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More than 500 whole blood samples of normal subjects from Germany collected in 1991–1996 have been analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) by capillary gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. Over the examined time period a continuous decrease of the PCDD/F concentrations in human blood was observed. The mean levels found were about 42.7 pg I-TEq/g (lipid basis) in 1991 and 20.7 pg I-TEq/g (liquid basis) in 1996 {median: 40.8 and 19.2}. A reduction to about half was found for most congeners. Each 1-year subset of the entire collective shows a positive correlation of the PCDD/F blood levels with age for most of the congeners, the sum values, and the calculated toxicity equivalents. For statistical evaluation a multiplicative model was used: Concentration in blood=A.ageB. The correlation is mostly pronounced for lower chlorinated PCDD and for 2,3,4,7,8-PentaCDF.

744 whole blood samples of normal subjects from Germany collected in 1989-1998 have been analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) by capillary gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry. Over the examined time period a continuous decrease of the PCDD/F concentrations in human blood was observed. The mean levels found were 43.7 pg I-TEq/g (lipid basis) in 1989 and 20.7 pg I-TEq/g (lipid basis) in 1996/98 [median: 42.2 and 19.4]. The reduction to about the half was found for most congeners. Each one-year subset of the collective and the entire collective shows a positive correlation of the PCDD/F blood levels with age for most of the congeners, the sum values and the calculated toxicity equivalents. For statistical evaluation a multiplicative model was used: Concentration = A x Age(B). The correlation is mostly pronounced for lower chlorinated PCDD and for 2,3,4,7,8-PentaCDF. The PCDD/F concentrations in human blood in relation to the year of examination and the age of the subjects can be described by a linear model: I-TEq [pg/g (lipid basis)] = 6176 - 3.097 x Year + 0.6482 x Age or by a multiplicative model: I-TEq [pg/g(lipid basis)] = 10(89.08-0.04415 x Year + 0.008468 x Age).

Chlorophenols (CP) are transformed in vitro to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) by a peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation. This is shown for 2,4,5-tri-, 2,3,4,6-tetra- and pentachlorophenol with plant horseradish peroxidase and with myeloperoxidase recovered from human leukocytes, each in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The yield, the reaction and the PCDD/F-pattern found are dependent on the CP. The amounts of PCDD/F formed within 4 or 24 h are in the micromol/mol-range for all substrates and both peroxidases. The experiments suggest that biochemical formation of PCDD/F from precursors such as CPs can take place in the human body and that this metabolic pathway may lead to a higher inner exposure to PCDD/F than up to now assumed based on intake data for PCDD/F.

A mass balance of human dietary PCDD/F-intake and fecal PCDD/F-excretion was carried out. The participants of the study were seven male and seven female adults between the ages of 24 to 64 years, living in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The PCDD/F-intake was measured using the duplicate method. Sampling time of each food duplicate covered three days. The fecal PCDD/F-excretion was measured by collecting the feces which corresponded to the food duplicates. The mean daily dietary PCDD/F-intake was 49 pg I-TEq/d (range: 23-96 pg I-TEq/d) and therewith lower than that estimated in the past. The mean daily fecal PCDD/F-excretion was 98 pg I-TEq/d (40-200 pg I-TEq/d). This is twice the amount of the PCDD/F-intake. The fecal excretion of OCDD was especially higher than the dietary intake (mean: 7 fold, range: 1.2-21 fold). The differences between PCDD/F-intake and PCDD/F-excretion may be caused by a reduction of the body burden as a consequence of decreasing PCDD/F-intake. Other explanations were additional sources of exposure to PCDD/F or de novo formation of PCDD/F in the human body.

Environmental contaminants are mainly incorporated by ingestion. In general only those contaminants mobilized by the digestive juices are available for absorption in the digestive tract, while pollutants still fixed to indigestible particles leave the body without any effect. To evaluate the different health risks arising from the ingestion of individual types of polluted soil or other materials, we developed an in vitro test system which simulates the transition of pollutants from contaminated materials into digestive juices by means of a standardized artificial gastro-intestinal model. The test system simulates the influence of the acidic environment of the stomach (gastric model) followed by the neutral or slightly alkaline environment of the small intestine (gastro-intestinal model). Investigations on small amounts of polluted soil, sewage sludge, asphalt, metal scrap and blast sand showed that the mobilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by artificial gastric juice reaches 3% up to 22% of the pollutant concentration introduced into the test system. Elutions of the contaminated materials under gastric and subsequently under intestinal conditions with bile concentrations of 3 g/1 resulted in PAH- and PCB-mobilizations in the range of 5% up to 40%. The degree of mobilization depends considerably on supplementary food material added to the test system. Lyophilized milk increased the fraction of mobilized PAH and PCB to 40%–85%. Application of the test system on 22 different contaminated soils showed that the mobilization of PAH under gastro-intestinal conditions with the addition of lyophilized milk ranged from 7% up to 95%, and the mobilization of PCB ranged from 32% up to 83%. This indicates that the test system can be a useful tool for evaluating the individual health risks arising from polluted soil or other materials.

The levels of PCDD/F in blood fat are similar to those in body fat and in milk fat of lactating women. Therefore, the levels of PCDD/F in blood fat can be used as an index of the individual PCDD/F body burden in humans. In order to evaluate the PCDD/F background exposure levels of the German population, blood samples collected from 95 subjects (age 12-82 years) living in a rural area of North-West Germany were analysed for PCDD/F. The median 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalents (TE) were 40.8 pg I-TE/g blood fat and the 95th percentile was 82.1 pg I-TE/g blood fat. The TE levels in blood fat show a marked increase with age, which reflects the pronounced accumulation of PCDD/F in the human body throughout the entire lifetime. Considering single congeners, significant differences in the age-related increase were noted. Using age-specific reference values derived from this study the levels of PCDD/F in blood fat of individuals environmentally exposed to PCDD/F under different circumstances were evaluated.

Im Zusammenhang mit der im Jahre 1991 aufgedeckten hohen Belastung der Ruckstandshalden und des Umfeldes einer fruheren Kupferhutte in Marsberg (Nordrhein-Westfalen) mit polychlorierten Dibenzo-p-dioxinen und Dibenzofuranen (PCDD/F) wurden die Konzentrationen dieser Schadstoffe im Blut von 56 ausgewahlten Probanden aus Marsberg untersucht. Es handelte sich dabei um direkte Anwohner der Halden bzw. der fruheren Kupferhutte und um Personen, die in besonderer Weise mit Haldenmaterial in Kontakt gekommen waren. Parallel dazu wurde eine gleichgrose Gruppe von alters- (±3 Jahre) und geschlechtsgleichen Personen aus dem Kreis Steinfurt (Munsterland, Nordrhein-Westfalen) untersucht. Die Belastung der Marsberger Probanden betrug im Mittel 28,5 pg BGA-TE/g Blutfett (52,7 pg NATO/CCMS-TE/g Blutfett), die des Steinfurter Kollektivs 23,9 pg BGA-TE/g Blutfett (44,4 pg NATO/CCMS-TE/g Blutfett) (Medianwerte: Kollektiv Marsberg: 24,4 pg BGA-TE/g Blutfett (43,2 pg NATO/CCMS-TE/g Blutfett), Kollektiv Steinfurt: 23,4 pg BGA-TE/g Blutfett (43,0 pg NATO/CCMS-TE/g Blutfett). Die Konzentrations-Spannweiten betrugen 11,3–103 pg BGA-TE/g Blutfett (22,1–231 pg NATO/CCMS-TE/g Blutfett) [Marsberg] bzw. 9,1–48,9 pg BGA-TE/g Blutfett (16,9–98 pg NATO/CCMS-TE/g Blutfett) [Steinfurt]. Die in Relation zu dem Steinfurter Kollektiv im Mittel hoheren TE-Blutfettgehalte der Marsberger Probanden waren vornehmlich durch erhohte Penta- und HexaCDF-Konzentrationen bedingt. Es ist zu vermuten, das diese bei mehreren Probanden erkennbaren Auffalligkeiten des Kongenerenmusters durch Aufnahme von PCDD/F aus dem belasteten Haldenmaterial bzw. Boden zustande gekommen sind. Eine eindeutige Klarung dieser Frage ist aufgrund der vorliegenden Untersuchungsergebnisse nicht moglich.

A method for the quantitative preconcentration and determination of vinyl chloride (VC) and the three isomers of dichloroethene (DCE) in water is presented. After addition of 200 g CaCl2 · 2 H2O and 5.0 nmol of vinyl bromide (VB) as internal standard, the analytes are stripped from a 1 l sample with a helium flow of 500 ml/min over a period of 30 min. The analytes are adsorbed in an ice-cooled adsorption tube filled with 1.0 g of a carbon molecular sieve, subsequently desorbed with carbon disulfide and transformed into their 1,2-dibromo-derivatives by reaction with bromine water at 40° C for 30 min. These derivatives are consequently determined by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The detection limits were found to be 1.6 (VC), 3.9 (1,1-DCE) and 1.9 ng/1 (σ 1,2-DCE), respectively. The method was tested with spiked water and natural samples and exhibited a linear range over four orders of magnitude combined with an overall relative standard deviation of less than 8%. The average total analyte recovery was confirmed to be quantitative. The influence of different parameters, including purge-gas flow-rate, temperature, salt-addition, ultrasound application and presence of surfactants, on the volatilization of the analytes were examined in order to evaluate different preconcentration concepts. Several adsorbents were tested for their applicability.

A quantitative method for the determination of trace amounts of vinyl chloride in water and air is presented. Analysis of water is performed by stripping it with 250 ml/min helium from a 1-l sample at 20°C for 30 min to transfer the vinyl chloride into the gas phase. The vinyl chloride is concentrated on an ice-cooled adsorption tube, which is filled with 550 mg of silica gel and 300 mg of activated charcoal. Air samples are taken by drawing a known volume directly through the ice-cooled adsorption tube. The tubes are eluted with carbon disulfide and the vinyl chloride is derivatizised with bromine water to form 1,2-dibromochloroethane. The derivative is determined by capillary gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. The method was tested using water samples over a range from 0.4 ng/l to 1.25 μg/l. The detection limits are 0.4 ng/l for 1-l water samples or 50 ng/m3 for 7.5 l air.

