Evaluation of dioxin-like chemicals in pooled human milk samples collected in Australia.
METHODS
Human milk samples were collected and analysed for the levels of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and selected dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In total, 157 individual samples collected during 2002 and 2003 as well as 24 samples collected in 1993 were analysed as 20 pools.


RESULTS
PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs were detected in all pooled samples. For samples collected during 2002/2003, the TEQ(DFP) ranged from 6.0 to 15.2 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid with an average of 9.0 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid. The average lipid content was 3.7+/-0.5%. No systematic differences were observed in the levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in human milk samples collected from different regions of Australia during 2002/2003. For samples collected in 1993 and analysed as pools, the mean level, expressed as TEQ(DFP) was 16+/-1.4 pg TEQ g(-1) lipid. The average lipid content was 3.9+/-0.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs in the human milk of Australian women are both low compared to international levels and similar across all regions of Australia. Consistent with world-wide trends, the levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs have decreased over a 10 year period from 1993 to 2003 by approximately 40%.
Harden
F A
FA
School of Life Science, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia. f.harden@qut.edu.au
Toms
L M L
LM
Symons
R
R
Fürst
P
P
Berry
Y
Y
Müller
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment
D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls