title: Organohalogen chemicals in human blood from the United Kingdom.
abstract: Blood serum from 154 volunteers at 13 UK locations in 2003 were analysed for a range of PCBs, organochlorine pesticides and PBDEs. HCB, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT and beta-HCH were the dominant organochlorine pesticides in most samples. BDEs 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183 were the most regularly detected PBDEs. This study is the first report of BDE209 in UK human blood (found in 11 samples, range < 15-240 ng/g lipid). Concentration and age correlated for the less easily metabolised PCBs, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, HCB and HCHs. With increasing age females tended to have lower concentrations of the more chlorinated PCBs than males. Similar PBDE concentrations, and distributions, to those reported in the general population in Sweden in 2002 were found, despite differences in historical PBDE production and usage. There is increasing regulation to control persistent and bioaccumulative chemicals, and establishing human exposure will help to identify substances which should be urgently phased out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, IENS, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK. g.o.thomas@lancaster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gareth O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodson
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis; D005843:Geography; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D006846:Hydrocarbons, Halogenated; D010575:Pesticides; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether