Organochlorine Pesticides, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Irrawaddy Dolphins from India

Maternal transfer of organochlorines and brominated flame retardants in blue tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus)

Distribution of persistent organic pollutants in two different fat compartments from obese individuals

Spatial trends of organochlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Atlantic Anguillid eels

Fish are often used as good bioindicators to monitor the occurrence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on different scales in recent years. Forty-five golden threads (Nemipterus virgatus) were collected from six sampling sites in the northern South China Sea (SCS) to investigate the geographical distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs). Concentrations of PBDEs, PCBs, and DDTs ranged from 1.3-36.0, 2.3-76.5, 8.3-228 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. The highest PBDEs and DDTs concentrations were found in golden threads from Shantou, owing to the intensive electronic waste recycling activities and rapid development of agriculture. Samples from Haikou had the highest levels of PCBs, probably due to the existence of many shipbuilding yards in the past years. The concentrations of PBDEs and PCBs were found in a decreasing trend from east to west and from north to south, while DDTs concentrations had no obvious trend in the distribution. PCBs were the most prevalent contaminants in Xiamen and Yangjiang, while DDTs were the dominant compounds at the other four sampling sites. Different profiles of POPs at each sampling site may attribute to different pollution sources in the northern SCS. Ratios of (DDD + DDE)/DDTs in golden threads suggested the probability of fresh input of DDT in the northern SCS. The estimated daily intakes of PBDEs, PCBs and DDTs were 0.030-0.069, 0.167-0.258 and 0.105-1.88 ng/kg/day, respectively, which were significantly lower than the acceptable daily intake, suggesting that consumption of golden threads from the northern SCS would not subject the residents in the coastal areas of SCS to significant health risk.

Chlorinated and brominated contaminants including PCBs and PBDEs in minke whales and common dolphins from Korean coastal waters

Concentrations of several persistent organohalogen compounds such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), and polybrominated biphenyl 153 (PBB 153) were measured in eggs of six species of wild aquatic birds, one species of wild terrestrial bird, and two species of captive birds from North China. Among the contaminants measured, DDTs were the dominant compounds, HCHs and PCBs were in nearly the same concentration range, and PBDEs exhibited lower concentrations than other compound groups. The median concentrations of DDTs, HCHs, PCBs, and PBDEs in all avian species ranged from 21 to 11034, 5.5 to 623, 1.0 to 613, and 4.6 to 146 ng/g lipid wt, respectively. Median concentrations of DBDPE and PBB 153 in all avian species were in the range of not detectable (ND)-1.7 and ND-0.7 ng/g lipid wt, respectively. Significant differences among species in contaminant profiles and contaminant levels were found depending on their feeding habits, habitat, and migration. The captive birds had the lowest contaminant levels and entirely different congener profiles in PCBs and PBDEs from those of wild birds, which can be attributed to differences in dietary compositions and reproduction rates. Octa- to deca-BDEs contributed more to the total PBDEs in wild terrestrial and captive birds than in wild aquatic birds, except for one insectivorous species, possibly due to greater exposure to terrestrial food sources. Preliminary risk assessment suggests that there is no risk of a reduction in offspring survival in avian species from North China due to organohalogen compounds, except for dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), which would be expected to affect some proportion of the populations of several species of birds studied.

Studies on residue levels and accumulation profiles of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in human adipose tissues of Korean populations are scarce. In this study, concentrations and accumulation features of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in adipose tissues of Korean women age 40-68years. The highest concentrations were found for PCBs and DDTs, which were 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than the concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexanes, chlordanes, and PBDEs. The concentrations of PCBs and OCPs were lower than those reported for other countries. However, PBDE concentrations were greater than those reported for other countries, suggesting that ongoing exposure to PBDEs is a concern in Korea. The profiles of PBDEs were characterized by the predominance of BDE 209, followed by nona- and octa-BDEs, which are consistent with the consumption patterns of products containing PBDEs in Korea. The concentrations of PCBs and some OCPs were significantly correlated with each other, whereas PBDEs showed low or moderate correlations with other POPs, suggesting differences in exposure routes and biotransformation potentials of the compounds studied. The concentrations of organochlorines and PBDEs were not correlated with subjects' age and body mass index. The results of this study provide baseline information on POPs in adipose tissues of the general population in Korea.

