PROFILES OF GREAT-LAKES CRITICAL POLLUTANTS - A SENTINEL ANALYSIS OF HUMAN BLOOD AND URINE

To determine the contaminants that should be studied further in the su bsequent population-based study, a profile of Great Lakes (GL) spore f ish contaminant residues were studied in human blood and urine specime ns from 32 sport fish consumers from three Great Laces: Lake Michigan (n =10), Lake Huron (n = 11), and Lake Erie (n = 11). Serum was analyz ed for 8 polychlorinated dioxin congeners, 10 polychlorinated furan co ngeners, 4 coplanar and 32 other polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congen ers, and 11 persistent chlorinated pesticides. Whole blood was analyze d for mercury and lead. Urine samples were analyzed for 10 nonpersiste nt pesticides (or their metabolites) and 5 metals. One individual was excluded from statistical analysis because of an unusual exposure to s elected analytes. Overall, the sample (n = 31) consumed, on average, 4 9 GL sport fish meals per year for a mean of 33 years. On average, the general population in the GL basin consume 6 meals of GL sport fish p er year. The mean tissue levels of most persistent, bioaccumulative co mpounds also found in GL sport fish ranged from less than a twofold in crease to that of PCB 126, which was eight times the selected backgrou nd levels found in the general population. The overall mean coral toxi c equivalent for dioxins, furans, and coplanar PCBs were greater than selected background levels in the general population (dioxins, 1.8 tim es; furans, 2.4 times; and coplanar PCBs, 9.6 times). The nonpersisten t pesticides and most metals were nor identified in unusual concentrat ions. A contaminant pattern among lake subgroups was evident. Lake Eri e spore fish consumers had consistently lo,ver contaminant concentrati ons than consumers of sport fish from Lakes Michigan and Huron. These interlake differences are consistent. with contaminant patterns seen i n sport fish tissue from the respective lakes; GL sport Bh consumption was the most likely explanation for observed contaminant level among this sample. Frequent consumers of sport fish proved to be effective s entinels for identifying sport fish contaminants of concern. In the la rger study to follow, serum samples will be tested for PCBs (congener specific and coplanar), DDE, dioxin, and furans.