Monitoring of Organohalogens Body Burden of the Czech Population

This study reports the levels of indicator PCB, DDT, and HCBs in the human milk of women living in the Czech Republic. From 1994 to 2003 more than 3400 milk samples were collected, extracted and analyzed. A questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding personal characteristics and life style factors. Data expressed on a fat basis as median values showed significant time-trend decline for sum of indicator PCBs 138 + 153 + 180 from 806 ng/g fat (1994) to 445 ng/g fat (2003), as well as for HCB (from 427 ng/g fat in 1994 to 44 ng/g fat in 2003) and for DDT sum (from 1075 ng/g fat in 1994 to 288 ng/g fat in 2003). These data indicate that the body burden of organochlorines in women in the Czech Republic has decreased since 1994.