title: Seasonal and geographical variations in levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in Polish butter fat used as an indicator of environmental contamination.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the seasonal variation/geographical distribution of environmental concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) across Poland using butter fat as an indicator of the contaminants. The average concentration of six indicator PCBs determined in the studied samples was 1500 pg g(-1) fat. The average concentration of 12 dioxin-like PCBs expressed as lower-bound dioxin-equivalent toxicity was 0.684 pg TEQ g(-1) fat. The average total concentration of 14 investigated PBDE congeners was 105 pg g(-1) fat. Statistically significant concentration differences between summer and winter samples were found. The results of this study indicate also a significant geographical diversification of butter contamination reflecting regional differences in environmental contamination. The seasonal variation of PBDE profiles evidences transformation of PBDE within the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Analysis, Institute of Agricultural and Food Biotechnology, Rakowiecka 36, PL-02-532 Warsaw, Poland. roszko@ibprs.pl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roszko
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Obiedziński
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szymczyk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rzepkowska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szterk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jędrzejczak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D011044:Poland; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls