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Distribution of organobrominated and organochlorinated contaminants in Belgian human adipose tissue
Covaci, A.; de Boer, J.; Ryan, J.J.; Voorspoels, S.; Schepens, P. (2002). Distribution of organobrominated and organochlorinated contaminants in Belgian human adipose tissue. Environ. Res. 88(3): 210-218
In: Environmental Research. Elsevier: Amsterdam. ISSN 0013-9351; e-ISSN 1096-0953, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Analytical techniques > Spectroscopic techniques > Mass spectroscopy
    Chemical compounds > Halogen compounds > Bromine compounds
    Chemical compounds > Organic compounds > Hydrocarbons > Unsaturated hydrocarbons > Aromatic hydrocarbons > PCB
    Distribution
    Mass spectrometry
    Mass spectrometry
    Pesticides
    Techniques > Methodology > Analytical methods > Spectroscopy > Spectrometry > Mass spectrometry
    Belgium [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Covaci, A., correspondent, more
  • de Boer, J., more
  • Ryan, J.J.
  • Voorspoels, S., more
  • Schepens, P., more

Abstract
    We have measured the levels of flame retardants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in 20 recent human adipose tissues from Belgium and compared them to other organohalogen compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene, 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (p,p'-DDT), and its metabolite, 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE). After Soxhlet extraction and cleanup on acidified silica solid-phase extraction cartridges, analysis was achieved by capillary gas chromatography/electron impact mass spectrometry. The method allowed the determination of 5 PBDE and 35 PCB congeners. Concentrations of PBDEs (sum of congeners IUPAC Nos. 28, 47, 99, 100, and 153) ranged between 2.2 and 11.7 ng/g lipid weight and were on the lower end of reported PBDE concentrations in European countries. The median value for the sum of PCBs (35 congeners) was 841 ng/g lipid weight and ranged from 286 to 1802 ng/g lipid weight. The median value for the sum of DDTs (calculated from p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT) was 290 ng/g lipid weight and ranged from 47 to 2802 ng/g lipid weight. The sum of PCBs showed a good correlation with the sum of DDTs (r=0.77, P<0.05), while the correlation with the sum of PBDEs was weaker (r=0.56, P<0.05). No age dependency was found for PBDEs (r=0.09), while PCBs and DDTs showed higher correlation coefficients with age (r=0.59 and 0.40, respectively, P<0.05).

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