Health Risks of Environmental Exposure to PCDD/Fs near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator in Catalonia, Spain

In 1996-1998, a wide surveillance program was initiated in the vicinity of a new hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) placed in Constantí (Catalonia, Spain), which started its regular operations in 1999. The program was aimed at assessing the environmental impact of the facility on the surrounding environment, as well as to evaluate the potential risks for the population living in the neighborhood. Since then, among other measurements, the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) have been periodically determined in soil and herbage samples. This study shows the results, corresponding to the period 2013-2016. Data were compared with those obtained in the baseline survey (1996-1998), as well as with those of the previous survey (2011-2012). The median PCDD/F concentrations in soils were 0.44 and 0.33 ng toxic equivalent (I-TEQ)/kg in 2015 and 2016, respectively, with a significant decrease in relation to the baseline survey, and a non-significant decrease between 2015 and 2016. In turn, PCDD/F levels in vegetation showed some fluctuations over time, being the concentrations of PCDD/Fs in 2013 very similar to those found in 2012 (1.11 and 1.23 ng I-TEQ/kg, respectively). These concentrations notably decreased along the three last campaigns (0.16, 0.23, and 0.17 ng I-TEQ/kg in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively). These changes would be more related to a number of environmental factors rather than to a variation of PCDD/F emissions by the HWI. With respect to human health risks, exposure to PCDD/Fs in the area under potential influence of the HWI is not of concern, as the current environmental concentrations of PCDD/Fs do not mean additional carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic risks for the local population.

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Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the neighborhood of a hazardous waste incinerator: human health risks

Marquès

Nadal

Díaz-Ferrero

et al. 2018

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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A PBPK model to estimate PCDD/F levels in adipose tissue: Comparison with experimental values of residents near a hazardous waste incinerator

Schuhmacher

Fàbrega

Kumar

et al. 2014

Environment International

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This study was aimed at determining the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in 15 samples of adipose tissue from subjects who had been living in the vicinity of a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI). The results were compared with levels obtained in previous surveys carried out in 1998 (baseline study), 2002 and 2007. The current (2013) concentrations of PCDD/Fs in adipose tissue ranged from 2.8 to 46.3 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat (mean and median concentrations: 11.5 and 7.4 pg WHO-TEQ/g fat, respectively), being significantly lower (64%) than those observed in 1998. In contrast, no significant differences in the mean PCDD/F concentrations were noted in the period 2002-2013. The significant decrease of the PCDD/F content in fat, also noted in other biological monitors such as plasma and breast milk, is in agreement with the reduction in the dietary intake of PCDD/Fs found in the same area of study. Similarly to other investigations across Europe, an increase of PCDD/F levels in adipose tissue in relation to age was observed, while no significant differences were noted according to gender. A multicompartmental physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was also applied to estimate the levels of PCDD/Fs in adipose tissue. When comparing the modeled and experimental concentrations of PCDD/Fs in that tissue, very similar values were obtained for the four surveys, which indicates this can be a reliable tool to predict the internal dose of PCDD/Fs.

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Health risks for the population living in the vicinity of an Integrated Waste Management Facility: Screening environmental pollutants

Domingo

Rovira

Vilavert

et al. 2015

Science of The Total Environment

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Health Risks of Environmental Exposure to PCDD/Fs near a Hazardous Waste Incinerator in Catalonia, Spain

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the neighborhood of a hazardous waste incinerator: human health risks

Concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the neighborhood of a hazardous waste incinerator: human health risks

A PBPK model to estimate PCDD/F levels in adipose tissue: Comparison with experimental values of residents near a hazardous waste incinerator

Health risks for the population living in the vicinity of an Integrated Waste Management Facility: Screening environmental pollutants

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