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The relative contribution of individual polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDFs) to toxic equivalent values derived for bulked human adipose tissue samples from Wales, United Kingdom.

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Published
  • Raquel Duarte-Davidson
  • Stuart J. Harrad
  • Susan Allen
  • Andrew S. Sewart
  • Kevin C. Jones
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>01/1993
<mark>Journal</mark>Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Issue number1
Volume24
Number of pages8
Pages (from-to)100-107
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Five bulked human adipose tissue samples were analyzed for individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (including selected non-ortho-substituted compounds) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs). Mean PCB and PCDD/F (tetra-through octachlorinated homologues) concentrations were 0.75 g/g and 1.22 ng/g adipose tissue respectively. Both the congener patterns and levels detected were similar to those reported by laboratories in other industrialised countries. Each sample comprised of tissue taken from donors within a given locality. However, no obvious relationships were apparent between sampling area, absolute concentrations and congener pattern of PCBs and PCDD/Fs. The contribution of individual PCDD/F and non -ortho-(o), mono-o-, and di-o-substituted PCB congeners to the total calculated toxic equivalent values (TEQ) was assessed for each sample. The main contributions to the TEQ were the mono-o-substituted PCB congeners #118 (TEQ=42.5 pg/g of lipid), #156 (TEQ=24.8 pg/g) and #105 (TEQ=20.7 pg/g), followed by 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD (TEQ=18.2 pg/g), 2,3,4,7,8-P5CDF (TEQ= 12 pg/g), 1,2,3,7,8-P5CDD (TEQ=11.5 pg/g), and the non-o-substituted PCB congener #126 (TEQ =11.3 pg/g). Collectively, these compounds accounted for 80% of the STEQ values. Based on the TEFs proposed by Safe (1990), the overall TEQs calculated for the monitored PCBs, were twice those due to PCDD/Fs.