Storgaardmcclain6524

Chemical exposure from slime toys can cause potential health effects. Although slime toys are popular in Asia, the regulation of boron, chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT), and methylisothiazolinone (MIT) in these toys has been implemented only in Korea.

In this study, we investigated boron migration levels and CMIT and MIT concentrations in 127 slime products from Asian cities and estimated children's exposure to boron and the biocides in Korea.

Slime boron migration levels were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), according to Part 3 of the European Standard on the safety of toys (EN 71-32013). CMIT and MIT concentrations were analyzed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Exposure doses of boron, CMIT, and MIT were calculated using the exposure pattern of children slime users in Korea.

Average boron migration levels of the slime products in Seoul, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Taipei, and Yokohama were 691.9, 851.1, 806.6, 509.0, and 956.2 mg/kg, respectively. Of the 127 slime products tested, 70.1% exceeded the EU boron migration limit of 300 mg/kg for toys made with sticky material. Boron migration levels in slime products in Korea did not differ significantly by manufacturing date, although the Korean boron regulations were enacted in January 2019. CMIT and MIT were detected from 51.2% and 36.2% of all products, respectively, and tended to be detected simultaneously. Exposure doses of boron, CMIT, and MIT were highest among infants.

Oral exposure was the most important for boron exposure. It is necessary to manage boron level in slime products and minimize exposure from hand to mouth action in infants.

Oral exposure was the most important for boron exposure. It is necessary to manage boron level in slime products and minimize exposure from hand to mouth action in infants.Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common morbidity complicating preterm birth. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of the variation red blood cell size, could reflect oxidative stress and chronic inflammation in many diseases such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other diseases. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate perinatal factors affecting RDW and to validate whether RDW could be a potential biomarker for BPD. A total of 176 preterm infants born at less then  30 weeks were included in this study. They were categorized into BPD (n = 85) and non-BPD (n = 91) infants. RDW at birth and 14 days and 28 days of life (DOL 14, DOL 28) were measured. Clinical data were obtained from all subjects at Fukushima Medical University (Fukushima, Japan). 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