Occurrence of persistent organochlorine contaminants in human milk collected in several regions of Czech Republic

The concentrations of persistent organochlorine contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT (its isomers and metabolites), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) have been determined in human milk samples from the three regions in the Czech Republic. Results were generated by the congener-specific analyses (two-dimensional high resolution gas chromatography). The results are compared with the similar studies from other industrial countries (Norway, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany). Typical patterns of major PCBs contained in analyzed breast milk samples are presented. PCB No. 153 was the dominant congener in all the samples. A good correlation was found between the sum of PCBs and PCB No.: 153 (r=0.99), constitutes approx. 30% of calculated PCBs content.