Balance of Intake and Excretion of 20 Congeners of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxin, Polychlorinated Dibenzofuran and Coplanar Polychlorinated Biphenyl in Healthy Japanese Men.

Abstract

Daily intake from meals, and excretion from feces and sebum of 20 congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyl (Co-PCB) were analyzed in healthy Japanese men who are considered to be a standard for the Japanese. Daily intake of these congeners was 84.2 ± 12.5 pg toxic equivalent (TEQ) and daily excretion from feces and sebum were 18.3 ± 5.9 and 23.8 ± 5.6 pg TEQ, respectively, indicating 22% the daily intake of dioxins from meals is excreted from feces and 29% from sebum. 1,2,3,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF) and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (3,3',4,4',5-PeCB) were most abundant in TEQ, in meals, feces, sebum and blood. Co-PCBs were most efficiently excreted among three congener groups in TEQ, especially from sebum. Octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,7,8-TCDF) and 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (3,3',4,4'-TCB) were well absorbed from intestine and excreted at more than 100% of intake, mainly from the sebum. In contrast, 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD) and 1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzofuran (1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDF) were excreted at relatively low levels from sebum, although well absorbed from the intestine, and the excretion ratios were lowest among the 20 congeners. It was suggested that 80.5-85.2% TEQ of each congener-group might be absorbed from the intestine, after taking bile excretion into consideration.