Correlations among polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and furans in humans.
BACKGROUND
Correlations among human levels of polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans potentially complicate interpretation of studies of their individual health effects. Outcomes attributed to one may, in fact, be due to another.


METHODS
We present correlations among dioxins, furans, and PCBs in blood collected in 1991-1992 from 44 American Vietnam veterans from Michigan.


RESULTS
Correlations among specific dioxins and furans ranged from 0.26 to 0.80, with the higher-chlorinated congeners being more highly correlated. Correlations among PCBs ranged from 0.06 to 0.94, with those occurring at highest concentrations being more highly correlated. Correlations of PCBs with dioxins and furans ranged from -0.09 to 0.59. Correlations of individual chemicals with total dioxin toxic equivalents ranged from 0.31 to 0.76.


CONCLUSIONS
If confirmed in other populations, such correlations may allow the use of simpler assays but may also raise issues of confounding and calibration.
Gladen
B C
BC
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. gladen@niehs.nih.gov
Longnecker
M P
MP
Schecter
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls