Combination of a Fast Cleanup Procedure and a DR-CALUX® Bioassay for Dioxin Surveillance in Taiwanese Soils

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Ding-Yan Lin³  Yi-Pin Lee⁴  Chiu-Ping Li⁴  Kai-Hsien Chi⁷  Bo-Wei P. Liang¹  Wen-Yao Liu²  Chih-Cheng Wang²  Susana Lin⁵  Ting-Chien Chen³  Kuei-Jyum C. Yeh³  Ping-Chi Hsu⁶  Yi-Chyun Hsu⁸  How-Ran Chao³ 

[1] Environmental Engineering Department Ⅱ, Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Ltd., Neihu Dist., Taipei City 114, Taiwan; E-Mail:;MWH Americas Inc., Taiwan Branch, Daan Dist., Taipei City 106, Taiwan; E-Mails:;Emerging Compounds Research Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan; E-Mails:;Division 5 of the Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Environmental Protection Administration, Zhongli, Taoyuan County 320, Taiwan; E-Mails:;International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung County 912, Taiwan; E-Mail:;Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung First University of Science and Technology, Yanchao Dist., Kaohsiung City 811, Taiwan; E-Mail:;Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Science, National Yang-Ming University, Beitou Dist., Taipei City 112, Taiwan; E-Mail:;Department of Environmental Engineering, Kun Shan University, Yongkang Dist., Tainan City 710, Taiwan; E-Mail:

关键词: polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans;    soil;    aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR);    bioassay;    DR-CALUX^®;    dioxin survey;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph110504886

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Our goal was to determine dioxin levels in 800 soil samples collected from Taiwan. An in vitro DR-CALUX^® assay was carried out with the help of an automated Soxhlet system and fast cleanup column. The mean dioxin level of 800 soil samples was 36.0 pg-bioanalytical equivalents (BEQs)/g dry weight (d.w.). Soil dioxin-BEQs were higher in northern Taiwan (61.8 pg-BEQ/g d.w.) than in central, southern, and eastern Taiwan (22.2, 24.9, and 7.80 pg-BEQ/g d.w., respectively). Analysis of multiple linear regression models identified four major predictors of dioxin-BEQs including soil sampling location (β = 0.097, p < 0.001), land use (β = 0.065, p < 0.001), soil brightness (β = 0.170, p < 0.001), and soil moisture (β = 0.051, p = 0.020), with adjusted R² = 0.947 (p < 0.001) (n = 662). An univariate logistic regression analysis with the cut-off point of 33.4 pg-BEQ/g d.w. showed significant odds ratios (ORs) for soil sampling location (OR = 2.43, p < 0.001), land use (OR = 1.47, p < 0.001), and soil brightness (OR = 2.83, p = 0.009). In conclusion, four variables, including soil sampling location, land use, soil brightness, and soil moisture, may be related to soil-dioxin contamination. Soil samples collected in northern Taiwan, and especially in Bade City, soils near industrial areas, and soils with darker color may contain higher dioxin-BEQ levels.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.