PCP exposure for the Canadian general population: a multimedia analysis

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is ubiquitous in the Canadian environment, as a result of the large quantities used in the wood preservation and wood protection industries. In the past decade, agricultural and wood protection applications of PCP in Canada have been sharply curtailed. A multimedia approach was used to update estimates of PCP exposure of the members of the general population in Canada, based on currently available information. A detailed review of PCP concentrations reported in air, water, foods, household dust, and soil was performed. PCP intake estimates for infants, toddlers, school-age children, and adults in Canada were calculated. Estimates were made for people with average intakes of air, water, foods, household dust, and soil, as well as for recreational anglers and aboriginal subsistence fishermen, who were expected to have higher intakes. The current estimated intake by all of these populations is well below the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 6 micrograms/kg bw/day. The average members of the general population have an estimated intake via all routes of 0.05 micrograms/kg bw/day; most exposure is calculated to occur via food (dairy products, grains and cereals and meats) and indoor air. Recreational anglers are estimated to be exposed to only marginally more PCP per day (roughly 2%) than the general population. In contrast, aboriginal subsistence fisherman, because of their very high consumption of fish and fish products, experience the highest exposure to PCP through food; their estimated intake of PCP is almost twice that of the general population.