title: Determination of PCB metabolites in Canadian human milk.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Newsome
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D010573:Pesticide Residues; D013450:Sulfones; C025910:dimethyl sulfone; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide