Post on 30-May-2018
A James-Bondesque View at the Real Situation
Stephanie Hoeppner, BSc, MBA, PhDCandidate
Deib A. Birkholz, MSc, PhD, P.Chem.
Milan Ralitsch, PhD, P.Chem.
What We’ll Talk About Today
Who Am I And Why Am I Even Here?
Environmental Determinants of Chronic Disease
The WHY
What We Found And What we do now - The AHA!
Water Sampling James Bond Style - The HOW
Bear with me…I’m going a different
way today than our usual talks…a
formal thank-you to the Friends of
Paracel for making this work
About Us…And Who’s This Paracelsus Guy?
He is credited as the founder of toxicology - Paracelsus pioneered the use of chemicals and minerals in medicine.
Open for over 25 years, we have more locations in Ontario than any other lab, and opened a Western Canadian lab in Calgary in 2014 – 3 years! We are in a partnership with Life Science Forensics. It is routine chemistry (Paracel) with specialty chemistry (LSF) under one roof. We have 6 PhDs, 1MD, 1DC and 3 MScs in our group.
We love crazy projects!
We start ‘em young
We are philanthropists
Cowboy chemistry isthe best chemistry!
Bailey the “Lab” Lab.
LABORATORY MANAGEMENT WITH CANCER AND OFFSPRING BORN 2004-
2007Rob Deverall, ALS– 2014, 59 – Lung Cancer
Don LaBerge, President of ETL – 2005, 57 – Brain Cancer
Type of Cancer Status
Brain Cancer - 2 Both Deceased <60
Paranasal Sinus Cancer - 2 Remission
Prostate Cancer - 1 Remission
Melanoma - 1 Remission
Lung Cancer - 2 Both Deceased <60
Breast Cancer – 3 1 Deceased <60, 1 metastatic – liver cancer
Cervical Cancer - 1 Remission
WE WILL ADAPT, RESISTANCE IS FUTILE! YOUR LIFE, AS IT HAS BEEN - IS OVER. FROM THIS TIME FORWARD,
YOU WILL SERVICE US.
=
EPIDEMIOLOGY
The branch of medicine that deals
with the incidence, distribution, and
possible control of diseases and
other factors relating to health.
THE GENOME OF A POPULATION
DOES NOT CHANGE IN 100 YEARS
We deal with environmental
determinants of chronic disease in
addition to dealing with infectious
disease.
OUR GOAL IS TO MARRY TOGETHER
THE FIELDS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
CONSULTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL
MEDICINE/TOXICOLOGY – AND THIS
IS TODAY’S POINT!
OK, SO WHAT?
• So what…
• Let’s go back to our example and look at it as an epidemiologist…
• 4 large multinational labs in Canada (plus Paracel, of COURSE!): not a huge amount of managers in the last 20 years.
• Cancer incidence rate: 24%
• Children born between 2004 and 2007: 16
• Children with chronic disease incidence rate: 87.5%
• Obviously this is not a big enough sample size to evaluate this tiny population…but it’s still worth thinking about, don’t you think?
CHRONIC DISEASE IN NORTH AMERICA
• Asthma in children under age five has increased by 160%
• Autism has increased by 1000% since the mid-1980s – NOT because of changes to the DSM IV to V.
• Congenital misplacement of the urinary opening in the penis, has increased by 100% and now affects 1 of 125 male babies born
• Cancer in children has increased by 26%
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia increased by 62%
• Brain and nervous system cancers increased by 50%
• Testicular cancer in young men has increased by 85% and is now the most common cancer in men ages 15–35
• 1 in 6 children are born with a neurodevelopment disability and the rate of ASD has increased from 1 in 10,000 in the 80’s to 1 in 66 (CDC, 2014).
As per the American Cancer Society, only 5–10% of all cancers can be attributed to inherited factors; the rest occur from environmental exposures and other damage throughout our own lifetimes.
The genome loads the gun but the environment pulls the trigger…
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
• Let’s add toxicology to the mix…
• Most people are aware that metals are an issue, but is that it?
• NO! Not even close.
• Metals bad, BPA bad…hexamethyl-chicken-wire?
• Acute toxicity is well understood
• Regulations – how are they made?
JAMES BOND-ESQUE SAMPLING• We are not disclosing where we got our samples from BECAUSE
we are not here to get people in trouble, we are in it for the science only.
