Source determination of highly chlorinated biphenyl isomers in pine needles - comparison to several PCB preparations

The isomer specific composition of 13 technical PCB formulations of different origin and of pine needles was analyzed using GC/MS and HRGC/HRMS. Nonachlorinated biphenyls were identified in 11 among 13 formulations analyzed, with the highest abundance found for highly chlorinated ones (Aroclors 1268 and 1260, Chlorofen, Sovol, Kanechlors 600 and 500, Delor 106, Clophen A60). Decachlorobiphenyl was identified only in Aroclor 1268, Clophen A60, Aroclor 1260 and Chlorofen, comprising, respectively, 8.9, 2.8, 1.3 and 0.82% of the total bulk of nona- and decaCBs detected. Nona- and decaCB were detected in pine needles in Poland with the highest concentrations found at the sites neighboring to a former production sites of the Polish PCB formulations, while in pine needles collected around the Tokyo Bay nona- and decacCB were detected only in four of 10 sites and the concentrations corresponded to those found at the rural areas of Poland.     

Vertical fluxes and accumulation of PCBs in coastal sediments of the Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina

Settling particles and underlying sediments collected at 1, 2.5 and 4 km along offshore transects in the urbanized sector of the Río de la Plata were analyzed to evaluate the sources and accumulation of PCBs. Total PCB concentrations range from <0.1 to 100 ng g(-1) and include variability associated to North-South and offshore gradients reflecting the impact of coastal discharges. Highest concentrations were recorded in the industrialized Central area close to Buenos Aires (61+/-37 ng g(-1) at 1 km) relative to cleaner northern stations (3.6+/-2.2 ng g(-1)) and southward sites (37+/-2.8 ng g(-1)), affected by transport of particulate PCBs by coastal currents. Sediment traps deployed in the Central area revealed large depositional fluxes of total matter (361+/-124 gm(-2)day(-1)) and PCBs (26+/-19 microg m(-2)day(-1)) and high sedimentation rates (5.0+/-1.7 cm yr(-1)). Uniform PCB concentrations (66-89 ng g(-1)) down to 20 cm in sediment cores suggest continued PCB discharges during the last 4 years. PCB composition was dominated by hexa (43+/-6.4%), hepta (23+/-5.1%) and pentachlorobiphenyls (21+/-5.5%) with lower proportions tri-tetra (7.4+/-5.4%) and higher chlorinated congeners (5.1+/-3.3%). A consistent weathering pattern with loss of 3-5 chlorobiphenyls and enrichment in higher chlorinated PCBs corresponding to a shift from a 1:1 to a 1:3 1254:1260 Aroclor mixture, was observed offshore. A principal component analysis performed with the relative contribution of PCB congener classes confirmed the offshore weathering pattern indicating that transformer oils containing Aroclor 1254-1260 are the most probable sources. Sediment inventories, sediment trap fluxes and Fugacity II calculations indicate an accumulation approximately 500-800 kg PCB in superficial sediments of this coastal environment.     

Congener profiles of PCB and a proposed new set of indicator congeners

In this study, a new method for calculating total PCB and toxic equivalents (TEQ) of coplanar PCB (Co-PCB) was proposed, called the 'PCB dual method'. This method analysed various kinds of technical PCB, samples contaminated by technical PCB and byproduct PCB. In the PCB dual method, a data set of 15 indicator congeners was utilized for the calculations, having IUPAC nos. #3, #8, #28, #52, #77, #101, #105, #118, #126, #138, #153, #180, #194, #206 and #209. The 15 congener set was chosen from the major congeners, determined by HRGC/HRMS analysis, in 18 technical PCB, Kanechlor, Aroclor, Clophen and Chlorofen, and 20 other samples, such as indoor air, flue gases, emission gases, municipal solid waste (MSW), ash and sealant. To obtain total PCB and TEQ of Co-PCB, the intermediate sum for the concentration of the 15 congeners was multiplied by each multiplication factor. As a result, we obtained the average factor used to calculate total PCB in technical PCB and other samples. For technical PCB, the factor was 3.01, while for indoor air samples, flue and emission gases, MSW, ash and sealants, the factors were 3.92, 4.16, 3.68, 4.52 and 4.77, respectively. Moreover, the factor used to calculate the TEQ of Co-PCB in Kanechlor and other source samples were also obtained. The factors for Kanechlor, indoor air samples and emission gases from a cement plant were in the order of 10(-5), while the factor for flue gases in a MSW incinerator was in the order of 10(-3). These data were valuable for the rough estimation of the TEQ of Co-PCB without separation from other PCB before individual measurements.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls in Narragansett Bay surface sediments

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were evaluated in 41 surface sediments collected from Narragansett Bay, RI in 1997-1998. Highest concentrations of total PCBs (1760 ng/g) were in rivers at the head of the bay and the values decreased southward toward the mouth of the bay, with elevated concentrations in some of the coves. The PCB levels in approximately 43% of the samples exceeded the effects range median (ERM) guideline [Environ. Manage. 19 (1995) 81] indicating possible adverse biological effects at these stations. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the surface sediment PCBs separated the Taunton River samples from the rest of the samples. This result suggests that this river has a different PCB composition and sources than the other areas investigated. It also showed that this river has a limited influence on other bay stations as the adjacent samples downstream did not have the same chemical signature. Congener ratios derived from the PCA were useful in distinguishing stations that had different sources of PCBs than the bulk of the bay sediments. Although Aroclor 1268 and 1270 accounted for <1% of all PCB production, their major components, CB206 and CB209, account for 3-6% of the CBs in most bay samples. This may reflect more local use of these Aroclor mixtures and/or be indicative of their relative stability, compared to less chlorinated mixtures. Using linear alkyl benzenes (LABs) as a marker for sewage derived PCBs suggested that up to 95% of the PCBs at the most contaminated sites in the Seekonk, Providence, and Taunton Rivers were sewage derived. This analysis also showed that there is a high background level (167 ng/g) of PCBs in the Seekonk and Providence River, while the Taunton River had a relatively low background level (23.7 ng/g). At the furthest stations south in the Providence River, the sewage derived PCBs only accounted for 23% of the total which suggests that PCB associated with sewage particles are rapidly deposited and are therefore not the most significant source of these compounds to the lower reaches of Narragansett Bay.     

Evaluation of cumulative PCB exposure estimated by a job exposure matrix versus PCB serum concentrations

Although polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been banned in many countries for more than three decades, exposures to PCBs continue to be of concern due to their long half-lives and carcinogenic effects. In National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health studies, we are using semiquantitative plant-specific job exposure matrices (JEMs) to estimate historical PCB exposures for workers (n?=?24,865) exposed to PCBs from 1938 to 1978 at three capacitor manufacturing plants. A subcohort of these workers (n?=?410) employed in two of these plants had serum PCB concentrations measured at up to four times between 1976 and 1989. Our objectives were to evaluate the strength of association between an individual worker’s measured serum PCB levels and the same worker’s cumulative exposure estimated through 1977 with the (1) JEM and (2) duration of employment, and to calculate the explained variance the JEM provides for serum PCB levels using (3) simple linear regression. Consistent strong and statistically significant associations were observed between the cumulative exposures estimated with the JEM and serum PCB concentrations for all years. The strength of association between duration of employment and serum PCBs was good for highly chlorinated (Aroclor 1254/HPCB) but not less chlorinated (Aroclor 1242/LPCB) PCBs. In the simple regression models, cumulative occupational exposure estimated using the JEMs explained 14–24 % of the variance of the Aroclor 1242/LPCB and 22–39 % for Aroclor 1254/HPCB serum concentrations. We regard the cumulative exposure estimated with the JEM as a better estimate of PCB body burdens than serum concentrations quantified as Aroclor 1242/LPCB and Aroclor 1254/HPCB.     

PCB accumulation in osprey exposed to local sources in lake sediment

We examined the accumulation of PCBs in ospreys (Pandion haleaetus) that were exposed to local sediment sources. Eggs, chick plasma, and sediment samples were collected over a range of 14 km (0.2-14.2 km) from a PCB source in Sturgeon Lake, ON. Sum PCB concentrations declined in chick plasma (range 422.5-58.3 ng/g) as distance from the PCB source increased, but there was a poor relationship with sum PCBs in eggs. Both tissues indicated an Aroclor 1248/1254 source. Aroclor 1254 comprised an average of 66.9% of sum PCBs in chick plasma from Sturgeon Lake, but comprised only from 27.0 to 44.4% in plasma from other Great Lake colonies. Dietary differences among osprey colonies were not sufficient to explain the PCB patterns observed. There was weak evidence that the ability to metabolize PCBs may differ between juveniles and adults, based upon the PCB profile in eggs and chick plasma.     

