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Abstract: Fetal and maternal exposure levels of two emerging pollutants, polybrominated diephenyl ethers (PBDEs) and synthetic musks, were measured in Korean general population to assess prenatal and postnatal exposures in infants. For this purpose, paired samples of breast milk, maternal and cord blood were collected from 20 Korean women in 2007. In comparison to data from other countries and previous data from Korea, relatively higher and gradually increasing concentrations for PBDEs were found in Korean breast milk (

Dietary intake is the most important source of exposure to dioxins for the general population. This pathway contributes more than 90% of the daily intake for the general population of Korea. The objective of this study was to assess current exposure to dioxin-like compounds in fish and shellfish consumed by the general population in Korea. Residues of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like, non-, and mono-substituted polychlorinated biphenyls (co-planar PCBs) were quantified in 32 fish and shellfish collected from domestic fisheries markets. The contributions of individual DL-PCB congeners to the total 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalents (TEQ) were greater than 50%. Concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents based on the TCDD equivalency factors (TEFs) developed by the World Health Organization (TEQWHO) were compared to guidelines suggested for the protection of human health by the World Health Organization (WHO). The greatest TEQ concentration was observed in herring, followed by that in dried anchovy and Sailfin sandfish. The exposure to dioxin-like compounds from current fish consumption patterns was estimated to be 72 pg TEQWHO/day, which is equal to 1. 2 pg TEQWHO/kg, bw/d, a value that is less than the current tolerable daily intake (TDI) guideline in Korea, which is 4 pg TEQWHO/kg, bw/d. The relatively great exposure was determined to be due to greater fish consumption rate in Korea, rather than greater concentrations of residues in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Compound specific isotope analysis of amino acids is remarkable for calculating trophic position. • Trophic positions of fish were compared based on the δ15N of bulk and amino acids. • The concentrations of PCB, PBDE and OCPs in fish were increased with trophic position in Masan bay. • Trophic magnification factors are governed by trophic position. The trophic magnification of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which is the relationship between POP concentration and the trophic position (TPs) of an organism, is considered an important factor for prioritizing chemicals of concern in the environment. Organismal TPs are typically based on nitrogen isotope ratios of bulk tissue (δ15N bulk). In this study, nitrogen isotope ratios of amino acids (δ15N AAs), a more precise approach for TP estimation (TP AAs), was applied and compared with estimations of TP based on δ15N bulk (TP bulk) in marine organisms living in Masan Bay, South Korea. Compound-specific isotope analysis of the amino acids (CSIA-AAs) in fish samples allows us to calculate robust TPs by correcting the variation in baseline isotope values with use of the δ15N bulk technique. In a benthic food chain, this approach reveals more significant magnification trends for POPs [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)] than those revealed by analysis of the relationship between TP bulk and POPs. The trophic magnification factors (TMF) associated with TP AAs were significant for some POPs, especially pp′ -DDD and chlordane. The results presented in this study suggest that TP calculations based on δ15N AAs are an effective tool for characterizing trophic magnification trends related to the fates of various pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]