Specific polychlorinated biphenyl congener distribution in adipose tissue of Canadians

Abstract

Human adipose tissue samples were analyzed for 34 selected polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, of which 24 were confirmed. Congener levels ranged from 0.9–62.8 ng g⁻¹ wet weight, with the 2,2’,3,4,4’,5'‐ and 2,2’,4,4’,5,5'‐hexachloro‐ and the 2,2'3,4,4’,5,5'‐heptachlorobiphenyls making up 52.1% of all reported congeners. No significant differences between males and females and few regional differences in congener levels were observed. Furthermore significant differences (p<0.025) between age groups were only observed for a number of specific congeners. However, the percent distribution profiles of the observed congeners differed with sex and age.