title: Levels of PCDD/PCDF in blood fat as indices of the PCDD/PCDF body burden in humans.
abstract: The levels of PCDD/F in blood fat are similar to those in body fat and in milk fat of lactating women. Therefore, the levels of PCDD/F in blood fat can be used as an index of the individual PCDD/F body burden in humans. In order to evaluate the PCDD/F background exposure levels of the German population, blood samples collected from 95 subjects (age 12-82 years) living in a rural area of North-West Germany were analysed for PCDD/F. The median 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity equivalents (TE) were 40.8 pg I-TE/g blood fat and the 95th percentile was 82.1 pg I-TE/g blood fat. The TE levels in blood fat show a marked increase with age, which reflects the pronounced accumulation of PCDD/F in the human body throughout the entire lifetime. Considering single congeners, significant differences in the age-related increase were noted. Using age-specific reference values derived from this study the levels of PCDD/F in blood fat of individuals environmentally exposed to PCDD/F under different circumstances were evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Hygiene-Institut des Ruhrgebiets, Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ewers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wittsiepe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schrey
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Selenka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood*; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D012015:Reference Standards; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D013177:Sports
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012989:Soil Pollutants