APHL 2019 POSTER ABSTRACTS
lipid, with a 90th percentile of 304 ng/g lipid, minimum of 13 ng/g
lipid, and maximum of 2097 ng/g lipid. Declining trend of measured
serum PCB levels from New Jersey residence is observed compared
with NHANES 2003-2004 and 2007-2008. The extent of declining
varies by both congener and age group. In general, more significant
drop was observed on lighter congeners and oldest age group (≥60
years old). Measured serum PCB levels showed age-dependence
with the highest ∑PCBs were observed in the oldest age group
(≥60 years old), no gender dependence is observed. Factor analysis
modeling will be applied to identify the co-varying congener patterns
to reveal the contributing exposure factors for the observed variation
of measured PCB congeners in collected samples. The findings of
this study provided stratified exposure assessment data for PCBs
within New Jersey residence. A Cost-Effective Biomonitoring Approach to Identify
Vulnerable Subpopulations Using Metals Data
Presenter: Songyan Du, New Jersey Department of Health, Ewing,
NJ, [email protected] The Metals Laboratory at the New Jersey Department of Health
(NJDOH) conducted a large human biomonitoring study analyzing
cadmium, lead, and mercury in 3000 blood samples and arsenic,
barium, beryllium, cadmium, lead, thallium, and uranium in 1000
urine samples. These analytes were selected due to the severity of
health issues stemming from exposure to these toxic metals. Since
a full-scale population-based biomonitoring study can be very costly
and labor intensive, NJDOH explored a convenience sample-based
probing study approach to collect de-identified blood and urine
samples from clinical laboratories and blood banks across the state
as a cost-effective alternative.
Analyzing Commercial Water Bottles for Carcinogenic
Hexavalent Chromium
A. Steffens, A. Krasley, J. Shah, D. Haltmeier, E. Bind, New Jersey
Department of Health
To assess the potential health risks posed to the general population
and to help inform the public health community, the Metals
Laboratory at the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) tested
commercially available domestic and imported bottled water for
Cr(VI) using a modified version of EPA method 218.6 to achieve a
detection limit of 0.01 ppb. The Metals Laboratory tested remnant
unopened samples that were collected as part of NJDOH’s yearly
bottled water monitoring program. Our findings, spanning three
consecutive years, show that Cr(VI) is present in over fifty percent
of bottled waters tested. In extreme cases, Cr(VI) levels exceeded 1
ppb (more than fifty times the health limit).
Our findings indicate that not all bottled water is a safe alternative
for individuals whose tap water is contaminated with Cr(VI). These
data also indicate that a federal/state MCL needs to be set and
monitored for bottled water.
Presenter: Andrew Steffens, New Jersey Department of Health,
Ewing, NJ, [email protected]
44
LAB MATTERS Summer 2019
New Jersey has the highest number of Superfund sites in the
country and a total of over 15,000 hazardous sites across the
state. Environmental pollution has been linked to increased
exposure in people and while routine environmental testing works
well to monitor known environmental contaminations and risks,
it is often costly and does not quantify the exposures in humans.
Biomonitoring serves as a complimentary monitoring tool and can
provide a meaningful way to identify new exposure trends and
hotspots.
Our study was able to identify geographical hotspots and trends
throughout the state. When combining these data with historical
environmental sampling data for lead, we see an overlap with known
contamination issues in Newark and other large cities. Overlaying
uranium data with geological surveys and current knowledge of
water treatment strategies in NJ, the data show exposure occurring
where there is no treatment. Further poststratification of the data
through gender, age, and race for each toxic metal also provides
insight into exposure trends within the study population.
The Metals Laboratory data indicate that though our study approach
has limitations in that it cannot mimic studies such as NHANES and
characterize the exposure of the NJ population, it can be used as
a probing tool to identify at-risk subpopulations. Researchers using
this approach can then use the data generated to help design more
comprehensive and focused biomonitoring studies.
Presenter: Andrew Steffens, New Jersey Department of Health,
Ewing, NJ, [email protected]
A Reduction of PFNA Body Burdens from a Community
Exposure to PFNA-contaminated Drinking Water in New
Jersey After Interventions
C.H. Yu 1 , C. Weisel 2 , S. Alimokhtari 2 , C.D. Riker 1 , Z. Fan 1 ; 1 New Jersey
Department of Health, 2 EOHSI-Rutgers University
Elevated perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), one of the man-made
per/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), was detected in public
water systems and private wells in Paulsboro and West Deptford
communities in New Jersey (NJ). Interventions were carried out
in these communities by installing granular activated charcoal
(GAC) filters in public water system and private wells. However, the
communities expressed serious concerns about their exposure
to PFNA and effectiveness of interventions. To evaluate the
interventions would effectively reduce the body burden, the Public
Health and Environmental Laboratories (PHEL), NJ Department of
PublicHealthLabs
@APHL
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Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a naturally occurring element
that has been known for decades to cause cancer in humans via
inhalation. Though there had been some uncertainty regarding the
carcinogenic effect of other exposure routes, recent studies show
that oral Cr(VI) exposure leads to an increased risk of cancer, which
is concerning because Cr(VI) is present in the tap water of over 200
million Americans. The federal maximum contamination limit (MCL)
for total chromium in drinking water is 100 parts per billion (ppb),
but there are currently no state or federal MCLs for Cr(VI) and no
legal limit for Cr(VI) in bottled water. California set a public health
goal of 0.02 ppb of Cr(VI) in drinking water after a series of studies
and the Environmental Protection Agency has started conducting
a human health assessment for Cr(VI). The Drinking Water Quality
Institute in New Jersey is expecting to set the health-based MCL for
Cr(VI) to 0.07 ppb for the state of New Jersey.
A . Steffens, E. Bind, A, Krasley, J. Mukherjee, D. Haltmeier, C.H. Yu
and Z. Fan, New Jersey Department of Health