title: [The significance of PCDD's/PCDF's (dioxins) in pediatrics].
abstract: No epidemiological data are available up to now which reveal adverse effects induced by dioxins during an exposure through breast milk. Furthermore, very few data on the concentration of PCDDs/PCDFs in the newborn and during the first year of life have been published. Of all PCDDs/PCDFs, the substance with the highest toxicity is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. However, in the environment this congener is often only a minor component. A sensitive biological effect triggered by TCDD is the enzyme induction of hepatic monooxygenases. Using a 14CO2-breath-test the apparent enzyme induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) of the metabolic conversion of [3-methyl14C]-caffeine was studied during the perinatal period in Wistar rats and in a non-human-primate (marmoset, Callithrix jacchus). It could be shown that the apparent induction of monooxygenase activity by TCDD in rat offspring as measured with the breath-test, is dose-dependent and mainly achieved by postnatal exposure via mothers' milk. Our data indicate that caffeine is a convenient substrate for studying monooxygenase activities (probably P450 IA-dependent) to be induced by TCDD, and very likely also by other congeners. These results, therefore, may provide the rationale for applying a [13C]-caffeine breath-test in human newborn and infants to analyse possible biological effects induced by TCDD and similar pollutants in breast-fed children. Since PCDDs/PCDFs are pollutants without any benefit, strong efforts should be continued to further reduce the output of dioxins, the human exposure, and thereby also concentrations in human milk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Kinderklinik, Freien Universität, Berlin.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helge
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neubert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001942:Breast Feeding; D001944:Breath Tests; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004147:Dioxins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011108:Polymers / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D004147:Dioxins; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011108:Polymers; C016068:polychlorodibenzofuran
vernacular_title: Bedeutung von PCDDs/PCDFs ("Dioxinen") in der Pädiatrie.