Elsevier

Chemosphere

Volume 47, Issue 2, April 2002, Pages 229-233
Chemosphere

Human biomonitoring of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofuranes in teachers working in a PCB-contaminated school

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(01)00307-1Get rights and content

Abstract

Eighteen teachers from a highly contaminated school and 11 teachers from a control school participated in this study. Total polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) indoor air concentration (sixindicatorcongeners×5) was beyond 12 000 ng/m3 in some rooms of the contaminated school. PCB 28 and PCB 52 were the prevailing congeners. Whole blood was taken from each participant by the local health authority, pooled in two groups and analysed for the six PCB indicator congeners, non-ortho PCBs and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDD)/polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF).

Blood analysis showed elevated mean PCB 28 and PCB 52 levels for the exposed group, however the two groups were almost identical with regard to PCB 101, 138, 153 and 180. Moreover no difference can be observed for the concentration of non-ortho PCBs and PCDD/PCDF. The data support the finding, that heavy indoor air contamination with low chlorinated PCBs causes an increase of PCB 28 and PCB 52 blood levels. However, this increment was small compared to their total PCB load.

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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