Does Living Near a Superfund Site Contribute to Higher Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure?

摘要

We assessed determinants of cord serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levelsamong 720 infants born between 1993 and 1998 to mothers living neara PCB-contaminated Superfund site in Massachusetts, measuring thesum of 51 PCB congeners (∑PCB) and ascertaining maternal address, diet, sociodemographics, and exposure risk factors. Addresses weregeocoded to obtain distance to the Superfund site and neighborhood characteristics. Wemodeled log10(∑PCB) as a function of potential individual and neighborhood riskfactors, mapping model residuals to assess spatial correlates of PCBexposure. Similar analyses were performed for light (mono–tetra) andheavy (penta–deca) PCBs to assess potential differencesin exposure pathways as a function of relative volatility. PCB-118 (relativelyprevalent in site sediments and cord serum) was assessedseparately. The geometric mean of ∑PCB levels was 0.40 (range, 0.068–18.14) ng/gserum. Maternal age and birthplace were thestrongest predictors of ∑PCB levels. Maternal consumption oforgan meat and local dairy products was associated with higher and smokingand previous lactation with lower ∑PCB levels. Infants bornlater in the study had lower ∑PCB levels, likely due to temporaldeclines in exposure and site remediation in 1994–1995. Noassociation was found between ∑PCB levels and residential distancefrom the Superfund site. Similar results were found with lightand heavy PCBs and PCB-118. Previously reported demographic (age) andother (lactation, smoking, diet) correlates of PCB exposure, as wellas local factors (consumption of local dairy products and Superfund sitedredging) but not residential proximity to the site, were importantdeterminants of cord serum PCB levels in the study community.