title: Dioxins/furans and PCBs in Canadian human milk: 2008-2011.
abstract: Human milk was collected between 2008 and 2011 as part of the Maternal - Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study that was initiated to establish Canadian national estimates of maternal and infant exposure to a broad suite of environmental contaminants (e.g., persistent organic pollutants [POPs], trace elements, phthalates, etc.). Among the 1017 human milk samples collected, 298 were analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). World Health Organization (WHO) toxic equivalency concentrations (WHO TEQ2005) for PCDD/F+dioxin-like (DL) PCB ranged from 2.2pg TEQ2005g-1lipid to 27pg TEQ2005g-1lipid. The relative contribution of PCDDs to the overall WHO TEQ2005(PCDD/F+DL PCB) has decreased from earlier investigations into POP levels in Canadian human milk. Significantly higher PCB concentrations were observed in milk from women born in Europe relative to those born in Canada (p<0.001), in contrast to results for the PCDD/Fs (p=0.496). Age was found to significantly impact milk ∑PCB concentrations (p=0.018), with elevated concentrations observed in milk from women >30years relative to those <30years of age. While this trend was also observed for the PCDD/Fs, this relationship was impacted by parity. WHO TEQ2005concentrations were significantly higher in milk from primiparous women (p=0.019) and those >30years relative to those <30years of age (p<0.001). No significant differences were associated with education level or pre-pregnancy body mass index. PCB and PCDD/F concentrations have continued to decline in Canadian human milk since the last sampling of human milk was performed.
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada. Electronic address: thea.rawn@hc-sc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Dorothea F K
authors.initials: DFK
authors.lastname: Rawn
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Amy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Breton
authors.affiliation: Food Research Division, Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway, 2203C, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Wing-Fung
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Environmental and Radiation Health Sciences Directorate, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, 50 Colombine Driveway, 0801A, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
authors.forename: Tye E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Arbuckle
authors.affiliation: CHU Sainte-Justine, Centre de recherche, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D001572:Benzofurans; D002170:Canada; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D000072338:Dibenzofurans, Polychlorinated; D004147:Dioxins; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005663:Furans; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Dioxins/furans; Human milk; MIREC; PCBs; POPs