Influence of alimentary habits, age and occupation on polychlorinated biphenyl levels in adipose tissue

The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in adipose tissue samples from the mammary glands of 123 women living in Cordoba (Spain) were evaluated. The influence of alimentary habits, age and previous and present occupation on the tissue levels of PCBs were also investigated. The compound found at the highest concentration was PCB 180 (0.134 μg/g), followed by the congeners 153 (0.121 μg/g), 138 (0.102 μg/g), 187 (0.047 μg/g), 170 (0.046 μg/g), 28 (0.039 μg/g), 118 (0.023 μg/g), 183 (0.020 μg/g), 52 (0.011 μg/g), 188 (0.011 μg/g), and 101 (0.002 μg/g). A positive correlation was found between donor age and tissue levels of PCBs 28, 118, 138, 153, 170, 180, 183 and 187. Conversely, age had no influence on tissue levels of PCBs 52 and 101. The majority of donors (40.65%) reported fruits as the most consumed food, followed by mixed food (34.15%), legumes and root vegetables (6.5%), stewed meat and vegetables (6.5%), leafy vegetables (4.88%), milk (3.25%), fish (2.44%) and meat (1.63%). “Farmer” (38%) and “housewife” (38%) were the most frequent previous occupations, followed by “other activities” (24%), while “housewife” was the most frequent present occupation (67%), followed by “other activities” (24%) and “farmer” (9%). No significant correlation was observed between tissue levels of PCBs and alimentary habits or previous or present occupation of donors.