CORRELATIONS AMONG POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS, DIOXINS, AND FURANS IN HUMANS

Background Correlations among human levels of polychlorinated biphenyl s, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofuran s potentially complicate interpretation of studies of their individual health effects. Outcomes attributed to one may, in fact, be due to an other. Methods We present correlations among dioxins, furans, and PCBs in blood collected in 1991-1992 from 44 American Vietnam veterans fro m Michigan. Results Correlations among specific dioxins and furans ran ged from 0.26 to 0.80, with the higher-chlorinated congeners being mor e highly correlated Correlations among PCBs ranged from 0.06 to 0.94, with those occurring at highest concentrations being more highly corre lated Correlations of PCBs with dioxins and furans ranged from -0.09 t o 0.59. Correlations of individual chemicals with total dioxin toxic e quivalents ranged from 0.31 to 0.76. Discussion/Conclusions If confirm ed in other populations, such correlations may allow the use of simple r assays bur may also raise issues of confounding and calibration. Am. J. Ind. Med. 35:15-20, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.dagger