High average daily intake of PCDD/Fs and serum levels in residents living near a deserted factory producing pentachlorophenol (PCP) in Taiwan: influence of contaminated fish consumption

Environ Pollut. 2006 May;141(2):381-6. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.08.032. Epub 2005 Oct 6.

Abstract

An abandoned pentachlorophenol plant and nearby area in southern Taiwan was heavily contaminated by dioxins, impurities formed in the PCP production process. The investigation showed that the average serum PCDD/Fs of residents living nearby area (62.5 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid) was higher than those living in the non-polluted area (22.5 and 18.2 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid) (P<0.05). In biota samples, average PCDD/F of milkfish in sea reservoir (28.3 pg WHO-TEQ/g) was higher than those in the nearby fish farm (0.15 pg WHO-TEQ/g), and Tilapia and shrimp showed the similar trend. The average daily PCDD/Fs intake of 38% participants was higher than 4 pg WHO-TEQ/kg/day suggested by the world health organization. Serum PCDD/F was positively associated with average daily intake (ADI) after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status. In addition, a prospective cohort study is suggested to determine the long-term health effects on the people living near factory.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Animals
  • Benzofurans / administration & dosage
  • Benzofurans / blood*
  • Chemical Industry
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Eating
  • Environmental Pollutants / administration & dosage
  • Environmental Pollutants / blood*
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity
  • Female
  • Fishes*
  • Food Contamination / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Pentachlorophenol / toxicity*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / administration & dosage
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / analogs & derivatives*
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / blood
  • Taiwan
  • Tilapia
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / administration & dosage
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / blood
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Pentachlorophenol