POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS (PCBS) DETERMIN ATION IN HUMAN-MILK SAMPLESCOLLECTED IN 3 PROVINCES OF THE 10TH REGION OF CHILE 1990

PCBs were detected using gas liquid chromatography in 540 human milk s amples coming from 180 mothers living in three provinces of the Southe rn Region of Chile, collected in three different stages of lactation. Samples coming from 33 women (18.3%) had PCBs residues, with a median level of 1.28 (range 0,09-84.83) ppm (milk fat basis). Ten of these wo men delivered to their offspring more than 0.01 mg of PCB/kg body weig ht/day, level considered hazardous to child health. PCB levels tended to increase toward the third sampling stage. These levels were not rel ated to women's age but primiparae had higher levels than multiparae. It is concluded that a surveillance system in biological samples is ne cessary to oversee PCB levels in different regions of the country.