Calux Determination of PCDD/F's and Dioxin-Like PCB's in Small Amounts of Human Serum With the H1L7.5C1 Cell Line: Analysis of Serum Samples from the Flemish Environment and Health Study (FLEHS II)

Although emissions of PCDD/Fs and PCBs have decreased during recent years, these compounds are still environmental pollutants of concern: 1) since PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) are persistent in the environment, accumulate in fat tissue and have hormone disrupting properties and 2) because emissions in certain locations in Flanders are still high. Therefore, it is important to include these compounds as biomarkers of exposure in human biomonitoring programs. In 2007, a second cycle of the Flemish Human Biomonitoring program (FLEHS II) started. More than 40 biomarkers of exposure and 10 effect markers were measured in 650 samples, recruited from 14-15 year-old adolescents (n=200), 20-40 year old-adults (n=200) and mother-newborn pairs (n=250). Since only a small amount of serum was available for the PCDD/F and dl-PCB determination, GC-HRMS analysis was not possible. The CALUX bioassay provided a good alternative, since it requires only 5 mL of serum. This publication presents an optimized method for the separate analysis of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in human serum with the newly developed and more sensitive third generation CALUX (H1L7.5c1) cell line.