'Kieselrot' (red slag), a highly PCDD/F-contaminated leaching residue from a copper production process, has been used as surface layer for more than 1,000 sports fields, playgrounds and pavements in Germany and neighbouring countries. Children can ingest this material directly by hand-to-mouth activities or soil-pica behaviour. Furthermore secondary contamination of farm land or kitchen gardens by drift of red slag dust may lead to an enrichment of PCDD/F within the food-chain. PCDD/F can be mobilized from contaminated materials by digestive juices and thus become bioaccessible for intestinal absorption. Two different digestive tract models were used to estimate the bioaccessibility of PCDD/F from red slag and to study the influence of food material on the mobilization of the contaminants. The bioaccessibility of PCDD/F from red slag depends on the charge of red slag material used, the bile content of the intestinal juice and on the presence of lipophilic foodstuffs. A low bioaccessibility of less than 5% was found when using a digestive tract model with a low bile content and in absence of food material. The bioaccessibility was estimated to be more than 60% when using a model with a higher bile content and in the presence of whole milk powder. A low bioaccessibility of PCDD/F from red slag in general--as assumed until now and mentioned in legal provision--was not confirmed by our study. Considering observations for the different homologue groups it is obvious that bioaccessibility is the first of several important steps to estimate human health risks arising from contaminated materials. In case red slag contaminated with PCDD/F their absorption rate in the digestive tract and/or metabolism might be at least just like important.

The efficacy of 1:10 silver/copper combinations for inactivation of Hartmannella vermiformis amoebas and the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis in vitro was studied. Tetrahymena and Hartmannella/isolate 19 were inactivated for 2 log steps by 100 + 1000 micrograms/l Ag + Cu. Hartmannella/isolate 21 was more resistant. 500 + 5000 micrograms/l produced only a 0.6 log reduction. The investigations clearly showed that levels within the limit of the German drinking water regulation (10 + 100 micrograms/l Ag + Cu) could not inactivate these protozoas in vitro.

Chlorophenols (CP) are transformed in vitro to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F) by a biochemical-catalyzed oxidation. This is shown for 2,4,5-tri-, 2,3,4,6-tetra-and pentachlorophenol with myeloperoxidase recovered from human leucocytes in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The yield, the reaction, and the PCDD/F-pattern found depend on the CP. The formation rates are in the micromol-per-mol range for all substrates. The experiments confirm the suspicion that a biochemical formation of PCDD/F from precursors such as CPs can take place in the human body and that this metabolic pathway may lead to a higher inner exposure with PCDD/F than is now assumed.

Silver-copper ionization was used for controlling Legionella distribution in a German university hospital hot water plumbing system for 4 years. In the beginning, silver concentrations were not allowed to exceed 10 microg/L because of drinking water regulation limits in Germany. Water samples were monitored for Legionella counts, temperature, and silver and copper concentrations. A significant (P

Legionella-contaminated hot water systems and moist sanitary areas in six hospitals were sampled for amoebae by following a standardized collection protocol. Genus identifications and temperature tolerance determinations were made. Amoebae identified as Hartmannella vermiformis (65%), Echinamoebae spp. (15%), Saccamoebae spp. (12%), and Vahlkampfia spp. (9%) were detected in 29 of 56 (52%) hot water samples. Twenty-three of 49 (47%) swabs obtained from moist areas were amoeba positive. The following genera were identified: Acanthamoeba (22%), Naegleria (22%), Vahlkampfia (20%), Hartmannella (15%), and Vanella (7%). The temperature tolerance of amoebae from hot water systems was strikingly different from that of amoebae from moist areas. At 44°C on agar, 59% of amoebic isolates sampled from hot water systems showed growth. The corresponding value for isolates from moist areas was only 17%. Six Acanthamoeba isolates from the moist areas were considered potential pathogens. Four Hartmannella and two Saccamoeba isolates from hot water could be cultured at 53°C.

A method for the determination of vinyl chloride (VC) and dichloroethenes (DCE) in gas samples is presented. The analytes are preconcentrated from a gas-volume of up to 20 l on an adsorption tube filled with 1.0 g of a carbon molecular sieve at a flow rate of 80 l/h and are subsequently desorbed with carbon disulfide. Vinyl bromide is added as internal standard to the extract. The analytes are determined as their 1,2-dibromo-derivatives by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The detection limits have been found to be 82 ng/m(3) = 32 ppt (VC), 190 ng/m(3) = 48 ppt (1,1-DCE) and 96 ng/m(3) = 24 ppt (cis-/trans-1,2-DCE). The method has been used for the quantification of the anaerobic microbial degradation of tetra- (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) to dichloroethenes and vinyl chloride in landfill sites. The substances have been analyzed in landfill-gas as well as in gaseous emissions from the landfill surface. The mean emission rates of tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene and vinyl chloride from the landfill surface into the ambient air are about 0.5 microg/(m(2) x h).