Human exposure to PBDEs: associations of PBDE body burdens with food consumption and house dust concentrations.
This study was designed to determine the body burden of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) among first-time mothers in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts area and to explore key routes of exposure. We collected breast milk samples from 46 first-time mothers, 2-8 weeks after birth. We also sampled house dust from the homes of a subset of participants by vacuuming commonly used areas. Data on personal characteristics, diet, home furniture, and electrical devices were gathered from each participant using a questionnaire. Breast milk and dust samples were analyzed for PBDEs using gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry. PBDE concentrations were log-normally distributed in breast milk and dust. We found statistically significant, positive associations between PBDE concentrations in breast milk and house dust (r = 0.76, p = 0.003, not including BDE-209), as well as with reported dietary habits, particularly the consumption of dairy products (r = 0.41, p = 0.005) and meat (r = 0.37, p = 0.01). Due to low detection rates, it was not possible to draw conclusions about the association between BDE-209 in milk and dust. Our results support the hypothesis that the indoor environment and diet both play prominent roles in adult human exposure to PBDEs.
Wu
Nerissa
N
Department of Environmental Health (Talbot 2E), Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
Herrmann
Thomas
T
Paepke
Olaf
O
Tickner
Joel
J
Hale
Robert
R
Harvey
L Ellen
LE
La Guardia
Mark
M
McClean
Michael D
MD
Webster
Thomas F
TF
D001822:Body Burden; D001900:Boston; D004391:Dust; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005502:Food; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004391:Dust; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C086401:pentabromodiphenyl ether