OBJECTIVETo establish the methods of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) compounds determination by isotope dilution HRGC/HRMS simultaneously in human placenta tissue from mothers, and assess the human exposure risk to dioxins and PBDEs in study.

METHODSConcentrations of 17 PCDD/Fs and 12 dioxin-like PCBs as well as 7 PBDEs were measured in human placenta tissue samples by isotope dilution HRGC/HRMS. SigmaTEQ (PCDD + PCDFs + PCBs) concentration using WHO-TEF factor and PBDEs concentration was calculated respectively. Risk assessment of mother exposure to dioxins and PBDEs was evaluated.

RESULTSMedian of SigmaTEQ (PCDD + PCDFs + PCBs) concentration for six samples was 18.15 WHO-TEQ pg/g lipid, ranging from 5.14 - 67.01 WHO-TEQ pg/g lipid. Although the median of SigmaTEQ (PCDD + PCDFs + PCBs) was lower than that of human blood of EU and Japan, and close to that of Korea and Taiwan non-exposure as reported in the literatures, the highest SigmaTEQ (PCDD + PCDFs + PCBs) concentration of placenta sample exceeded the value of high dioxins exposure area subjects in Taiwan. The dominant contributor congener for WHO-TEQ were 2, 3, 4, 7, 8-PeCDF, 1, 2, 3, 7, 8-PeCDD, PCB126, totally accounted for 65 percent of SigmaWHO-TEQ. Median and average of PBDE concentration for six samples were 2.73 ng/g lipid and 7.17 ng/g lipid, respectively, ranging from 0.95 - 25.99 ng/g lipid. BDE47 was the dominant contributor congener for the total concentration, accounted for 35 percent.

CONCLUSIONThe methods of PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs compounds determined by isotope dilution HRGC/HRMS simultaneously in human placenta tissue from mothers were established successfully, and the human exposure risk to PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs should be surveyed for the donor with the highest SigmaTEQ (PCDD + PCDFs + PCBs) and PBDEs concentration of placenta sample in the future.