Multivariate data evaluation of PCB and dioxin profiles in the general population in Sweden and Spain

Thirty-three polychlorinated biphenyls and 20 dioxin-like congeners were determined by GC-MS in blood and adipose tissue samples from two general population groups, one in Spain (n = 35) and one in Sweden (n = 28). The results were evaluated by multivariate projection (Simca), after normalisation to the most abundant and stable congener in each data set, in order to reveal differences in the "national" congener profiles. The mean values of each population group did not differ significantly. The sum of PCBs in the Spanish was 1450 ng/g and in the Swedish 1310 ng/g. The sum of the dioxin-like compounds in Spain was 1180 pg/g and in Sweden 804 pg/g. The congener profiles differed between the countries. Mainly the higher chlorinated congeners for both the dioxin-like compounds and the PCBs are more dominant in the Spanish group compared to the Swedish.