Abstract
Methods for multicomponent analysis of lipophilic organochlorine
contaminants(OCs) in blood plasma and lipid-rich tissues are presented.
By using the describedmethods, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB),
polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCN), hexachlorobenzene(HCB),
1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4 chlorophenyl)ethene (p,p'-DDE) and
methylsulphonylmetabolites of PCB (MeSO2-PCB) and p,p'-DDE (Meso2-DDE)
were determined in humanblood plasma, adipose tissue and liver. In
addition, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxinsand dibenzofurans (PCDD/F)
were determined in selected samples of blood plasma.
The profiles and levels of PCB, PCN, HCB andp,p'-DDE were similar in
adipose tissueand liver, while differences were found for MeSO2-PCB and
MeSO2-DDE. The concentration(on lipid weight basis) of the metabolites
was about 10 times higher in liver thanin adipose tissue. Furthermore,
meta-substituted isomers of MeSO2-PCB were selectivelyretained in the
liver. The most abundant methylsulphonyl metabolite in the liverwas
3-MeSO2-2,2',3',4',5,6-hexaCB, followed by 3-MeSO2-DDE. In adipose
tissue, 3-MeSO2-DDEwas the most abundant metabolite.
PCB, HCB, p,p'-DDE, MeSO2-PCB and MeSO2-DDE were determined in whole
plasma andin the fractions obtained afler separation of the plasma into
very low density lipoprotein(VLDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high
density lipoprotein (HDL) and lipoproteindepleted (LPDP) fractions. The
OCs were present in all fractions, but predominantlyin the LPDP fraction.
A tendency to greater association of meta-substituted compoundsof
MeSO2-PCB to the LPDP fraction was noted. Among the lipoprotein
fractions, LDLwas the main carrier of PCB, HCB and p,p'-DDE. 3-MeSO2-DDE
was predominantly foundin the HDL fraction and MeSO2-PCB was distributed
about equally between LDL and HDLfractions.
A local source of contamination with PCB and PCN was traced to old
electronicequipment, which was temporarily stored next to the laboratory.
It was shown thatPCB and PCN may emit from electronics and pollute the
indoor air. However, occupationalexposure to PCB, PCN, PCDD/F and/or HCB
could not be confirmed in a pilot study ofplasma from persons who had
worked with cable incineration or electronic equipment.
ISBN 91-628-2659-X
