CHLORINATED NAPHTHALENES IN HUMAN ADIPOSE-TISSUE FROM ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES

Human adipose tissue samples obtained during autopsies in Canadian municipalities within the Great Lakes basin were analysed for chlorinated naphthalenes using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for identification and quantification. 1,2,3,4,6,7- and 1,2,3,5,6,7-hexachloronaphthalenes were found in all tissue samples together with an unidentified pentachloronaphthalene. The residue levels for the hexa congeners ranged from 0.1 to 2.4 ng/g fat and for the penta congener they ranged from 0.1 to 25 ng/g fat. For male and female donors there was no significant difference in tissue levels of any of the chloronaphthalenes. These results were comparable with previously reported Japanese data.