Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyl Residues in Human Adipose Tissue

Persistent Organic Pollutants in Human Milk from Central Italy: Levels and Time Trends

“…Variations in OC concentrations might be expected to occur in relation to factors such as the efficiency of absorption and excretion, the mother's age, and her nutritional and socioeconomic status. The prevalence of p,p′- DDE over PCBs and HCB has previously been reported [11] in the adipose tissue of women living in Siena; the same study confirms also that HCB can be found in a limited fraction of the samples analyzed, probably due to a low use of this pesticide in the study area. HCB, p,p′ -DDE, and PCB levels were similar to concentrations detected in breast milk in the U.K. in the years 2001–2003 (range: ND-180; 22–1600; 26–530 ng/g l.w., resp.)…”

“…The previous studies carried out in the Siena area [8–11, 13] confirm that the same group of congeners are the most common in human tissues and food; the difference from past studies is the prevalence in our samples of milk of PCB-138 rather than PCB-153. In fact, PCB-153 is the most common congener, due to its high persistence and low environmental degradability, as well as its characteristic of being difficult for organisms to metabolize [26, 27].…”

“…This work is part of a long series of studies on human exposure to environmental contaminants in the Siena area. Organochlorines have been studied in human adipose tissue samples [7–11] and human milk [12]; organohalogen compounds have been determined in food and diet [13–15], and perfluorinated compounds have been identified in human blood and serum [16]. …”

Levels of mercury and polychlorobiphenyls in commercial food in Siena Province (Tuscany, Italy) in the period 2001–2010

“…Organochlorines have been previously studied in human adipose tissue samples [16][17][18][19][20] and human milk [21] and mercury and organohalogen compounds have been determined in food and diet [22][23][24][25][26]. …”

Levels of phthalates in human milk samples from central Italy

“…Organochlorines have been previously studied in human adipose tissue samples [10][11][12][13][14] and human milk [15,16]; organohalogen compounds have been determined in food and diet [17][18][19][20]; perfluorinated compounds have been identified in human blood [21,22], seminal plasma [21], follicular fluid [22], food [23] and breast milk [24] and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been found in human fat and food [25].…”