title: A PBPK model to estimate PCDD/F levels in adipose tissue: comparison with experimental values of residents near a hazardous waste incinerator.
abstract: This study was aimed at determining the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in 15 samples of adipose tissue from subjects who had been living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI). The results were compared with levels obtained in previous surveys carried out in 1998 (baseline study), 2002 and 2007. The current (2013) concentrations of PCDD/Fs in adipose tissue ranged from 2.8 to 46.3 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat (mean and median concentrations: 11.5 and 7.4 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat, respectively), being significantly lower (64%) than those observed in 1998. In contrast, no significant differences in the mean PCDD/F concentrations were noted in the period 2002-2013. The significant decrease of the PCDD/F content in fat, also noted in other biological monitors such as plasma and breast milk, is in agreement with the reduction in the dietary intake of PCDD/Fs found in the same area of study. Similarly to other investigations across Europe, an increase of PCDD/F levels in adipose tissue in relation to age was observed, while no significant differences were noted according to gender. A multicompartmental physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was also applied to estimate the levels of PCDD/Fs in adipose tissue. When comparing the modeled and experimental concentrations of PCDD/Fs in that tissue, very similar values were obtained for the four surveys, which indicates this can be a reliable tool to predict the internal dose of PCDD/Fs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuhmacher
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fàbrega
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya (IMLC), Divisió de Tarragona, Av. President Companys 10, 43005 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
authors.forename: Martí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: joseluis.domingo@urv.cat.
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Domingo
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005260:Female; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D008954:Models, Biological; D010599:Pharmacokinetics; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D006256:Hazardous Waste; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
keywords: Adipose tissue; Hazardous waste incinerator; PBPK model; PCDD/Fs; Temporal trend