Polychlorinated diphenyl ethers, dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in finnish human tissues compared to environmental samples

Finnish human samples from the Helsinki area and Arctic cod samples from Vestertana Fjord (Norway) were analyzed for polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PCDE) and 2,3,7,8-chloro substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). The PCDE, PCDD and PCDF contents in human and animal samples from Finland and elsewhere were briefly reviewed. PCDEs were non-detectable in human liver and testis, but some PCDE congeners were identified in human adipose tissue and fat of boiled Arctic cod liver composite. The contents of PCDEs in Finnish human samples were similar to those reported in the literature for human tissues from North America. The estimated concentrations of PCDEs 99, 147+153 (coeluting) and 206 ranged between 2 and 8 ng/g lipid weight (Iw) in one Finnish human adipose tissue. The concentrations of PCDE congeners identified in the cod liver fat were between 0.4 and 5 ng/g Iw. Of toxic PCDEs and PCDEs, hepta- and octa-CDDs dominated in human. The concentrations of PCDD and PCDF congeners varied from< 2 to 7700 pg/g Iw in human. In Arctic cod samples analyzed (muscle tissues of an air dried cod and cod liver fat), 2,3,7,8-tetra-CDF was nearly the only congener of PCDD/PCDEs detected.