Gender dependent accumulation of dioxins in smokers. Issue 1 (21st December 2004)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fierens, S; Eppe, G; De Pauw, E; Bernard, A
• Is Part Of: Occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 62:Issue 1(2005)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 62
• Publication Date: 2004-12-21
• Subjects: PCDD, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins -- PCDF, polychlorinated dibenzofurans -- cPCB, coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls -- TEQ, toxic equivalent -- BMI, body mass index -- AhR, aryl hydrocarbon receptor; biomarkers -- dioxins -- tobacco smoke; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 616.980305
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.2004.013730
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1351-0711

Abstract

Abstract : Aims: To evaluate the contribution of tobacco smoking to dioxin accumulation. Methods: Dioxin (17 PCDD/F) concentrations in fasting blood from 251 subjects (161 never smokers, 54 past smokers, and 36 current smokers) were quantified. Results: Whereas serum dioxin concentrations of male smokers were on average 40% higher than those of non-smokers, in women, smoking was associated with significantly lower serum dioxin levels. A synergistic potentiation of dioxin metabolism by tobacco smoke in women is postulated to explain these paradoxical findings. Conclusions: Current smoking is associated with gender dependent effects on dioxin body burden and is a potential source of confounding in human studies using blood dioxins as indicators of exposure.