Serum Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Pregnant Women Residing in a Contaminated Area

Abstract

P-360 Introduction: We studied serum polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin, dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) levels in pregnant women who live in the environmentally exposed area in southwestern Taiwan where a large pentachlorophenol (PCP) manufacturing plant were located and operated during 1965 – 1984. The present study was conducted to ascertain whether an increased body burden of dioxins existed in pregnant women living in an area contaminated by chemicals from this plant. Method: Twenty-eight pregnant subjects, 21–39 years of age and residing in the study area between with a mean dwelling time of 6.07 ± 6.11 years, were recruited. Concentrations of polychlorinated PCDD/Fs, and PCBs in serum of recruited residents were determined. The isotope dilution high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) method was used to quantitatively determine the PCDD/Fs and PCBs congeners. Results: Pregnant women residing in the study area > 3 years had significantly higher PCDD (7.48 versus 5.13 pg-toxic equivalents [TEQ]/g-lipid) and dioxin-like PCB (6.70 versus 3.74 pg-TEQ/g-lipid) values as compared to those residing 3 years. Observed results show that insulin had a positive trend TEQ, levels without statistical significance, nevertheless insulin sensitivity were significantly decreased with increasing levels of both PCB and total TEQ. Dioxin congeners with greater degrees of chlorine substitution (e.g., HpCDD/F and OCDD/F) partitioned to greater degrees in the subjects of this study as compared to subjects in the general Taiwanese population. Conclusion: Body burden may be increased in pregnant women living in the contaminated area. The relation of dioxin like PCB and total dioxin/PCB levels to insulin resistance is worth of noting because the later is related to diabetes occurrence.