title: Changes in concentrations of perfluorinated compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated biphenyls in Norwegian breast-milk during twelve months of lactation.
abstract: At present, scientific knowledge on depuration rates of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is limited and the previous assumptions of considerable reduction of body burdens through breast-feeding have recently been challenged. We therefore studied elimination rates of important POPs in nine Norwegian primiparous mothers and one mother breast-feeding her second child by collecting breast-milk samples (n = 70) monthly from about two weeks to up to twelve months after birth. Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were determined in the breast-milk samples. Linear mixed effect models were established for selected compounds, and significant decreases in the range of 1.2-4.7% in breast-milk concentrations per month were observed for a wide range of PCBs and PBDEs. For the first time, depuration rates for perfluorooctylsulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are presented, being 3.8 and 7.8% per month, respectively (p < 0.05). The relative amount of the branched PFOS isomers in the breast-milk samples was 18% on average (range 6-36%, RSD 30%). There were no significant differences in isomer pattern between the mothers, or changes during the lactation period. After a year of nursing the breast-milk concentrations of PFCs, PBDEs, and PCBs were reduced by 15-94%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403 Oslo, Norway. cathrine.thomsen@fhi.no
authors.forename: Cathrine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.forename: Line S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Haug
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stigum
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frøshaug
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Broadwell
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002210:Caprylates / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000378:metabolism; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000378:metabolism*; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D009035:Mothers; D009664:Norway; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017738:Alkanesulfonic Acids; D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid; C076994:perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls