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PCDD/PCDF indoor exposure in day-care centers and PCDD/PCDF blood concentrations of female employees
S von Manikowsky1, H Sagunski, O Päpke
1Hamburg State Department of Labor, Health and Social Affairs, Germany.
Insights
Blood dioxin and furan levels in day-care workers showed no clear link to indoor air exposure. However, exposure to wood preservatives in homes was positively associated with higher blood polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs).
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Pentachlorophenol (PCP)-based wood preservatives are a source of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans) (PCDFs).
- Exposure assessment is crucial for understanding the health risks associated with these persistent organic pollutants.
- Previous exposure to wood preservatives may influence current body burdens of PCDDs/PCDFs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine blood concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in female employees with prior exposure to PCP-based wood preservatives.
- To compare these blood concentrations with estimated age-dependent reference values.
- To analyze the correlation between indoor air concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs and their corresponding blood levels, considering potential confounders.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from 41 female employees at 10 day-care centers in the Hamburg, Germany area.
- Analysis focused on specific PCDD congeners (hexaCDD, heptaCDD, octaCDD) and international toxicity equivalents (I-TEQ).
- Linear multiple regression analysis was employed to examine associations between indoor air exposure and blood concentrations, accounting for confounders.
Main Results:
- Blood concentrations of hexaCDD and I-TEQ were generally around the estimated mean reference values; octaCDD levels occasionally exceeded the upper confidence limit.
- A positive association was found between indoor air concentrations and blood levels for heptaCDD and I-TEQ, but not for hexaCDD.
- OctaCDD showed a negative association in the total group but no association in subgroup analysis. No clear association was found between day-care center indoor air exposure and blood PCDD/PCDF levels.
Conclusions:
- The study found no significant association between PCDD/PCDF indoor air exposure in day-care centers and the blood levels of previously exposed female employees.
- A consistent positive association was observed between blood PCDD/PCDF concentrations and exposure to wood preservatives within private homes.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering domestic exposure sources when evaluating body burdens of dioxins and furans.
Abstract:
We determined blood concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 41 female employees with previous exposure to pentachlorophenol-based wood preservatives from 10 day-care centers in the Hamburg, Germany, area. We compared the blood concentrations with estimated age-dependent reference values and analyzed the correlation between PCDD/PCDF indoor air exposure and blood concentrations. The analyses based on the PCDD congeners 1,2,3,4,7,8-, 1,2,3,6,7,8-, and 1,2,3,7,8,9-hexaCDD (hexaCDD), 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptaCDD (heptaCDD), octaCDD, and the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxicity equivalents calculated according to the international NATO-CCMS model (I-TEQ). In comparison to the estimated reference values, the blood concentrations of hexaCDD and I-TEQ spread around the mean estimate. Data for octaCDD scattered in some cases distinctly above the upper confidence limit. Reference values for heptaCDD could not be estimated. The correlation between PCDD/PCDF indoor air exposure and PCDD/PCDF blood concentrations was examined by linear multiple regression analysis considering different exposure variables and taking confounders into account. Analyses were carried out with the total study group and with a restricted subgroup. Associations were shown between the PCDD/PCDF indoor air concentrations and blood concentrations for heptaCDD and for the I-TEQ, whereas hexaCDD showed no association. OctaCDD showed a negative association in the total study group and no association in the subgroup analysis. In summary, the analyses showed no clear association between PCDD/PCDF indoor air exposure in day-care centers and PCDD/PCDF blood levels of female employees previously exposed to wood preservatives. By contrast, the results consistently indicated a positive association between PCDD/PCDF blood concentrations and exposure to wood preservatives in private homes.