The spatial distribution of congener-specific human PCB concentrations in a PCB-polluted region

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2019-02, Vol.651 (Pt 2), p.2292-2303
• Main Authors: Strémy, Maximilián, Šutová, Zuzana, Murínová, Ľubica Palkovičová, Richterová, Denisa, Wimmerová, Soňa, Čonka, Kamil, Drobná, Beata, Fábelová, Lucia, Jurečková, Dana, Jusko, Todd A., Tihányi, Juraj, Trnovec, Tomáš
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Contaminated site; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Female; Geographic information system; Human biomonitoring; Humans; Kriging; Male; Middle Aged; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; POPs; Slovakia; Spatial Analysis
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.123

Serum PCB congener concentrations were measured in 602 adults living near a PCB pollution source in eastern Slovakia. We created isoconcentration maps for 21 PCB congeners by geocoding each participant's place of residence and kriging. Concentrations of PCB congeners were inversely associated with the distance of the participants' residence from the source of pollution. Congener-specific risk factors were derived, particularly for PCBs 52 and 153. We observed that the spatial distribution of serum concentrations was influenced by micro-climatic parameters and physicochemical properties of the congeners. PCB congener profiles strongly correlated with that of the PCB commercial product Delor 106, which was manufactured in the region. The isoconcentration maps indicate that the zones with the highest predicted congener concentration have a mean area of approximately 235.75±188.56km2 and the mean enrichment of concentration of congeners in serum in these zones is about 5.12±1.36. We estimate that depending on congener approximately 23,457±18,762 individuals with PCB concentrations exceeding health-based guidance values live in these zones. [Display omitted] •We determined PCB congeners in serum from 602 adults living in PCB polluted area.•We created PCB congener-specific isoconcentration maps using kriging.•The mean area of zones with highest predicted concentration was 235.75±188.56km2.•The mean serum congener concentration enrichments in these zones was 5.12±1.36•Depending on the congener 23,457±18,762 inhabitants live in these particular zones.