title: High postnatal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) via breast milk in California: does BDE-209 transfer to breast milk?
abstract: Breast milk samples collected during 2003-2005 from 82 first-time mothers in 24 communities located throughout California contained levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (∑(tri-hexa (8))PBDEs; median = 53.3 ng/g lw, range = 9.60-1291) and polychlorinated biphenyls (∑(12)PCBs; median = 73.4 ng/g lw, range = 22.2-433) that are among the highest in the world. PBDE levels varied 100-fold. BDE-47 was the dominant PBDE congener, with levels exceeding the U.S.EPA Reference Dose (RfD) for neurodevelopmental toxicity (100 ng/kg/day) in most (60%) breast milk samples. In some samples, BDE-209 (2/82) and/or BDE-153 (5/82) were the dominant congeners, suggesting that BDE-209 can transfer to breast milk and/or break down in the mother and transfer to the nursing infant as the lower-brominated PBDEs associated with adverse effects. PBDE levels in California breast milk are approaching those of PCBs, and the trend PBDEs > PCBs may continue as PBDEs migrate from products to the indoor and outdoor environments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Environmental Protection Agency, Berkeley, California 94710, USA. jpark@dtsc.ca.gov
authors.forename: June-soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jianwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: She
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharp
authors.forename: Rosanne
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gephart
authors.forename: Ginger
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Souders-Mason
authors.forename: Vickie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hooper
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C010902:decabromobiphenyl ether