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Decreases in Concentrations and Human Dietary Intakes of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Korean Seafood Between 2005 and 2017

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Abstract

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were measured in 23 seafood species widely consumed by the Korean population in the periods of 2005–2007, 2010–2011, and 2015–2017. The Σ82PCB (sum of 82 PCB congeners) and Σ19PBDE (sum of 19 PBDE congeners) concentrations in the seafood samples of 2015–2017 were 0.06–6.69 ng/g wet weight and 0.01–1.60 ng/g wet weight, respectively. The Σ82PCB and Σ19PBDE concentrations in the samples were significantly correlated. Elevated PCB and PBDE concentrations were found in fatty fish, such as herring, mackerel, and tuna. The current human intakes of PCBs and PBDEs were much lower than the tolerable daily intake or lowest observed adverse effect level. The levels and human dietary intakes of PCBs and PBDEs in the 2015–2017 survey showed decreases of 17–73% and 57–86%, respectively, compared with those in 2005–2007 and 2010–2011 surveys. This indicates that global bans on PCBs and PBDEs have been effective, and their levels and human exposure to them have been gradually declining.

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Data Availability

Data are available from the corresponding author (islee@korea.kr).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Fisheries Science (R2021034). The authors thank our colleagues, Sera Yoon, Mi-Kyoung Lee, Ye-Ji Kim, and Sihyeon Pak for assistance with sampling and sample preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. South Sea Fisheries Institute, National Institute of Fisheries Science (NIFS), Yeo-Su, Republic of Korea

    Minkyu Choi

  2. Southeast Sea Fisheries Institute, NIFS, Tong-Yeong, Republic of Korea

    In-Seok Lee

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  1. Minkyu Choi
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  2. In-Seok Lee
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Choi and Lee performed all procedures (experiment and writing) to complete the manuscript.

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Correspondence to In-Seok Lee.

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Choi, M., Lee, IS. Decreases in Concentrations and Human Dietary Intakes of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Korean Seafood Between 2005 and 2017. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 81, 199–209 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00860-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-021-00860-0

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