Factors associated with plasma concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p’-DDE) in the Canadian population
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2018-11-15
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Singh, Kavita
- Karthikeyan, Subramanian
- Vladisavljevic, Djordje
- St-Amand, Annie
- Chan, Hing Man
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis
Abstract
This study describes blood plasma concentrations of PCBs and p,p’-DDE in the Canadian population aged 20–79 years. PCBs and p,p’-DDE were measured in 1668 participants in the Canadian Health Measures Survey, Cycle 1 (2007–2009). We investigated how concentrations vary by sociodemographic, anthropometric, and lifestyle variables, identified factors associated with exposures, and evaluated concentrations against health-based guidance values. Congeners of PCB most commonly detected were PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180. p,p’-DDE was detectable in > 99% of the samples. Factors associated with ∑PCBs were age, region of birth, frequency of fish consumption, and liver intake (R2 = 58.1%). For p,p’-DDE, significant factors were sex, age, region of birth, household education, and ethnic origin (R2 = 47.0%). PCB concentrations in Canadians were similar to those in the United States, and lower than those reported in Europe. A small percentage equalled or exceeded the Human Biomonitoring value of 3.5 µg/L for PCBs. Few exceedances of the p,p’-DDE biomonitoring equivalent were observed.
Plain language summary
Health Canada is responsible for the assessment and management of health risks to Canadians associated with exposure to products and chemicals in the environment. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) are persistent organic pollutants, exposure to which has been implicated in adverse health outcomes in humans. In this study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the University of Ottawa, Health Canada sought to identify the demographic, lifestyle and dietary characteristics associated with the blood concentrations of PCBs and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE; a key breakdown product of DDT in the body), in Canadians aged 20-79 years. Data collected as part of first cycle of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS, 2007-2009) including blood concentrations of PCB and DDE were used for this purpose. The results showed that age, region of birth, and a diet high in fish and liver were associated with total PCB concentrations, while age, sex, region of birth, ethnic origin, and education level were associated with DDE concentrations. Comparison of concentrations of total PCBs or DDE in Canadians against previously established levels of concern associated with adverse health outcomes revealed minimal exceedances. In addition, historic evidence from other datasets assessed as part of this study showed that the concentrations of PCB and DDE in the general Canadian population have been declining over time. The decline may be attributable to continued regulatory restrictions on the manufacture, export, import, sale, use, processing, storage, and or release of PCBs and the prohibition on the use or sale of DDT. Blood monitoring of PCBs and DDE in Canadians conducted as part of CHMS cycles 3, 4, 5 and 6 (2012-2019; data expected to become available starting in 2020) using pooled samples, should help further validate the trends, as well as factors associated with Canadians’ exposure to PCBs and DDT.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety