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Concentrations of 36 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were measured in serum of 372 Italian residents of general population living in Novafeltria, Pavia, and Milan. Total PCB level differed significantly between these sites (p < 0.0001) with median concentrations of 836.50, 1354.57, and 2062.08 pmol/g lipid, respectively. However, there is no evidence for the difference in distribution of total PCB levels by genders. Total dioxin-like PCBs differed significantly (p < 0.0001) between the sites (median 109.78, 50.88, and 166.99 pmol/g lipid, respectively) and genders of Novafeltria and Pavia (p = 0.011 and 0.009, respectively). PCB 138, 153, 170, and 180 differed significantly between the places of residence (p < 0.0001) with higher values in Milan population. In the overall population, total PCB and PCB 138, 153, 156, 170, and 180 correlated positively with age (correlations range between 0.320 and 0.569, p < 0.0001). In Novafeltria, the correlations ranged between 0.545 and 0.670, and in Pavia, the correlations ranged between 0.516 and 0.666. In Milan, correlations with age range between 0.327 and 0.417 for total PCB and congeners 138, 153, and 180. With an exception of PCB 170, there was no evidence of significant difference in the distribution of most abundant PCB congeners and total PCB across the body mass index categories.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides are common environmental contaminants that have been associated with human health problems., Objectives: To assess serum concentrations of several organochlorine contaminants in general population living in a city with an ancient agricultural tradition and to identify possible exposure sources in Sicily., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 individuals. Each participant answered a face-to-face questionnaire submitted by well-trained personnel and provided a serum sample which was analyzed for the concentrations of PCBs, HCB, HCHs and DDTs by using gas-chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry., Results: HCB, p,p'-DDE, PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180 were detected in more than 80% of the study participants. The ng g(-1) lipid median concentrations were: 18.6 for HCB; 175.1 for p,p'-DDE; 22. for PCB 138; 32.5 for PCB 153 and 23.0 for PCB 180. PCB 153 and PCB 138, PCB 138 and PCB 180, PCB 153 and PCB 180, and p,p'-DDE and HCB showed a high correlation each other (p<0.05). HCB and p,p'-DDE concentrations were significantly higher in subjects >49 years old (adj-p=0.03 in 50-69 years old and adj-p<0.001 in >69 years old, respectively) whereas PCB 138, PCB 153 and PCB 180 concentrations were higher in males (adj-p=0.03), in subjects >69 years old (adj-p=0.04) and in current smokers (adj-p=0.04)., Conclusions: The present study shows that serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds detected in subjects living in a small Sicilian city with ancient agricultural tradition are similar to those found in subjects living in urban areas of other countries. However, further investigations are needed to compare data from rural/urban areas in the same country, assessing correlations between serum concentrations of several chemical compounds and potential health effects in general population., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) are lipophilic and persistent compounds that were widely used in industrial and consumer products for decades until the late 70s. Due to their persistence and bioaccumulation, they are globally spread in the environment and may still be found in all environmental and biological media. Some have been classified as xenoestrogens or endocrine disruptors. Some others are known to have adverse effects for human health, including cancer. With the objective of establishing reference values, a fast and reliable method, previously developed and validated using single quadrupole mass spectrometry, was properly modified in order to simultaneously detect 10 organochlorine pesticides and 15 PCBs by using triple quadrupole. Use of triple quadrupole mass spectrometry has further increased the reliability of the method, so that it is now possible to collect more significant data concerning general population, which is the first step before the assessment of occupational exposure levels.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely used in industry and agriculture. Due to their persistence and bioaccumulation, they were globally spread in the environment and may still be found in environmental and biological media, despite the international restrictions on production and use. The main aim of our study was to develop a simple and fast method suitable for the establishment of the reference values for 15 PCB congeners and 16 OCPs in general population subgroups. A cost- and time-saving screening procedure using gas chromatography coupled with low-resolution mass spectrometry, was improved and validated before application to the analysis of real samples. The overall method was validated including uncertainty measurement. Preliminary field data were collected from 95 volunteers living in two Italian areas. HCB, p,p'-DDE, PCB 153, PCB 138 and PCB 180 were the most frequently detected compounds. Age and residence area were found to be significant variables for the most abundant compounds, while no correlation between serum concentrations and gender was observed. Our results suggest that long-banned substances, including PCBs and the pesticides HCB and DDT's breakdown product, are still detectable in the general population., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The diet is considered to be the main source of body burden of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) in the general population. The most cost-effective and reliable way to estimate the dietary intake is based on total diet studies (TDSs). The aim of the present study was to provide a reliable estimate of recent average dietary intakes of PCBs in Northern Italy. Congener-specific analysis of PCBs was undertaken on total diet samples collected at the cafeteria of the University of Pavia. The average daily intake for total PCBs was calculated to be 0.26 microg/person day-1. The major contributor to PCB intake was accounted for by pooled samples of bread, cereals and potatoes, followed by the protein composite, and fruit and vegetables. Although diverse dietary habits and differences in sampling and analytical procedures make comparison between different studies difficult, the daily intake of PCBs in Northern Italy can be located in the lower part of the range for values reported in the literature.

The main goal of this study is to establish the reference values of individual Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in non-occupationally exposed subjects. Since the PCB pattern in human serum is related to the living area, two different population groups from North and Central Italy, were compared. Serum concentrations of both coplanar and non-coplanar PCB congeners were measured by using gas chromatography coupled with low-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC-LRMS). A fast and reliable method for the determination of 60 congeners had been previously validated. Its reliability was further verified by using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Thirty-one congeners out of 60 were found at detectable concentrations in at least one sample. The mean value for total PCBs was found to be 2.48 and 3.93 microg/L for the two population groups. Eight dioxin-like PCBs were detected. In accordance with the findings from the literature, the most abundant congeners were found to be 153, 138, 180, and 170. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed that age is a significant determinant of PCB concentrations. The correlation increased with increasing chlorination. Slight differences in the PCB pattern were observed in the two population groups.

Objective: To examine the congener-specific concentrations and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Italian general population., Design: Two population groups were selected and monitored for the determination of up to 60 congeners in human serum. A very detailed questionnaire was administered to each participant to collect information concerning demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the relationships between PCB serum levels and age., Setting: Northern and Central Italy., Participants: 162 subjects from Novafeltria, Central Italy and 164 subjects from Pavia, Northern Italy., Main Outcome Measure: Serum concentrations of both coplanar and non-coplanar PCB congeners. Relationship between PCB levels and age., Results: The mean concentration of total PCBs was found to be 2.48 and 3.93 microg/l for Novafeltria and Pavia, respectively. As waited, the most abundant congeners were CB-153, CB-138, CB-180, and CB-170. Age resulted to be the most significant determinant of PCB levels. Slight differences in the congener profile were observed in the two population groups., Conclusions: As expected, a strong correlation between age and PCB levels has been observed. It is remarkable that the correlation increased with increasing chlorination in both the population groups. Associations with other variables, such as gender, food and alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking, appeared to be inconsistent.

A rapid screening method, previously developed and validated for the determination of 60 PCB congeners in human serum by using high-resolution gas chromatography coupled with low-resolution mass spectrometry, was applied to the establishment of the reference values in the general population. The reliability of this method was further confirmed by analyzing ten serum samples, obtained from the same population group involved in the original study, by electron impact ionization with either low- or high-resolution mass spectrometry. Analyses in electron capture negative ionization mode were also performed for the determination of 'dioxin-like' isomers. The data were found to be in good accordance with one another, especially for the congeners of highest environmental significance. Then, 162 real serum samples were analyzed for the presence of PCBs. Comparison with the results from other studies reported in the literature showed that a similar profile was observed; the most abundant congeners were #153, #180, #138 and #170. A statistical analysis was performed to determine whether there were significant correlations between PCB concentrations and specific variables such as age, gender, and dietary habits., (Copyright 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The purpose of this work is to compare the PCB values in blood, serum and adipose tissue of non-exposed people over the last twenty years of scientific literature in order to establish whether the determination of single congeners is better then the evaluation of the total PCB amount moreover an analytical strategy useful to define a reference value for non-exposed Italian population has been evaluated. In the literature very variable results were found for the determination of total PCBs in blood, in serum or adipose tissue. We suggest to determine only the amount of the most toxic congeners of PCBs (28, 52, 77, 101, 118, 126, 138, 153, 169, 180) by using the HRGC/ECD as analytical technique.

A time- and cost-saving method for the congener-specific analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human serum has been developed and validated. After two fast extraction and clean-up steps, analyses were performed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry with single ion monitoring (GC/SIM-MS), either in electron impact (EI) or electron-capture negative ionization (ECNI) mode. For the determination of dioxin-like congeners, an improvement in EI-MS sensitivity is desirable and use of NI is thus preferred. The procedure was validated for 12 dioxin-like congeners by analyzing spiked samples on three different days and using (13)C(12)-labelled analogues as internal standards. When using an NCI source, the limit of quantification was assessed at 0.01 microg/L, except for PCBs #77 and #81, which cannot be reliably detected below 0.05 microg/L. For the lower chlorinated non-dioxin-like congeners, NI offers less selectivity because of limited fragmentation. Electron impact ionization and electron-capture negative ionization mode can therefore be considered to be complementary for the determination of PCB congeners in the general population., (Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

A screening method using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the single ion monitoring (SIM) mode for the routine congener-specific analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human serum has been developed and validated. A fast procedure incorporating both liquid-liquid and solid-phase extraction was used for clean up and enrichment. Interday and intraday precision and accuracy were assessed for the 12 congeners having dioxin-like activity and PCBs #180 and #170 by analyzing spiked samples on three subsequent days and using (13)C(12)-labelled analogues as internal standards. Furthermore, the relative errors for six non-dioxin-like congeners (PCBs #28, #52, #101, #138, #153 and #180) were measured by using certified reference materials, providing good accuracy at two different concentration levels. The limits of quantification and of detection were 0.5 and 0.2 micro g/L in serum for each congener, respectively. The method allows the chromatographic separation of at least 35 congeners and can therefore be applied to the routine monitoring of the general population for both dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners., (Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)