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POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS (PBDES) IN AMERICAN MOTHERS' MILK
Citation:
Schecter, A., M. Pavuk, O. Papke, J. J. Ryan, L S. Birnbaum, AND R. Rosen. POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS (PBDES) IN AMERICAN MOTHERS' MILK. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 111(14):1723-1729, (2003).
Description:
No previous reports exist on polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners in individual American mothers' milk. This report on PBDEs is an extension of our previous studies on concentrations of dioxins, dibenzofurans, PCBs, and other chlorinated organics in human milk in a number of countries. PBDEs are complex mixtures of chemicals used as flame retardants in many industrial applications. Their use is permitted in the USA but banned in a number of European countries because of presumed toxicity, demonstrated persistence and bioaccumulation. They can be found in television sets, computers, computer monitors and printers, in carpets, and upholstery.
Analyses of human levels of these compounds suggest low but rising levels in European milk, which may have peaked, at least in Sweden, in the late 1990's. Very little data exist on levels of PBDEs in humans in the USA, and none from individual nursing mothers' milk. To address this issue, we analyzed 47 individual milk samples from nursing mothers, ages 20 to 41, from milk bank in Austin and community women's health clinic in Dallas, Texas. Up to 13 PBDE congeners were measured. The sum of the PBDE congeners varied from 6.2 to 419 ng/g or parts per billion (ppb) lipid. The median was 34 ppb and the mean 73.9 ppb lipid. These individual milk PBDE levels from Texas were similar to levels found in American blood and adipose tissue lipid from California and Indiana and are 10 to100 times greater than human tissue levels in Europe. The high concentration in American breast milk raises concern for exposure and potential toxicity to nursing infants, given the persistence and bioaccumulation of these compounds. These results indicate a need for more detailed investigation of the levels in people and food, as well as the major route of exposure of the general US population.