title: Relative importance of polychlorinated naphthalenes compared to dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum from Korea: contribution to TEQs and potential sources.
abstract: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human have been studied extensively; however, polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) have been studied less widely. The mean concentrations of PCNs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs in 61 healthy human volunteers were 2170 pg/g lipid, 452 pg/g lipid, 116 pg/g lipid, and 120 ng/g lipid respectively, and the mean toxic equivalents (TEQs) contributed by PCNs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and PCBs were 5.88, 5.22, 5.48, and 5.33 pg/g lipid, respectively. PCNs contributed to 26.8% of the total TEQs. 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, PCB126, and hepta-CN-73 accounted for >62% of the total TEQs in the human serum samples. The overall serum PCN homologue profiles of all subjects were dominated by tetra- and penta-CN homologues, and the most predominant individual congener was hepta-CN-73, which contributed 17.5% of the total serum PCN concentration. Enrichment of hepta-CN-73 in the human serum samples might be due to contributors from combustion sources.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science & Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), San 31, Hyojadong, Namgu, Pohang, Kyungbuk 790-784, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyokeun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jung-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Song-Yee
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D004147:Dioxins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000097:blood*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D009281:Naphthalenes; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls