Fw: 'Number of POPs detected at high concentrations' **

[John]

From: PORTA, MIQUEL

Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2012 11:26 PM

To: undisclosed-recipients:

Subject: 'Number of POPs detected at high concentrations' **

 

Dear colleague,

We are taking the liberty to attach the pdf of this paper of us because we think the methodology and findings are particularly innovative and relevant.

Apologies if they are not to you.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Best regards.

 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412012000372

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/aip/01604120

 

Number of persistent organic pollutants detected at high concentrations in a general population

Background: Surveys of human exposure to environmental chemicals do not integrate the number of compounds detected per person and the concentration of each compound. This leaves untested relevant exposure scenarios, such as whether individuals with low concentrations of some compounds have high concentrations of the other compounds.

Objective: To analyze the number of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) detected at high concentrations.

Methods: Serum concentrations of 19 POPs were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection in a representative sample of the general population of Catalonia, Spain (N=919).

Results: Over 58% of participants had concentrations in the top quartile of ≥1 of the eight most prevalent POPs, and 34% of ≥3 POPs. 83% of women 60 to 74 years old had concentrations of ≥3 POPs in the top quartile; 56% of women 60 to 74 years had p,p-DDE, HCB and β-HCH all in their respective top quartiles, and 48% had concentrations of ≥6 POPs in the top quartile. Over 30% of subjects had concentrations in the top decile of 1 to 5 of the eight most prevalent POPs. Half of the population had levels of 1 to 5 POPs >500 ng/g. Less than 4% had all eight POPs in the lowest quartile.

Conclusions: More than half of the study population had concentrations in the top quartile of ≥1 POPs. Significant subgroups of the population accumulate POP mixtures at high concentrations. POP concentrations appear low in most of the population only when each individual compound is looked at separately.

Highlights

► 34% of participants had concentrations in the top quartile of ≥ 3 of 8 POPs.

► 48% of women 60–74 years old had concentrations of ≥ 6 POPs in the top quartile.

► It is not accurate to state that most of the population has low concentrations of POPs.

► We integrate the number of compounds detected per person and the dose of each compound.

► The indicators complement other measures of POP body burden in biomonitoring surveys.

 

Journal: Environment International

Online publication complete: 15-MAR-2012

DOI information: 10.1016/j.envint.2012.02.005