Dioxin, dibenzofuran, and PCB, including coplanar PCB levels in the blood of Vietnam veterans in the Michigan Agent Orange study

doi:10.1016/0045-6535(92)90514-R

Chemosphere

Volume 25, Issues 1–2, July 1992, Pages 205-208

https://doi.org/10.1016/0045-6535(92)90514-R Get rights and content

Abstract

We report, for the first time, blood levels of PCB congeners, including coplanar PCBs, and dioxins in American Vietnam veterans and the general population and compare these levels with dioxin levels in Vietnamese residents and Ranch Hand Air Force sprayers, also exposed to Agent Orange. Elevated 2,3,7,8-TCDD levels from Agent Orange are found in all three groups. Coplanar PCBs, from the veterans and controls, contribute 9%–37% of total PCB and dioxin TEQs. If all dioxin-like chemicals are not measured, health studies may have deficiencies with respect to exposure estimates, even if TCDD is reported.

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Citation Excerpt :
Several studies focusing on the residue levels of PCBs in biological samples and foodstuffs from Vietnam have been also published since the 1990s (Carvalho et al., 2008, 2009; Kannan et al., 1992, 1995; Minh et al., 2006; Nhan et al., 1999, 2001; Ramu et al., 2007; Schecter et al., 1990). Furthermore, PCBs have been found in Vietnamese human tissues such as breast milk (Minh et al., 2004; Schecter et al., 1989; Tue et al., 2010a) and blood (Eguchi et al., 2015; Hansen et al., 2009, Schecter et al., 1992, 1993). The relatively high concentrations of PCBs in soils and foodstuffs from southern Vietnam in the 1990s probably resulted from the operation of the US chemical weapons during the Second Indochina War (Kannan et al., 1992, 1995; Thao et al., 1993a, 1993b).
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Dioxins: An overview
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Human exposure and human cancerDioxin, dibenzofuran, and PCB, including coplanar PCB levels in the blood of Vietnam veterans in the Michigan Agent Orange study

Abstract

Dioxins and Related Chemicals in Humans and the Environment

PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in Human Milk of Women Exposed to a PCB Fire and of Women from the General Population of the Province of Québec - Canada

Organohalogen Compounds

Consultation on Second Round of Quality Control Studies on Levels of PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs in Human Milk and Blood

Pilot Study on International Information Exchange on Dioxins and Related Compounds Scientific Basis for the Development of the International Toxicity Equivalency Factor (I-TEF) Method of Risk Assessment for Complex Mixtures of Dioxins and Related Compounds

Human exposure and human cancer
Dioxin, dibenzofuran, and PCB, including coplanar PCB levels in the blood of Vietnam veterans in the Michigan Agent Orange study