Residues of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in human adipose tissues in Greece

Organchlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been analysed in human adipose tissue samples, during 1995-96, from residents of Greece (64 males and 43 females) by GC-ECD and capillary column. Residues of HCB (0.976 mu g/g, beta-HCH (0.319 mu g/g, pp'-DDE (2468 mu g/g) and PCBs (0.423 mu g/g) were detected in all samples. The ratio pp'DDE/pp'DDT found was 29.0+/-2.0 while in a previous study (1975) was only 3.9. Significant differences (P less than or equal to 0.05) between males and females only for the HCB, beta-HCH, pp'-DDE and PCBs levels were observed. Levels of op'-DDT were found significantly higher (P less than or equal to 0.05) in rural areas residents and of PCBs in urban areas residents.