Decrease of PCDD/F Levels in Human Blood—Trend Analysis for the German Population, 1991–1996

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 83; no. 1; pp. 46 - 53
• Main Authors: Wittsiepe, Jürgen, Schrey, Petra, Ewers, Ulrich, Wilhelm, Michael, Selenka, Fidelis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.05.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Benzofurans - blood; Biological and medical sciences; biological monitoring; Child; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental pollutants toxicology; General aspects; Germany; human blood; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; PCDD; PCDF; polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - blood; polychlorinated dibenzofurans; Regression Analysis; Soil Pollutants - blood; TCDD; Toxicology; Europe; Germany; PCDF; biological monitoring; PCDD; polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins; TCDD; human blood; polychlorinated dibenzofurans; Germany; Human; Follow up study; Epidemiology; Rate; Blood
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1006/enrs.2000.4049

More than 500 whole blood samples of normal subjects from Germany collected in 1991–1996 have been analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) by capillary gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Over the examined time period a continuous decrease of the PCDD/F concentrations in human blood was observed. The mean levels found were about 42.7 pg I-TEq/g (lipid basis) in 1991 and 20.7 pg I-TEq/g (liquid basis) in 1996 {median: 40.8 and 19.2}. A reduction to about half was found for most congeners. Each 1-year subset of the entire collective shows a positive correlation of the PCDD/F blood levels with age for most of the congeners, the sum values, and the calculated toxicity equivalents. For statistical evaluation a multiplicative model was used: Concentration in blood=A.ageB. The correlation is mostly pronounced for lower chlorinated PCDD and for 2,3,4,7,8-PentaCDF.