title: Body mass index and serum chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran levels.
abstract: Several studies have found that current levels of 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in serum lipids are related to age with older persons generally having higher levels. To account for this age pattern, reference ranges based on national samples have been established in order to allow determination of background levels for regional studies. In several studies, body mass index (BMI), has also been associated with current 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin levels with increasing body mass index related to increasing levels. We measured lipid-adjusted serum levels for all 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins and furans in 62 chemical manufacturing workers with chlorophenol exposures and 36 workers without chlorophenol exposures employed at the same location. We then assessed the impact of age and BMI on the serum levels of all these compounds in the presence of other potential confounders. We found that both factors are important independent determinants of serum levels of 2,3,7,8-substituted dioxins and furans. Specifically, age and BMI are both important factors for assessing background levels of 2,3,7,8 tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 1,2,3,7,8 pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and the calculated total toxic equivalency. BMI, but not age, is important for assessing background levels of higher chlorinated dioxins and some hexachlorofurans. We conclude that age and BMI are both important considerations when comparing a potentially exposed group to a referent group, or to national norms. Further, age and BMI may also be important in epidemiology studies where back-extrapolation from current dioxin levels is used to assess historical chlorophenol exposure.
authors.affiliation: The Dow Chemical Company, Epidemiology Department, 1803 Building Midland, MI 48674, USA. jjcollins@dow.com
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodner
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Budinsky
authors.forename: Les L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lamparski
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilken
authors.forename: Greg D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Carson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002617:Chemical Industry; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000097:blood*; D012907:Smoking; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins