Determination of Dechlorane Plus in Serum from Electronics Dismantling Workers in South China

• Published in: Environmental science & technology Vol. 43; no. 24; pp. 9453 - 9457
• Main Authors: Ren, Guofa, Yu, Zhiqiang, Ma, Shengtao, Li, Huiru, Peng, Pingan, Sheng, Guoying, Fu, Jiamo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 15-12-2009
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Blood tests; China; Chlorine; Conservation of Natural Resources; Correlation analysis; Ecotoxicology and Human Environmental Health; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Electronic waste; Electronics; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Environmental Pollutants - chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; Female; Flame Retardants - metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - blood; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - chemistry; Industrial Waste; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Pollution; Polycyclic Compounds - blood; Polycyclic Compounds - chemistry; Refuse Disposal - methods; Studies; Water treatment; Young Adult; Asia; China; Guiyu China; China, People's Rep; Serum
• ISSN: 0013-936X; 1520-5851
• DOI: 10.1021/es901672m

Previous studies have reported high serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in residents of an electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling site in Guiyu town, South China. In this study, serum levels of Dechlorane Plus (DP), a chlorinated flame retardant of growing concern, were measured in residents of this region, and compared to those of a matched cohort from a nearby region in Haojiang, where fishing is the dominant industry. DP was detected in all the serum samples, with concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 465 ng/g lipid (median: 42.6 ng/g) and 0.93 to 50.5 ng/g lipid (median: 13.7 ng/g) in Guiyu and Haojiang, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient between DP and decabromodiphenyl ether showed a positive relationship in Guiyu (r = 0.931, p < 0.01), but no correlation in Haojiang (r = 0.321, p = 0.34). The average anti-DP fractional abundances (f anti ratio) were 0.58 ± 0.11 and 0.64 ± 0.05 for Guiyu and Haojiang, respectively (p < 0.01). Tentatively identified dechlorination product ([−Cl + H]) was found in 19/40 serum samples (11/20 for Guiyu, 8/20 for Haojiang). These results suggest that the Guiyu and Haojiang cohorts experienced different dominant exposure routes. It is also possible that DP could bioaccumulate in a stereoselective manner, and undergo dechlorination metabolism. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report DP levels in human serum. Further studies are needed to confirm the results of this study.