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. 2017 Apr;220(2 Pt B):378-386.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2016.11.009. Epub 2016 Nov 24.

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorodibenzofurans, and polychlorobiphenyls in women of reproductive age in Italy: A human biomonitoring study

Anna Maria Ingelido  1 , Vittorio Abate  1 , Annalisa Abballe  2 , Fulvia Lucia Albano  3 , Tatiana Battista  4 , Valter Carraro  5 , Michele Conversano  4 , Rosa Corvetti  6 , Silvia De Luca  1 , Silva Franchini  5 , Anna Rita Fulgenzi  1 , Laura Giambanco  7 , Nicola Iacovella  1 , Anna Laura Iamiceli  1 , Antonio Maiorana  7 , Francesco Maneschi  8 , Valentina Marra  1 , Flavia Pirola  9 , Maria Grazia Porpora  10 , Enrico Procopio  11 , Nicola Suma  11 , Silvia Valentini  1 , Luisa Valsenti  6 , Valerio Vecchiè  12 , Elena De Felip  1
Affiliations

Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorodibenzofurans, and polychlorobiphenyls in women of reproductive age in Italy: A human biomonitoring study

Anna Maria Ingelido et al. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorodibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that represent a major concern for women of reproductive age because of the neurodevelopmental effects associated to perinatal exposure.

Objectives: This study was aimed at characterizing exposure of women of reproductive age to PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs as a function of residence in different Italian Regions, in areas at presumable different environmental contamination and human exposure to these pollutants.

Methods: Study participants were enrolled in 2011-2012 in 6 Italian Regions representative of Northern, Central and Southern Italy; in each region, areas at presumed different exposure (rural, urban and industrial) were selected for enrolment. Each participant provided a serum sample for the analysis of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs.

Results: Median concentrations of PCDDs+PCDFs, DL-PCBs, NDL6-PCBs and NDL9-PCBs in serum samples were respectively 6.0 and 3.5 pgWHO-TE05/g fat, and 75 and 93ng/g fat. Age was the variable that most affected median serum concentrations. Age adjusted concentrations were found significantly different between geographical zones: women from Northern Italy showed the highest values, followed by Central and Southern Italy. PCDDs+PCDFs concentrations were significantly higher in the group of women residing in industrial areas compared to the group residing in rural areas. A clear diminishing temporal trend was observed compared to levels reported in previous studies.

Conclusions: This study produced the largest dataset on serum concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in women of childbearing age in Italy.

Results: confirmed that environmental and lifestyle factors may influence exposure to these contaminants and thereby the body burden. The observed marked temporal decline in body burden during three decades is in agreement with the general trend observed worldwide.

Keywords: Human biomonitoring; Italy; PCBs; PCDDs; PCDFs; Women.

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