Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlonnated biphenyls, and polychlorobiphenylols in serum from pregnant Faroese women and their children 7 years later.
The objective of this study was to assess blood concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and their polychlorobiphenylol (OH-PCB) metabolites in humans with a high seafood intake. Samples were obtained from pregnant women in the Faroe Islands in 1994-1995 and from their children at 7 years of age to examine maternal transfer of the compounds to their child, age-dependent metabolism, and temporal changes. Maternal serum was dominated by 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), while 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-153) prevailed in the children's serum seven years later. DecaBDE was present in both mothers and children up to 3 and 6 ng/g lipid weight, respectively. The sigmaPCB concentration in the children averaged about 60% of the concentrations in their mothers, with median levels for both above 1 microg/g lipid weight and .with similar PCB congener patterns. sigmaOH-PCB serum concentrations from the mothers and their children showed ranges of 1.8-36 ng/g wet weight (ww) and 0.49-22 ng/g ww, respectively, with all OH-PCB congener concentrations being lower in the children, except for 2,3,3',4',5-pentachloro-4-biphenylol (4-OH-CB107). Children at 7 years of age are exposed to PCBs at levels only slightly below those of their mothers, and the increased 4-OH-CB107 concentrations in children could be due to age-related differences in PCB metabolism. The PBDE concentrations were similar in both mothers and their children. The main persistent organic pollutant concentrations in the children are most probably due to other environmental exposure than maternal transfer.
Department of Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden. britta.fangstrom@mk.su.se
Britta
B
Fängström
Lotta
L
Hovander
Anders
A
Bignert
Ioannis
I
Athanassiadis
Linda
L
Linderholm
Philippe
P
Grandjean
Pál
P
Weihe
Ake
A
Bergman
D002648:Child; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010416:Pentachlorophenol / Q000097:blood*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D017747:Seafood
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D008055:Lipids; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; D010416:Pentachlorophenol; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls