Distribution of organochlorines and PCB congeners in Korean human tissues.
In order to investigate the residual amounts of organochlorines and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Korean human tissues (blood, adipose tissue, liver, kidney cortex, and lung), the samples were collected from the autopsied cadavers of 40 men and 40 women (from teens to seventies of age). Alpha-BHC, beta-BHC, gamma-BHC, delta-BHC, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, endrin, dieldein, aldrin, and 7 marker PCBs (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) were determined in human tissues. The levels of organochlorines and PCB congeners indicated that they have been widely distributed in Korean human body. Positive correlations in terms of age were observed for the following cases: p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDT, Sigma-DDT, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 153, and Sigma-PCB in the adipose tissue, and p,p'-DDE in the lung. Concentration of these compounds showed a significant age-related increase. Accumulation of these compounds in aged people revealed that these compounds were more slowly eliminated in our environment and risk assessment was necessary for further proper action. Significant differences in the levels of PCBs between genders were found for PCB 118 in the adipose tissue and PCB 138 in the liver. Positive correlation coefficients between tissues were detected with p,p'-DDE and p-BHC.
Park
Mee-Jung
MJ
National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Seoul 158-707, Korea.
Lee
Sang-Ki
SK
Yang
Ja-Yeol
JY
Kim
Ki-Wook
KW
Lee
Su-Yeon
SY
Lee
Won-Tae
WT
Chung
Kyu-Hyuck
KH
Yun
Yeo-Pyo
YP
Yoo
Young-Chan
YC
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls