Serum profiles of PCDDs and PCDFs, in individuals near the Escambia Wood Treating Company Superfund site in Pensacola, FL

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 69; no. 8; pp. 1312 - 1319
• Main Authors: Karouna-Renier, Natalie K., Rao, K. Ranga, Lanza, John J., Davis, Deeya A., Wilson, Patricia A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Benzofurans - blood; Biological and medical sciences; blood serum; chemical residues; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; dioxins; environmental exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Epidemiological Monitoring; Female; Florida; General aspects; Humans; Hypertension - blood; Industrial Waste; Liver Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Pentachlorophenol (PCP); Polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins (PCDD); polychlorinated dibenzodioxins; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - analogs & derivatives; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins - blood; polychlorinated dibenzofurans; Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF); Serum; Toxicology; wood preservation; Wood treatment; Florida; United States; North America; America; USA, Florida, Pensacola; Serum; Pentachlorophenol (PCP); Wood treatment; Polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins (PCDD); Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF); Human; Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD); Dioxin derivatives; Proximity; Soil pollution; Persistent organic pollutant; Residential zone; Wood preservative; Industrial wasteland; Chlorine Organic compounds; Pentachlorophenol; Public health; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.05.028

The Escambia Wood Treating Company (ETC) Superfund site, Pensacola, FL, is contaminated with polychlorinated dibenzo-
p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/F), benzo(
a)pyrene, lead and arsenic from pentachlorophenol (PCP), creosote, and other compounds used to treat utility poles and foundation pilings. Although ETC’s operations ceased in 1982, soils in the areas surrounding the facility continue to exhibit elevated levels of contaminants attributable to ETC operations. In July 2000, individuals who may have been affected by contamination from the ETC site, including current and former residents and former workers and their household members were invited to participate in a study, which included a health and exposure history and routine blood analysis. We also conducted a toxicological health evaluation of a subset of these eligible workers/residents by analyzing serum levels of 17 PCDD/F congeners. Members of the ETC cohort exhibited elevated serum PCDD/F relative to the general population, and congener profiles in members of the cohort reflected patterns commonly observed in persons exposed to PCP. Hypertension prevalence in the cohort was found to correlate with PCDD/F levels, although no other significant relationships were identified with monitored health indices.