PCDD/Fs levels were measured by CALUX in cord blood plasma of 1196 newborns/mothers and blood plasma of 1583 adults (50-65 years old) in nine different areas of residence in Flanders (Belgium). The average level in the cord blood of the newborns/mothers (total of the dioxin-like compounds) was 23 pg CALUX-TEQ g-1 plasma lipid, while the lowest and highest values measured in the 9 areas of residence respectively amounted to 17 and 30 pg CALUX-TEQ g-1 plasma lipid. The sum of PCDD/Fs + dioxin-like PCBs (both measured separately) in the blood of the adults varied between 18.6 and 30.6 pg CALUX-TEQ g-1 plasma lipid in the 9 areas of residence with an average of 23.8 pg CALUX-TEQ g-1 plasma lipid. It was shown that the intake of meat and meat products on the one hand and fish and seafood on the other hand, have the largest influence within the diet. BMI and residence area may also explain variability in dioxin activity in plasma measured by CALUX. Transcriptome analysis in human blood in relation to PCDD/Fs blood levels in adults showed significant correlations between the dioxins/furan levels and CXCL1 and DGAT2 gene expression.
Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry,Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB),Brussels,Belgi Department of Radiotherapy and Nuclear medicine,University of Ghent (UGent),Ghent,Belgium Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry,Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB),Brussels,Belgi Department of Environmental Toxicology,Flemish Institute of Technological Research (VITO),Mol,Belgiu Department of Health Risk Analysis and Toxicology,Maastricht University (UM),Maastricht,the Netherla Department of Public Health,University of Ghent (UGent),Ghent,Belgium Provincial Institute for Hygiene of Antwerp (PIHA),Antwerp,Belgium Department of Sociology,University of Antwerp (UA),Antwerp,Belgium