Component Patterns of Chlordanes in Human Milk, Cow's Milk, Dog Adipose Tissue, Cat Adipose Tissue and Wild Bird

Abstract

The component patterns of chlordanes (total of 19 compounds) in human milk (n=12), cow's milk (n=10), dog adipose tissue (n=4), cat adipose tissue (n=6) and wild bird (2 species) were examined by mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. The component patterns in these samples were extremely different from those of aquatic biota described previously. In these higher animal samples, relatively high levels of residues of higher chlorine components (e. g. trans-, cis-nonachlor) and metabolites (oxychlordane, heptachlor epoxide) in relation to chlordanes were observed, though the component patterns varied in the different species of animal. High levels of residues of higher chlorine components were found in human milk, cat adipose tissue and wild bird samples, while the levels of metabolite residues were high in cow's milk and dog adipose tissue samples. The differences of component patterns may be due to species differences of metabolic activity.