Population physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling for the human lactational transfer of PCB-153 with consideration of worldwide human biomonitoring results.
BACKGROUND
One of the most serious human health concerns related to environmental contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is the presence of these chemicals in breast milk.


OBJECTIVE
We developed a physiologically based pharmacokinetic model of PCB-153 in women, and predict its transfer via lactation to infants. The model is the first human, population-scale lactational model for PCB-153. Data in the literature provided estimates for model development and for performance assessment.


METHODS
We used physiologic parameters from a cohort in Taiwan and reference values given in the literature to estimate partition coefficients based on chemical structure and the lipid content in various body tissues. Using exposure data from Japan, we predicted acquired body burden of PCB-153 at an average childbearing age of 25 years and compared predictions to measurements from studies in multiple countries. We attempted one example of reverse dosimetry modeling using our PBPK model for possible exposure scenarios in Canadian Inuits, the population with the highest breast milk PCB-153 level in the world.


RESULTS
Forward-model predictions agree well with human biomonitoring measurements, as represented by summary statistics and uncertainty estimates.


CONCLUSIONS
The model successfully describes the range of possible PCB-153 dispositions in maternal milk, suggesting a promising option for back-estimating doses for various populations.
Redding
Laurel E
LE
Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan.
Sohn
Michael D
MD
McKone
Thomas E
TE
Chen
Jein-Wen
JW
Wang
Shu-Li
SL
Hsieh
Dennis P H
DP
Yang
Raymond S H
RS
D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011159:Population Surveillance
D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl