The presence of chlorophenols and their conjugates in Finnish human adipose and liver tissues

The concentrations of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, pentachlorophenol and their conjugates were analysed in tissues of 58 people from the southern and northern parts of Finland, none of whom were known to be occupationally exposed. The tissue samples consisted of 44 adipose and 13 liver samples. The ages of the donors varied from 3 months to 91 years. Only very small residues of chlorophenols were found: the median concentration of tetra- or pentachlorophenol in adipose tissue samples was 0.002 micrograms g-1 fat, ranging from a trace amount to 0.031 micrograms g-1, while none of the samples contained measurable amounts of trichlorophenol. In liver samples, the median concentration of pentachlorophenol was 0.004 micrograms g-1. Only two liver samples were positive for tetrachlorophenol and none for trichlorophenol. The age, smoking habit or fish intake of the donor did not have any relation to the chlorophenol concentration found in the tissue sample.