title: [Dioxin level of small volume gardeners in Duisburg].
abstract: The PCDD/F levels were determined in the venous blood of 21 allotment gardeners in Duisburg (Germany). Soil analyses had shown elevated levels of PCDD/F in garden soil (range 16.4-77.6 ng I-TE/kg). Vegetable plants also had elevated levels of PCDD/F, mainly due to airborne contamination. The highest levels were found in kale (2.6-65.6 ng I-TE/kg d.w.) and endive (1.7-28.5 ng I-TE/kg d. w.). The study population consisted of 5 females and 16 males (mean age 57 years; range 43-67 years), who had been cultivating their allotment gardens for an average of 20 years (range 7-36 years). About 50% of their total vegetable consumption and 30% of their fruit consumption were from their own gardens. The mean 2.3.7.8-TCDD toxicity equivalents (TE) of PCDD/F in blood fat were 44.3 pg I-TE/g fat (range 29.2-81.1 pg I-TE/g fat). Compared to reference data these values are within the range of background PCDD/F-levels in the German population. The concentrations in individual gardeners as well as the congener pattern were not different from those of normal subjects. The present study shows that increased levels of PCDD/F in garden soil and garden products do not have a significant effect on the PCDD/F burden in gardeners, even if they consume homegrown vegetables and fruits from their own allotment gardens for many years in succession.
authors.affiliation: Hygiene-Institut des Ruhrgebiets, Institut für Umwelthygiene und Umweltmedizin, Gelsenkirchen.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wittsiepe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schrey
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engelhart
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bernsdorf
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Selenka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000383:Agriculture; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants
vernacular_title: Untersuchungen zur Dioxinbelastung von Kleingärtnern aus Duisburg.