Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
p,p'-DDT
1
p,p'-DDE
3.5
o,p'-DDT
1.27
Oxychlordane
0.49
HE
0.5
HCB
0.87
Endrin
0
Dieldrin
0.84
γ-BHC
0.05
β-BHC
0.27
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
Concentration (ppb)
FIGURE 15.2
Distribution of serum pesticide residue levels in a rural population, 1986 (N = 85; white American persons).
HE, Heptachlor epoxide. (Adapted from Stehr-Green, P. A., Farrar, J. A., Burse, V. W., Royce, W. G., and Wohlleb,
J. C. 1988. A survey of measured levels and dietary sources of selected organochlorine pesticide residues and
metabolites in human sera from a rural population.
Am. J. Public Health
78(7): 828-830.)
had spent more than 90% of their lives living on a farm. In general, the serum levels
increased with age, with males having slightly higher levels than females. Consumption of
eggs from home-raised hens contributed substantially to increased serum concentrations
of trans-nonachlor, heptachlor epoxide, and oxychlordane. Consumption of home-grown
root vegetables likewise contributed to increased serum concentrations of trans-nonachlor
and oxychlordane. Health risks, if any, that may be attributable to these “background” lev-
els of exposure remain to be fully characterized in this and all other affected populations.
The results are represented in Figure 15.2.
According to Becker et al. (2002), blood samples from about 4800 subjects were selected
to be representative of the German population with regard to region (East/West Germany),
community size, age (18-69 years), and gender. Cadmium, lead, mercury, hexachloroben-
zene (HCB), HCH (α-, β-, and γ-HCH), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p′-
DDE), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs; PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-180) were analyzed
in the whole blood to document the extent, distribution, and determinants of exposure of
the general population to these substances. Focusing on OCs, the authors reported that the
mean concentrations of HCB and p,p′-DDE in blood were 0.44 μg/L and 1.6 μg/L, respec-
tively. In East Germany (the former GDR), the DDE concentration in the blood was more
than twice as high as that in West Germany. Geometric means for PCB were 0.42, 0.68, and
0.44 μg/L for PCB-138, PCB-153, and PCB-180, respectively. A marked increase of HCB,
DDE, and PCB levels with age was observed. α- and γ-HCH were detected in 1.7% and 5.2%
of the samples only. β-HCH was quantified in 34% of the samples with a 95th percentile of
0.5 μg/L.
As part of the National Health and Examination Survey (1999-2000), the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention analyzed serum samples from the US population for many
environmental chemicals associated with neurodevelopmental effects (Needham et al. 2005).
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