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Serum Levels of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds in Women Living in a Highly Industrialized Area of West Virginia
Citation:
DILIBERTO, J. J., J. BECKER, D. JUDE, L. SIRINEK, D. G. PATTERSON, W. TURNER, R. B. LANDY, T. J. HUGHES, D. STAATS, AND L. S. BIRNBAUM. Serum Levels of Dioxin and Dioxin-Like Compounds in Women Living in a Highly Industrialized Area of West Virginia . Presented at 2009 Annual Society of Toxicology Meeting, Baltimore, MD, March 15 - 19, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
This study examines serum levels of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in a cohort of women of reproductive age living in the Kanawha/Ohio River Valley area of West Virginia, and potentially exposed to these compounds at background levels higher than those seen in others areas of the U.S. Emissions from a unique constellation of chemical industries appear to have led to high levels of environmental dioxins contamination.
Description:
Historical releases of dioxin and dioxin-like constituents with subsequent impacts to environmental media in the Kanawha River Valley (KV) of West Virginia have been well documented. This study evaluated the impact of potentially high background dioxin exposure to body burdens in women of reproductive age (ranging from 25 to 46) and living in or near KV. This cohort of women was derived from a larger study investigating the relationship between the women’s dioxin levels and endometriosis. The study was conducted at Marshall University and all relevant procedures were performed under Marshall’s IRB in accordance with 45 CFR 46.110(A)(8)(a). Serum was analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography/isotope-dilution high-resolution mass spectrometry for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds. Results were reported on a whole-weight and lipid-adjusted basis and as international toxicity equivalents (WHO2005 TEQs). The major constituents of the total serum TEQ were 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD); 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD; PCB126; 2,3,7,8-TCDD; 23478-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PCDF); 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDF; and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD. The TEQ min/max and median/mean based on pg/g lipid were PCDD (0.22/9 & 3.5/3.22); HxCDD (5.2/45.8 & 22/21.5); PCB126 (3.8/67 & 12/14.5); TCDD (0.18/6.7 & 1/1.11); PCDF (0.25/10 & 3.4/3.65); HxCDF (1.3/9.3 & 3.2/3.54); and HpCDD (7/110 & 25/29), respectively. This study demonstrates that body burdens of these compounds in this age group of women are similar to levels recently reported in the general United States population and that living in an area of high levels of contamination is not necessarily reflected in the body burden for this class of chemicals. This abstract does not reflect USEPA policy.