[Persistent organochlorines in Icelandic breast milk.].
Persistent organochlorines are passed from a mother to her offspring and can affect his or her growth and development. The levels of persistent organochlorines in breast milk from 22 Icelandic women (18 primiparae and four bisparae) were investigated during the summer of 1993. The samples were collected at the Maternity Department of Landspitalinn, the University Hospital in Reykjavik. Dichloro-diphenyl-dichlorethene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were found in all samples but not hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH). No statistical difference was found between primi- and bisparae mothers. The levels found were similar to what has been reported for breast milk in neighbouring countries in recent years and lower than was found in France, Germany, Italy and among Inuits of arctic Canada but higher than was found in mothers from South-Canada and Great Britain. The levels, however, were well below estimated risk levels for infants.
Olafsdottir
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K
Atladottir
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Johannesson
T
T