The aim of this study was to determine human prenatal and postnatal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydroxylated metabolites of PCBs (polychlorobiphenylols; OH-PCBs), and pentachlorophenol (PCP). The median PBDE fresh-weight concentrations in maternal and cord blood plasma and in breast milk were 24, 4.3, and 75 pg/g, respectively. The PCB concentrations were approximately 60 times higher in each compartment (1,560, 277, and 4,310 pg/g, respectively). Calculated on a lipid weight basis, the levels were comparable in maternal blood plasma and breast milk. In contrast to PCBs, differences were found between PBDE congener distribution in maternal and cord blood plasma. The OH-PCBs constituted up to 26% of the PCB levels in maternal blood plasma and 53% in cord blood plasma, with levels of 120 and 88 pg/g fresh weight, respectively, and in breast milk 3 pg/g. The corresponding concentrations for PCP were 2,830, 1,960, and 20 pg/g. The ratios of PCB to OH-PCB were 13, 3, and 1,400 in maternal, cord plasma, and breast milk, respectively. It is evident that prenatal exposures occur for all the analytes. Moreover, the exposure continues after birth via breast milk. However, levels of OH-PCBs and PCP in breast milk are low compared with levels in blood plasma. Exposures to both PCBs and PBDEs, and in particular to the endocrine-active halogenated phenolic compounds, are of concern and implicate a potential risk for developmental disturbances.
A method for analysis of hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) was developed and adopted to the previously described method for determination of PCBs and methylsulfonyl-PCBs (MeSO2-PCBs) in human liver and adipose tissue. The concentrations of OH-PCBs (14 congeners), MeSO2-PCBs (24 congeners), and PCBs (17 congeners) in five paired samples of human liver and adipose tissue are reported. The sum of OH-PCB congeners was higher in liver (7-175 ng/g lipids) than in adipose tissue (0.3-9 ng/g lipids). In both liver and adipose tissue, 2,2',3,4,4',5'-hexachloro-3'-biphenylol (3'-OH-CB138) and 2,2',3,3',4,5'-hexachloro-4'-biphenylol (4'-OH-CB130) were the predominant hydroxylated PCB metabolites. The sum of OH-PCB congeners were of the same order of magnitude as those of methylsulfonyl metabolites of PCB in the same samples, 12 to 358 ng/g lipids and 2 to 9 ng/g lipids in liver and adipose tissue, respectively. The levels of PCBs were similar in liver and adipose tissue, 459 to 2,085 ng/g lipids and 561 to 2,343 ng/g lipids, respectively. The sum of OH-PCBs and the sum of MeSO2-PCBs correlated to the sum of PCBs. The determined PCB metabolites constituted 3 to 26% of total PCB concentration in the liver and 0.3 to 0.8% of total PCBs in the adipose tissue samples.
A method for analysis of hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) was developed and adopted to the previously described method for determination of PCBs and methylsulfonyl-PCBs (MeSO2-PCBs) in human liver and adipose tissue. The concentrations of OH-PCBs (14 congeners), MeSO2-PCBs (24 congeners), and PCBs (17 congeners) in five paired samples of human liver and adipose tissue are reported. The sum of OH-PCB congeners was higher in liver (7-175 ng/g lipids) than in adipose tissue (0.3-9 ng/g lipids). In both liver and adipose tissue, 2,2',3,4,4',5'-hexachloro-3'-biphenylol (3'-OH-CB138) and 2,2',3,3',4,5'-hexachloro-4'-biphenylol (4'-OH-CB130) were the predominant hydroxylated PCB metabolites. The sum of OH-PCB congeners were of the same order of magnitude as those of methylsulfonyl metabolites of PCB in the same samples, 12 to 358 ng/g lipids and 2 to 9 ng/g lipids in liver and adipose tissue, respectively. The levels of PCBs were similar in liver and adipose tissue, 459 to 2,085 ng/g lipids and 561 to 2,343 ng/g lipids, respectively. The sum of OH-PCBs and the sum of MeSO2-PCBs correlated to the sum of PCBs. The determined PCB metabolites constituted 3 to 26% of total PCB concentration in the liver and 0.3 to 0.8% of total PCBs in the adipose tissue samples.
Paired samples of human liver and adipose tissue were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) containing 3-6 bromine atoms. The samples were obtained at autopsy from one woman and four men at the age of 47 and 66-83 years, respectively. PBDEs were found in all samples. The sum of nine PBDE congeners ranged 5-18 ng/g lipids and 4-8 ng/g lipids in liver and adipose tissue, respectively. In three paired samples the concentrations were similar in liver and adipose tissue, while in two of the pairs the concentrations were higher in liver than in adipose tissue. The PBDE congeners 2,2',4,4'-tetraBDE (BDE-47), 2,2',4,4',5-pentaBDE (BDE-99), and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexaBDE (BDE-153) occurred at highest levels and constituted together 87-96% and 84-94% of the total sum of PBDEs in liver and adipose tissue, respectively. The levels of PBDEs were compared to those of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), 1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethene (p,p'-DDE), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB).
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