradation efficiency and transformation products of CPs in these environmental processes were evaluated, in which dechlorination was considered as the major reaction pathway. Notably, waste incineration of CPs has been demonstrated to generate a variety of persistent chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons such as polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated naphthalenes, which have more significant environmental impacts. Additionally, photodegradation and photocatalysis are suggested as the feasible techniques for efficient removal of SCCPs from water matrices. Overall, the current transformation studies of CPs could facilitate the comprehensive understanding of their environmental behaviors and fate as well as the development of promising remediation strategies for pollution control.
Topics: China; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollution; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Paraffin; Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PubMed: 33475920
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12469-w -
European Review For Medical and... Oct 2023Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with considerable disability, especially in the elderly patient population. Paraffin wax (PW) and prolotherapy (P) are... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
OBJECTIVE
Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with considerable disability, especially in the elderly patient population. Paraffin wax (PW) and prolotherapy (P) are non-pharmacological treatment methods used in this setting. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of P and PW in hand osteoarthritis.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This study was designed as a single-center, randomized-controlled trial conducted at our Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic between February 2019 and July 2020. Patients with bilateral hand OA were divided into PW and P treatment groups. The PW group was treated 5 days per week for 2 weeks. The P group received an injection of dextrose solution into the ligaments of painful joints once weekly for three weeks. Visual analog scale (VAS), Duruoz Hand Index (DHI) scale, hand dynamometer for grip strength, and pinch meter for lateral pinch were used for baseline and post-treatment follow-up assessments.
RESULTS
Overall, 42 patients were included. The VAS scores significantly decreased in both PW and P groups (p=0.024 and p=0.014). Baseline and third-month post-treatment VAS scores did not significantly differ (p=0.581). The DHI scores improved significantly in both groups (p<0.001 and p<0.001), being higher in the P than in the PW group (p=0.042). Right- and left-hand grip strength increased significantly in PW and P groups (p<0.001, p=0.001; p=0.013, p=0.002, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Both treatment methods were effective regarding pain and grip strength; however, P improved the hand functions more significantly.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Paraffin; Hand Strength; Prolotherapy; Osteoarthritis; Hand; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37916318
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202310_34124 -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2023Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) belong to an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) widely detected in environmental matrices and human samples. The... (Review)
Review
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) belong to an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) widely detected in environmental matrices and human samples. The potential health risks of CPs on humans have initiated intense concerns but there have been few studies focusing on the said topic. Addressing the gap, we make a scoping review on the current global body of evidence from epidemiological and toxicological studies. Furthermore, the management strategies and regulations related to CPs are presented and discussed. There were 70 articles among 11,280 records, including four epidemiological studies, one case report, another twenty-nine studies reporting human body burden, and thirty-six toxicological studies, finally included in this review. Additionally, twenty-three management regulation relevant documents/websites were included. CPs exist in human blood, breast milk, placenta, and other tissues. Population-based and laboratory studies suggest that CPs may cause liver and kidney toxicity, developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity, endocrine disorder, immune dysfunction, and reproductive toxicity. CPs with shorter carbon chains and higher chlorine content may be more harmful. In particular, the combined effect of CPs with other pollutants is of great concern. Population-based studies are far from sufficient at present, and most of them are conducted in China or developed countries. Besides, the toxicity assessment studies of CPs are inadequate. In addition, most studies focus on short-chain CPs (SCCPs) while few studies explored the effect of long-chain CPs (LCCPs). Thus, conducting more epidemiological studies in larger populations and toxicological studies combined with new technology methods are of great significance for better understanding the adverse health effects of CPs, which may promote CPs management regulations.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Paraffin; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; China
PubMed: 37164081
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163953 -
International Journal of Biometeorology Oct 2023Although peloid, paraffin, and exercise treatments are effective in patients with plantar fasciitis, there had been no comprehensive and comparative studies of these... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Although peloid, paraffin, and exercise treatments are effective in patients with plantar fasciitis, there had been no comprehensive and comparative studies of these treatments for plantar fasciitis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of peloid, paraffin, and exercise treatments on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with plantar fasciitis. A total of 104 patients, aged 18 years and over, who applied to our clinic with heel pain and were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Clinical Consensus Statement: Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Acquired Infracalcaneal Heel Pain guideline, with pain at the level of 3 and more severe according to the visual analog scale were randomly divided into three groups: the peloid group (peloid therapy and home exercise), the paraffin group (paraffin therapy and home exercise), and the control group (home exercise). Peloid and paraffin applications were applied 5 days a week, a total of 15 sessions in 3 weeks. Participants were evaluated with the visual analog scale, heel tenderness index, and the foot and ankle outcome score before treatment, after treatment, and at the first month after treatment. Compared to pre-treatment evaluation, significant improvements were observed in all parameters after treatment and at the first month controls in all 3 groups (p < 0.05). In the peloidotherapy and paraffin therapy added groups, pain reduction and quality of life increase were higher than the exercise group (p < 0.05). Adding peloidotherapy or paraffin therapy to the home exercise program in the treatment of plantar fasciitis can further reduce pain and improve quality of life.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Adolescent; Fasciitis, Plantar; Paraffin; Quality of Life; Pain; Exercise Therapy; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37526763
DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02530-3 -
Environmental Science & Technology Jun 2022Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "famous" as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have been managed nationally since the 1970s and globally under the Stockholm...
