The distribution and time trend of organochlorine pesticide (OCP), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/PCDF) concentrations in ...human milk samples from Croatia collected in 1981-2003 are presented. Between 1981/1982 and 1987/1989, the concentrations of HCB, β-HCH, DDE, and total PCBs decreased about 50%, while for the last decade, the concentrations have been decreasing very slowly. In 2002/2003 the range of PCB congeners and OCPs was from below the limit of determination to 332 ng g⁻¹ milk fat. PCDD/PCDF concentrations in human milk samples collected in 1981-2000 ranged between 5.2 and 26.7 pg I-TEQ g⁻¹ milk fat and showed a decreasing trend.
Levels of PCDD/Fs were measured at four different sites in Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Also one sample was taken during spontaneously initiated open fire on a landfill and one sample where garden ...waste of unknown content was burnt. Over period 1997–2000, 28 samples were collected and levels ranged between 9 and 306
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I-TEQ
m
−3, except in the sample collected during landfill fire. Air PCDD/F levels in Zagreb at four sites were different and the highest levels were observed in industrial area. Seasonal variation of levels is also evident with higher levels in winter than in summer. Our results show that PCDD/F levels in ambient air collected in Zagreb are at lower end of the published data range. In general, homologue profiles were quite similar for all locations, the concentration of PCDD homologues increased while the concentration of PCDF homologues decreased with increasing degree of chlorination. PCDD/F levels in the landfill fire sample was 13
200
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I-TEQ
m
−3 which are much higher than levels in garden waste burning sample or in sample collected at industrial site. During landfill fire, the concentration of 2,3,7,8-TCDF becomes even higher than the concentration of OCDF and is equal to the concentration of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDF.
Branches of pine, spruce, fir, larch, thuja, and lime were collected at three locations in Croatia, a landfill site, an industrial zone, and a suburb, and concentrations of PCBs and organochlorine ...pesticides were measured. The resulting concentrations, which are tabulated, showed that the levels of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides varied according to sampling site and year of sampling. No consistent difference was noted between the urban and rural sites, or between the Adriatic area and inland. The concentrations of p,p-DDT were below detectable limits, while the concentrations of all other compounds ranged 0.7 8.0 ng/g.
Human milk and food of animal origin (milk, meat, and fish) have been analysed over several decades for the DDT-complex, PCBs, HCB, and HCH-isomers. Human milk has also been analysed for PCDDs and ...PCDFs. Human milk samples were collected in six inland sites and one island, and food samples in marketplaces and individual households throughout Croatia. All human milk samples contained DDE and PCBs, and almost all food samples contained the DDT-complex. All analysed pools of human milk contained PCDDs and PCDFs. Levels of most analysed compounds show a decreasing trend over the past decade. The obtained data were the basis for the calculation of the daily intake of organochlorine compounds in breast-fed infants and adults.
