Organochlorines, lead, and mercury in Akwesasne Mohawk youth.
Most humans have detectable body burdens of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and p,p'-dichlorophenyldichloroethylene p,p'-DDE), a metabolite of p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Native American communities may be at increased risk of exposure through subsistence-based diets and greater physical contact with contaminated soil and water. In this article we describe the levels of toxicants (PCBs, p,p'-DDE, HCB, mirex, lead, and mercury) among youth 10-17 years old (n = 271) of the Akwesasne Mohawk Nation. Ultratrace, congener-specific PCB analysis of human serum quantitated 83 PCB congeners (plus 18 as pairs/triplets), in addition to p,p'-DDE, HCB, and mirex, and included all major Aroclor-derived congeners typically present in human samples. Twenty congeners (in 16 chromatographic peaks) were detected in 50% or more of the individuals sampled [geometric mean (GM) of the sum of these congeners = 0.66 ppb]. Thirteen congeners (in 10 peaks) were detected in 75% or more of the samples (GM = 0.51 ppb). Of the 20 congeners detected in 50% or more of the samples, 17 had five or more chlorine substitutions. International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry congeners 118, 101(+90), and 153 were detected in nearly all participants (GM = 0.06 ppb, 0.05 ppb, 0.09 ppb, respectively). p,p'-DDE and HCB were detected in 100% and 98% of the samples (GM: p,p'-DDE = 0.37 ppb; HCB = 0.03 ppb). Mirex was detected in approximately 46% of the samples (GM = 0.02 ppb). No cases of elevated lead level were observed. One participant had a mercury level marginally higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's current level of concern (0.50 microg/dL). Although differences in analytic methods and participant ages limit comparability, toxicant levels from the Mohawk youth are lower than those associated with severe food contamination (Yusho and Yu-cheng) but similar to other chronically exposed groups.
Schell
Lawrence M
LM
Department of Epidemiology, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12222, USA. l.schell@albany.edu
Hubicki
Lech A
LA
DeCaprio
Anthony P
AP
Gallo
Mia V
MV
Ravenscroft
Julia
J
Tarbell
Alice
A
Jacobs
Agnes
A
David
Dawn
D
Worswick
Priscilla
P
D000293:Adolescent; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D009518:New York; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
D007854:Lead; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D008628:Mercury