Effect of photosensitizer diethylamine on the photodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diethylamine and xenon simulated sunlight on the photodegradation of two forms of PCBs including PCBs in transformer oil and PCB congener 138. The result of GC chromatograms illustrated the shifting pattern of higher chlorinated biphenyls in transformer oil degraded to lower chlorinated biphenyls with the extension of exposure time. The effect of diethylamine and xenon simulated sunlight was significant on the photodegradation of both PCBs in transformer oil and congener 138. The initial degradation rates of congener 138 (1.14 x 10(-9) to 4.47 x 10(-9) mol l(-1) h(-1)) were in direct proportion to the initial concentrations of congener 138 which confirmed the pseudo-first-order reaction of PCB photodegradation. The apparent quantum yields (phi) of congener 138 using diethylamine in xenon photoreactor were ranged between 2.08 x 10(-2) and 9.8 x 10(-4). PCB congeners 123, 97, 70, 67, 33, 29, 17, 12, and 9 were detected as the descendants of the photodegradation of congener 138 through dechlorination. The major pathway of congener 138 photodegradation in this study was via para-dechlorination.     

Detailed PCB congener patterns in incinerator flue gas and commercial PCB formulations (Kanechlor)

In this study, we determined the detailed PCB congener patterns in flue gases from eight incinerators and four commercial PCB formulations (Kanechlors). About 160 PCB peaks were identified in samples using a DB-5 column and HRGC/HRMS. The concentration of incinerator stack emission gas ranged from 0.02 to 44 ngWHO-TEQ/Nm3. The ratios of dioxin-like PCBs in the total PCB concentration were from 3.4% to 25.7% and from 0.63% to 9.1% in stack emission gases and Kanechlor samples, respectively. The PCB congener profiles of Kanechlor samples were similar to those of previous studies. To determine characteristic congeners in flue gas and Kanechlor samples, principal component analysis (PCA) of the data was conducted using STATISTICA for Windows 5.0J (StatSoft, Inc.). As a result, we obtained four principal components (PCs) and accounted for 74% of the total variance. PC 1 was interpreted combustion, PC 2 and PC 3 were interpreted the difference in the number of substituted chlorines and, PC 4 could not be determined. Moreover, we obtained three groups according to the PCB congeners pattern among samples by PCA. These specific congeners that represent characteristics of each class were identified. These data will be useful for the source analysis of PCBs in the environment.     

Compound-specific isotopic and congener-specific analyses of polychlorinated biphenyl in the heat medium and rice oil of the Yusho incident

Compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) can be used to examine the source and transformation processes of organic pollutants in the environment. We performed a carbon stable isotope analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the PCB heat-transfer medium (heat medium) and the original Kanechlor-400 (KC-400, a commercial brand of PCBs) involved in the Yusho incident. The main purpose is to investigate whether isotope fractionation occurred in the rice oil deodorization process that caused the incident. The carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C values) of the targeted PCB congeners ranged from ? 29.39 to ? 27.00‰ in the heat medium and from ? 28.77 to ? 27.05‰ in the original KC-400. No significant differences were found in the δ¹³C values, suggesting carbon isotope fractionation did not occur for the targeted PCB congeners in the heat medium when deodorization of rice oil occurred at temperatures above 200 °C. Furthermore, we also conducted a congener-specific analysis of 64 PCB congeners found in the heat medium and rice oil contaminated by it. The total PCB congener concentrations were 503 mg/g in the heat medium and 81 μg/g in the rice oil. The concentrations of the highly chlorinated congeners were significantly lower in the heat medium than in the original KC-400, and the compositional ratios of the lowly chlorinated congeners were relatively lower in the rice oil than in the heat medium. These results suggest that the PCB congener patterns gradually changed from that of the original KC-400 in the deodorization process and subsequent contamination into the rice oil. Thus, a combination of CSIA and congener-specific analysis is a new approach for investigating the changing PCB congener profiles in samples from the Yusho incident.     

Detection and quantitative analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls in tilapia from Hawaiian waters

The purpose of this study was to investigate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) contamination in tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) collected from the Manoa stream and Ala Wai Canal of O'ahu, an island of the geographically isolated Hawaiian archipelago. Our results show that the average concentrations of PCBs varied from 51.90 to 89.42 ng g(-1) lipid weight for the sampling sites. Relative toxic potencies (RTPs) and toxic equivalencies (TEQs) were determined to be 20.38-40.60 ng TCDDg(-1) lipid weight and 2.89-4.17 ng TEQ g(-1) lipid weight by 7-ethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity analysis and calculation of PCB concentrations based on toxic equivalency factors (TEFs), respectively. Penta-chlorinated congeners were found to be predominant, which revealed that Aroclor 1254 was a possible major source of PCBs in our fish samples. PCB 118, an indicator PCBs, constituted more than 55% and 30% of the total PCBs and TEQs, respectively. In addition, PCB 118 was found to have a linear correlation to the total PCBs (R=0.975) and TEQs (R=0.782). Detection of concentrated PCBs in Hawaiian waters suggests a potentially adverse impact of this pollutant on human health, as well as ecological systems, and suggests the necessity of environmental monitoring and hazard assessment of PCBs within the Hawaiian Islands.     

Spatial distribution and source apportionment of PCBs in sediments around İzmit industrial complexes, Turkey

The spatial distribution, degree of pollution and major sources of PCBs were evaluated in surficial sediments within the heavily urbanized and industrialized ?zmit Bay and its main freshwater inputs. ΣPCB concentrations range from 2.90 to 85.4ngg(-1) in marine sediments and from ND to 47.7ngg(-1) in freshwater sediments. Results suggest that high concentrations of ΣPCBs were localized around a chlor-alkali plant and an industry that handles bulk liquid, dry and drummed chemicals, and petroleum products in the Bay. Using a chemical mass balance receptor model (CMB), major sources of PCBs in the region were investigated. The CMB model identified Aroclor 1254 and 1260 to be the major PCB sources in marine sediments and the less chlorinated Aroclor 1248 and 1242 as the major PCB sources in freshwater sediments. The potential sources for the PCBs were briefly discussed in terms of their use in various industrial applications.     

Exposure to PCBs, through inhalation, dermal contact and dust ingestion at Taizhou, China--a major site for recycling transformers

Air samples containing gaseous and particulate phases were collected from e-waste workplaces and residential areas of an intensive e-waste recycling area and compared with a reference site. The highest total concentration of PCBs was detected at transformer recycling workshops (17.6 ng m(-3)), followed by the residential area (3.37 ng m(-3)) at Taizhou, and the lowest was obtained at the residential area of the reference site, Lin'an (0.46 ng m(-3)). The same trend was also observed with regards to PCB levels in dust samples. The highest average PCBs level of 2824 ng g(-1) (dry wt) was found in the transformer recycling workshops, and was significantly higher than that of residential areas of Taizhou (572 ng g(-1) dry wt) and Lin'an (42.4 ng g(-1) dry wt). WHO-PCB-TEQ level in the workshops of Taizhou was 2216 pg TEQ(1998)g(-1) dry wt or 2159 pg TEQ(2005)g(-1) dry wt, due to the high abundance of PCB 126 (21.5 ng g(-1) dry wt), which contributed 97% or 99% of WHO-PCB-TEQs. The estimated intake of PCBs via dust ingestion and dermal absorption by transformer recycling workers were 77.5×10(-5) and 36.0×10(-5) pg WHO-PCB-TEQ(1998)kg(-1)d(-1), and 67.3×10(-5) and 31.3×10(-5) pg WHO-PCB-TEQ(2005)kg(-1)d(-1), respectively.     

Comparison of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to gas chromatography (GC)--measurement of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in selected US fish extracts

The analysis of PCBs in fish tissues by immunoassay methods was evaluated using fish collected from a US monitoring program, the National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program of the US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Selected composite whole fish samples, which represented widely varying concentrations and sources of PCBs, were extracted and subjected to congener PCB analysis by gas chromatography (GC) and total PCB analysis using an ELISA (ePCBs) calibrated against technical Aroclor 1248. PCB congener patterns in these fishes were different from the patterns found in commercial Aroclors or their combinations as demonstrated by principal component analysis of normalized GC congener data. The sum of the PCB congeners measured by GC (total-PCBs) ranged from 37 to 4600 ng/g (wet weight). Concentrations of PCBs as determined by the ELISA method were positively correlated with total-PCBs and the ePCBs/total-PCBs ratios for individual samples ranged from 1 to 6. Ratios of ePCBs/total-PCBs for dilutions of Aroclors 1242, 1254, and 1260 and for matrix spikes range from 0.6 for 1242 to 2.5 for 1254 and 1260. These results suggest that higher chlorinated PCB congeners have higher affinity for the anti-PCB antibodies. Partial least squares with latent variable analysis of GC and ELISA data of selected Aroclors and fish samples also support the conclusion that ELISA derived PCB concentrations are dependent on the degree of chlorination.     

Persistent organic pollutants in soils and sediments from James Ross Island, Antarctica

Soil and sediment samples from James Ross Island were analyzed for their PCB, OCP and PAH contents. Soil concentrations ranged between 0.51 and 1.82 ng g(-1) for seven indicator PCB congeners, between 0.49 and 1.34 ng g(-1) for HCH congeners, between 0.51 and 3.68 ng g(-1) for the sum of p,p'-DDT, DDE, and DDD, and between 34.9 and 171 ng g(-1) for the sum of 16 EPA PAHs. Sediment levels from 0.32 to 0.83 ng g(-1) were found for PCBs, from 0.14 to 0.76 ng g(-1) for HCHs, from 0.19 to 1.15 ng g(-1) for DDTs, and from 1.4 to 205 ng g(-1) for PAHs. A prevalence of low-mass PAHs, less chlorinated PCBs, and more volatile chemicals indicates that the long-range atmospheric transport from populated areas of Africa, South America, and Australia is the most probable contamination source for the solid matrices in James Ross Island.     

PCB, PCDF, and PCDD exposure following a transformer fire: Chicago

On September 28, 1983, an electrical fire in a transformer vault resulted in the loss of 15 gallons of transformer oil composed of 65% PCBs (Aroclor 1260) and 35% trichlorobenzene and forced the precautionary evacuation of a major Chicago office building. A square foot wipe sample of soot on the vault ceiling contained 28,000 ng total TCDFs, 3,800 ng 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 40,000 ng PCDFs, 33,000 ng HxCDFs, 11,200 ng HpCDFs, 1,238 ng OCDFs, 314 ng HpCDDs, and 127 ng OCDDs. No PCDFs or PCDDs were detected in the blood (detection limit 3–40 ppt) of two fire fighters hospitalized with smoke inhalation nor of two office employees similarly exposed.     

Record of PCB congeners, sorbents and potential toxicity in core samples in Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal

Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal (IHSC) is an active navigational system that serves a heavily industrial area of southern Lake Michigan. We have determined the amount of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), congener distributions, sorbent types and potential for dioxin-like PCB toxicity from two IHSC sediment cores. Vertical distributions of ΣPCBs (sum of 161 individual or coeluting congeners) ranged from 410 to 91000 and 1800 to 41000 ng g(-1) dry weight (d.w.) for cores 1 and 2, respectively. Core 1 showed its highest accumulation rate for the year ～1979 and exhibits a strong Aroclor 1248 signal in sediments accumulating over the last 60 years. It appears that from the late 1930s until the beginning of the 1980s there was a large and constant input of PCBs into this system. This pattern differs from lake cores from the Great Lakes region which commonly exhibit a rapid increase, a peak, followed by a sharp decrease in the PCB accumulation rates. Core 2 also has a strong Aroclor 1248 signal in the top layers, but deeper layers show evidence of mixtures of Aroclors and/or weathering processes. High levels of black carbon as a fraction of total organic carbon were found in both cores (median ～30%), which reflect the long history of local combustion sources. No strong relationship was found between ΣPCB concentration and sorbents. Both cores contain dioxin-like PCBs that are highest in concentration below the surface. The high levels of PCBs in the deep sediments are of concern because of plans to dredge this system.     

Persistent organochlorines in beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) from the St Lawrence River estuary--I. Concentrations and patterns of specific PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans

Blubber samples from beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the St Lawrence River estuary were analysed for PCB congeners (ortho- and non-ortho-substituted) and other persistent organochlorines as well as chlorinated dibenzo-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs). Major individual components (mean concentrations > 1 microg g(-1)) were 4,4'-DDE, -DDD and -DDT, T12 (a toxaphene-related compound), trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, mirex, HCB, tris(p-chlorophenyl) methane and dieldrin. Concentrations of SigmaPCBs (8.3-412 microg g(-1)), SigmaDDT (3.36-389 microg g(-1)) and mirex (0.18-6.8 microg g(-1)) were particularly elevated relative to other odontocetes in Canadian waters. SigmaDDT, PCBs (as Aroclor), mirex and T12 concentrations were positively correlated with age of adult females (> 10 years) but only weakly, or not significantly, correlated with age of adult males. PCDD/Fs were present at low ng kg(-1) levels and consisted mainly of penta- and hexachlorofurans, and hepta- and octachlorodioxin. CB126 (3,3',4,4',5-PCB) was the most prominent non-ortho-substituted PCB congener in beluga blubber. Total TCDD toxic equivalents averaged 330 ng kg(-1) in females and 1400 ng kg(-1) in males and were dominated by CB126, and the mono-ortho-substituted congeners CB105 and CB118. Biomagnification factors (BMFs) for mirex and SigmaPCB from fish to beluga ranged from 11 to 16, and were similar to BMFs in Arctic animals, indicating that elevated levels in St Lawrence animals are a consequence of relatively high levels of recalcitrant organochlorines in prey of the beluga in the St Lawrence river system.     

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water, sediment, and aquatic biota in the Houston Ship Channel, Texas

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were quantified in water, sediment, and catfish and crab tissue collected from the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) in Texas. The total concentrations of the 209 PCB congeners ranged from 0.49 to 12.49 ng l(-1), 4.18 to 4601 ng g(-1) dry wt, 4.13 to 1596 ng g(-1) wet wt, and 3.44 to 169 ng g(-1) wet wt, in water, sediment, catfish and crab tissue, respectively. All media showed maximum concentrations greater than studies in other regions with the highest concentrations occurring in the most industrialized segments of the channel. Inter-media correlations suggested that sediment is a source to water. Galveston Bay sediment concentrations compared to a previous study showed a declining trend though the rate of the decline may be slowing. Detailed homolog profiles revealed that the industrialized part of the channel may be receiving PCB-laden sediment from its tributaries. An unusually high fraction of the deca-chlorinated congener (PCB-209) was found in all media. Seen in only a few other studies and in previous air concentrations in the channel, this may point to unusual Aroclor mixtures used in the history of the HSC or to contemporary sources from local industry. A comparison of PCB concentrations obtained using Aroclor, representative congener, and all congener methods, indicated that Aroclors are not an appropriate surrogate for total PCBs and that the NOAA NST method is more representative than the NOAA EPA method.     

Congener-specific approach to human PCB concentrations by serum analysis

The objective of this study was to evaluate all congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human serum samples. Concentrations of all PCB congeners in the serum of 87 volunteers were determined by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS). The participants consisted of 47 males and 40 females, including 25 men working at municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). The mean concentrations of total PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs were 242.77ng/g lipid (median: 180.17ng/g lipid) and 18.57ng/g lipid (median: 15.34ng/g lipid), respectively. Penta-, hexa-, and heptachlorinated biphenyls contributed more than 80% of the total PCBs detected in human serum. Congener-specific analysis indicated that PCB153, PCB138, PCB180, PCB187, and PCB118 contributed 57.3% of the total PCBs detected in human serum samples. A statistical analysis was performed to determine whether there were significant correlations between PCB concentrations and specific variables such as age, gender, smoking habits, occupation, and body mass index (BMI). However, serum PCB concentrations correlated only with age. In addition, we found that total PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs highly correlated with PCB153 (correlation coefficient r=0.93, p<0.01) and PCB118 (correlation coefficient r=0.98, p<0.01), respectively. Thus these two congeners could be satisfactory indicators for total PCBs and dioxin-like PCBs in human serum.     

Chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) from Hokkaido, Japan

Concentrations and patterns of several chlorinated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) and DDTs, HCHs, CHLs and HCB were determined in black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris) from breeding grounds in Hokkaido, Japan. Subcutaneous fat of five adult gulls was analyzed, which had different concentrations of target compounds, whereas gull eggs contained similar concentrations of target compounds. Similar congener profiles were found between adult gulls and eggs. The concentrations of non-ortho PCBs varied from 3.4 to 13.5 ng/g lipid weight (lw) in the fat of black-tailed gulls and from 2.4 to 7.4 ng/g lw in their eggs. 2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs occurred at relatively lower concentrations than non-ortho PCB congeners in both adult gulls and eggs. The total TEQs (toxic equivalents, PCDD/Fs+ non-ortho PCB) ranged from 0.26 to 1.0 ng/g lw in adult gulls and ranged from 0.19 to 0.58 ng/g lw in eggs.