Determinants of polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons in serum in three age classes—Methodological implications for human biomonitoring

Abstract

a b s t r a c tHuman biomonitoring provides an integrated measure for individual exposure to environmental pollutants. Better insight in inter-individual variability of biomarkers of exposure may help in the interpretation of biomonitoring studies.The aim was to study the impact of outliers, determine the optimal unit for fat-soluble biomarkers in serum and quantify the major determinants for biomarkers of exposure to polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons (PCAHs) in three age groups.Data were obtained from the Flemish Environment and Health Study (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006). Marker PCBs (sum of 138, 153, 180), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and p,p 0 -DDE were measured in cord blood samples of 1196 newborns, in serum samples of 1679 adolescents (14-15 years) and 1583 adults (50-65 years).Exclusion of influential outliers in multiple linear regression models lead to models that are better applicable to the general population. In terms of adjusted R 2 , the regression model with the pollutant expressed in volume-based units and blood fat as a separate independent variable was superior compared to models with other units. We found highly consistent relationships between the serum concentration of PCAHs and blood fat, age, changes in body weight, animal fat in the diet, local vegetable consumption (HCB and p,p 0 -DDE only) and being breastfed as a baby (in adolescents only). The impact of sex and BMI differed by age.For biomarkers of persistent pollutants that reflect long-term exposure, the relation between the covariates and the biomarkers can be well quantified.

Predictors of Serum Chlorinated Pesticide Concentrations among Prepubertal Russian Boys

“…Consistent with other studies of persistent organic pollutants in this cohort and other populations (Burns et al 2009; Den Hond et al 2009; Gallo et al 2011; Humblet et al 2010; Karmaus et al 2001), lower BMI predicted higher serum OCP concentrations. This finding may be attributable to a smaller volume of distribution in boys with lower BMI, resulting in higher serum concentrations (Wolff et al 2005).…”

“…Consistent with other studies (Barr et al 2006; Den Hond et al 2009; Gallo et al 2011; Karmaus et al 2001), longer breastfeeding duration (> 13 weeks) predicted higher OCP concentrations. Although breastfeeding in our cohort ended years before OCP measurement, childhood concentrations of lipophilic compounds track closely with breastfeeding exposure in infancy (Patandin et al 1999).…”

“…Studies of OCP exposure and local diet among children have been limited to two assessments concerned about local environmental contamination (Den Hond et al 2009; Gallo et al 2011), that did not find an association with local dairy. Dairy consumption has been associated with serum OCP concentrations in several adult populations, although none differentiated whether dairy foods were from local sources (Arrebola et al 2009, 2012; Lee et al 2007).…”

“…Understanding the predictors of OCP exposure can improve child health and inform public health recommendations and policies to reduce childhood exposure. To date, some studies have evaluated predictors of childhood exposure to OCPs (Barr et al 2006; Den Hond et al 2009; Gallo et al 2011; Karmaus et al 2001; Lu et al 2010; Petrik et al 2006). …”

Adjusting serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds by lipids and symptoms: A causal framework for the association with K-ras mutations in pancreatic cancer

“…Den Hond et al (2009), conclude that in terms of adjusted R 2 , the regression model with TSL-corrected OCs was superior to models with TSL-uncorrected OCs. In previous articles we concluded that correcting OCs by TSL may be inappropriate in patients with severe diseases as pancreatic cancer (Porta et al, 2009a).…”