Biomonitoring of the population exposed to airborne pollutant emissions from the industrial harbor of Fos-sur-Mer

The INDEX biomonitoring study set out to investigate whether the residents living close to the core of the largest industrial zone of Fos-sur-Mer (Bouches-du-Rhone, France) were more highly exposed to industrial atmospheric pollutants (based on serum/urine biomarker concentrations) than people living further away (Saint-Martin-de-Crau), and to study the determinants of this exposure. A questionnaire was administered to 138 subjects (80 in the exposed area and 58 in the control area) from whom blood and urine samples were collected to measure several pollutants (heavy metals, PCBs, PCDD/Fs, benzene, and PAHs). Much of the exposure variability was attributed to individual physiological factors, diet, housing characteristics, leisure activities and history of smoking. However, after adjustment for these confounders, we found that particular behaviors such as gardening, consumption of home-grown vegetables, and consumption of local seafoods were significantly associated with a higher accumulation of some pollutants among residents of the industrial port zone compared to residents living further away, as a result of their use of an environment that is itself contaminated by industrial activity. This article focuses on zone-specific results. Our findings provide clues to understanding the pathways of the pollutants and their transfer from the environment to the human body in one of the largest industrial zones in Europe.

Automated summary

The INDEX biomonitoring study aimed to investigate exposure levels of industrial pollutants among residents in Fos-sur-Mer and found that specific behaviors were associated with higher accumulation of pollutants in the industrial port zone.