title: Correlations of fish intake and plasma docosahexaenoic acid levels with each congener of PCDDs/PCDFs/dioxin-like PCBs in blood from the Japanese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the factors associated with blood levels of each congener of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in the Japanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed on 1,656 subjects (755 men and 901 women) aged 15-73 years, who were living in 90 different areas of 30 prefectures in Japan. Blood levels of 29 PCDD, PCDF, and DL-PCB congeners were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In addition, a questionnaire survey on life style, including dietary habit, was carried out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median total toxicity equivalent (TEQ) was 17 pgTEQ/g lipid. After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking habit, and consumption of other food groups, six PCDDs/PCDFs with 4-6 substituted chlorine atoms and 10 DL-PCBs, but not HeptaCDD/F or OctaCDD, showed significant positive correlations with the frequency of intake of fish and shellfish. Furthermore, significant positive relationships were also found between plasma levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a biomarker of fish intake, and 10 PCDDs/PCDFs with 4-6 chlorine atoms and 10 DL-PCBs. The partial correlation coefficients with plasma DHA were significantly higher for DL-PCBs than for PCDDs/PCDFs, and partial correlation coefficients for PCDDs/PCDFs significantly decreased with increasing number of chlorine atoms (Spearman r = -0.80, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Blood levels of PCDDs/PCDFs with 4-6 chlorine atoms and DL-PCBs were positively associated with fish intake in the Japanese population. These results may be explained by the higher degree of bioaccumulation of these congeners in fish and shellfish in the ecosystem, and the high consumption of fish among the Japanese population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, 3-18-15, Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitayama
authors.forename: Kokichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arisawa
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Mineyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiyoshi
authors.forename: Hidenobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takami
authors.forename: Fusakazu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sawachika
authors.forename: Miwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanto
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shima
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sumiyoshi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morinaga
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kodama
authors.forename: Taka-Ichiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satoh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017747:Seafood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls