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Hannu Kiviranta,¹ Terttu Vartiainen,^1,2 and Jouko Tuomisto^1,2

¹National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, Kuopio, Finland; ²University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

Abstract

We measured plasma concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) , and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fishermen from the Finnish Baltic Sea area and fishermen fishing in inland lakes. The concentrations clearly correlated with the frequency of fish meals and consumption of Baltic fatty fish. The body burden of PCDD/Fs reached the median level of 170 pg/g toxic equivalents (I-TEq) in fat for Baltic Sea fishermen, with the maximum being 420 pg/g. Results for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (range = 4.9-110 pg/g fat) showed that lifetime exposure in a population consuming much Baltic fatty fish can reach the levels of exposures seen in Seveso, Italy, in 1976. After we summed the PCB-TEqs, the total median exposure of Baltic Sea fishermen increased to 290 pg/g TEq in fat, and the highest concentration was 880 pg/g. There was a noted individual variation in fishermen's PCDD/F congener patterns, and it was possible to associate this variation with congener patterns of PCDD/Fs in the fish species that the fisherman reported they had consumed. Linear regression models for ln WHO_PCDD/F-TEq, ln WHO_PCB-TEq, and ln total WHO-TEq, from the World Health Organization, explained 48%, 60%, and 53% of the variability, respectively. Age was the only significant predictor of ln WHO_PCDD/F-TEq, whereas age, amount of fish eaten, and place of residence were significant predictors of ln WHO_PCB-TEq, and ln total WHO-TEq. Key words: Baltic Sea, fish consumption, fisherman, modeling TEq, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. Environ Health Perspect 110:355-361 (2002) . [Online 7 March 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p355-361kiviranta/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to H. Kiviranta, National Public Health Institute, Department of Environmental Health, P.O. Box 95, FIN-70701 KUOPIO, Finland. Telephone: + 358 9 19127501. Fax: + 358 9 19127518. E-mail: Hannu.Kiviranta@ktl.fi

We thank P. Tiittanen for statistical counseling and T. Korhonen, K. Mehtonen, S. Nyholm, and T. Rissanen for their valuable technical assistance.

This work was financed by the Academy of Finland, project 52876, and the European Union, contract QLK4-1999-01446.

Received 19 June 2001 ; accepted 27 September 2001.