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Hartmann C, Kaiser AM, Moche W, Weiss S, Raffesberg W, Scharf S, Graf-Rohrmeister K, Thanhaeuser M, Haiden N, Uhl M. Persistent Organic Pollutants in Austrian Human Breast Milk Collected between 2013 and 2016. J Xenobiot 2024; 14:247-266. [PMID: 38390995 PMCID: PMC10885091 DOI: 10.3390/jox14010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast milk holds an immense nutritional value as it contains health-promoting substances in a unique, optimal form. Additionally, breast milk's significance extends to health and environmental protection, as it serves as an indicator of both maternal and infant exposure. In this study, breast milk samples collected in 2013 and in 2014-2016 from mothers in Vienna (Austria) were analysed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as further substances which have been listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) due to their persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties. The total concentration of the PBDE congeners in the samples (n = 18, sampled 2013) ranged from 0.055 to 52 ng/g lipid, and from 0.002 to 2.5 ng/g breast milk. In the pooled sample, the sum of PBDEs was detected at a level of 4.4 ng/g lipid. Based on the 2014-2016 study population, certain PFAS were detected in all samples (n = 40). Exposure to the sum of four specific PFAS including perfluorooctanesulphonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluoro-n-nonanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) ranged between 0.014 and 0.12 ng/L breast milk. In the pooled sample, PFOS and PFOA were found in concentrations of 0.025 ng/g and of 0.045 ng/g, respectively. In addition, the first generation of POPs, mainly organochlorine compounds, was measured in a pooled sample of breast milk from participants sampled in 2014-2016 as part of the WHO/UNEP breast milk monitoring program and compared to the POPs measured in pooled samples collected in 1987/1988 and 1992/1993, respectively. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the Stockholm Convention on POPs by comparing the Austrian results from the WHO/UNEP global breast milk study from 1987 to 2016. However, the data also show that, despite these reductions, health-relevant levels are still being reached, particularly in terms of children's health when the presence of the new generation of POPs, such as PBDEs and PFAS, in human breast milk is taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wolfgang Moche
- Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Laende 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan Weiss
- Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Laende 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Sigrid Scharf
- Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Laende 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Margarita Thanhaeuser
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadja Haiden
- Department of Neonatology, Kepler University Hospital, Krankenhausstraße 26-30, 4020 Linz, Austria
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Laende 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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Dvoršćak M, Jagić K, Jakovljević I, Smoljo I, Klinčić D. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Human Milk of Croatian First-Time Mothers: 2010 Versus 2020. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 86:101-111. [PMID: 38244036 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-023-01048-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The presence of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, -154, and -183) was investigated in human milk samples collected from first-time mothers living in Zagreb, capital of Croatia. Samples from 2020 and 2010 were analyzed, and the first temporal comparison between the profiles and levels of these compounds in this area was obtained. A statistically significant difference between mass fractions depending on the sampling year was observed only for BDE-99, with values in 2020 higher than in 2010. BDE-153, whose median value (0.25 and 0.26 ng g-1 lipid weight (l.w.) in 2010 and 2020, respectively) did not decrease in the 10-year period, was the most frequently detected congener in samples from both years. ΣPBDEs ranged from < LOD to 3.53 ng g-1 l.w. (median 0.25 ng g-1 l.w.), and from 0.14 to 6.75 ng g-1 l.w. (median 0.55 ng g-1 l.w.) in 2010 and 2020, respectively. Maternal age and reported fish consumption had no effect on observed PBDE mass fractions, while for BDE-153, positive significant correlation (p > 0.05) was observed of its detected mass fraction with mother's body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and after childbirth. Infants median estimated daily intake (EDI) via milk ingestion for ΣPBDE was higher in 2020 (3.221 ng kg-1 bw day-1) compared to 2010 (1.429 ng kg-1 bw day-1), but both values were well below threshold value, indicating that human milk consumption in this specific case is unlikely to raise health risks to infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Dvoršćak
- Division of Environmental Hygiene, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Karla Jagić
- Division of Environmental Hygiene, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Jakovljević
- Division of Environmental Hygiene, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Iva Smoljo
- Division of Environmental Hygiene, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Darija Klinčić
- Division of Environmental Hygiene, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia.
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Schrenk D, Bignami M, Bodin L, Chipman JK, del Mazo J, Grasl‐Kraupp B, Hogstrand C, (Ron) Hoogenboom L, Leblanc J, Nebbia CS, Nielsen E, Ntzani E, Petersen A, Sand S, Schwerdtle T, Wallace H, Benford D, Fürst P, Hart A, Rose M, Schroeder H, Vrijheid M, Ioannidou S, Nikolič M, Bordajandi LR, Vleminckx C. Update of the risk assessment of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food. EFSA J 2024; 22:e8497. [PMID: 38269035 PMCID: PMC10807361 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA to update its 2011 risk assessment on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in food, focusing on 10 congeners: BDE-28, -47, -49, -99, -100, -138, -153, -154, -183 and ‑209. The CONTAM Panel concluded that the neurodevelopmental effects on behaviour and reproductive/developmental effects are the critical effects in rodent studies. For four congeners (BDE-47, -99, -153, -209) the Panel derived Reference Points, i.e. benchmark doses and corresponding lower 95% confidence limits (BMDLs), for endpoint-specific benchmark responses. Since repeated exposure to PBDEs results in accumulation of these chemicals in the body, the Panel estimated the body burden at the BMDL in rodents, and the chronic intake that would lead to the same body burden in humans. For the remaining six congeners no studies were available to identify Reference Points. The Panel concluded that there is scientific basis for inclusion of all 10 congeners in a common assessment group and performed a combined risk assessment. The Panel concluded that the combined margin of exposure (MOET) approach was the most appropriate risk metric and applied a tiered approach to the risk characterisation. Over 84,000 analytical results for the 10 congeners in food were used to estimate the exposure across dietary surveys and age groups of the European population. The most important contributors to the chronic dietary Lower Bound exposure to PBDEs were meat and meat products and fish and seafood. Taking into account the uncertainties affecting the assessment, the Panel concluded that it is likely that current dietary exposure to PBDEs in the European population raises a health concern.
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Rothenberg SE, Beechler BR, Burco JD, Rae S, Steingass SM, Barton D, Johns JL, Russell DS, Deignan K, Blackledge MM, Nation A. Associations between urogenital carcinoma and DECA-BDE (BDE-209) among wild California Sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and Steller Sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 900:166412. [PMID: 37611708 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Urogenital carcinoma (UGC) is prevalent among California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), while less is known concerning UGC among Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Our objective was to investigate associations between UGC and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) among both sea lion species. Twenty-nine California sea lions and 20 Steller sea lions were lethally removed from the Columbia River Basin, Oregon, USA between 2020 and 2021, under Section 120 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. UGC was diagnosed through gross necropsy and histopathology. Forty PBDE congeners were analyzed in blubber, including BDE-209, a potential carcinogen. Twenty (69 %) California sea lions and one (5 %) Steller sea lion were diagnosed with UGC. All cases were identified as early stage UGC, aside from one California sea lion with more advanced stage UGC. Among California sea lions, associations between PBDEs and UGC were analyzed using logistic regression. In the adjusted model, BDE-209 (log2-transformed) was associated with increased odds of UGC [Odds Ratio (OR): 4.68, 95 % confidence interval: 1.04, 21.0, OR p-value = 0.044). This is the first study to report BDE-209 concentrations in sea lion blubber. The percentages of California and Steller sea lions diagnosed with UGC were higher than expected for wild (non-stranded) sea lions. Our results suggested blubber BDE-209 was potentially associated with UGC in California sea lions in the Columbia River Basin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Rothenberg
- Oregon State University, College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Brianna R Beechler
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Julia D Burco
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Corvallis, OR 97330, United States.
| | - Samantha Rae
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Sheanna M Steingass
- Oregon State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Dianne Barton
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Portland, OR 97232, United States.
| | - Jennifer L Johns
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Duncan S Russell
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Kristen Deignan
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Megan M Blackledge
- Oregon State University, College of Science, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
| | - Autumn Nation
- Oregon State University, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Corvallis, OR 97331, United States.
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Herceg Romanić S, Milićević T, Jovanović G, Matek Sarić M, Mendaš G, Fingler S, Jakšić G, Popović A, Relić D. Persistent organic pollutants in Croatian breast milk: An overview of pollutant levels and infant health risk assessment from 1976 to the present. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 179:113990. [PMID: 37597765 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
This review article summarizes our research of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in human milk from Croatian mothers over the last few decades. Our studies make up the bulk of all POPs research in human milk in Croatia and show a state-of-the art in the research area. The first investigations were made in 1970's. Aim of our review article is to document the comprehensive results over several decades as the best tool to: 1.) contribute to understanding of POPs and their potential health risks, 2.) evaluate effectiveness of legislative bans and restrictions on human exposure to POPs in Croatia, and 3.) to suggest further actions. In our review we discuss: 1.) Human milk between 2011 and 2014 - evaluation of interrelations of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in human milk and their association with the mother's age and parity using artificial intelligence methods; and our yet unpublished research data on health risks for infants assessed through daily PCB and OCP intake. 2.) Time trends of PCB and OCP in human milk between 1976 and 2014. 3.) polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) in human milk in 2000., and yet unpublished data on PCDD/F and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) in 2014.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snježana Herceg Romanić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tijana Milićević
- Environmental Physics Laboratory, Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gordana Jovanović
- Environmental Physics Laboratory, Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Pregrevica 118, 11080, Belgrade, Serbia; Singidunum University, Danijelova 32, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marijana Matek Sarić
- Department of Health Studies, University of Zadar, Splitska 1, 23000, Zadar, Croatia
| | - Gordana Mendaš
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Sanja Fingler
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska Cesta 2, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Jakšić
- Aquatika-Freshwater Aquarium Karlovac, Ulica Branka Čavlovića Čavleka 1/A, 47000, Karlovac, Croatia
| | - Aleksandar Popović
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski Trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dubravka Relić
- University of Belgrade - Faculty of Chemistry, Studentski Trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
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6
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Pineda S, Lignell S, Gyllenhammar I, Lampa E, Benskin JP, Lundh T, Lindh C, Kiviranta H, Glynn A. Exposure of Swedish adolescents to elements, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and rapidly excreted substances - The Riksmaten adolescents 2016-17 national survey. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 251:114196. [PMID: 37279611 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a period of significant physiological changes, and likely a sensitive window to chemical exposure. Few nation-wide population-based studies of chemical body burdens in adolescents have been published. In the national dietary survey Riksmaten Adolescents (RMA) 2016-17, over 13 chemical substance groups, including elements, chlorinated/brominated/fluorinated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were analysed in blood, and in urine metabolites of phthalates/phthalate alternatives, phosphorous flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and pesticides, along with bisphenols and biocide/preservative/antioxidant/UV filter substances (N = 1082, ages 11-21). The aim was to characterize the body burdens in a representative population of adolescents in Sweden, and to compare results with human biomonitoring guidance values (HBM-GVs). Cluster analyses and Spearman's rank order correlations suggested that concentrations of substances with known common exposure sources and similar toxicokinetics formed obvious clusters and showed moderate to very strong correlations (r ≥ 0.4). No clusters were formed between substances from different matrices. Geometric mean (GM) concentrations of the substances were generally less than 3-fold different from those observed among adolescents in NHANES (USA 2015-16) and GerES V (Germany 2014-17). Notable exceptions were brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) with >20-fold lower GM concentrations, and the biocide triclosan and ultraviolet (UV) filter benzophenone-3 with >15-fold lower mean concentrations in RMA compared to NHANES. Exceedance of the most conservative HBM-GVs were observed for aluminium (Al, 26% of subjects), perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS, 19%), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, 12%), lead (Pb, 12%), MBP (dibutyl phthalate metabolite, 4.8%), hexachlorobenzene (HCB, 3.1%) and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (PBA, pyrethroid metabolite, 2.2%). Males showed a higher proportion of exceedances than females for Pb, HCB and PFOS; otherwise no gender-related differences in exceedances were observed. A higher proportion of males than females had a Hazard Index (HI) of substances with liver and kidney toxicity and neurotoxicity >1. Industrialized countries with similarly high standards of living, with some exceptions, show comparable average body burdens of a variety of toxic chemicals among adolescents from the general population. The exceedances of HBM-GVs and HIs strongly suggests that further efforts to limit chemical exposure are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Pineda
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Sanna Lignell
- Department of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish National Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Irina Gyllenhammar
- Department of Risk and Benefit Assessment, Swedish National Food Agency, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Erik Lampa
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jonathan P Benskin
- Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Lundh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christian Lindh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Hannu Kiviranta
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anders Glynn
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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Zhang L, Pei Z, Lyu B, Li J, Zhao Y, Wu Y. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in human milk from national human breast milk monitoring in 2016-2019 in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162243. [PMID: 36796698 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Human breast milk monitoring programs were recommended to be carried out to assess human body burden to persistent organic pollutants and their temporal trends. Thus, we conducted a national survey during the period of 2016-2019 to determine PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in human breast milk from China. The total TEQ amounts in the upper bound (UB) was in the range of 1.97 to 15.1 pg TEQ g-1 fat with a geometric mean (GM) of 4.50 pg TEQ g-1 fat. 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, and PCB-126 were more predominant contributors with the percentage contribution of 34.2 %, 17.9 %, and 17.4 %, respectively. By comparison with our previous monitoring results, the total TEQ in breast milk sample of the present study is statistically lower than that in 2011 with a reduction of 16.9 % in the average (p < 0.05), and comparable to that in 2007. The estimated GM of dietary intake of total TEQ for the breastfed was 25.4 pg TEQ kg-1 body weight day-1 that was higher than that of the adult. It is therefore worthy to make more efforts to reduce amounts of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in breast milk and to continue monitoring to further observe if the amount of these chemicals continue to decrease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014), NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing 100022, China
| | - Ziwei Pei
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014), NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing 100022, China
| | - Bing Lyu
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014), NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing 100022, China
| | - Jingguang Li
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014), NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing 100022, China.
