Journal article
Human health risks due to airborne polychlorinated biphenyls are highest in New Bedford Harbor communities living closest to the harbor
The Science of the total environment, Vol.710, pp.135576-135576
03/25/2020
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135576
PMID: 31785914
Abstract
In response to concerns raised by communities surrounding the New Bedford Harbor Superfund site, we completed a field and modeling study that concluded the harbor is the primary source of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in air around the harbor. The follow-up question from residents was whether the PCBs measured in air pose a risk to their health. The US Environmental Protection Agency focuses their site-specific, risk-based decisions for site clean-up on cancers. We focused our assessment on the non-cancer effects on the thyroid based on the congener specific patterns and concentrations of PCBs measured in air near and distant to the harbor. Human and animal studies of PCB-induced effects on the thyroid provide evidence to support our analysis. Drawing from the published toxicological data, we used a Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach to derive a human-equivalent concentration in air associated with human health effects on the thyroid. Based on the MOEs calculated herein, evaluation of the MOE indicates that changes in thyroid hormone levels are possible among people living adjacent to the Harbor. Changes in thyroid hormone levels are more likely among people who live near the harbor compared to residents living in areas distant from the harbor. This risk assessment documents potential health risks associated with proximity to a marine Superfund Site using site-specific ambient air PCB congener data.
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•Community concerns focus on health risks associated with PCBs in the air.•PCBs were highest in ambient air closest to the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site.•Toxicological data were used to derive a thyroid-based effect level for a Margin of Exposure (MOE) evaluation.•Health risks are highest among people living adjacent to New Bedford Harbor.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Human health risks due to airborne polychlorinated biphenyls are highest in New Bedford Harbor communities living closest to the harbor
- Creators
- Wendy J Heiger-Bernays - Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St., Talbot Building, Boston, MA 02118, United StatesKathryn Scott Tomsho - Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St., Talbot Building, Boston, MA 02118, United StatesKomal Basra - Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St., Talbot Building, Boston, MA 02118, United StatesZoe E Petropoulos - Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St., Talbot Building, Boston, MA 02118, United StatesKathryn Crawford - Boston UniversityAndres Martinez - Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, 4105 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesKeri C Hornbuckle - Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, IIHR-Hydroscience and Engineering, 4105 Seamans Center for the Engineering Arts and Sciences, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, United StatesMadeleine K Scammell - Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, 715 Albany St., Talbot Building, Boston, MA 02118, United States
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, Vol.710, pp.135576-135576
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135576
- PMID
- 31785914
- NLM abbreviation
- Sci Total Environ
- ISSN
- 0048-9697
- eISSN
- 1879-1026
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000066, name: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; DOI: 10.13039/100007161, name: Boston University, award: NIEHS/NIH P42 ES007381-19S1; DOI: 10.13039/100008893, name: University of Iowa, award: NIEHS/NIH P42 ES013661; DOI: 10.13039/100000066, name: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, award: T32 ES014562
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/25/2020
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Iowa Superfund Research Program
- Record Identifier
- 9983997980102771
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