Serum dioxin levels in residents living in the vicinity of municipal waste incinerators in Taiwan.
Resource
Inhalation Toxicology,19(5),399-403.
Journal
Inhalation Toxicology
Pages
399-403
Date Issued
2007-05
Date
2007-05
Author(s)
Huang, Hui-Yan
Jeng, Ting-Yang
Lin, Yi-Chang
Ma, Yee-Chung
Kuo, Chun-Pao
Sung, Fung-Chang
Abstract
This study used data obtained from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration to measure the dioxin exposure and the body burden for residents living in the vicinity of 19 municipal waste incinerators (MWIs). A survey was conducted in 1999-2003 for the residents. Approximately 16 ambient air samples and a 60-ml blood samples of 84 to 92 residents aged 18-65 yr were collected randomly in four zones (A, B, C, D) for each MWI site based on the atmospheric dispersion model (ADM). Zone A was defined with the highest pollution level, followed by zones B and C, and zone D (background level). Congeners of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined for each sample. We summarized the PCDD/Fs levels in air samples and serum specimens by zone for these 19 sites. The mean ambient levels of PCDD/Fs fitted the ADM, the highest from zone A and the lowest from zone D (2.74 vs. 0.13 pg I-TEQ/Nm3). However, the mean serum concentration in zones A was not distinct from that in zones D (18.7 vs. 19.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid). The age-specific average serum concentration increased from 13.27 pg WHO-TEQ/g in 18- to 25-yr-old subjects to 23.46 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid in 56- to 65-yr-old subjects. In conclusion, the serum PCDD/Fs levels among residents did not adhere to the dispersion model for incineration emissions. The dose-response of serum PCDD/Fs by age suggests that the body burden of the chemicals is mainly associated with other sources instead of with inhalation. Copyright © Informa Healthcare.
Other Subjects
dibenzofuran; dioxin; lipid; polychlorinated dibenzodioxin; air analysis; air pollutant; air pollution; air sampling; ambient air; blood sampling; data analysis; environmental exposure; environmental protection; health survey; human; incineration; municipal solid waste; priority journal; review; Taiwan; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Air; Benzofurans; Body Burden; Environmental Monitoring; Humans; Incineration; Middle Aged; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin
Type
journal article