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Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical widely used in the plastics industry, including food container, toys, and medical equipment. We analyzed the effect of BPA in human umbilical artery contractility and expression of some proteins modulating this function, such as ionic channels and proteins involved in the cGMP pathway. Using standard organ bath technique, rings of human umbilical arteries without endothelium were contracted by 5-HT (1 μM) and histamine (10 μM) and the effect of different concentrations of BPA (1 nM–100 μM) was analyzed. The results showed that BPA is a vasodilator of these arteries in a concentration-dependent way. Besides, qPCR studies on human umbilical smooth muscle cells (HUSMC) allowed to analyze the effects of BPA on gene expression. Thus, 12-h exposition to BPA induced reduction of expression of L-type calcium channels (LTCC), alpha subunit of BKCa channels, and Kvβ1 and Kvβ3 from Kv channels. BPA also decreased the expression of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and natriuretic peptide receptor type A (NPRA), meanwhile increasing that of PKG, proteins involved in vasodilation of human umbilical arteries (HUA) by cGMP. Further studies will be necessary to increase knowledge about the implications of these changes induced by BPA exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Correction to: Environmental Science and Pollution Research b https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24069-3 Prof. Elisa Cairrão does not want to be acknowledged in this article. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-24069-3. Publisher's note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

A method for quantitative determination of 55 pesticides in a bivalve matrix was established, based on QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) extraction and using gas chromatography (GC)-ion trap (IT) mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Accomplishing the European SANCO guidelines, this method was validated using 5 g of homogenized soft tissue, allowing the quantification of pesticides at ng/g of wet weight (ww). Quantification limits and recovery rates ranged from 0.33 to 10.3 μg/L and from 78 to 119 %, respectively. As an important mollusc, not only from an ecological perspective but also for food consumption, the peppery furrow shell ( Scrobicularia plana) was sampled at three strategical sites (Ria Formosa Lagoon, in the south of Portugal) during 2012-2013, over six campaigns. A total of 2160 animals were pooled by place and sex. No statistical differences were found among sites or between sexes. Forty percent of the sampled pools were above quantification limits, reaching total annual average concentrations of ∑800 ng/g ww. Additionally, 83 % of the selected compounds showed concentrations above the legal limits set by the European Directive 2013/39/EU. In conclusion, the applied method was successful and proved that bivalves were contaminated by the selected pesticides. In future work, this methodology can be used to monitor body burdens and obtain data for predicting impacts in shellfish consumers. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]