The impacts of emission trends of POPs on human concentration dynamics: Lessons learned from a longitudinal study in Norway (1979-2007)

Therese Haugdahl Nøst; Torkjel Manning Sandanger; Evert Nieboer; Jon Øyvind Odland; Knut Breivik

doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.01.015

The impacts of emission trends of POPs on human concentration dynamics: Lessons learned from a longitudinal study in Norway (1979-2007)

Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2017 Jun;220(4):776-781. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.01.015. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Authors

Therese Haugdahl Nøst¹, Torkjel Manning Sandanger², Evert Nieboer³, Jon Øyvind Odland⁴, Knut Breivik⁵

Affiliations

¹ NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The FRAM Centre, P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, P.O. Box 6050 Langnes, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: therese.h.nost@uit.no.
² NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, The FRAM Centre, P.O. Box 6606 Langnes, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, P.O. Box 6050 Langnes, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
³ Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University,1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, P.O. Box 6050 Langnes, NO-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
⁵ NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research, P.O. Box 100, NO-2027 Kjeller, Norway; Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1033, NO-0315 Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 28246018
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2017.01.015

Abstract

Background: In this short communication, our focus is on the relationship between human concentrations of select persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and environmental emissions. It is based on a longitudinal study (1979-2007) conducted in Norway.

Objectives: Our aim was to extract general insights from observed and predicted temporal trends in human concentrations of 49 POPs to assist in the design and interpretation of future monitoring studies.

Discussion: Despite considerable decline for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) since 1986, the sum of the targeted POPs increased from 1979 until 2001, with per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) dominating recent blood burden measurements. Specifically, the time trends in serum concentrations of POPs, exemplified by PCB-153, 1,1'-(2,2,2-Trichloroethane-1,1-diyl)bis(4-chlorobenzene) (DDT) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), resembled the trends in available data on their emissions, production or use. These observations suggest that interpretations of human biomonitoring data on persistent compounds must consider historic emissions, which likely vary spatially across the globe. Based on the different temporal trends observed across POP groups, it is evident that generalizations regarding temporal aspects have limitations.

Conclusion: The discussion herein underscores the importance of understanding temporal variations in environmental emissions when designing and interpreting human biomonitoring studies.

Keywords: Blood serum; Organochlorine pesticides; Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; Persistent organic pollutants; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Repeated measurements.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Alkanesulfonic Acids / blood
Caprylates / blood
Environmental Monitoring / statistics & numerical data*
Environmental Pollutants / blood*
Environmental Pollution / statistics & numerical data*
Fluorocarbons / blood
Humans
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / blood
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Norway

Substances

Alkanesulfonic Acids
Caprylates
Environmental Pollutants
Fluorocarbons
Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
perfluorooctanoic acid
perfluorooctane sulfonic acid