Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam

A bioassay for dioxin analysis of human samples has the advantages of cost effectiveness and requiring only a small sample volume. Using a DR-EcoScreen bioassay, we measured the biological equivalency (BEQ) levels in serum samples from 32 men exposed to dioxins in Bien Hoa and 32 unexposed men in Ha...

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Main Authors: Masafumi Nakamura, Ryo Matsuda, Hoa Thi Vu, Tai Pham-The, Thao Ngoc Pham, Tomoya Takiguchi, Hisao Nishijo, Muneko Nishijo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/6/513
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author Masafumi Nakamura
Ryo Matsuda
Hoa Thi Vu
Tai Pham-The
Thao Ngoc Pham
Tomoya Takiguchi
Hisao Nishijo
Muneko Nishijo
author_facet Masafumi Nakamura
Ryo Matsuda
Hoa Thi Vu
Tai Pham-The
Thao Ngoc Pham
Tomoya Takiguchi
Hisao Nishijo
Muneko Nishijo
author_sort Masafumi Nakamura
collection DOAJ
description A bioassay for dioxin analysis of human samples has the advantages of cost effectiveness and requiring only a small sample volume. Using a DR-EcoScreen bioassay, we measured the biological equivalency (BEQ) levels in serum samples from 32 men exposed to dioxins in Bien Hoa and 32 unexposed men in Hanoi, Vietnam. For the Bien Hoa men, the World Health Organization toxic equivalent (WHO-TEQ) levels of dioxins had already been measured by instrumental analysis. The difference in fat-based BEQ levels between exposed and unexposed men was greater than for crude BEQ levels, with a strong correlation between fat-based BEQ and WHO-TEQ levels. The fat-based BEQ levels in Bien Hoa men with longer residency but lower WHO-TEQ levels were significantly higher than those in unexposed men and Bien Hoa men with shorter residency but higher WHO-TEQs, suggesting that fat-based BEQ may be an effective marker of dioxin-like activity. Additionally, comparisons of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and TEQs between shorter- and longer-residency groups indicated that higher levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), particularly TCDD, contribute to increased BEQ levels. Taken together, the DR-EcoScreen bioassay may be useful to analyze dioxin-like activity associated with WHO-TEQs of men in a dioxin contamination hotspot originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam.
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spelling doaj-art-513aad1afec146bbb11a47bed960b1322025-08-20T02:21:49ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-06-0113651310.3390/toxics13060513Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in VietnamMasafumi Nakamura0Ryo Matsuda1Hoa Thi Vu2Tai Pham-The3Thao Ngoc Pham4Tomoya Takiguchi5Hisao Nishijo6Muneko Nishijo7Hiyoshi Corporation, Omihachiman 523-8555, JapanHiyoshi Corporation, Omihachiman 523-8555, JapanDepartment of Military Hygiene, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamBiomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamDepartment of Functional Diagnosis, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Hanoi 12108, VietnamEpidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, JapanDepartment of Sport and Health Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of East Asia, Shimonoseki 751-8503, JapanEpidemiology and Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada 920-0293, JapanA bioassay for dioxin analysis of human samples has the advantages of cost effectiveness and requiring only a small sample volume. Using a DR-EcoScreen bioassay, we measured the biological equivalency (BEQ) levels in serum samples from 32 men exposed to dioxins in Bien Hoa and 32 unexposed men in Hanoi, Vietnam. For the Bien Hoa men, the World Health Organization toxic equivalent (WHO-TEQ) levels of dioxins had already been measured by instrumental analysis. The difference in fat-based BEQ levels between exposed and unexposed men was greater than for crude BEQ levels, with a strong correlation between fat-based BEQ and WHO-TEQ levels. The fat-based BEQ levels in Bien Hoa men with longer residency but lower WHO-TEQ levels were significantly higher than those in unexposed men and Bien Hoa men with shorter residency but higher WHO-TEQs, suggesting that fat-based BEQ may be an effective marker of dioxin-like activity. Additionally, comparisons of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and TEQs between shorter- and longer-residency groups indicated that higher levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), particularly TCDD, contribute to increased BEQ levels. Taken together, the DR-EcoScreen bioassay may be useful to analyze dioxin-like activity associated with WHO-TEQs of men in a dioxin contamination hotspot originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/6/513dioxinsbioassaybiological equivalencythe World Health Organization toxic equivalentserum samplesVietnamese men
spellingShingle Masafumi Nakamura
Ryo Matsuda
Hoa Thi Vu
Tai Pham-The
Thao Ngoc Pham
Tomoya Takiguchi
Hisao Nishijo
Muneko Nishijo
Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam
Toxics
dioxins
bioassay
biological equivalency
the World Health Organization toxic equivalent
serum samples
Vietnamese men
title Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam
title_full Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam
title_fullStr Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam
title_full_unstemmed Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam
title_short Bioassay Using the DR-EcoScreen System to Measure Dioxin-Related Compounds in Serum Samples from Individuals Exposed to Dioxins Originating from Agent Orange in Vietnam
title_sort bioassay using the dr ecoscreen system to measure dioxin related compounds in serum samples from individuals exposed to dioxins originating from agent orange in vietnam
topic dioxins
bioassay
biological equivalency
the World Health Organization toxic equivalent
serum samples
Vietnamese men
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/6/513
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