Screening of polybrominated dibenzo-p dioxins and furans(PBDD/Fs) in adipose tissue from the Swedish population

In a screening study during 2007-2008, also performed by MTM and commissioned by the Swedish EPA, the presence of polybrominated dibenzo- p furans (PBDFs) were detected in human adipose tissue from the Swedish population for the first time. In this study ten additional adipose samples were analysed for polybrominated dibenzo- p dioxins and furans, PBDD/Fs. In all samples, 2,3,7,8-TeBDF was present in levels ranging from 0.23 to 0.54 pg g -1 lipid and pentabrominated furans were present in nine out of ten samples. The levels of 2,3,7,8-TeBDF, 1,2,3,7,8- and 2,3,4,7,8-PeBDF were similar to those reported in the previous screening study [1]. By lowering the detection limits by using larger injection volumes by employing the PTV injection technique, 2,3,7,8-TeBDD, 1,2,3,4,7,8-/1,2,3,6,7,8-HxBDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8- HpBDD, 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDF and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpBDF were detected for the first time in human adipose tissue samples from Sweden. 2,3,7,8-TeBDD was detected in five out of ten samples in the range of 0.03-0.05 pg g -1 lipid. 2,3,7,8-TeBDD has been detected in samples with human origin earlier but not in samples from Sweden and levels of 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxBDF has previously been detected in human milk samples from several countries, including Sweden. However, the detection of 1,2,3,4,7,8-/1,2,3,6,7,8-HxBDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpBDD and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpBDF in human tissue is to our knowledge reported for the first time. To summarize, results from nineteen samples (the present and previous study) demonstrate the presence of brominated furans in the general Swedish population. Additionally, the individuals having the highest PBDD/F concentrations had also the highest levels of PCDD/Fs (pg TEQ g -1). This might support the general assumption that brominated and chlorinated dioxins have the same sources and exposure routes