title: Study on polychlorobiphenyl serum levels in French consumers of freshwater fish.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are persistent pollutants that are widespread in the environment and in foodstuffs, particularly in freshwater fish, which frequently exceed the maximum levels set by European regulations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  First, we describe the consumption of freshwater fish and serum PCB levels in French anglers, a population expected to have the highest level of dietary PCB exposure. Second, we investigated whether there is a statistical relationship between serum PCB levels and the angler consumption of freshwater fish with high PCB bioaccumulation potential (PCB-BP(+) freshwater fish) in order to make recommendations with regard to safe consumption of freshwater fish.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey of anglers from six sites with contrasting PCB contamination levels. The survey included a food consumption frequency questionnaire and blood samples were taken to assess serum PCB levels. We used a regression model to determine the main factors contributing to serum PCB levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumption of PCB-BP(+) freshwater fish was relatively infrequent. Serum PCB levels of the study population and of women of childbearing age were in the same range as those observed in the French population and in neighbouring European countries, but higher than in the North American population. The two factors with the highest positive association with serum PCB levels were age (R(2)=61%) and the consumption of PCB-BP(+) freshwater fish (R(2)=2%). Using the regression model, we calculated, for several scenarios depending on the age and gender of the population, the maximum annual frequencies for PCB-BP(+) freshwater fish consumption that do not exceed the critical body burden threshold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following the results of this study, the French agency for food, environmental and occupational health and safety (ANSES) issued an opinion and recommended some specific maximum freshwater fish consumption frequencies to protect the French general population.
authors.affiliation: Risk Assessment Department, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 27-31, avenue du Général Leclerc, Maisons-Alfort, F-94701, France. Electronic address: virginie.desvignes@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Desvignes
authors.affiliation: Risk Assessment Department, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 27-31, avenue du Général Leclerc, Maisons-Alfort, F-94701, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Volatier
authors.affiliation: Division for Public Health and Care, French National Cancer Institute (INCa), 52, avenue André Morizet, Boulogne Billancourt Cedex, F-92513, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Bels
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), 12, rue du Val d'Osne, Saint-Maurice, F-94415, France.
authors.forename: Abdelkrim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zeghnoun
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, 14, avenue Duquesne, Paris, F-75350, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Favrot
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), USC INRA 1329, Nantes, F-44307, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.affiliation: LUNAM Université, Oniris, Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), USC INRA 1329, Nantes, F-44307, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Le Bizec
authors.affiliation: Risk Assessment Department, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 27-31, avenue du Général Leclerc, Maisons-Alfort, F-94701, France.
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rivière
authors.affiliation: Risk Assessment Department, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 27-31, avenue du Général Leclerc, Maisons-Alfort, F-94701, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leblanc
authors.affiliation: Risk Assessment Department, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), 27-31, avenue du Général Leclerc, Maisons-Alfort, F-94701, France.
authors.forename: Mathilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merlo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Anglers; Fish consumption; Freshwater fish; Polychlorobiphenyls; Predictor; Serum level