Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Adipose Tissue of the General Population of the Nation

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been reported in many different parts of the environment in this country (1-3). The purpose of this report is to present preliminary results from a monitoring program in which these materials are routinely sought and quantitated. The Human Monitoring Survey, established in 1967 by the Pesticides Program, DHEW (now Division of Pesticide Community Studies, EPA), determines, on a continuing basis, the exposure to pesticides experienced by the general population by measuring levels of pesticide residues present in tissues or excreted in urine. Initially, technological limitations and resource restrictions limited the Survey to the identification and measurement of those chlorinated hydrocarbon residues which are stored in measurable amounts in mammalian adipose tissue, or which can be measured in blood, these residues being a reflection of past exposure. The initial program plan has been and continues to be reviewed frequently with reference to technological and/or research developments to identify other groups of pesticides and other materials of interest, which can be incorporated with slight modification of the existing program. Samples are collected through the direct cooperation of pathologists, who are in hospital or private practice or who are in public service as city or county medical examiners. Samples are