NOT
JAMES BOND-ESQUE SAMPLING
8 samplestaken over S,Central and N-Central AB
2 N-Central2 Central4 Southern
2 MunicipalDrinking Water6 Natural Source
•Chemicals that are usually found when doing this kind of analysis include:
• Antibiotics
• Steroids
• Antacids
• Antidepressants
• Anti-inflammatories
• Antipyretics
• Beta blockers
• Lipid lowering drugs
• Tranquillizers
• Stimulants
• Hormones
WHAT DID WE FIND?
(Magenta means we found them in both natural sources and in treated drinking water sources)-17B-estradiol (E2) - an estrogen made by humans and some other organisms.-Acetaminophen - (Tylenol). OTC Analgesic-Amitriptyline - (Elavil). Tricyclic antidepressant-Amoxicillin - Antibiotic-Amphetamine - could be an illicit drug, could be a by-product of ADHD drugs.-Bezafibrate - (Bezalip). Lipid-lowering agent to treat hyperlipidaemia-Caffeine - a common marker of human activity.-Carbamazepine - (Tegretol). Used to treat seizures and nerve pain such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy, also Bipolar Disorder.-Codeine* - Weak opiate pain reliever.-Diazepam - benzodiazepine (Valium). Used to treat anxiety disorders, alcohol withdrawal symptoms, or muscle spasms.
WHAT DID WE FIND?
-Ephedrine - Decongestant and bronchodilator.-Erythromycin - Antibiotic.-Fenoprofen - Used for treating rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, mild/ moderate pain.-Gabapentin - (Neurontin). Anti-epileptic, for restless leg syndrome, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, shingles pain.-Ibuprofen - (Advil). OTC Analgesic-Gemfibrozil - helps reduce cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty acids) in the blood.-Metoprolol - (Lopressor, Betaloc). Beta-blocker. Used to treat angina and hypertension. It is also used to treat or prevent heart attacks.-*Nicotine - a common marker of human activity. In cigarette smoke.-Norfentanyl* - metabolite of opiate Fentanyl.-Norfloxacin - antibiotic. Usually used for urinary tract infections.
WHAT DID WE FIND?-Oxymorphone* - Moderate to severe pain opiate.-Pentoxifylline - (Trental). Used to treat claudication (pain from reduced blood flow) cramping, numbness, or weakness in the arms or legs.-Ranitidine - (Zantac). H2 receptor agonist - histamine-2 blockers. Reduces the amount of acid created in stomach.-Sildenafil (Viagra) - relaxes muscles found in the walls of blood vessels and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body. Used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.-Sulfamethazine - a veterinary antibiotic.Sulfamethoxazole - used for bacterial infections - urinary tract infections, bronchitis, and prostatitis - effective against both gram negative and positive bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes/E. coli).-Tamoxifen - A drug used to treat certain cancers.-Tetracycline - antibiotic for skin infections and Lyme disease.-Trimethoprim - antibiotic. Used to treat bladder/kidney/ear infections/C.Diff infections. *Note that opiates and some compounds were hard to distinguish and these are the databases’ “best guess” more so than the others. They are opiates; however, specific characterization needs work.+Also note that for the most part, if there was a metabolite that was picked up, we translated it into the parent analyte for ease of use.
WHAT DID WE FIND?
Solely Environmental Parameters- Di-n-butylphthalate - used to make plastics more flexible and is also in carpet backings, paints, glue, insect repellents, hair spray, nail polish, and rocket fuel.-Indole - Indole-containing compounds are best known for their medicinal properties in the pharmaceutical industry. Natural jasmine oil, used in the perfume industry, contains around 2.5% of indole.-3,4-Methylphenol - widely used, cosmetics and oral care applications.-Phenol - Phenols are widely used in household products and as intermediates for industrial synthesis. For example, phenol itself is used (in low concentrations) as a disinfectant in household cleaners and in mouthwash.
WHAT DIDN’T WE FIND?
• Benzophone - a sunscreen agent, but duh. Common in other similar studies and previous studies of ours.
• Glyphosate - again, it was winter though, so duh. Found in previous studies.
• Any of the major pesticides or herbicides.
• These samples were mostly frozen and taken from the shoreline; therefore, circulation was extremely limited. No sediment samples were taken. No tissue samples were obtained. Future studies will include this.
ANTI-DEPRESSION INTERESTING FACTOIDS
Consumption of antidepressants in Canada is the third-highest among 23 developed countries surveyed by the organization, with 86 doses consumed daily per 1,000 people. Only Australia (89 doses per 1,000 people) and Iceland (106 doses per 1,000 people) ranked higher.
In 2013 the Canadian Pediatric Society officially approved the use of one class of antidepressants -- which includes Prozac -- for children.
