Dioxin concentration in the preserved umbilical cord from Yusho patients

Dioxins are known as endocrine disrupters and widespread environmental contaminants. They are bioaccumulated in the human body. In this study, we determined concentrations of dioxins (PCDD, PCDF, Non-ortho PCB and Mono-ortho PCB) in eighteen umbilical cords provided by twelve mothers of Yusho patients and twelve umbilical cords provided by ten mothers of normal controls. The average concentrations of PCDD, PCDF, Non-ortho PCB, Mono-ortho PCB and total dioxins (PCDD/ F + Dioxin-like PCB) in the umbilical cords of Yusho patients and normal controls were 0.55, 4.55, 0.08, 0.08 and 5.26 pg-TEQ/g, respectively, and 0.50, 0.11, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.66 pg-TEQ/g, respectively. Total dioxins and PCDF concentrations in the umbilical cords of Yusho patient were about 8 and 40 times higher than those in the umbilical cords of normal controls, respectively. The average concentration of 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF in the umbilical cords of Yusho patients was 10 pg/g. We couldn't detect 2,3,4,7, 8-PeCDF in the umbilical cords of normal controls. We suspected the 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF concentrations in the mothers' blood were related to the 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF concentrations in umbilical cords.