Levels of dioxins and furans in plasma of nonoccupationally exposed subjects living near a hazardous waste incinerator.
The potential adverse effects of hazardous waste incinerators (HWI) continue to be a subject of worry. The construction of the first and till now only HWI in Spain finished in 1999. To assess the potential impact of the plant on public health, a preoperational monitoring program was established during the period of construction. The main goal of the present study was to determine, after approximately 3 years of regular operations in the facility, the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in plasma of nonoccupationally exposed subjects living near the HWI. Blood samples were obtained from 20 volunteers aged 19-62 years. The mean PCDD/F concentration in plasma was 15.70 pg I-TEQ/g lipid (range 4.66-29.25 pg I-TEQ/g lipid), which is significantly lower than the mean level found in the baseline survey, 27.01 pg I-TEQ/g lipid (range 14.79-48.95 pg I-TEQ/g lipid). Reductions were noted for both sexes and for all age groups. The comparison with PCDD/F levels from a number of different countries shows that, in general terms, the current PCDD/F concentrations are lower than most results recently reported. It is concluded that emissions from the stack of the HWI assessed here should not mean any additional significant exposure to PCDD/Fs for the population living near the facility.
Agramunt
M Carmen
MC
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Rovira i Virgili University, San Lorenzo 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
Schuhmacher
Marta
M
Hernandez
Juan M
JM
Domingo
Jose L
JL
D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000097:blood*
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants