Adipose tissue concentrations of dioxins and dibenzofurans in potentially exposed patients with malignant lymphoma or sarcoma

Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between exposure to phenoxyacetic acids, chlorophenols or their contaminating dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and soft-tissue sarcoma and malignant lymphoma. In this study adipose tissue concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs were measured in nine patients with sarcoma or malignant lymphoma who had been exposed to phenoxyacetic acids or chlorophenols, or who had other potential exposure to dioxins and dibenzofurans. For comparison concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in a group of twelve healthy persons without any known exposure to the above chemicals and living in the same geographical area are presented. Even if no consistent pattern of PCDDs and PCDFs concentrations in the patients was demonstrated, the finding of increased concentrations in all three cases with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is of special interest. The exposure profiles in relation to measured concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs are discussed for all patients.