Serum Concentration and Exposure History of Dioxins and Organochlorine Pesticides among Residents around the Camp Carroll Area

Objectives: This study was performed in order to evaluate whether 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) could be detected among residents living near Camp Caroll in Waegwan and whether serum concentrations of dioxins, including 2,3,7,8-TCDD, and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are associated with length of residence. Methods: Study subjects totaled 113 (for dioxins) and 190 (for OCPs) adults who were selected from participants in a medical investigation. Serum concentrations of dioxins and OCPs were measured using HRGC/HRMS. Information on length of residence was obtained through questionnaires. Results: 2,3,7,8-TCDD was not detected in serum among all subjects. When length of residence was classified as a categorical variable, after adjusting for confounding variables, only residents living in Waegwan for 40 years or longer tended to have high total TEQ values and 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF with marginal significances. There was no dose-response relation between length of residence and serum concentrations of these chemicals. In multiple regression models with continuous values of the length of residence, total TEQ value and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF were positively associated with length of residence. However, they explained about 3-5% of total variations of serum concentrations of these compounds, while age, consumption of fatty fish, body mass index, alcohol drinking, and cigarette smoking were main variables affecting serum concentrations of dioxins or OCPs. Conclusions: In the current study, high concentrations of certain compounds were mainly observed among persons who lived in Waegwan for at least for 40 years without a dose-response relation. Therefore, it seems difficult to conclude that length of residence meaningfully contributed to the current serum concentrations of dioxins or OCPs among residents in Waegwan. However, considering the half-life of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and indirect exposure routes, the limitations of the current study design should be considered in the interpretation of the study findings.