Characterization of PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels in air in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain)

Loreto Santa-Marina; Ziortza Barroeta; Amaia Irizar; Jon Iñaki Alvarez; Esteban Abad; Juan Muñoz-Arnanz; Begoña Jiménez; Jesús Ibarluzea; Nerea Urbieta; Alba Jimeno-Romero; Miren Begoña Zubero; Aitana Lertxundi

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115901

Characterization of PCDD/F and dl-PCB levels in air in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain)

Environ Res. 2023 Jul 1:228:115901. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115901. Epub 2023 Apr 16.

Affiliations

¹ Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain S/n, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain; Department of Health of the Basque Government, Subdirectorate of Public Health of Gipuzkoa, Avenida Navarra 4, 20013, San Sebastian, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain.
² Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain S/n, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain; Department of Preventative Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain. Electronic address: ziortza.barroeta@ehu.eus.
³ Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain S/n, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Department of Preventative Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
⁴ Public Health Laboratory of the Basque Government, Bizkaia Technology Park, Ibaizabal Bidea, Building 502, 48160 Derio Spain.
⁵ Laboratory of Dioxins, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
⁶ Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
⁷ Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain S/n, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain; Department of Health of the Basque Government, Subdirectorate of Public Health of Gipuzkoa, Avenida Navarra 4, 20013, San Sebastian, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20008, San Sebastian, Spain.
⁸ Biodonostia Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain S/n, 20014, San Sebastian, Spain.
⁹ Department of Preventative Medicine and Public Health, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.

PMID: 37072078
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115901

Abstract

This research examines the levels and trends of pollutants, specifically 17 congeners of PCDD/Fs and 12 dl-PCBs, in the air measured in the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain). The study used PCDD/Fs, dl-PCB, and the sum of dioxin-like compounds as separate response variables. A total of 113 air samples were collected and analyzed using the method described in the European Standard (EN-1948:2006) from two industrial areas. The results were analyzed using non-parametric test to assess the variability of these pollutants based on different factors (year, season and day of the week) and General Linear Models to assess the weight of each factor. The study found that the toxic equivalents (TEQs) for PCDD/Fs were 12.29 fg TEQm^-3 and for dl-PCBs were 1.63 fg TEQm^-3, which were in a similar range or lower than those observed in other national and international studies in industrial areas. The results showed temporal variations, with higher levels of PCDD/Fs in autumn-winter than in spring-summer and higher levels of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs during weekdays than on weekends. The industrial area where the energy recovery plant (ERP) will be located had higher levels of air pollutants due to the presence of two PCDD/Fs emitting industries nearby, as indicated by the Spanish Registry of Polluting Emission Sources. Both industrial areas showed similar profiles of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs, with the PCDD/F profiles dominated by OCDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD, and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF in terms of concentrations and 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, and 2,3,7,8-TCDD in terms of TEQs. The dl-PCB profiles were dominated by PCB 118, PCB 105, and PCB 77 in terms of concentrations and PCB 126 in terms of TEQs. The findings of this study can serve as an indicator of the potential impact of ERP on the health of the resident population and the environment.

Keywords: Air; Dl-PCBs; Incineration; PCDDs; PCDFs; TEQs.

MeSH terms

Benzofurans* / analysis
Dibenzofurans
Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
Dioxins* / analysis
Environmental Pollutants*
Polychlorinated Biphenyls* / analysis
Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins* / analysis
Spain

Substances

Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Dibenzofurans
Benzofurans
Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated
Environmental Pollutants
Dioxins