title: Persistent and emerging pollutants in the blood of German adults: Occurrence of dechloranes, polychlorinated naphthalenes, and siloxanes.
abstract: Human biomonitoring is a valid method to determine exposure, identify time trends, and monitor the effects of restrictions and measures. To characterize the recent exposure of Germans to persistent or emerging substances, we analyzed 4 dechloranes, 33 polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), and 3 cyclic volatile methyl siloxanes (cVMS) in 42 plasma samples. The samples were collected from blood donors on a random selection. The median values of both Dechlorane Plus (DDC-CO) isomers were 1.23ng/gl.w. for anti- and 0.77ng/gl.w. for syn-DDC-CO. The two other dechloranes were found at lower levels. The median level of ∑-PCNs was 575pg/gl.w. (range: 101-1406pg/gl.w.). On average, the levels of PCNs in plasma were dominated by the congeners CN73, CN66/67, and CN51, which were responsible for approximately 71% of the total amount of PCNs. The cVMS octa-, deca-, and dodecamethylcyclotetrasiloxane could be determined in only some samples, with maximum values of 0.73, 0.48, and 0.79μg/l, respectively. Regarding dechloranes, our results are similar to those from other western countries but slightly lower than results from China. The levels of PCNs in German blood are similar to those observed in the U.S.A., but considerably lower than those reported for Korea. Using a preliminary TEF (toxic equivalency factor), the mean TEQ of the 9 quantifiable PCNs in Germany was low (0.36pg TEQ/gl.w.). The PCN levels in our study group are lower compared to previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany; Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fromme
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cequier
authors.affiliation: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Kyungbuk, 790-784, Pohang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanssen
authors.affiliation: Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hilger
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, N-0403 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Kyungbuk, 790-784, Pohang, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Völkel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D012833:Siloxanes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D009281:Naphthalenes; D012833:Siloxanes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds
keywords: Biomonitoring; Blood; Dechloranes; Exposure; PCN; Siloxanes