Polychlorinated biphenyls contamination in women with breast cancer.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are widespread highly resistant pollutants in the environment with potential adverse health effects on humans. The aim of the study was to compare PCBs contamination in women suffering from breast cancer with presumably healthy women.

Methods: A gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry method was used to identify and quantify seven PCBs congeners (IUPAC 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153,180) in blood from 60 cases of breast cancer and 60 age-matched healthy controls.

Environmental dichlorodiphenyltrichlorethane or hexachlorobenzene exposure and breast cancer: is there a risk?

The carcinogenic potential of environmental xenoestrogens (i.e., organochlorines) is a matter of controversy.

Polymorphisms in the CYP 2D6 gene: association with plasma concentrations of fluoxetine and paroxetine.

Most antidepressants are metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6, and it is well known that there may be significant interindividual variation in the capacity to metabolize xenobiotics. About 7 to 10% of whites are poor metabolisers (PM), and, on the contrary, about 5% are ultrarapid metabolizers (UM), inducing very different rates in the transformation of antidepressants extensively metabolized by CYP 2D6. CYP 2D6 polymorphism can be a potential risk factor for the development of side effects or a reason for the poor efficacy of the treatment.

Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl residues in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A method for the determination of seven polychlorinated biphenyl residues in plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed. The analytes were isolated from human plasma by liquid-liquid extraction, followed by solid-phase extraction, and separation on an HP5 Trace column. Ionization mode was electronic impact, and selected ion storage was used for isolation and quantitation of the compounds.

Determination of organochlorine pesticide residues in the blood of healthy individuals.

Pesticide use is one of several factors that have permitted maintenance of our supply of food in spite of continuing increase of the population. However, the use of biologically active compounds poses potential problems of toxicity. If the compound is used at any stage of food production, residues or derivatives may persist in food and the entire population may be exposed to the trace amounts of the material.