Identification and quantification of polychlorinated biphenyls and some endocrine disrupting pesticides in human adipose tissue from Finland

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were analyse d in extracts of human adipose tissue. The samples consisted of abdominal, mammary, and perirenal fat tissue of 27 Finnish adult males and females. Li pids were separated from the low-molecular compounds by preparative get per meation chromatography (GPC) and the extracts were further cleaned-up using Florisil chromatography. The compounds were analysed in the extracts by ga s chromatography (GC) using electron capture detection and by GC-mass spect rometry in the selected ion monitoring mode. Of the 23 analysed pesticide r esidues only seven could be detected in the extracts. All the extracts cont ained the DDT metabolite 4,4'-DDE, hexachlorobenzene, and PCBs. Other compo unds found in the extracts were 4,4'-DDT. 4,4'-DDD, pentachlorobenzene, and beta- and gamma -hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). The antiandrogenic 4,4'-DDE was the most abundant pesticide with concentration levels ranging from 3.5 to 3229 ng/g lipids (ppb). The mean concentration of DDE was 567 ppb, of pe sticides in all 1008 ppb and of PCBs 504 ppb. Several of the identified com pounds have been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting effects. Statistical analysis showed a positive age correlation of DDE in females and hexachlor obenzene in males. No statistically significant differences were found for concentrations of individual compounds between sexes. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd. All rights reserved.