title: Serum levels of persistent organic pollutants and predictors of exposure in Tunisian women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In spite of the international consensus on the human health risks associated with exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs), the Tunisian population is suspected to have been inadvertently exposed to POPs over the last decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate POP concentrations in the serum of a subset of 54 Tunisian women and to identify some socio-demographic and dietary predictors of exposure to POPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the ten POPs analyzed, three polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (-138, -153 and -180), and two organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), HCB and p,p'-DDE, showed frequencies ranging from 98 to 100%. Serum median concentrations of PCB congeners (-138, -153 PCB-180) were 26.08, 119.1 and 29.84 ng/g lipid, respectively, and median concentrations of HCB and p,p'-DDE were 19.98 and 127.59 ng/g lipid, respectively. Age was positively correlated with serum levels of selected POPs. Women living in northern Tunisia showed higher serum levels of all PCBs. Working outside home and cereal consumption were positively associated to serum levels of p,p'-DDE. The duration of the lactation was also related to lower serum levels of p,p'-DDE and HCB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of exposure to POPs found warrant a biomonitoring program in order to identify routes of exposure and population groups at higher risk. This program will help to establish prevention policies and to determine the association between exposure to POPs and chronic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.Granada, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain. Electronic address: fartacho@ugr.es.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Artacho-Cordón
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environment (LR12SP07), Center of Urgent Medical Assistance of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Belhassen
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.Granada, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain; CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain; Radiation Oncology Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Arrebola
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environment (LR12SP07), Center of Urgent Medical Assistance of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ghali
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environment (LR12SP07), Center of Urgent Medical Assistance of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.Granada, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.Granada, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pérez-Lobato
authors.affiliation: Cancer Center of Ariana, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Boussen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: H
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology and Environment (LR12SP07), Center of Urgent Medical Assistance of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Hedili
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: A
authors.affiliation: Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, University of Granada, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria IBS.Granada, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain; CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Exposure predictors; Organochlorine pesticides; Persistent organic pollutant; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Serum; Tunisia