Occurrence of persistent organic pollutants in marine fish from the Natuna Island, South China Sea

Persistent halogenated compounds in fish from rivers in the Pearl River Delta, South China: Geographical pattern and implications for anthropogenic effects on the environment

Brominated flame retardants and organochlorines in the European environment using great tit eggs as a biomonitoring tool

We determined the concentrations of 98 halogenated organic compounds and synthetic musks in breast fat tissues of 50 breast cancer patients (age range: 34-77years) collected during 1996-1998 in Ulster County, New York, USA. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated biphenyl 153 (PBB-153), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and synthetic musk compounds (SMCs) were analyzed in breast fat tissues, and 46 analytes were found at a detection frequency of ≥ 65% and at concentrations in the decreasing order of OCPs > PCBs > SMCs > PBDEs > PBB-153. PCBs (median: 323ng/g wet wt) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs, median: 293ng/g wet wt) were the major compounds found in breast fat tissues. Among PCB congeners, hexa- and hepta-chlorobiphenyls (60% of total PCBs) were the abundant ones. p,p'-DDE accounted for more than 99% of the total DDT concentrations. The concentrations of SMCs and PBDEs were 1-2 orders of magnitude lower than those of PCBs and DDTs. 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-r-2-benzopyran (median: 33ng/g wet wt) was the most abundant SMC, whereas BDE-47 (median: 4.5ng/g wet wt) was the most dominant PBDE congener present in breast tissues. A significant correlation (p < 0.05) between women's age and concentrations of DDTs, chlordanes, hexachlorobenzene and PCBs in breast tissues was found. Concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs, OCPs, and SMCs were not significantly different between malignant and benign tumor cases. This study adds baseline information on target tissue burdens of persistent organic contaminants in breast cancer patients.

Indicator polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were determined in 289 seafood samples including fishes, crustaceans, and shellfish collected from six administrative regions in Xiamen of China. The residual levels of PCBs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) ranged <LOD-64 (median 1.8)ngg-1 wet weight (ww), 0.03-88 (median 1.4)ngg-1 ww, and <LOD-5.5 (median <LOD)ngg-1 ww, respectively. The most abundant compounds were PCB101, p,p'-DDT, and β-HCH. Significant differences in the amounts of PCBs and DDTs were recorded among the species, whereas no significant differences were observed among the species with regard to HCH concentrations. Within the regions investigated, the concentrations of PCBs were much lower in Haicang than in other regions and HCHs were detected with highest concentration in Siming, while no significant differences were observed in DDT concentrations. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that PCB and OCP pollutions came from similar sources in Xiamen. But the pollution sources of Xiangan were diverse. The predominance of PCBs might be attributed to the past usage of domestically produced commercial PCB mixtures, and the profiles of OCPs might indicate their current use in agriculture. Results of carcinogenic risk assessment based on the 50th or 95th percentile exposure levels exceeded the threshold, suggesting that the PCBs should be of concern. On the other hand, the hazard quotients (HQs) of noncancer risks were all far below than 1.

Levels of persistent organic pollutants in pine tree components and ambient air

Concentrations of organochlorines (OCs) representing persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane and its metabolites (DDTs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were determined in the liver of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) collected from the offshore waters of various regions in the world (offshore waters around Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Seychelles, and Brazil, and the Japan Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the North Pacific Ocean). OCs were detected in livers of all of the skipjack tuna collected from the locations surveyed, supporting the thesis that there is widespread contamination of persistent OCs in the marine environment. Within a location, no significant relationship between growth-stage (body length and weight) and OC concentrations (lipid weight basis) was observed, and the OC residue levels were rather uniform among the individuals. Interestingly, the distribution of OC concentrations in skipjack tuna was similar to those in surface seawaters from which they were taken. These results suggest that OC concentrations in skipjack tuna could reflect the pollution levels in seawater from which they are collected and that this species is a suitable bioindicator for monitoring the global distribution of OCs in offshore waters and the open ocean. Concentrations of PCBs and CHLs in skipjack tuna were higher in offshore waters around Japan (up to 1100 and 250 ng/g lipid wt, respectively), suggesting the presence of sources of PCBs and CHLs in Japan. High concentrations of DDTs and HCHs were observed in samples from the Japan Sea, the East China Sea, the South China Sea, and the Bay of Bengal (up to 1300 and 22 ng/g lipid wt, respectively). This result suggests recent use of technical DDT and HCH for agricultural and/or public health purposes in Russia, China, India, and some other developing Asian countries. Relatively high concentrations of PCBs, CHLs, HCHs, and HCB were also observed in samples collected from some locations in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, indicating the expansion of OC contamination on a global scale. Considering these facts, continuous studies monitoring these compounds in offshore waters and the open seas, using skipjack tuna as a bioindicator, are needed to further understand the future trend of contamination.

Associations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in visceral vs. subcutaneous adipose tissue with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance