title: Biological monitoring of PCDD/Fs and PCBs in the City of Mataró. A population-based cohort study (1995-2012).
abstract: There is great concern about the exposure to PCDD/Fs in areas near solid waste incineration (SWI) plants as, in the past, thermal waste treatment was a major source of PCDD/Fs, affecting negatively the environment and the population living nearby the area of influence. The aim of the present study was to monitor PCDD/Fs and PCBs levels in blood samples in general population living nearby a modern SWI. Up to 7 different campaigns were performed between 1995 and 2012. Overall, 104 exposed subjects (living <1000 m from the incinerator plant) and 97 non-exposed subjects (living >3000 m from the incinerator plant) were randomly selected from the municipal census of the City of Mataró in 1995. In addition, workers of the SWI plant were included in the study. Moreover, in 1999, 100 non-exposed subjects living in the nearby City of Arenys de Mar were added to the project. Overall, this study represents the longest consecutive human biomonitoring study of dioxins, furans and PCBs ever conducted in Spain. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PCBs were determined according to age, sex and distance to the SWI exposure in whole blood sample pools. No relevant differences in PCDD/Fs and PCBs levels were observed between SWI exposure groups. It could be noted that since 1999 all groups experienced a slight decrease in the levels of PCDD/Fs and marker PCBs. Moreover, concentrations of PCDD/Fs and marker PCBs were higher in women than in men, and in older age group in comparison to the younger ones.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Dioxins, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDÆA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parera
authors.forename: Mateu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serra-Prat
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palomera
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abalos
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002947:Cities; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Blood; Dioxins; Environment exposure; Furans; PCBs; Thermal waste management