title: Perinatal exposure to brominated flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls in Japan.
abstract: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used to prevent combustion in consumer products. Examples of BFRs are polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and tribromophenol (TBP). These compounds are reported to have adverse effects on human health and endocrine disrupting effects. The purpose of this study was to identify the Japanese perinatal exposure to PBDEs, hydroxylated PBDE metabolites (OH-PBDEs), TBBPA, and TBP compared with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and hydroxylated PCB metabolites (OH-PCBs). We investigated the concentrations of these compounds in maternal blood, maternal milk, cord blood, and umbilical cords from 16 Japanese mother-infant pairs by HRGC/HRMS. PBDEs were detected in all samples of maternal blood (mean+/-SD; median=25+/-23 pg/g; 18 pg/g wet weight), maternal milk (140+/-220 pg/g; 59 pg/g wet weight), cord blood (4.8+/-6.5 pg/g; 1.6 pg/g wet weight), and umbilical cords (3.1+/-3.1 pg/g; 2.1 pg/g wet weight). The mothers were divided into two groups, a high-concentration group and a low-concentration group. The percentage of BDE-47 showed the greatest difference between the two groups. 6-OH-BDE-47, TBBPA, and TBP were detected in all umbilical cord samples (mean+/-SD; median=8.4+/-8.1 pg/g; 8.0 pg/g, 16+/-5.5 pg/g; 15 pg/g, and 33+/-8.2 pg/g; 32 pg/g wet weight respectively), but not in all maternal blood or cord blood samples. These results indicate that OH-PBDEs, TBBPA, and TBP, in addition to PBDEs, PCBs, and OH-PCBs, pass through the blood-placenta barrier and are retained in the umbilical cord.
authors: Department of Bioenvironmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Japan.
authors: Yukiko
authors: Y
authors: Kawashiro
authors: Hideki
authors: H
authors: Fukata
authors: Mariko
authors: M
authors: Omori-Inoue
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Kubonoya
authors: Tomomi
authors: T
authors: Jotaki
authors: Hidetaka
authors: H
authors: Takigami
authors: Shin-ichi
authors: S
authors: Sakai
authors: Chisato
authors: C
authors: Mori
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls