Congener profile and toxicity assessment of polychlorinated biphenyls in human adipose tissue of Italians and Chileans

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2000-12, Vol.67 (1), p.63-71
• Main Authors: Mariottini, M., Aurigi, S., Focardi, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air; Analysis methods; Analytical chemistry; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Chemistry; Chromatographic methods and physical methods associated with chromatography; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Exact sciences and technology; Gas chromatographic methods; Human adipose tissue; Medical sciences; Pollution; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/S0026-265X(00)00100-4

Human exposure to polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in humans was determined by analyzing adipose tissue samples collected in 1996–1997 from two different localities: Siena (Italy) and Concepción (Chile). ΣPCBs was higher in Italian samples than that from Chile (493 and 53 ng/g wet wt., respectively). Thirty-seven different PCB congeners were identified in all samples. The prevailing PCB congeners in both groups were 22′44′5 pentachlorobiphenyl (IUPAC no. PCB 118), 22′344′5′ (PCB-138) and 22′44′55′ (PCB-153) hexachlorobiphenyls and 22′33′44′5 (PCB-170), 22′344′55′ (PCB-180) and 22′34′55′6 (PCB-187) heptachlorobiphenyls. PCB-153 accounted for more than 20% of the total PCB residue in both groups, while the remaining six congeners accounted for approximately 70%. Hexachlorobiphenyls were the most abundant congeners in all samples, with 42% of total residue in those from Italy and 43% in the Chilean samples, followed by heptachlorobiphenyls with 41 and 36% in Italian and Chilean samples, respectively. Average concentrations of non- ortho substituted coplanar congeners were below 1 pg/g wet wt. In the samples from Siena no noticeable differences were observed between the three average coplanar concentrations, while in those from Concepción 33′44′tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-77) was much higher than 33′44′pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126) and 33′44′55′hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB-169). For each sample the contribution to the total toxic equivalent values (ΣTEQs) of each non- ortho, mono- ortho and di- ortho substituted PCB congeners was assessed. The overall TEQs calculated for the monitored PCBs, were 10.16 pg/g wet wt. in Italian samples and 1.09 pg/g wet wt. in Chileans ones. In both groups the main contribution to ΣTEQs were the di- ortho substituted PCB congeners (Siena: 6.17 pg/g wet wt.; Concepción: 0.56 pg/g wet wt.) and the mono- ortho substituted PCB congeners (Siena: 3.97 pg/g wet wt.; Concepción: 0.50 pg/g wet wt.).