title: An integrative risk assessment approach for persistent chemicals: a case study on dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs in France.
abstract: For persistent chemicals slowly eliminated from the body, the accumulated concentration (body burden), rather than the daily exposure, is considered the proper starting point for the risk assessment. This work introduces an integrative approach for persistent chemical risk assessment by means of a dynamic body burden approach. To reach this goal a Kinetic Dietary Exposure Model (KDEM) was extended with the long term time trend in the exposure (historic exposure) and the comparison of bioaccumulation with body burden references for toxicity. The usefulness of the model was illustrated on the dietary exposure to PolyChlorinatedDibenzo-p-Dioxins (PCDDs), PolyChlorinatedDibenzoFurans (PCDFs) and PolyChlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in France. Firstly the dietary exposure to these compounds was determined in 2009 and combined with its long term time trend. In order to take differences between the kinetics of PCDD/F and dl-PCBs into account, three groups of congeners were considered i.e. PCDD/Fs, PCB 126 and remaining dl-PCBs. The body burden was compared with reference body burdens corresponding to reproductive, hepatic and thyroid toxicity. In the case of thyroid toxicity this comparison indicated that in 2009 the probability of the body burden to exceed its reference ranged from 2.8% (95% CI: 1.5-4.9%) up to 3.9% (95% CI: 2.7-7.1%) (18-29 vs. 60-79year olds). Notwithstanding the decreasing long-term time trend of the dietary dioxin exposure in France, this probability still is expected to be 1.5% (95% CI: 0.3-2.5%) in 2030 in 60-79 olds. In the case of reproductive toxicity the probability of the 2009 body burden to exceed its reference ranged from 3.1% (95% CI: 1.4-5.0%) (18-29year olds) to 3.5% (95% CI: 2.2-5.2%) (30-44year olds). In 2030 this probability is negligible in 18-29year olds, however small though significant in 30-44year olds (0.7%, 95% CI: 0-1.6%). In the case of hepatic toxicity the probability in 2009 even in 60-79year olds already was negligible. In conclusion this approach indicates that in France dioxin levels in food form a declining, though still present, future health risk with respect to thyroid and reproductive toxicity.
authors.affiliation: ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, 27-31 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: camille.bechaux@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Béchaux
authors.affiliation: RIVM, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zeilmaker
authors.affiliation: ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, 27-31 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merlo
authors.affiliation: RIVM, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, PO Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bokkers
authors.affiliation: ANSES, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, 27-31 Avenue du Général Leclerc, 94701 Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crépet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001822:Body Burden; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005602:France; D005663:Furans / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D005663:Furans; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Benchmark dose; Biomarker; Cumulative risk assessment; Dioxins; PCBs; Pharmacokinetic