The report deals with temporal trends of measured concentrations of representative congeners

of dioxin-like PCBs, dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) (here together called dioxins) in

biological samples from the Swedish marine and freshwater environment together with human

milk and food.

Dioxins are well-known for causing cancer, severe reproductive and developmental problems,

damage the immune system and for interfering with hormonal systems. Dioxin exposure has

further been suggested to induce birth defects, reduced sperm counts, diabetes, learning

disabilities, immune system suppression, lung problems, skin disorders, lowered testosterone

levels and more.

The data originates from national monitoring programs on contaminants financed by the

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and accomplished by the Swedish Food

Agency (SFA), the Swedish Museum of Natural History (SMNH) and Stockholm University

(SU). Temporal trends of the abovementioned chemicals have been studied, also, the trends

have been extrapolated in an attempt to forecast the situation during the coming 20 years.

The present report focus on temporal trends and longer time series (often more than 2

decades). Compilations that covers also shorter time-series, relations between various

biological samples and geographical distribution can be found elsewhere. A thorough study

describing the dioxin situation in the Baltic was carried out by the Swedish EPA 2013

(Wiberg et al., 2013).