Bioconcentration potential of organic environmental chemicals in humans

Date

1986

Authors

Geyer, H.
Scheunert, I.
Korth, F.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

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Abstract

A list of environmental chemicals detectable in adipose tissue and/or milk of non-occupationally exposed humans is presented. Besides their physicochemical properties, their acceptable daily intake values, production figures, fate in the environment, concentrations in human adipose tissue, and data from total diet studies from market basket investigations are given. Average bioconcentrations factors (BCF) of polychlorinated biphenyls, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, pentachlorophenol, and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxytoluene in human adipose tissue are calculated. The bioconcentration factors of these chemicals are between 3 and 47 times higher in humans than in rats. The environmental chemicals are divided into three groups in respect to their bioconcentration factors in human adipose tissue: group I, high BCF (>100); group II, medium BCF (10-100): and group III, low BCF (<10). The bioconcentration factors are useful for hazard assessment of chemicals to humans.

Description

p. 313-347

Keywords

DDT, CPB, organic compounds, toxicity, industrial wastes, agricultural pollution

Citation