- There are NO long-term studies on how chemicals that affect neurochemistry affect humans still undergoing neurogenesis.
When Relying on Point Source Data Alone:
Extremely hard, if not impossible, to identify if there is a human health concern.
There are few, if any, reference ranges for these compounds, even within the large bio-monitoring projects, which are in the wrong matrix anyway.
There is no way to know what parameters are having an effect if it is a multi-analyse mixture.
Possibly incorrect assignment of liability, if that is the goal.
USEPA’s Toxcast Program
• ToxCast has evaluated over 2,000 chemicals from a broad range of sources including: industrial and consumer products, food additives, and potentially "green" chemicals that could be safer alternatives to existing chemicals.
• Chemicals were evaluated in over 700 high-throughput assays that cover a range of high-level cell responses and approximately 300 signalling pathways.
High-Throughput ScreeningUSEPA Approved Methods Through Toxcast
Several Different Types Possible
Endocrine Disruption
Neurotoxicity
DNA Damage and Oxidative Stress
Mutagenicity
Results of Preliminary ScreeningEndocrine Disruption
Mutagenicity Neurotoxic Effects
Drinking Waters Yes No No
Southern Alberta Yes No No
Central Alberta Yes No Yes
Northern Central Alberta
Yes No Yes
Cost Savings:If you did the sampling like was done here, it would cost you ~$60,000.
Looking at Toxcast data, we could have narrowed that way down to ~<$15,000.
Forensic Analysis:
If we had done this for a forensic investigation, we would have significantly more clout looking at both point-source and ToxCast data together than just one alone.
Final Conclusions!
Next Steps:
Determine LC50 and reference values for implicated analytes
Clinical samples: Blood/urine/stool for persistent organic pollutants, vitamins, genomics and many more parameters “Personalized Medicine”
Fecal Sterols
SPMDs
Adverse Health Effects in Air Screen
Graphene nanoparticles and PFCs
Deformulation – I want to test for “everything”
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in environmental samples
Human Biomonitoring
Emerging contaminants of concern
Novel food sensitivities screen
Metabolomics and other “omics” testing
Diagnostic Screens for MS and Autism
The list goes on…
Lastly, Other Cool Stuff: We don’t DO no.
Life Science Forensics www.lifescienceforensics.com
HASAT™: Allergy & Sensitivity Testing
Antitissue
Trans-glutaminase
lgAAntibodies
Antigliadin
Completely novel to Canada: High Accuracy Stool Allergy Testing (HASAT™) can be completed regardless of previous non-gluten consumption. Significantly more robust and sensitive over other available options. Stool analysis is the best way of assessing for gluten sensitivity before celiac disease develops. We combine a single malabsorption test with HLA gene testing, without reintroducing gluten into the diet for a simple, non-invasive and accurate test.
Life Science Forensics www.lifescienceforensics.com
Xeno75: Environmental Toxicant Testing
Tests for the 75 most ubiquitous foreign chemicals and their metabolites, including:
• Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)• Polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs)• Pesticides• Parabens• Polychlorinated biphenyls• Phthalates
Heavy Metals
Pesticides
HerbicidesPlasticizers
Preservatives
Life Science Forensics www.lifescienceforensics.com
MetaComplete: Optimal Nutrition Testing
Vitamins
Minerals
Amino Acids
Fatty Acids
Metabolites
Tests for important vitamins, nutrients, and other important metabolites required for optimal health, including:
• Amino acids• Vitamins• Minerals• Fatty acids• Metabolic intermediates
Life Science Forensics www.lifescienceforensics.com
Heavy Metal Testing
Life Science Forensics can determine metals concentration in:
• Blood• Urine• Hair
Our metals test looks at a number of metals including:
• Gadolinium• Mercury• Thallium• Lead• Cadmium
Biomarkers included: auto immune dysfunction, immune response and related inflammation, body burdens of xenobiotics (persistent organic pollutants and metals) and related ability to detoxify naturally, oxidative stress, methionine dysfunction, gastrointestinal dysfunction, abnormal gut flora, abnormal protein functions, abnormal levels of amino acids and other organic acids and associated metabolites, specific genetic polymorphisms, mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormal cytokine, neurotransmitter and hormone levels.
Our screen is unique and the most complete of anypotential testing to date. To test for all theparameters above would cost thousands of dollars.Our screen focuses on the most commonly foundbiomarkers and encompasses the likely dysfunctionsthat occur in autism AND many other chronicdiseases.
Contact one of our scientists today for moreinformation and pricing details.
We are ASD moms who are also scientists. It is ourmission to help, heal, and teach.
BioHF