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), "famous" as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have been managed nationally since the 1970s and globally under the Stockholm Convention on POPs since 2004, requiring environmentally sound management (ESM) of PCBs by 2028. At most, 30% of countries are on track to achieve ESM by 2028. Globally over 10 million tonnes of PCB-containing materials remain, mostly in countries lacking the ability to manage PCB waste. Canada (Ontario) and Czechia, both parties to the Stockholm Convention, are close to achieving the 2028 goal, having reduced their stocks of pure PCBs by 99% in the past 10 years. In contrast, the USA, not a party to the Stockholm Convention, continues to have a substantial but poorly inventoried stock of PCBs and only ∼3% decrease in mass of PCBs since 2006. PCB management, which depends on Stockholm Convention support and national compliance, portends major challenges for POP management. The failure to manage global PCB stocks >30 years after the end of production highlights the urgent need to prioritize reducing production and use of newer, more widely distributed POPs such as chlorinated paraffins and per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, as these management challenges are unlikely to be resolved in the coming decades.
Topics: Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Ontario; Paraffin; Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PubMed: 35647669
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01204 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... May 2023Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are novel toxicants in food and are reported to possess neurotoxicity. Here, we investigated the mechanism of SCCP-induced...
Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are novel toxicants in food and are reported to possess neurotoxicity. Here, we investigated the mechanism of SCCP-induced astrocyte activation and neuroinflammation. SCCP gavage induced astrocyte activation and neuronal cell death with the changes of gut microbiome and metabolites. Antibiotic cocktail administration to deplete the gut microbiome ameliorated the astrocyte activation and inflammation induced by SCCPs. In fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) assays, mice that received transplanted gut microbiome from SCCP-treated mice showed increased astrocyte activation and elevated inflammatory response. In addition, SCCP exposure promotes zonulin expression and tight junction injury, and antibiotic cocktail administration inhibited that in the intestinal tract. Increased zonulin and tight junction injury were also observed in SCCPs_FMT mice. The zonulin inhibition protected the tight junction in the intestinal tract from SCCP exposure and suppressed astrocyte activation. In summary, this study proposes a novel possibility for SCCP-induced astrocyte activation and neurotoxicity by the gut microbiome-mediated zonulin expression and tight junction.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Paraffin; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Up-Regulation; Astrocytes; Tight Junctions; Environmental Monitoring; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; China
PubMed: 37204063
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c01058 -
Environment International 2016Chlorinated paraffins (CPs), complex mixtures of polychlorinated alkanes, are widely used in various industries and are thus ubiquitous in the receiving environment. The... (Review)
Review
Chlorinated paraffins (CPs), complex mixtures of polychlorinated alkanes, are widely used in various industries and are thus ubiquitous in the receiving environment. The present study comprehensively reviewed the occurrence, fate and ecological risk of CPs in various environmental matrices in Asia. Releases from the production and consumption of CPs or CP-containing materials, wastewater discharge and irrigation, sewage sludge application, long-range atmospheric transport and aerial deposition have been found to be most likely sources and transport mechanisms for the dispersion of CPs in various environmental matrices, such as air, water, sediment, soil and biota. CPs can be bioaccumulated in biota and biomagnified through food webs, likely causing toxic ecological effects in organisms and posing health risks to humans. Inhalation, dust ingestion and dietary intake are strongly suggested as the major routes of human exposure. Research gaps are discussed to highlight the perspectives of future research to improve future efforts regarding the analysis of CPs, the environmental occurrence and elimination of CPs, the total environmental pressure, and the risks to organisms and populations.
Topics: Asia; Environment; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants; Humans; Paraffin; Risk Factors; Sewage; Soil; Wastewater
PubMed: 27132163
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.04.002