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PCP exposure for the Canadian general population: a multimedia analysis
1Bureau of Chemical Hazards, Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology
|October 1, 1992
Summary
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) exposure in Canada is below safe levels for the general population, including vulnerable groups. While food and indoor air are primary sources, even high-risk groups like subsistence fishermen show intake below the ADI.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was widely used in Canadian wood preservation, leading to environmental presence.
- Recent decades saw significant reductions in agricultural and wood protection applications of PCP in Canada.
Purpose of the Study:
- To update estimates of PCP exposure for the general Canadian population using current data.
- To assess PCP intake across various demographics, including vulnerable groups and those with high-risk diets.
Main Methods:
- A multimedia approach was employed, reviewing PCP concentrations in air, water, food, dust, and soil.
- PCP intake was calculated for infants, toddlers, children, adults, recreational anglers, and aboriginal subsistence fishermen.
Main Results:
- Estimated current PCP intake for all assessed populations is well below the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of 6 µg/kg bw/day.
- The general population's average intake is 0.05 µg/kg bw/day, primarily from food (dairy, grains, meats) and indoor air.
- Aboriginal subsistence fishermen exhibited the highest estimated intake, nearly double that of the general population, due to high fish consumption.
Conclusions:
- Current PCP exposure levels in Canada are considered safe for the general population and specific high-intake groups.
- Dietary intake, particularly from fish for subsistence fishermen, remains the most significant route of exposure.
- Reduced PCP usage has likely contributed to lower overall population exposure levels.