title: The use of PowerPrep and HRGC/HRMS for biological monitoring of exposure to PCDD, PCDF and dl-PCB in Poland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to design the optimized laboratory protocol as a tool for human biomonitoring of selected Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Poland. In this study, we present the method developed for the determination of 29 congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), as well as individual results of the measurements in 40 human breast milk samples collected in central Poland in 2008-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  The protocol of sample preparation and quantitative analysis of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs was optimized for the isotopic dilution method with high resolution gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry HRGC/HRMS. Fat content in the extracts was determined gravimetrically. The results were corrected by fat content in the samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average sum of PCDD/F and dl-PCBs in the human milk samples from the urban area was 7.429 WHO-TEQpg/g fat (with the range 0.431-14.27), and in the rural area it was 6.448pg WHO-TEQ/g fat (0.539-12.61).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results obtained in this study indicate that the mothers were exposed uniformly to PCDD/Fs and PCBs regardless of location. The significant difference of p<0.1 between the milk samples from the urban and rural mothers in 2,3,7,8-TCDD; 1,2,37,8,9-HxCDD and 2,3,4,6,7-HxCDF were observed. For the other 14 PCDD/F and 12 dl-PCB congeners, the observed differences were not significant. The total WHO-TEQ values are lower in comparison with the average results in Europe from the fourth round of a WHO-coordinated study.
authors.affiliation: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Department of Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Poland. Electronic address: kaminska@imp.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kamińska
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ligocka
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zieliński
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czerska
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000032:analysis*; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011044:Poland; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Biological monitoring; Breast milk; PCBs; PCDDs; PCDFs; Poland