Human biomonitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofuranes in teachers working in a PCB-contaminated school
Introduction
The discussion about environmental endocrine disrupters has renewed interest in human polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) exposure (Bleeker et al., 1999; Neisel et al., 1999; Gabrio et al., 2000) including that caused by PCB indoor air contamination.
The problem of elastic sealant material with high portions of technical mixtures of PCBs in concrete school buildings and their influence on blood PCB levels were discussed in a previous paper (Gabrio et al., 2000). It was suggested in accordance with other investigations (Heudorf et al., 1995; Bleeker et al., 1999; Neisel et al., 1999), that PCB indoor air contamination at the working place has only a small effect on PCB blood levels of the 6 indicator congeners. But there is no information whether non-ortho PCBs and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/PCDF) concentrations are elevated in blood levels, though these congeners are typically associated with technical PCB mixtures. It was the aim of this study to investigate the effect of a heavy indoor air PCB contamination up to 12 000 ng/m3 on PCB-blood levels of teachers, including the six indicator congeners, some non-ortho PCB and PCDD/PCDF. The study groups and the investigated buildings were different to those in the previous study (Gabrio et al., 2000).
Section snippets
Method
A school with heavy indoor air PCB contamination and a non-contaminated school (control) was included in this study. Air samples were taken in summer 1997 and investigated for PCBs by standard analytical procedures. To estimate the total concentration of all PCB congeners the six indicator congeners in indoor air were multiplied times 5. This procedure is a common and acknowledged method which is described in the DIN guidelines (DIN 51527, 1987). Blood samples from teachers were taken in summer
Indoor air concentrations
The PCB indoor air concentrations in four rooms of the contaminated school are shown in Fig. 1. PCB 28 and PCB 52 were the prevailing congeners (mean of each about 48%). PCB 101 amounted to 3%, PCB 138, 153 and 180 to less than 1%.
PCB blood concentrations
Blood analysis of the pooled samples showed much higher mean PCB levels for the low chlorinated PCBs of teachers from the study group compared to the control group (Fig. 2). The PCB 28 levels was elevated 8-fold from 0.03 (control) to 0.24 μg/l blood (exposed), PCB 52
Discussion
Since the end of the 80s, sealant materials and Wilhelmi plates in buildings were recognised as major sources for PCB emissions in indoor air. Many public buildings, including schools, were found to be contaminated with PCB.
Increased PCB 28 and PCB 101 levels were found in the blood of teachers (Gabrio et al., 2000), working in a school which showed similar congener pattern and indoor air PCB concentrations as in the present study. There were some questions with regard to these findings,
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