Tissue distribution of planar and non-planar chlorobiphenyls, 4,4 '-DDE and hexachlorobenzene in sheep and lambs

The bioconcentration and distribution pattern of individual PCB congeners ( IUPAC Nos: -54, -80, -155 and -169) and organochlorine pesticides (HCB and 4,4'-DDE) in blood, adipose tissue, liver and brain were examined in sheep two months after administration and in their offspring continuously exposed during the two months lactation period. Analyses were performed by high re solution gas chromatography. The levels of individual organochlorines varie d significantly between tissues; the tissue/blood ratio (on a fat basis) va ried by two orders of magnitude for individual congeners. The bioconcentrat ion of the toxic planar PCB-169 congener was the highest in the liver and t he lowest in the brain of the sheep. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rig hts reserved.