title: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in breast milk from the Pacific Northwest.
abstract: Breast milk samples from 40 first-time mothers from the Pacific Northwest of the US and Canada were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Total PBDEs (summation operator PBDEs), calculated by summing values for the 12 PBDEs congeners analyzed, ranged from 6 to 321 ppb (lipid weight) (mean=96 ppb; median=50 ppb). In approximately 40% of the women (15/40), summation operator PBDEs>100 ppb lw in their milk, and four samples had levels >250 ppb lw. PBDE 47 was the dominant congener in most samples, whereas PBDE 153 was predominant in a few (3/40). summation operator PCBs were calculated by summing values for the 82 PCB congeners analyzed, and ranged from 49 to 415 ppb (lipid weight) (mean=147 ppb; median=126 ppb). approximately 30% of the mothers (13/40) have summation operator PBDEs> summation operator PCBs in their milk samples, and approximately 65% (25/40) have BDE 47>PCB 153 in breast milk samples, with BDE 47 averaging 3-fold greater levels than PCB 153. Clearly, the lower brominated PBDEs are surpassing PCBs as a major environmental concern in North America, and are likely affecting significant portions of the populations in these regions. PBDEs have become a major persistent organic pollutant. However, there are no positive correlations between levels of summation operator PBDEs and summation operator PCBs, or between levels of PBDE 47 and PCB 153, suggesting there may be some differences in exposure pathways for PBDEs and PCBs in humans.
authors.affiliation: Hazardous Materials Laboratory, California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA. jshe@dhs.ca.gov
authors.forename: Jianwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Clark
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams-Derry
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hooper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015205:Northwestern United States; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls