Serum concentrations of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane in groups of the Italian general population: a human biomonitoring study

Abstract

Because of its persistence and toxicological profile, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH) has been proposed for inclusion in the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Although the use of technical HCH, which is the primary source of beta-HCH in the environment, has been banned in the EU in 1978 and progressively at a global level, beta-HCH is still detectable in the general environment worldwide. Human exposure mostly occurs via food and may be of concern in areas where illegal use and/or improper disposal of stockpiles occurred and locally grown food is consumed. Exposure of the Italian general population to beta-HCH has been poorly characterised. Lack of human biomonitoring data severely hinders the ability to interpret potential increases in exposure related to situations of environmental risk. We carried out a human biomonitoring study aimed to provide baseline information on background exposure of the Italian general population to this pollutant. For this purpose, we analysed 116 serum samples from groups of subjects of both sex from the general population residing in three Italian towns at different latitudes. Serum concentrations of beta-HCH resulted to be comprised between 1.64 and 300 ng/g fat, with a median value of 18.0 ng/g fat and a 90th percentile of 65.9 ng/g fat. The serum concentrations detected are in line with those detected in most Western European countries.

Predictors of Beta-Hexachlorocyclohexane blood levels among people living close to a chemical plant and an illegal dumping site

“…Since 1945 up to the 1970s, the exposure of the Italian population to HCHs was due to the extensive use of lindane for controlling flies and mosquitoes (particularly malaria vectors). Exposure of the population to β-HCH in Italy has never been systematically characterised and the only available data refer to biomonitoring of groups of the Italian general population: Ingelido et al [20] analysed β-HCH in serum samples of subjects residing in Rome, Brescia, and Naples, enrolled in 2008-2009, and found a median concentration of 18 ng/g lipid; in 2013, Mrema et al [21] investigated the levels of β-HCH in the blood of a sample of the general population in northern Italy and found a median concentration of 35 ng/g lipid.…”

A biomonitoring study on blood levels of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane among people living close to an industrial area

“…In 2008 the National Health Institute conducted a biomonitoring study on the serum levels of ß –HCH in people from the general population from three cities, Brescia (northern Italy) Rome (central Italy) and Naples (southern Italy) [19]. The overall mean serum levels of ß –HCH was 29 ng/g lipid, ranging from 18.6 ng/g lipid in the group from central Italy to 41.5 in the group from the northern part of the country.…”

Placental Transfer of Persistent Organic Pollutants: A Preliminary Study on Mother-Newborn Pairs

“…The n -hexane extracts were treated with concentrated sulphuric acid, separated by centrifugation and then concentrated and transferred into 1 mL autosampler vials. After addition of 1 μL of tetradecane, extracts were concentrated to dryness, an isooctane solution of the injection standard (200 μL) was added, and samples were quantified [33,34,35]. …”