THE IMPACT OF AGE, LACTATION AND DIETARY HABITS ON PCB IN PLASMA IN SWEDISH WOMEN

The mean concentration of the chlorinated biphenyl 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexa chlorobiphenyl (CB-153) in plasma from 192 fishermen's wives from the Swedish east coast was on a fresh weight basis 960 (range 80-4300) pg/ g and lipid adjusted 160 (range 20-780) ng/g lipid. The concentration of CB-153 in plasma was significantly influenced by age, total lactati on time and place of living during childhood and adolescence (fishing village vs. other place). The residential variable probably reflects e arly life consumption of fish from the Baltic Sea (at the Swedish east coast) contaminated with persistent organochlorine compounds. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science B.V.