Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants in California women's serum and residential dust

• Published in: Environmental research 2015-01, Vol.136, p.57-66
• Main Authors: Whitehead, Todd P., Crispo Smith, Sabrina, Park, June-Soo, Petreas, Myrto X., Rappaport, Stephen M., Metayer, Catherine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Adult; Blood; California; Consumption; Dust; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Exposure; Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; House dust; Housing; Humans; Lipids; Organic Chemicals - blood; Organochlorine pesticides; Pollutants; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Serums; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.10.009

Humans are exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) through various routes, including consumption of contaminated food and accidental ingestion of settled dust. We aimed to identify key routes of exposure to organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in California women of reproductive age. Blood was collected from 48 mothers participating in the California Childhood Leukemia Study from 2006 to 2007 and analyzed for POPs using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Multivariable linear regression models of natural-log transformed serum concentrations were used to identify determinants of exposure from available questionnaire information on dietary habits, reproductive history, and demographic characteristics, as well as vacuum cleaner dust-POP levels. After adjusting for blood lipid levels, age, body mass index, cumulative lactation, and sampling date, serum concentrations of multiple major PCBs were positively associated with fish consumption, but not dust-PCB levels. After adjusting for blood lipid levels, Hispanic ethnicity, country of origin, and household annual income, serum concentrations of multiple major PBDEs were positively associated with dust-PBDE levels. Our findings suggest that the relative contribution of specific exposure routes to total POP intake varies by chemical class, with dust being a relatively important source of PBDEs and diet being a relatively important source of PCBs. •Blood from 48 California mothers (2006–2007) analyzed for POPs.•Serum-PCBs were positively associated with fish consumption.•Serum-PBDEs were positively associated with dust-PBDEs.•Effects of age, ethnicity, income, birthplace, BMI, and lactation differed by POP.