Inhalation Exposure to PCB from Contaminated Indoor Air—How Much Is Absorbed into the Blood? (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2013
Background: In the1950s-1970s polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used in several countries as plasticizers in elastic sealants in buildings. Objective: The primary objective was to study whether residents of PCB-contaminated dwellings had higher plasma levels of PCBs than their neighbours in non-contaminated dwellings. The secondary objective was to study possible associations between concentrations of PCBs in the indoor air and in the plasma of residents. Methods: Stratified cross-sectional study of residents of a housing estate with four sections, of which only one section had PCB-containing sealants. The determination of 27 PCB congeners in plasma was performed among 134 exposed and 139 non-exposed residents. Air measurements were conducted in 104 flats. Results: Significant differences in plasma PCBs between exposed versus non-exposed were found for most of the lower chlorinated and many of the higher chlorinated congeners. The median of sum of 27 PCBs was approximately four times higher in exposed compared with non-exposed residents. The elevated PCB concentrations persisted in multivariable analyses controlling for relevant cofactors. We found significant correlations between PCB indoor air concentrations and the PCB concentration in the plasma of the residents for ten of the lower chlorinated congeners. Conclusion: Our study confirms that indoor air exposure to PCBs from PCB containing sealants may result in a considerable internal PCBs exposure of the residents. For the first time we were able to demonstrate that the internal exposure to low chlorinated PCBs is significantly associated with the indoor air concentration of these congeners.
Atmospheric Pollution Research, 2020
Although polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned several years ago, they can still be measured in the environment, especially in indoors, where their concentrations tend to be higher than outdoors in some cases. The current study reports the results of a study conducted to determine concentrations of a total of 40 PCBs congeners in the living rooms and kitchens of eight different houses, and in the outdoor air of three houses during summer and autumn in Bursa in 2014. The province of Bursa, having eighteen of organized industrial zones, indoor air pollution is of great importance. The average concentration of ∑ 40 PCBs in living rooms and the kitchen were 604 ± 210 pg/m 3 and 639 ± 2514 pg/m 3 during summer, respectively; while concentrations in autumn were 362 ± 167 pg/m 3 and 309 ± 93 pg/m 3 , respectively. The average ∑ 40 PCBs outdoor concentrations were 303 ± 183 pg/m 3 and 41 ± 23 pg/m 3 for summer and autumn, respectively. The ∑ 40 PCBs concentrations in summer were almost two times higher than in autumn for indoor environment. The predominant PCB homologs in indoor samples were penta-(40%), tetra-(23%) and tri-CBs (17%) while they were penta-(37%) and tetra-CBs (22%) for outdoor samples. The results of the study indicated the presence of intentionally and unintentionally produced PCBs. The I/O ratios suggested the indoor sites as the most important PCBs source than outdoor sites. Finally, the measured PCB concentrations did not represent a cancer risk for human health for exposure via inhalation in all sampling points.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were widely used in industrial and commercial applications, until they were banned in the late 1970s as a result of their significant environmental pollution. PCBs in the environment gained scientific interest because of their persistence and the potential threats they pose to humans. Traditionally, human exposure to PCBs was linked to dietary ingestion. Inhalational exposure to these contaminants is often overlooked. This review discusses the occurrence and distribution of PCBs in environmental matrices and their associated health impacts. Severe PCB contamination levels have been reported in e-waste recycling areas. The occurrence of high PCB levels, notably in urban and industrial areas, might result from extensive PCB use and intensive human activity. Furthermore, PCB contamination in the indoor environment is ten-fold higher than outdoors, which may present expose risk for humans through the inhalation of contaminated air or through the ingestio...
Human Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls in a Residential Community
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2003
Blood serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in members of a residential community who lived near a chemical plant that formerly manufactured PCBs. Elevated blood serum PCB concentrations were detected in some of the older adults who were long-term residents of the community. Congener-specific analyses indicated that PCB congeners 153, 138/158, 180, 118, and 187 contributed 60 -67% of the total PCBs detected in blood from adults and children. Blood PCB concentrations correlated strongly with age and length of residency in the neighborhood. However, blood PCB concentrations did not correlate with PCB concentrations in soil or house dust samples from the homes. Past exposures to PCBs may be a significant contributor to the elevated PCB concentrations detected in some adult members of the community.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1991
Blood serum concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in members of a residential community who lived near a chemical plant that formerly manufactured PCBs. Elevated blood serum PCB concentrations were detected in some of the older adults who were long-term residents of the community. Congener-specific analyses indicated that PCB congeners 153, 138/158, 180, 118, and 187 contributed 60-67% of the total PCBs detected in blood from adults and children. Blood PCB concentrations correlated strongly with age and length of residency in the neighborhood. However, blood PCB concentrations did not correlate with PCB concentrations in soil or house dust samples from the homes. Past exposures to PCBs may be a significant contributor to the elevated PCB concentrations detected in some adult members of the community.
