DIOXINS, PCBS AND SOME CHLORINATED PESTICIDES IN HUMAN-MILK FROM THE KOLA-PENINSULA, RUSSIA

In 1993, 30 individual human milk samples were collected in Murmansk a nd Monchegorsk, and analysed for 23 polychlorinated biphenyl coogeners , PCBs (IUPAC nos.) 28, 52, 66, 74, 99, 101, 105, 110, 114, 118, 128, 138, 141, 149, 153, 156, 157, 170, 180, 187, 194, 206, and 209. In add ition, the following organochlorine pesticides (OCPs): hexachlorobenze ne (HCB), the alpha-, beta-, gamma- isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane ( HCH), the chlordanes: oxychlordane, trans-chlordane, cis-chlordane, tr ans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor, and the DDT-compounds: pp-DDE, pp-DD D, op-DDT and pp-DDT were detected. From each city, a pooled sample wa s made and analysed for non-ortho PCBs, dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dib enzofurans (PCDFs). In addition one individual sample from Monchegorsk was analysed for PCDDs/PCDFs because of the very high levels of PCBs in this sample. High levels of pp-DDE and beta-HCH were found in Murma nsk and Monchegorsk (in parenthesis) with mean levels of 1269, (892) a nd 853, (739) mu g/kg milk fat respectively. Highest individual levels of pp-DDE (2816 mu g/kg milk fat) and beta-HCH (1988 mu g/kg milk fat ) were found in Murmansk. Significant differences were found between t he levels of gamma-HCH, cis-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, pp-DDE, and the PCBs 28, 52, 74, 66, 110, 118, 105, 128, 206, and 209 , between the two areas. No geographic differences in the concentratio ns of PCDDs/PCDFs and non-ortho PCBs in the sample pools from the two Russian areas were observed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.