Systematic investigation of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls blood levels in Greek children from the Rhea birth cohort suggests historical exposure to DDT and through diet to DDE.

The blood levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been thoroughly investigated in Greek children from the Rhea birth cohort study. This investigation aimed to assess exposure levels, explore their possible relationship with children's age and sex, and indicate potential sources of exposure. Exposure patterns and common sources of PCBs and OCPs were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate statistics. A total of 947 blood samples from study participants were analyzed for OCP and PCB exposure, with 375 samples collected at 4 years old, 239 at 6.5 years old, and 333 at 11 years old. Elevated levels of DDE were observed in 6.5-year-old children compared to corresponding levels in other European countries. Higher levels of DDE were found in 4-year-old children, with the lowest concentrations in the 11-year-old group. The DDT/DDE ratio was consistently less than 1 among all the examined subjects. These results indicate exposure to DDT and DDE both in utero and through breastfeeding and dietary intake. For the entire cohort population, the highest concentration was determined for PCB 28, followed by PCBs 138, 153, and 180. The sum of the six indicator PCBs implied low exposure levels for the majority of the cohort population. Spearman correlations revealed strong associations between PCBs and OCPs, while principal component analysis identified two different groupings of exposure. DDE exhibited a correlation with a series of PCBs (153, 156, 163, 180), indicating a combined OCP-PCB source, and an anticorrelation with others (52, 28, 101), implying a separate and competing source.

Monitoring of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels in Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Aquaculture Farms in Central Macedonia Region, Greece, Using Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method.

A new sensitive and selective gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed for the analysis of 26 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and 15 + 1 European Union (EU) PAHs, in mussel samples from aquaculture farms in Thermaikos and Strymonian Gulf, Central Macedonia Region, in three sampling periods. Concentrations were found at moderate to low values at all sampling sites, without exceeding maximum levels set by EU. Low molecular weight PAHs were predominant in all samples. Seasonal variation of the concentrations was observed; values were slightly higher in the winter period. Use of diagnostic ratios for potential sources of PAHs showed both petrogenic and pyrolitic origin. In comparison to other related studies of mussels from the Mediterranean Sea, Greek mussels cultivated in the studied gulfs are low in contaminants due to minimal environmental pollution effects. Low concentrations of PAHs are in compliance with the low values of other POPs which were found in the mussels.

Infant dietary exposure to dioxins and dioxin-like compounds in Greece.

The dietary exposure of infants to polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) is an issue of great social impact. We investigated for the first time the dietary intake of these compounds in infants living in Greece. We included in our study two age groups: 0-6 months, when infants are fed exclusively by human milk and/or formula milk, and 6 to 12 months, when solid food is introduced to nutrition. We took into consideration analytical results for PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs concentrations in the most popular infant formulae in the Greek market, previous data for mother milk concentrations of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs from Greece, and finally analytical data for fat-containing food products from the Greek market. In the first study group, it was found than in infants exclusively fed by breast milk, the calculated sum of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (60.3-80.4 TEQ pg/kg body weight) was significantly higher than that of infants that consume a combination of human milk and formula (31.2-41.6 TEQ pg/kg body weight). In the second study group, separate daily intake estimations were performed for babies receiving human milk (estimated total daily intake 19.76-24.95 TEQ pg/kg body weight) and formula milk (estimated total daily intake 1.60-2.24 TEQ pg/kg body weight). The risks of this exposure should not be overestimated because nursing is restricted to a limited period of human life and besides, the potential consumption of higher levels of dioxin-like compounds is fully compensated by the significant benefits of breast-feeding.

Levels of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) in blood samples from different groups of adults living in Greece.

The production of perfluorinated compounds which finds application in a wide variety of consumer products has led to their accumulation in the environment. This fact, in combination with their chemical properties of amphiphilicity and chemical stability is the cause of their occurrence in human tissues, which according to reports is widespread, not only in occupationally exposed workers, but also in the general population. In this study, we analyzed 182 blood samples from three different groups of adults living in Greece, in order to evaluate blood levels of two environmentally most common perfluorinated compounds, perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). The samples examined were from a group of individuals living in Athens, a group of inhabitants of the semi-urban and rural area of Argolida, and a group of cancer patients from the St. Savas Anticancer Hospital in Athens. The latter group was chosen in order to examine the possible relation of PFOS and PFOA levels with cancer incidence in the general population. The analytical results showed the presence of PFOS and PFOA in all samples examined, at levels similar to those reported from other European countries. There was no significant difference between the three groups however there was a significant difference between the levels of men and women in all groups examined. No correlation was found between age and PFOS and PFOA levels. This is the first study of this kind to be conducted in samples from Greece.

Determination of PCDD/F, dioxin-like PCB and PAH levels in olive and olive oil samples from areas affected by the fires in summer 2007 in Greece.

During the summer of 2007, a series of massive forest fires broke out in several areas across Greece. The main sources of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in Greece are considered to be the uncontrolled combustion of municipal solid waste in open landfills and accidental fires in forest, rural and industrial areas. Combustion may also lead to the formation of PAHs, which are fat soluble substances of considerable toxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate PCDD/F, dioxin-like PCB and PAH contamination of olive oil produced in fire-affected areas. Olive oil is a very significant agricultural product of Greece. Samples for this study were collected from all affected oil producing areas after the fire and 1year later. PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PAHs were at normal levels in all samples analysed.