Lorraine C Backer1, Birgit Bolton1,2, Jenny A Litz3, Jennifer Trevillian4, Stephanie Kieszak1, John Kucklick4. 1. National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. 2. International Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, USA. 3. National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL, USA. 4. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Charleston, SC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: People living in coastal communities are at risk for exposure to environmental hazards, including legacy chemicals. We can use databases such as NHANES to assess whether contaminants in coastal communities are present in higher levels than in the United States overall. We can use information from studies of local animal populations to assess which of these contaminants could have been transferred to people from their shared environment. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to examine the POP profiles in human populations in areas where there are published POP profiles in resident dolphins and to compare our results with data from NHANES and the dolphin studies. METHODS: We identified three areas where POPs have been analyzed in local resident dolphin populations (total N =73). We identified human communities in the same areas, and asked 27 eligible adults to read and sign a consent form, complete a questionnaire about demographics and seafood consumption, provide nine 10-mL blood samples, and provide one sample of seafood (N = 33). Blood and seafood were analyzed for a suite of POPs similar to those analyzed in published dolphin population studies. We compared the results from human blood analyses with NHANES and with data from the published reports of dolphin studies. RESULTS: Levels and proportions of specific POPs found in people and animals reflect POPs found in the local environment. Compared with the nationally representative data reported in NHANES, the levels of many POPs found in high levels in dolphins were also higher in the corresponding human communities. CONCLUSIONS: Contaminants measured in marine animals, such as dolphins, can be used to identify the types and relative levels of environmental contaminants expected to occur in people sharing the same environment. Likewise, contaminants measured in coastal human populations can provide insight into which contaminants may be found in nearby animal populations.
BACKGROUND: People living in coastal communities are at risk for exposure to environmental hazards, including legacy chemicals. We can use databases such as NHANES to assess whether contaminants in coastal communities are present in higher levels than in the United States overall. We can use information from studies of local animal populations to assess which of these contaminants could have been transferred to people from their shared environment. OBJECTIVE: Our objectives were to examine the POP profiles in human populations in areas where there are published POP profiles in resident dolphins and to compare our results with data from NHANES and the dolphin studies. METHODS: We identified three areas where POPs have been analyzed in local resident dolphin populations (total N =73). We identified human communities in the same areas, and asked 27 eligible adults to read and sign a consent form, complete a questionnaire about demographics and seafood consumption, provide nine 10-mL blood samples, and provide one sample of seafood (N = 33). Blood and seafood were analyzed for a suite of POPs similar to those analyzed in published dolphin population studies. We compared the results from human blood analyses with NHANES and with data from the published reports of dolphin studies. RESULTS: Levels and proportions of specific POPs found in people and animals reflect POPs found in the local environment. Compared with the nationally representative data reported in NHANES, the levels of many POPs found in high levels in dolphins were also higher in the corresponding human communities. CONCLUSIONS: Contaminants measured in marine animals, such as dolphins, can be used to identify the types and relative levels of environmental contaminants expected to occur in people sharing the same environment. Likewise, contaminants measured in coastal human populations can provide insight into which contaminants may be found in nearby animal populations.
Authors: Jennifer Hoguet; Jennifer M Keller; Jessica L Reiner; John R Kucklick; Colleen E Bryan; Amanda J Moors; Rebecca S Pugh; Paul R Becker Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2013-02-26 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Patricia A Fair; Magali Houde; Thomas C Hulsey; Gregory D Bossart; Jeff Adams; Len Balthis; Derek C G Muir Journal: Mar Pollut Bull Date: 2011-11-25 Impact factor: 5.553
Authors: Jeanett L Tang-Péronard; Berit L Heitmann; Helle R Andersen; Ulrike Steuerwald; Philippe Grandjean; Pál Weihe; Tina K Jensen Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2013-10-23 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: E F Wirth; P L Pennington; C Cooksey; L Schwacke; L Balthis; J Hyland; M H Fulton Journal: Environ Monit Assess Date: 2014-09-11 Impact factor: 2.513
Authors: Marie Frederiksen; Katrin Vorkamp; Marianne Thomsen; Lisbeth E Knudsen Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2008-06-12 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Olivier Boucher; Gina Muckle; Joseph L Jacobson; R Colin Carter; Melissa Kaplan-Estrin; Pierre Ayotte; Éric Dewailly; Sandra W Jacobson Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2014-01-17 Impact factor: 9.031