Table 4. Serum concentrations (μg/kg lipid) of selected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) among participants in the study.
| PCB138 | PCB153 | PCB180 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median (25;75) | pa | pb | Median (25;75) | pa | pb | Median (25;75) | pa | pb | ||
| All participants | 620 (280;935) | 1800 (620;2800) | 1300 (415;2500) | |||||||
| Ethnicity | Non-Inuit | 86 (58;130) | 190 (130;250) | 140 (110;200) | ||||||
| Inuit | 730 (490;1000) | <0.001 | 2100 (1300;3000) | <0.001 | 1700 (940;2700) | <0.001 | ||||
| Age | 50–59 years | 590 (180;880) | 1500 (380;2500) | 1200 (270;2200) | ||||||
| 60–69 years | 720 (410;1100) | <0.001 | 2200 (1100;3200) | <0.001 | 1750 (720;2800) | <0.001 | ||||
| Gender | Men | 610 (195;885) | 1750 (415;2800) | 1400 (310;2600) | ||||||
| Women | 640 (340;1000) | 0.082 | 1800 (795;2800) | ns | 1300 (465;2300) | ns | ||||
| Residence | City | 330 (150;530) | 770 (280;1400) | 480 (200;1000) | ||||||
| Town | 725 (405;990) | 2050 (1250;2850) | 1700 (895;2500) | |||||||
| Settlement | 860 (670;1200) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 2800 (2200;3900) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 2700 (1900;3800) | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
| BMIc | Normal | 665 (390;865) | 2000 (1000;2950) | 1850 (735;2800) | ||||||
| Overweight | 515 (155;870) | 1400 (295;2550) | 955 (210;2000) | |||||||
| Obese | 640 (300;1000) | 0.057 | ns | 1600 (620;2700) | 0.006 | 0.011 | 1100 (370;1700) | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
| Smoking | Never | 450 (120;970) | 910 (270;2500) | 470 (180;1700) | ||||||
| Past | 510 (150;850) | 1300 (310;2500) | 960 (250;2300) | |||||||
| Present | 650 (380;940) | 0.013 | 0.003 | 1900 (910;2800) | 0.001 | <0.001 | 1600 (620;2600) | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
| Alcohold | 0–7 | 630 (290;970) | 1800 (650;2800) | 1300 (420;2500) | ||||||
| 0–14 | 605 (245;895) | 1700 (590;2600) | 1350 (415;2550) | |||||||
| 15+ | 620 (275;890) | ns | ns | 1850 (550;2800) | ns | ns | 1600 (330;2500) | ns | ns | |
| Greenlandic diet | 80%+ | 860 (620;1100) | 2500 (1800;3400) | 2300 (1500;3300) | ||||||
| 60–79% | 640 (430;860) | 1800 (1100;2700) | 1300 (820;2100) | |||||||
| 40–59% | 410 (230;670) | 950 (490;1600) | 660 (360;1300) | |||||||
| 20–39% | 130 (85;180) | 250 (180;390) | 180 (130;290) | |||||||
| <20% | 75 (57;120) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 150 (120;230) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 140 (110;200) | <0.001 | <0.001 | |
| Diet from own catch | Weekly | 820 (590;1100) | 2400 (1800;3400) | 2200 (1300;2900) | ||||||
| Monthly | 605 (265;890) | 1750 (590;2600) | 1300 (370;2300) | |||||||
| Rarely | 325 (110;695) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 735 (215;1800) | <0.001 | <0.001 | 480 (130;1400) | <0.001 | <0.001 |
ns: p>0.10.
a Groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test for comparison of levels between two groups and Kruskal-Wallis test for levels between several groups.
b Kendall's tau coefficient for trend.
c Normal corresponds to a BMI between 18.50 and 24.99 kg/m2; overweight corresponds to a BMI between 25 and 29.99 kg/m2 and obese corresponds to a BMI above 30 kg/m2.
d Units per week, one unit equals 8g alcohol.