Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in Human Blood: A Review of Data from the Current Decade

Abstract

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) are environmental pollutants with a great persistence, capacity of bioaccumulation, and well known important toxic effects in humans and animals.Incinerators of hazardous, municipal and medical waste, chlorine bleaching of paper pulp, cement plants, and the traffic of motor vehicles are the most frequent emission sources of these compounds. The diet, followed at a great distance by inhalation, is generally the main way of human exposure to PCDD/Fs. Human biomonitoring is of a great importance to prevent potential adverse effects derived from exposure to chemicals such as PCDD/Fs. In relation to this, blood is among the most used biological monitors. In the current review, we have summarized the recent information (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) published in the scientific literature (databases: Scopus and PubMed) on the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in blood samples of non-occupationally exposed populations, as well as in some groups of occupationally exposed individuals. We have revised a number of studies conducted in various African American, Asian and European countries, and Australia. Unfortunately, the information is quite limited. No data are available for most countries over the world. Based on the results here reviewed -where available-the current health risks for the general populations do not seem to be of concern. Moreover, taking into account the important reductions observed in the levels of PCDD/Fs in foodstuffs, new decreases in the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in blood -and other biological tissues-are very probable in the immediate years.

Trends of Polychlorinated Compounds in the Surroundings of a Municipal Solid Waste Incinerator in Mataró (Catalonia, Spain): Assessing Health Risks

“…According to the European Dioxin Air Emission Inventory conducted in 2004, iron ore sintering was pointed out as the most important source of PCDD/Fs emissions, followed by municipal waste incineration [ 9 ]. In any case, MSWIs, medical waste incinerators and hazardous waste incinerators are still important stationary sources of PCDD/Fs, in addition to metal production processes, cement plants as well as heat and power plants [ 10 , 11 ].…”