A. Chiodini

C. Colosio

C. Minoia

N. Vitelli

R. Santamaria

R. Turci

English

AIR Universita degli studi di Milano

Exposure to Organohalogenated Pollutants in General Population Groups Living in ItalyRoberta Turci (*), Roberta Santamaria (*), Annalisa Chiodini(**), Nora Vitelli (**),, Claudio Colosio (**), Claudio Minoia (*)(*) Laboratory for Environmental and Toxicological Testing – Salvatore Maugeri Foundationvia S. Maugeri 4, 27100 Pavia, Italy(**) Department of Occupational Health of the University of MIlan, Milan, Italy.Purpose.  Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are chemical compounds with common properties, such as long-term persistence, widespread diffusion in the environment and bioaccumulation through the food chain. Biological, clinical and epidemiological knowledge suggests that chronic low-level exposure to these substances is unlikely to be risk-free. Cancer, neurobehavioural disorders, impaired immunity, endocrine problems and reproductive disorders are among the adverse human health effetcs linked to these compounds. The main goal of this study is to validate a cost- and time-saving procedure which enables to assess low-level exposure to PCBs and OCPs in the general population.Methods. A fast and reliable analytical method, previously developed and validated for PCBs analysis only, was properly modified in order to simultaneously detect 16 organohalogenated pesticides and PCBs. Accuracy was assessed for 31 analytes, including measurement uncertainty. Analyses were carried out using gaschromatography interfaced with mass spectrometry (HRGC-LRMS). Then, a random sample of the Italian general population, with only background exposure to PCBs and OCPs, has been monitored. Human serum samples collected from three different Italian areas were analyzed for hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), DDT isomers and its metabolites, aldrin, dieldrin, isodrin, isobenzane, heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, and 15 PCB congeners. Secondly, multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the relationships between age, gender, residence area, dietary habits and the concentrations of the organochlorinated pollutants.Results. After validation and measurement of uncertainty, the method was found to be suitable for the determination of OCPs and PCBs in the general population. Limits of quantitation ranging from 0,2 to 0,5 g/l in serum, were estimated. HCH isomers, especially -HCH, HCB, DDE, and PCB congeners 153, 138, 180, and 170 were found to be the most abundant and the most frequently detected compounds in the tested samples. Age, residence area, and dietary habits were found to have influence on serum levels of some OCPs and PCBs.Conclusions. Since substantive evidence exists for the actual and potential toxic impact of PCBs and OCPsto human health, reference values for the general population must be established. To this aim, a cost-and time-effective procedure was developed and validated to assess exposure levels in the general population. Our results suggest that long-banned substances, including PCBs and the pesticides HCH, HCB, and DDT’s breakdown product, are still detectable in humans.

Exposure to organohalogenated pollutants in general population groups living in Italy

https://air.unimi.it/bitstream/2434/42427/1/Abstract%20OC.doc

Exposure to organohalogenated pollutants in general population groups living in Italy

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