Title: ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN EXPOSURE TO PCDD/F AT CONTAMINATED SITES COMPARED TO BACKGROUND EXPOSURE 
Resource Type: document --> technical publication --> proceedings / conference paper(s) 
Country: EU Projects 
Year of publication: 2006 
Availability: Conference paper. The 26th International Symposium on Halogenated Persistent Organic Pollutants – DIOXIN2006 was held August 21 – 25, 2006 
Author 1/Producer: Åberg, Annika 
Other Authors/Producers: Tysklind M, Wiberg K, Hanberg A, Ask I, MacLeod M 
Author / Producer Type: University research group / research institute 
Publisher: Dioxin 2006 
Report / download web link (=direct link): http://www5.shocklogic.com/scripts/JMEvent/abstracts/FCC-260 ...  
Format (e.g. PDF): PDF 
Size: (e.g. 20mb) 0.5 
EUGRIS Keyword(s): Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Exposure pathways
Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Models
Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Receptor: Human health
Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Sources
Contaminated land-->Risk assessment-->Tools and procedures
 
Short description: Several exposure pathways are used to model human exposure from dioxin contaminated sites. Study applies the so called Caltox model. 
Long description: In Sweden, nearly 370 former chlorophenol (CP) wood impregnation sites have been identified in the national inventory. Many of these sites are contaminated with PCDD/Fs and due to the high toxicity of PCDD/Fs, they are therefore prioritised for further investigations of contamination level and for risk assessments. It is generally agreed that most of the human exposure to PCDD/F is due to food intake1, but local point sources, such as municipal waste incinerators, have been proved to contribute to exposure at a local scale2. Increased levels of PCDD/Fs in environmental media close to point sources may affect human exposure through several pathways, such as production and intake of locally grown food, inhalation of dust and particles, dermal contact and ingestion of soil. Many investigators have shown that PCDD/F in air is the general contributor to contamination of the food chain at background levels3,4. A locally elevated background level of PCDD/F in air at contaminated sites may thus affect humans both via the food chain pathway as well as via direct exposure by inhalation. At high soil concentrations, adsorption of soil particles to plant surfaces can also add to the total concentration in plants5 as well as contribute to high levels of PCDD/Fs in eggs6 and pose a health risk to humans7. Usually, site specific investigations of contaminated sites in Sweden focus on environmental media concentrations in soil, sediment and water. The cost for PCDD/F analysis usually limits the possibilities to thoroughly investigate the fate and exposure at such sites. Also, the samples taken only reveal the situation today and not the accumulated effect over several years. To improve our understanding of the extent to which contaminated soil can contribute to increments in human background exposure we therefore used a multi-media fate- and exposure-modelling approach. Population defined scenarios at different environmental concentrations then allows a quantitative comparison of exposure by several pathways. 
Link to Organisation(s): Umeå University
 
Submitted By: Mr Thomas Liljedahl WhoDoesWhat?      Last update: 06/11/2006

This site uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this site you agree to these cookies being set.
To find out more see our Privacy Policy.
OK