CONCENTRATIONS OF POLYCHLORINATED DIBENZO-P-DIOXINS AND DIBENZOFURANSIN HUMAN PLACENTAL AND FETAL TISSUES FROM THE US AND IN PLACENTAS FROM YU-CHENG EXPOSED MOTHERS

We report the concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCD Ds) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) found in human placentas and fetal tissue from the U.S. and in placentas from Yu-Cheng mothers . In placental material from sources in the U.S. we found concentratio ns, expressed as dioxin toxic equivalence (TEQ) values and on a lipid basis, between 8.4 and 17.6 ng/kg. In a pooled sample of fetal tissue (8-14 week) the concentration, 5.3 ng/kg, was somewhat smaller. In pla cental material from Taiwanese Yu-Cheng subjects much higher concentra tions were found, in the range 610 to 9010 TEQ ng/kg, again on a lipid basis.