Serum concentrations of neutral and phenolic organohalogens in pregnant women and some of their infants in The Netherlands.
As part of a large European Union (EU)-funded comparative toxicology and human epidemiology study, EU-Compare, a selection of organohalogen compounds (OHCs) was analyzed in maternal serum, collected at the 35th week of pregnancy, and in cord serum of a number of their infants to determine maternal concentrations and to investigate the extent of transplacental transfer of these compounds. Eight neutral OHCs were analyzed: one polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB: CB-153),4,4'-DDE, five polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs: BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, and BDE-154), and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD). Five phenolic OHCs were analyzed: three hydroxylated PCBs (40H-CB-107, 40H-CB-146, and 40H-CB-187), one hydroxylated PBDE (60H-BDE-47), and pentachlorophenol (PCP). All OHCs, except 60H-BDE-47, were present in maternal and cord serum. The historically identified OHCs showed the highest concentration: 4,4'-DDE (median value 89 ng/g lipid in maternal serum and 68 ng/g lipid in cord serum) and PCP (median value 970 pg/g serum in maternal serum and 1500 pg/g serum in cord serum). HBCDD and the PBDEs were present at much lower concentrations. We conclude that OHCs are present in the serum of pregnant women, and all compounds tested are transferred over the placenta. Because transfer is occurring at a critical stage of infant development, investigation of the health impact is urgent.
Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. l.meijer@bkk.umcg.nl
Lisethe
L
Meijer
Jana
J
Weiss
Martin
M
Van Velzen
Abraham
A
Brouwer
Ake
A
Bergman
Pieter J J
PJ
Sauer
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006219:Halogens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009426:Netherlands; D019800:Phenol / Q000032:analysis*; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011247:Pregnancy
C477694:2,2',4,4',5-brominated diphenyl ether; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006219:Halogens; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; C517828:hexabrominated diphenyl ether 153; C517827:pentabrominated diphenyl ether 100; C511295:2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether; D019800:Phenol; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls