Smoking as a determinant of high organochlorine levels in Greenland.
The authors investigated the accumulation of organochlorines among smoking and nonsmoking Inuit hunters (n = 48) in Uummanaq, Greenland, a population with high dietary exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Human plasma organochlorine levels were positively correlated with age, marine diet, and smoking or plasma cotinine in multiple linear-regression models (p < 0.001). Body mass index was inversely correlated with organochlorine accumulation, independent of smoking status. These findings confirm that the source of POPs among the Inuit in Greenland is diet, but smoking is an important determinant of POP bioaccumulation. Smoking cessation may provide a means to lower the body burden of POPs.
Centre of Arctic Environmental Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark. bd@mil.au.dk
Bente
B
Deutch
Henning Sloth
HS
Pedersen
Eva C Bonefeld
EC
Jørgensen
Jens C
JC
Hansen
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D006116:Greenland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D004930:Inuit; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D017747:Seafood / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues