Serum Dioxin Levels in Residents Living in the Vicinity of Municipal Waste Incinerators in Taiwan

Abstract

This study used data obtained from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration to measure the dioxin exposure and the body burden for residents living in the vicinity of 19 municipal waste incinerators (MWIs). A survey was conducted in 1999-2003 for the residents. Approximately 16 ambient air samples and a 60-ml blood samples of 84 to 92 residents aged 18-65 yr were collected randomly in four zones (A, B, C, D) for each MWI site based on the atmospheric dispersion model (ADM). Zone A was defined with the highest pollution level, followed by zones B and C, and zone D (background level). Congeners of 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) were determined for each sample. We summarized the PCDD/Fs levels in air samples and serum specimens by zone for these 19 sites. The mean ambient levels of PCDD/Fs fitted the ADM, the highest from zone A and the lowest from zone D (2.74 vs. 0.13 pg I-TEQ/Nm3). However, the mean serum concentration in zones A was not distinct from that in zones D (18.7 vs. 19.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid). The age-specific average serum concentration increased from 13.27 pg WHO-TEQ/g in 18- to 25-yr-old subjects to 23.46 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid in 56- to 65-yr-old subjects. In conclusion, the serum PCDD/Fs levels among residents did not adhere to the dispersion model for incineration emissions. The dose-response of serum PCDD/Fs by age suggests that the body burden of the chemicals is mainly associated with other sources instead of with inhalation.

Occupational airborne contamination in South Brazil: 2. Oxidative stress detected in the blood of workers of incineration of hospital residues

“…Indeed, the soil, air and food near the incineration plants are contaminated with relatively high levels of dioxins and heavy metals, causing concern among the population living in such areas (Fierens et al 2003;Augusto et al 2004Augusto et al , 2007Masuda et al 2005;Huang et al 2006). In addition, exposure to the emission from solid waste incinerators seems to be the main cause of oxidative stress measured both in vivo and in vitro (Yoshida and Ogawa 2000;Leem et al 2003;Yoshida et al 2003).…”

The health impacts of waste incineration: a systematic review

“…Thirty‐six papers 15,22,27–60 investigated exposure to waste incinerator emissions by measurement of body substances. Upon review, five were found to have been misclassified and were excluded from the analysis.…”

A systematic review on biomonitoring of individuals living near or working at solid waste incinerator plants

“…The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified both 2,3, 7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo p-dioxin and PCBs as group 1 carcinogens (carcinogenic to human) (IARC 2012(IARC , 2016. PCDD/Fs and PCBs were studied in association with SWI exposure in some large population studies in Flanders, France, Spain, Japan, South Korea, and North Taiwan (Kitamura et al 2001;Tajimi et al 2005;Huang et al 2007;Frery et al 2007aFrery et al , 2007bSchroijen et al 2008;Zubero et al 2011Zubero et al , 2017Park et al 2014), and in several occupational studies (Angerer et al 1992;Wrbitzky et al 1996;Kitamura et al 2000;Hu et al 2004;Yoshida et al 2006;Mari et al 2013).…”

“…Metal exposure and genotoxic effects were studied in 23 workers who were temporarily conducting cleaning operations, residual transfer, and disposal operations in a MSWI; study year was not reported (Wultsch et al 2011 , 2003Mari et al 2007Mari et al , 2009Mari et al , 2013 Matar o, Spain Reis et al 2007aReis et al , 2007bReis et al , 2007c (continued) Chen et al 2003;Huang et al 2007; micronuclei (MN) frequency in lymphocytes were not different between 23 workers and 19 office workers from the same plant (controls), even stratifying the exposed individuals for the effective duration of the cleaning operations during the year (from 1 to 11 months/year). Data on alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, physical activity, and drug intake showed no difference between exposed and controls.…”