Determination of PCB metabolites in Canadian human milk.
Chlorinated biphenyl methylsulfones and biphenylols were determined in samples of human milk from Canadian donors. Fifty samples containing an average of 10.8 ng g-1 (w/w) of total PCBs were found to contain an average of 68 pg g-1 of chlorinated biphenyl methylsulfone. The major congeners were 3-methylsulfonyl-2,2',4',5,5',-pentachlorobiphenyl, 4-methylsulfonyl-2,2',3',4',5,-pentachlorobiphenyl and 4-methylsulfonyl-2,2',3',5,5',6'-hexachlorobiphenyl. Twelve of these samples were analyzed for five chlorinated biphenylols and the 4-methoxy-2,2',3,4',5,5',6-heptachlorobiphenylol congener was detected in all at an average concentration of 1.9 pg g-1. The chlorinated biphenylols appear to be minor residual metabolites in human milk from the general population. The fifty samples with an average of 8.4 ng g-1 of p,p'-DDE also contained an average of 16.5 pg g-1 of the corresponding methylsulfone. Both the total PCB methylsulfone and p,p' DDE methylsulfone were correlated with total PCB and p,p' DDE contents, respectively.
Newsome
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Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
Davies
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D002170:Canada; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013450:Sulfones / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
D010573:Pesticide Residues; D013450:Sulfones; C025910:dimethyl sulfone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide