Evaluation of background persistent organic pollutant levels in human from Taiwan: Polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins, dibenzofurans, and biphenyls

This study was intended to determine the background levels of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs in the Taiwanese population and to investigate factors potentially related to PCDD/PCDF and PCB levels. The levels of seventeen PCDD/PCDFs in the 251 serum samples collected from the general population in Taiwan ranged...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environment international 2009, Vol.35 (1), p.33-42
Main Authors: Hsu, Jing-Fang, Lee, Ching-Chang, Su, Huei-Jen, Chen, Hsiu-Ling, Yang, Shu-Yao, Liao, Pao-Chi
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Background
Benzofurans - blood
Biological and medical sciences
Biphenyl Compounds - blood
Blood
Blood Chemical Analysis
Dioxins - blood
Environmental pollutants toxicology
Female
General aspects
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
PCBs
PCDD/PCDFs
Risk Factors
Taiwan
Toxicology
Young Adult
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Summary:This study was intended to determine the background levels of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs in the Taiwanese population and to investigate factors potentially related to PCDD/PCDF and PCB levels. The levels of seventeen PCDD/PCDFs in the 251 serum samples collected from the general population in Taiwan ranged from 4.92 to 26.7 pg WHO 1998-TEQ/g lipid (median: 11.5) and those of the twelve dioxin-like PCBs ranged between 1.74 and 21.6 pg WHO 1998-TEQ/g lipid (median: 6.14). Five factors, age, gender, region of residence, dietary status, and smoking status, showed statistically significant association with the TEQ level of PCDD/PCDFs. The TEQ level of PCBs was statistically associated with age only, but not with the other four factors. The trends observed between age and the levels of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs were not parallel in young subjects (< 30 years old) and old subjects (> 30 years old). The levels of PCDD/PCDFs and PCBs increased by 0.16 and 0.03 WHO 1998-TEQ/g lipid per year for subjects above the age of 30, but there was no evidence of any association between age and the levels for subjects below the age of 30 years. These factors should be considered when investigating relationships between background serum levels of persistent organic pollutants and parameters associated with exposure sources or health outcomes.
ISSN:0160-4120
1873-6750
DOI:10.1016/j.envint.2008.06.010