Exposure to Lindane, other Pesticides and Organochlorines in the General Population Barakaldo, Spain

Abstract

Bakcground: Aplant of lindane in Barakaldo produced discharges of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). Closed in 1987 leaving inside 4500Tm; the problem was not solved until 2002.Ajudicial process required an epidemiological assessment of the possible contamination The aim of this study is to measure the degree of impregnation of the POPs in the nearby population. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in 2008, 154 volunteers from three health centres in Barakaldo and 270 controls from Bilbao, Alonsotegi and Balmaseda.We measured serum levels of eight organochlorine pesticides, and seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We used the χ² test to study the association between categorical variables and t test of Student to compare geometric means. Confounding factors were adjusted using a linear regression model. Results: There was a detectable compound average of 6.3 per person. PCBs 52 and 101, α-HCH, β-endosulfan and heptachlor epoxide could not be quantified; PCB 28, γ-HCH and p, p'-DDTwere detected in 6.6, 0.9 and 8.05 % of subjects respectively and the β-HCH, HCB, p, p'-DDE, and PCBs 118, 138, 153 and 180 in the 73.8, 87.3, 98.6, 59.2, 97.6, 98.6 y 98.6 % respectively. After adjusting for age, there were no higher levels of β- HCH in Barakaldo than in controls, (beta = 0.02, SE = 0.07), or HCB, p, p'- DDE, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180. Conclusion: Six years after having solved the problemnear to the factory and storage of HCH, there was no significantly higher levels of HCH, after adjustment for age.