POLYCHLORINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS, DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANS IN FINNISH HUMAN TISSUES COMPARED TO ENVIRONMENTAL-SAMPLES

Finnish human samples from the Helsinki area and Arctic cod samples fr om Vestertana Fjord (Norway) were analyzed for polychlorinated dipheny l ethers (PCDE) and 2,3,7,8-chloro substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD ) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). The PCDE, PCDD and PCDF contents in human and animal samples from Finland and elsewhere were briefly reviewed. P CDEs were non-detectable in human liver and testis, but some PCDE cong eners were identified in human adipose tissue and fat of boiled Arctic cod liver composite. The contents of PCDEs in Finnish human samples w ere similar to those reported in the literature for human tissues from North America. The estimated concentrations of PCDEs 99, 147+153 (coe luting) and 206 ranged between 2 and 8 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in one F innish human adipose tissue. The concentrations of PCDE congeners iden tified in the cod liver fat were between 0.4 and 5 ng/g lw. Of toxic P CDDs and PCDFs, hepta- and octa-CDDs dominated in human. The concentra tions of PCDD and PCDF congeners varied from < 2 to 7700 pg/g lw in hu man. In Arctic cod samples analyzed (muscle tissues of an air dried co d and cod liver fat), 2,3,7,8-tetra-CDF was nearly the only congener o f PCDD/PCDFs detected.