Levels of dioxins and furans in plasma of nonoccupationally exposed subjects living near a hazardous waste incinerator

Abstract

The potential adverse effects of hazardous waste incinerators (HWI) continue to be a subject of worry. The construction of the first and till now only HWI in Spain finished in 1999. To assess the potential impact of the plant on public health, a preoperational monitoring program was established during the period of construction. The main goal of the present study was to determine, after approximately 3 years of regular operations in the facility, the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in plasma of nonoccupationally exposed subjects living near the HWI. Blood samples were obtained from 20 volunteers aged 19-62 years. The mean PCDD/F concentration in plasma was 15.70 pg I-TEQ/g lipid (range 4.66-29.25 pg I-TEQ/g lipid), which is significantly lower than the mean level found in the baseline survey, 27.01 pg I-TEQ/g lipid (range 14.79-48.95 pg I-TEQ/g lipid). Reductions were noted for both sexes and for all age groups. The comparison with PCDD/F levels from a number of different countries shows that, in general terms, the current PCDD/F concentrations are lower than most results recently reported. It is concluded that emissions from the stack of the HWI assessed here should not mean any additional significant exposure to PCDD/Fs for the population living near the facility.

Serum Dioxin Levels in Residents Living in the Vicinity of Municipal Waste Incinerators in Taiwan

“…The ambient exposure from MWIs could not explain the PCDD/Fs levels in serum, regardless of the fact that PCDD/Fs congener profiles may be alike . Other studies have reported a similar relationship, such that ambient exposure contributes little in serum PCDD/Fs levels (Michalek et al, 1992;Agramunt et al, 2005;Hu et al, 2005;Moon et al, 2005). In a 4-yr follow-up study assessing PCDD/Fs impact in the vicinity of a new hazard waste incinerator, Ferre-Huguet et al (2006) found that the human exposure was mainly due to dietary food intake.…”

Levels of metals and organic substances in workers at a hazardous waste incinerator: a follow-up study

“…In 2002, we performed another survey focused on determining the levels of PCDD/Fs in plasma on non-occupationally exposed individuals living in the area under potential inXuence of PCCD/F emissions from the facility. The mean PCDD/F levels were 15.7 pg I-TEQ/ g lipid (Agramunt et al 2005). It is important to note that during the period 1998-2007, the dietary intake of PCDD/ Fs by the population of the County where the HWI is placed was notably reduced from 210 pg I-TEQ/day in 1998 (Domingo et al 1999) to the current 27.8 pg WHO-TEQ/day (Martí-Cid et al 2008).…”

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

“…A continued and significant decrease in the plasma levels of PCDD/Fs have been noticed in subsequent surveys included in the surveillance program. Thus, in 2002 (36), 2007 (37) and 2012 (38), the mean PCDD/F concentrations in plasma of subjects living in the neighborhood of the HWI were 15.7, 9.4, and 6.18 pg I-TEQ/g lipid, respectively. In turn, the results of the last study conducted in 2018 (39) showed a mean level of 6.79 pg I-TEQ/g lipid, which was very similar to that found in 2012 (6.18 pg I-TEQ/g lipid) (38).…”