Assessment of human exposure to uncommon industrial toxicants in Glynn County, Georgia Environmental Pollution

Coastal Glynn County, Georgia, is home to four hazardous sites on the United States EPA's National Priorities List. Toxicants of concern include mercury, the pesticide toxaphene, and Aroclor 1268, a mixture of highly chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); these toxicants are known to persist in the local environment and/or regional aquatic life. Participants had high levels of PCBs linked to Aroclor 1268, but not other PCBs. Blood levels of both toxaphene Parlars were elevated in many participants. Some individuals had exposures many times greater than population 95th percentiles. Several focal toxicants were higher in Black participants. Fishers and people with occupational histories of exposure showed high levels.