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Twenty five human breast adipose tissue samples were collected in Porto Alegre, Brazil during 2004–2005 and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). ΣPBDE concentrations (sum of tri- to hepta-BDEs) ranged from 0.19 to 132 ng/g lipid with a median of 1.51 ng/g lipid. These concentrations are 3- to 100-times lower than those reported from other countries, with the exception of Japan, probably reflecting lower usage of PBDE-containing products or lower exposures to these chemicals. The predominant congener was BDE-47, followed by BDEs 99, 183, 153 and 100. One individual in the dataset had about 70-times higher PBDE concentrations than the rest of the participants. ΣPCB (sum of PCBs 118, 138, 153, 180) ranged from 30 to 339 ng/g lipid, with a median of 51 ng/g lipid. No age dependency was found for PBDEs (r =−0.800–0.374, p >0.05) or PCB 180 (r =0.278, p >0.05). On the other hand, PCBs 118, 138 and 153 did show age dependency (r =0.410–0.458, p <0.05). This is the first study to report levels of PBDEs in human breast adipose from Brazil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were monitored in Belgian human adipose tissue samples from deceased individuals (n=100). Their mean age was 52, ranging from 2 to 91 years. There were 57 men and 43 women. Other known variables were date of autopsy and place of residence. No information about diet or occupation was available. The seven marker congeners PCB 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180 were analysed in the samples with a GC–MS/MS method validated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Extracted fat was cleaned-up over a glass column filled with n-hexane, acid silica, deactivated alumina and anhydrous sodium sulfate. The whole procedure was subjected to a rigorous quality control programme with retention times, ion chromatograms and intensity ratios of the monitored product ions as identification criteria. The total PCB concentration ranged between 10 and 1640ngg−1 fat, with a mean value of 658ngg−1 fat. In the age groups of 0–9 (n=1), 10–19 (n=4), 20–29 (n=11), 30–39 (n=13), 40–49 (n=15), 50–59 (n=14), 60–69 (n=14), 70–79 (n=20), 80–89 (n=6) and 90–99 (n=2), the mean total PCB concentrations were 10, 134, 253, 445, 557, 687, 807, 962, 959, and 1191ngg−1 fat, respectively. So, there was an increase of PCB body burden with age. For the male subjects (n=57; mean age of 53) the mean total PCB concentration was 633ngg−1 fat. For the female subjects (n=43; mean age of 52) it was 690ngg−1 fat. There was no significant sex-related difference in the concentrations of marker PCBs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]