title: Estimated infant intake of persistent organic pollutants through breast milk in New Zealand.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate average infant daily intake of chlorinated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) through the consumption of breast milk in New Zealand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast milk of 39 first-time mothers aged 20-30 years was collected during 2007-2010 and analysed for persistent organic pollutants including dioxin-like compounds and organochlorine pesticides. The quantity of POPs consumed by infants assuming exclusive breast feeding was estimated by calculating the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) expressed as amount consumed through breast milk per kilogram of body weight per day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all POPs quantified, the EDI of DDT (principally in the form of its metabolite p,p'-DDE) was the highest (1.6 mcg/kg/day), and above the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.5 mcg/kg/day. The mean EDI for dioxin-like compounds (including PCDD/Fs and PCBs) was 19.7 pg TEQ(toxic equivalency)/kg/day, which is among the lowest reported worldwide, yet above the TDI of 1 pg TEQ/kg/day. The EDI of HCH, HCB, dieldrin, heptachlor and mirex were 32.9, 37.9, 39.4, 2.0, and 0.9 ng/kg/day respectively, all of which were below the current TDI. Age of the mother was positively associated with higher EDIs for the infant, particularly for total-TEQ and total-DDT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infant daily intakes of chlorinated POPs through breast milk estimated for New Zealand are low or average by international comparison, and 5 times lower than 25 years ago. Future breast milk monitoring will determine whether this diminishing trend is continuing as well as providing monitoring information on other POPs.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Public Health Research, Massey University, Wellington Campus, Private Box 756, Wellington, New Zealand. a.mannetje@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: 't Mannetje
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coakley
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bridgen
authors.forename: Allan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: Jeroen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Douwes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001822:Body Burden; D018876:Environmental Illness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009930:Organic Chemicals