Disposition of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, p,p'-DDT, and trans-chlordane administered subcutaneously to monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

To evaluate skin lipid analysis for the accumulation level of environmental pollutants, the correlations between organochlorine pesticide residues in adipose tissue, blood, and skin lipids of monkeys were studied. The mixture of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), p,p'-DDT, and trans-chlordane was subcutaneously given to monkeys once weekly for 5 weeks at dose levels of 1 and 10 mg/kg. The chemicals distributed in adipose tissue, blood, and skin lipids were determined six times after the last dosing at intervals of 4 to 9 weeks. Oxychlordane and p,p'-DDE were detected in all tissues together with the administered chemicals. In blood and adipose tissue, trans-chlordane decreased rapidly and oxychlordane and p,p'-DDE increased gradually and then remained at constant levels. beta-HCH and p,p'-DDT in adipose tissue increased until the 12th week and then decreased in all animals. The correlation coefficients between blood and adipose tissue regardless of dose level and collection time for each chemical ranged from 0.83 to 0.94. Correlation coefficients between skin lipids and adipose tissue varied with the chemical, namely, 0.31, 0.72, 0.81, 0.81, and 0.83 for p,p'-DDE, trans-chlordane, p,p'-DDT, beta-HCH, and oxychlordane, respectively. The results indicated that skin lipid analysis may be useful for the evaluation of specific pollutants in the body burden.