Congener-specific analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl in human blood from Japanese
Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 2005
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were analyzed by high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) of whole blood samples taken from 24 healthy adult Japanese volunteers (12 males and 12 females; age range 25-46 years). On average, 95 PCB congeners were detected in whole blood samples. The mean of total PCB concentration in whole blood was 771.9 pg g )1 whole blood (139.6 ng per g-lipid). Congener-specific analysis identified the predominant PCB congeners as #153 (22.2%), #180 (11.6%), #138 (8.4%), #182/187 (6.6%), #118 (5.6%), #163/164 (5.0%), #99 (3.9%), #74 (3.6%), #146 (3.3%), #170 (3.0%) and #156 (2.2%), representing 75.6% of all PCBs detected in the human blood samples. Among the predominant PCB congeners, #153, #180, #138, #187 #118, #99 and #74 had chlorine as the substituent at the 2-, 4-and 5-positions of the phenyl-ring. In human blood in Japanese individuals, it is assumed that these congeners would be characteristic of the entire population, based on the relation between PCB ingestion and metabolism. Measuring 209 PCB congeners has the advantage of providing detailed information regarding the congener distribution within the blood samples, which can be compared to congener patterns in other matrices. Congener-specific analysis of 209 PCB congeners is especially useful in evaluating human exposure to PCBs.
Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, 2004
A rapid screening method, previously developed and validated for the determination of 60 PCB congeners in human serum by using high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with low-resolution mass spectrometry, was applied to the establishment of the reference values in the general population. The reliability of this method was further confirmed by analyzing ten serum samples, obtained from the same population group involved in the original study, by electron impact ionization with either low- or high-resolution mass spectrometry. Analyses in electron capture negative ionization mode were also performed for the determination of ‘dioxin-like’ isomers. The data were found to be in good accordance with one another, especially for the congeners of highest environmental significance. Then, 162 real serum samples were analyzed for the presence of PCBs. Comparison with the results from other studies reported in the literature showed that a similar profile was observed; the most abundant congeners were #153, #180, #138 and #170. A statistical analysis was performed to determine whether there were significant correlations between PCB concentrations and specific variables such as age, gender, and dietary habits. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) carcinogenicity with special emphasis on airborne PCBs
Journal Gefahrstoffe - Reinhaltung der Luft, 2011
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial chemicals used in various applications requiring chemical stabilityand have now become widely dispersed. Their characteristics of persistence, low water/higher lipid solubility, contribute to their ability to bioconcentrate and bioaccumulate. Traditionally PCBs have been regulated as food contaminants and the general population is primarily exposed by that route. PCBs in foodstuffs are generally higher chlorinated, resistant to metabolic breakdown, and elicit toxic changes that are thought to be predominantly receptor/parent PCB-driven. But for certain occupational exposures, and for those persons residing or working in contaminated buildings, and in large cities, an inhalation route of exposure may predominate. Airborne PCBs are, in contrast to foodborne PCBs, lower chlorinated, more volatile, and subject to metabolic attack. In this review, we have explored (geno-) toxic manifestations of PCBs typical of those found in air. Here meta...
Occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and cancer risk
European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2003
Industrial exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and internal dose were investigated in 80 workers exposed for many years to PCB mixtures with a 42 % chlorine content (Pyralene 3010 and Apirolio). PCBs were determined by liquid gas chromatography on samples taken from workroom air, workroom surfaces and tools, the palms of the hand, and the blood of the workers. In the workroom air samples, PCB concentrations ranged from 48 to 275 ttg/m3. All tested surfaces and tools were heavily contaminated, with a range from 0-2 to 159 ,ug PCBs per cm2 of surface. Considerable amounts of PCBs were detected on the palms of the hands of the workers (2-28 ,ug/cm2 of skin surface). In blood, total PCB concentrations from 88 to 1319 ,ug/kg were observed: comparing the blood concentrations of low and high chlorine content biphenyls, a significant difference was found for the low-chlorinated biphenyl concentrations between workers currently exposed and workers exposed only in the past. In groups of workers who were homogeneous as regards work area and job, the PCB concentrations in the blood were closely correlated with the length of actual occupational exposure to these compounds. These findings led to the conclusion that absorption of PCBs in these workers had occurred mainly through the skin, and therefore industrial preventive surveillance must take this route of exposure into account. Since blood PCB concentrations appear to be correlated with the length of exposure, PCB determination on whole blood may be used to monitor industrial and environmental exposure to PCBs. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are compounds characterised by long-lasting persistence in the environment; total cumulative world production of PCBs has so far been estimated at around 1 million tons.' Commercial production of PCBs began in the USA in 1929 and consumption increased continuously until the early 1970s: the number of occupationally exposed people in the USA has been estimated to be about 12000.2 In Italy industrial production began in 1936 and in 1978 reached an