Dietary Exposure to Organochlorine Compounds in Tarragona Province (Catalonia, Spain): Health Risks

ABSTRACT

The human health risks due to the dietary exposure to organochlorine compounds (OC) were assessed in the Catalan stretch of the Ebro River (Spain). The concentrations of various persistent organic pollutants (POPs): polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), various hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), as well as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) and derivatives, were determined in samples of fish and seafood, vegetables, fruits, and rice, acquired in localities of the zone under evaluation. In general terms, pollutant concentrations were similar to recent levels reported in the literature. With the exception of the consumption of fish and seafood by children, and due to the presence of PCBs (Aroclor 1254), food intake from local sources does not pose non-carcinogenic risks for all population groups examined. The presence of OC in foods of local origin in the Catalan basin of the Ebro River would not increase the health risks for the area's consumers.

Key Words:

• organochlorine compounds (OC)
• DDT
• PCBs
• dietary intake
• health risks
• Ebro River (Spain)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was financially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Environment and the Water Catalan Agency (ACA), Generalitat de Catalunya, through the Mobitrof project.