Persistent organochlorine contaminants in hair samples of Northern Poland population, 1968–2009

Abstract

The concentrations of persistent chlorinated organic pollutants were determined in hair samples (n=40) collected from inhabitants of Northern Poland in 1968, 1989 and 2009 using gas chromatography ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Among the analytes were β- and γ-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (β- and γ-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p′-DDT) and its metabolites (p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDD, o,p′-DDT and p,p′-DDD) and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180). The following: p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT and PCB congeners: 28, 52 and 101 could be quantified in all samples. Overall total organochlorines level was found to decrease in that order: 1968>1989>2009. The most significant time-dependent decrease was noticed for sum of mean values, ∑DDTs (1658, 143.9 and 36.5ngg−1) and ∑PCBs (42.2, 29.4 and 14.9ngg−1) while ∑HCHs (β-HCH and γ-HCH) were present at comparable levels (22.2, 9.8 and 12.6ngg−1) in 1968, 1989 and 2009 respectively. The highest concentrations of DDTs were found in samples from 1968. Despite the long storage time of samples, metabolites either parent compound p,p′-DDT are still present in those samples at very high concentrations. p,p′-DDE as the predominant and stable metabolite of DDT was detected in every sample in the highest concentration. A significant, continuous decrease of total concentration of all studied PCB congeners was observed over the studied period of time. Current results confirm previous reports of other authors upon the utility of hair as an alternative matrix for evaluation of human exposure to persistent organic pollutants.