title: Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in breast milk and associated health risks to nursing infants in Northern Tanzania.
abstract: The main aim of this study was to assess brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in breast milk in the Northern parts of Tanzania. Ninety-five colostrum samples from healthy, primiparous mothers at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital (MMRRH), Arusha Tanzania, were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), (2,3-dibromopropyl) (2,4,6-tribromophenyl) ether (DPTE), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) and 2,3,4,5,6-pentabromotoluene (PBT). The Ʃ7PBDE (BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183) ranged from below level of detection (<LOD) to 785ng/g lipid weight (lw). BDE 47, 99, 100 and 153 were the dominating congeners, suggesting recent and ongoing exposure to banned, commercial PentaBDE mixture. A multiple linear regression model revealed that mothers eating clay soil/Pemba during pregnancy had significantly higher levels of BDE 47, 99, 100 and 153 in their breast milk than mothers who did not eat clay soil/Pemba. Infant birth weight and birth length were significantly correlated with the levels of BDE 47, 99, 100 and 153. The estimated daily intake (ng/kg body weight/day) of BDE 47 and 99 exceeded the US EPA Reference doses (RfD) in four and eight mothers, respectively, suggesting a potential health risk to the nursing infants.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: mette.helen.bjorge.muller@nmbu.no.
authors.forename: M H B
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polder
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Brynildsrud
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadallèen 21, N-0349, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lie
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadallèen 21, N-0349, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Løken
authors.affiliation: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Manyilizu
authors.affiliation: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mdegela
authors.affiliation: Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, P.O. Box 3092, Arusha, Tanzania.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mokiti
authors.affiliation: Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, P.O. Box 3092, Arusha, Tanzania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murtadha
authors.affiliation: Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, P.O. Box 3021, Morogoro, Tanzania.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Nonga
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Veterinary Institute, P.O. Box 750, Sentrum, N-0106, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Skaare
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Campus Adamstuen, P.O. Box 8146 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lyche
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D012306:Risk; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers
keywords: Brominated flame retardants; Estimated daily intake; Human breast milk; Infant growth; Pemba; Tanzania