Breast milk, PBDEs

No matter the source, flame retardants, especially the poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE s), are coming under scrutiny because they are persistent organic pollutants (POPs). They are appearing in human samples, most notably serum, adipose fat tissue and breast milk. PBDE s are also under investigation as potential endocrine mimickers or endocrine disrupters. As a result, PBDE s are the most highly regulated flame retardants. Their environmental fate will continue to be a topic of research for years to come. 

Women from Ghana and South Africa have breast milk PBDE concentrations similar to those found in women from Europe and Japan (Damerud et al. 2011 Asante et al. 2011). In Australia, adult serum (9-20 ng/g Iw) and milk concentrations (11 ng/g Iw) are higher than those reported in Europe but lower than those reported in U.S. women (Toms et al. 2007, 2009). 

Public concern about PBDE levels in the environment was heightened when it was shown that a sharp increase in the concentration of certain PBDEs had occurred in human breast milk over only a 10-year period (Meironyte et al. 1999 Noren and Meironyte 2000), and the levels of exposure in some infants and toddlers were similar to those shown to cause developmental neurotoxicity in animal experiments (Costa and Giordano 2007). As a result of these concerns, the majority of commercial PBDE mixtures have been banned from manufacture, sale, and use within the European Union. 

Hooper, K. and McDonald, T.A. (2000). The PBDEs An emerging environmental challenge and another reason for breast milk monitoring programs. Environmental Health Perspectives 108, 387-392. 

Concentrations (in ng/g Lipid Weight) of Several PBDEs in Human Breast Milk Samples... 

Children are exposed to PBBs and PBDEs in the same manner as the general population, primarily via coiisiiinptioii of contaminated foods. Exposure also may occur by transfer of PBBs and PBDEs that have accumulated in women s bodies to the fetus across the placenta. Because PBBs and PBDEs are lipophilic substances, they can additionally accumulate in breast milk and be transferred to nursing infants. Placental transfer, although it may be limited in absolute amounts, is a concern because of possible effects of PBBs and PBDEs on sensitive immature tissues, organs, and systems, with potentially serious long-lasting consequences. Transfer of PBBs and PBDEs via breast milk could be relatively considerable and, like prenatal exposure, has the potential to contribute to altered development. 

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers. PBDEs also accumulate in adipose tissue, serum, and breast milk of the general population due to their lipophilic characteristics. Concentrations of PBDEs in breast milk are useful, non-invasive markers of maternal body burdens and of in utero and lactational exposures, but body burden assessments are limited by a lack of time-trend data for PBDEs in tlie milk of U.S. populations (Hooper and McDonald 2000). Breast milk monitoring programs are needed to provide time-trend data and to verify findings that PBDE levels have been exponentially increasing in breast milk during the past 25 years (Noren and Meironyte 1998, 2000). Studies on the predictive value of levels of PBDEs in scrum and adipose tissue could provide useful infonnation for detection and monitoring of exposure. 

The quantitative determination of the concentrations of PBDEs in body tissues and fluids is important in determining the human bocfy burden of these chemicals. Increasing levels of PBDEs have been measured in blood and breast milk in temporal trend studies. Individuals A ho consumed fish had a somewhat higher concentration of total PBDEs in body fluids compared to individuals who ate less fish. 

Tables 6-9, 6-10, and 6-11 summarize the concentrations of PBDEs found in blood (serum), adipose tissue, breast milk, and other body tissues or fluids, respectively. No data were located on the levels of PBDEs in body tissues and fluids from individuals living in the United States. However, levels of PBDEs in body tissues and fluids from individuals living in the United States are expected to be similar to individuals from other regions of the world.

Methods for the detemination of organobromine compounds such as PBBs and PBDEs generally consist of the following steps extraction of the analyte from the sample matrix clean-up to remove interfering compounds and analysis (separation and quantitation). The primary method of analysis is GC coupled with ECD or MS. Analytical methods have been developed for the determination of PBBs and PBDEs in blood or serum, urine, feces, adipose tissue, liver, and breast milk. The methods for determining PBB and PBDE residues in biological samples are given in Tables 7-1 and 7-2, respectively. 

Damemd PO, Atuma S, Aune M, et al. 1998. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk from primiparous women in Uppsala county, Sweden. Organohalogen Compounds 35 411-414. 

LaKind JS, Berlin CM. 2000. PBDEs in breast milk where do we go from here Organohalogen Compounds 47 241-244. 

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is determining blood mercury concentrations and related freshwater fish consumption, studying speciated arsenic in urine, and analyzing phthalates in urine and PBDEs in serum and breast milk (APHL 2004, 2006). In 2004, New Hampshire received about 300,000 to support its biomonitoring program (APHL 2004). 

In addition to the studies described above, EWG has conducted biomonitoring tests for specific chemicals in breast milk, such as PBDEs (EWG 2003b). 

PBDE PBDEs in blood and breast milk Biomonitoring studies demonstrate key data gaps need to obtain new toxicity and exposure information Chapter 5... 

PBDE PBDE congeners in blood and breast milk Emerging exposure and toxicity database Biomarker results useful for demonstrating need for research and establishing reference range... 

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