engleski

Associations of residential and occupational history with the distribution of persistent pollutants mixtures in adipose tissue samples

This research aims to explore patterns of accumulation of a mixture of 15 Persistent Toxic Substances (PTSs) in the adipose tissue of 227 individuals of an adult cohort from Granada Province (Southern Spain). Information about residence and occupation during participants lifetime was gathered by means of validated questionnaires. Clusters of pollutants in the study population were identified by Principal Component Analyses (PCA). PCA analyses revealed three major groups of pollutants: PC1 representing predominantly an assortment of metals and metalloids, namely aluminium, arsenic, chromium, nickel and lead ; PC2 included mostly Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs), such as HCB, β-HCH and p, p’-DDE ; and PC3 gathered mainly a mixture of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB-138, PCB-153 and PCB-180) and metals (cadmium, cobalt and chromium). The patterns of distribution of individual pollutants and their mixtures were explored through Geographic Information Systems and multivariable linear regression models. Living in rural areas was associated with decreased levels of the mixture of PCBs and metals. Residents of industrial and heavy traffic areas showed increased levels of the mixture of metals and metalloids. Those living in rural and semi-rural areas at recruitment had decreased levels of the OCP mixture. Occupational history related to agriculture and food industry was associated with increased levels of the mixture of metals and metalloids, whereas those who had been involved in motor and industrial activities showed increased levels of the OCP mixture. Participants who had worked in cleaning and housekeeping for long periods showed decreased levels of the mixture of PCBs and metals. Our research revealed suggestive clusters of exposure, that emphasized the need for further epidemiological studies to address the effect of environmental pollutants from a mixture perspective. Our results also highlight the potential of adipose tissue as a matrix for exposure assessment to combinations of different families of contaminants, that will definitely shed light on their potential health effects.

Persistent toxic substances ; pollutant mixtures ; adipose tissue ; residence ; occupation

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