| | - Yunfeng Zhao
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014), NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing 100022, China
| | - Yongning Wu
- Research Unit of Food Safety, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU014), NHC Key Lab of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA), Beijing 100022, China
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Georgieva SK, Trifonova T, Peteva Z. Investigation of polychlorinated biphenyls in breast milk from two regions in Bulgaria. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 251:114184. [PMID: 37159972 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Human breast milk is an optimally balanced infant food and a suitable tool for assessing the burden of humans with lipophilic persistent organic pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation profile of polychlorinated biphenyls in breast milk of women living in Bulgaria and to assess the health risk to infants. Breast milk samples were obtained from 72 healthy primiparae and multiparae mothers, living in two regions in northeastern Bulgaria - Varna region and Dobrich region, in the period October 2019-July 2021. Important information for the study, such as age, body mass, smoking and dietary habits, was collected through a questionnaire. Fifteen congeners of PCBs, including six indicator congeners, were determined by capillary gas chromatography system with mass spectrometry detection. The lipid content of the tested samples was in the range from 0.5% to 6.7%, with average value 3.25%. The six indicator PCBs in human milk samples formed up to 89% of the total PCBs levels. The most abundant congener was PCB 153, followed by PCB 138 and PCB 180. Five of the 15 PCB congeners (77, 126, 128, 156, 169) were not detected in any of the milk samples. The arithmetic mean PCB levels in milk samples from Varna (32.7 ng/g lw) were found higher than PCB levels in breast milk of mothers from Dobrich (22.5 ng/g lw). The highest PCB levels were found in milk samples from primiparae mothers in 36-40 age group (for both regions). Infant exposure to PCBs present in human milk was estimated using toxic equivalents (TEQ). The health risk to infants was assessed and was compared to the tolerable daily intake (TDI). Positive correlation was found between the arithmetic mean PCBs levels and two important factors - the age and body mass index of the primiparae group. The mean values of the analyzed PCB congeners in breast milk samples from multiparae were lower than in those from primiparae mothers. The regional differences in PCB concentrations were small, suggesting similar exposures in the studied regions. The levels of PCBs in breast milk were found lower than levels from studies in other European countries. Statistical data does not show any association between PCB levels in milk and dietary habits. The results showed that infants are not at risk of any adverse effects caused by PCBs through breast milk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Temenuga Trifonova
- Department of Chemistry, Medical University - Varna, 55 Marin Drinov str, 9002, Varna, Bulgaria.
| | - Zlatina Peteva
- Department of Chemistry, Medical University - Varna, 55 Marin Drinov str, 9002, Varna, Bulgaria
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9
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Sanguos CL, Suárez OL, Martínez-Carballo E, Couce ML. Postnatal exposure to organic pollutants in maternal milk in north-western Spain. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 318:120903. [PMID: 36549446 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Evaluation of postnatal exposure to organic pollutants is especially important for suckling infants during breastfeeding, a crucial perinatal growth period when organs and hormonal systems develop. We determined levels of 60 pollutants, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in 81 breast milk samples from breastfeeding mothers from Santiago de Compostela (north-western Spain). For most detected organic pollutants, levels were correlated with the season of milk sampling, maternal age at delivery, and place of residence. Dietary consumption habits (eggs, molluscs, and vegetable oils) were also correlated with OCP, OPP, PCB, PBDE and PYR levels. We also assessed the risk to infant health of exposure to organic pollutants in breast milk. PAHs, OCPs, OPPs, and PYRs accounted for almost 95% of the targeted organic pollutants in the samples analysed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina López Sanguos
- Department of Neonatology, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; IDIS-Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Olalla López Suárez
- Department of Neonatology, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; IDIS-Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Elena Martínez-Carballo
- Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Food and Health Omics, Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Campus da Auga, University of Vigo, Ourense, 32004, Spain.
| | - María Luz Couce
- Department of Neonatology, University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; IDIS-Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, 15704, Spain; Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin (RICORS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Xu P, Zheng Y, Wang X, Shen H, Wu L, Chen Y, Xu D, Xiang J, Cheng P, Chen Z, Lou X. Breastfed infants' exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: A cross-sectional study of a municipal waste incinerator in China. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 309:136639. [PMID: 36183877 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A municipal waste incinerator (MWI) in Zhejiang, China, operating since 2008 was completely reconstructed from 2016 to 2019. In 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional study of breastfeeding mothers living near the MWI. We evaluated the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the mothers' breast milk and their infants' estimated daily intake (EDI). To investigate the temporal variations of these pollutants, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 29 mothers in 2019. We assessed the levels of 18 PCB congeners, 17 PCDD/F congeners, and 21 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) congeners in breast milk and estimated the EDI. The mean total concentrations of PCDD/Fs (ΣPCDD/Fs) and PCBs (ΣPCBs) were 81.2 and 4.90 ng/g lipid, respectively, while the toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) levels of ΣPCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs (ΣDL-PCBs) were 2.7 and 1.4 pg WHO-TEQ/g lipid, respectively. Compared to our 2013 measurements, the mass concentrations of ΣPCDD/Fs and ΣPCBs decreased by 13% and 35%, respectively (3.361 vs. 2.915 pg/g wet weight [ww] and 269.1 vs. 175.0 pg/g ww, respectively). The TEQ-ΣPCDD/F levels decreased by 67% (0.241 vs. 0.080 pg/g ww), but the TEQ-ΣDL-PCB levels increased by 11% (0.046 vs. 0.051 pg WHO-TEQ/g ww). The median concentration of PFASs was 0.250 ng/mL, ranging from 0.151 to 0.833 ng/mL. The infants' mean EDI of total PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs was 17.7 pg TEQ/kg body weight [bw], representing a 20% decline compared to 2013. The average EDI levels of PFOS, PFOA, and PFNA were 5.8, 17.9, and 1.7 ng/kg bw, respectively. A comprehensive comparison of the results with studies from around the world showed that the potential health risks posed by legacy PCDD/F and PCB pollutants were not as grave for mothers and infants living near this MWI, but the emerging PFAS pollutants represented a new cause for concern. MAIN FINDINGS: The potential health risks posed by legacy PCDD/F and PCB pollutants were not particularly serious for mothers and infants living near the MWI, but the emerging PFAS pollutants raised new concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiwei Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Yibin Zheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Haitao Shen
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Lizhi Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Dandan Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Jie Xiang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Ping Cheng
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Zhijian Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China.
| | - Xiaoming Lou
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 3399 Bin Sheng Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou, 310051, China.
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Rovira J, Martínez MÁ, Mari M, Cunha SC, Fernandes JO, Marmelo I, Marques A, Haug LS, Thomsen C, Nadal M, Domingo JL, Schuhmacher M. Mixture of environmental pollutants in breast milk from a Spanish cohort of nursing mothers. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 166:107375. [PMID: 35777115 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival, with several benefits for both the infants and their mothers. However, breast milk can contain environmental pollutants with endocrine disruption capacity, neurotoxicity and/or potential to alter microbiota. Monitoring breast milk provides information on the current chemical exposure of breastfed infants and, in addition, on the current and historical exposure of nursing mothers. In this study, the levels of a wide range of pollutants were measured in breast milk of Spanish nursing mothers. Target chemicals were dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), oxy-chlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) (including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)), chlorpyrifos, bisphenol A (BPA), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and a number of toxic and essential elements. Traces of most chemicals were found. A correlation between the levels of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and maternal characteristics (age and body mass index) was observed, while smoking was associated to higher concentrations of some toxic elements. Higher levels of PCBs were detected in samples from Spanish primiparous mothers compared to non-Spanish multiparous women. Breast milk from low-income mothers showed higher content of DDT and DDE than high-income mothers. Although breastfeeding is clearly beneficial for babies, the exposure to this mixture of hazardous substances, as well as their interaction and combined effects must not be disregarded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Rovira
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain; Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Martínez
- Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Reus, Spain; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament de Bioquímica i Biotecnologia, Unitat de Nutrició, Reus, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Montse Mari
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sara Cristina Cunha
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Jose Oliveira Fernandes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Bromatology and Hydrology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Isa Marmelo
- Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Av. Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-165 Lisboa, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - António Marques
- Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, I.P.), Av. Doutor Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-165 Lisboa, Portugal; Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Line Småstuen Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cathrine Thomsen
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martí Nadal
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - José L Domingo
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marta Schuhmacher
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain
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Fromme H, Fuchs V, Albrecht M, Aschenbrenner B, Röhl C, Janitzki N, Herber-Jonat S, Wöckner M, Völkel W, Flemmer AW, Schober W. Polychlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/F), polybrominated dioxins and dibenzofurans (PBDD/F), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in German breast milk samples (LUPE 8). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 825:154066. [PMID: 35217048 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Most organic pollutants (POP) are persistent in the environment, accumulate in fatty tissues, and so a transfer through the food chain is probably, thereby causing various health effects. We quantified PCDD/F, PBDD/F, PCB, PBDE, perfluorinated substances, and ADONA in breast milk samples collected in two German federal states and breast milk and blood samples from subjects additionally exposed to PFOA. The median (95th percentile) concentrations were 2.43 (6.58) pgWHO2005TEQ/g l.w. for PCDD/F, 2.45 (4.82) pgWHO2005TEQ/g l.w. for dioxin-like PCB (dl-PCB), and 0.62 (2.69) pgWHO2005TEQ/g l.w. for PBDD/F. The relative contributions of the median values of PCDD/F, dl-PCB, and PBDD/F to the total-TEQ were approximately 41%, 42%, and 11%, respectively. Nondioxin-like PCB (ndl-PCB) concentrations were clearly dominated by the higher chlorinated PCB congeners, with medians of 23.2 ng/g l.w. for PCB 153, 13.9 ng/g l.w. for PCB 138, and 13.0 ng/g l.w. for PCB 180. The sum of the 3 congeners (PCB 138, 153, and 180) were multiplied with 1.64 (total PCB) and showed a median of 82.16 ng/g l.w. and a 95th percentile of 173.3 ng/g l.w. Only PFOA and PFOS could be quantified in 29% and 17% of in total 180 samples with 95th percentiles of 53 ng/l and 33 ng/l, respectively. Milk samples (n = 13) from subjects living on PFOA contaminated sites showed higher levels between 33 and 854 ng/l PFOA (mean: 199 ng/l), whilst PFOS could be quantified only in three samples. The sum of 17 PBDE congeners showed medians (95th percentile) of 1737 pg/g l.w. (22,806 pg/g l.w.), with the highest medians of 422 pg/g l.w. for BDE 209 and 378 pg/g l.w. for BDE 153. Overall, our study confirms the declining contamination level in breast milk during the last decade, but points out the need to further reduce the environmental contamination with persistent substances and subsequently the exposure in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Fromme
- Institute and Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Ziemssenstrasse 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany.
| | - Veronika Fuchs
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Albrecht
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Dioxins, Irradiation, Nitrosamines, Radioactivity, Veterinaerstrasse 2, D-85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Bettina Aschenbrenner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Röhl
- Schleswig-Holstein State Agency for Social Services, Department of Environmental Health Protection, Gartenstrasse 24, D-24534 Neumünster, Germany
| | - Nora Janitzki
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Herber-Jonat
- Division of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Dr. V. Hauner and Perinatal Center, LMU Hospital, Marchioninistrasse 15, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Mandy Wöckner
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Völkel
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas W Flemmer
- Division of Neonatology, University Children's Hospital, Dr. V. Hauner and Perinatal Center, LMU Hospital, Marchioninistrasse 15, Munich D-81377, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schober
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Department of Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Pfarrstrasse 3, D-80538 Munich, Germany
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