Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in UK human milk: Implications for infant exposure and relationship to external exposure

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 63; pp. 130 - 136
• Main Authors: ABDALLAH, Mohamed Abou-Elwafa, HARRAD, Stuart
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier 01-02-2014
• Subjects: Adult; Adults; Biological and medical sciences; Body Burden; Breast; Child, Preschool; Diet; Dust; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Ethers; Exposure; Female; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - analysis; Human; Humans; Infant; Infants; Mathematical models; Medical sciences; Milk; Milk, Human - chemistry; Polybrominated Biphenyls - analysis; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Toxicology; United Kingdom; Young Adult; United Kingdom; Europe; British Isles; Human; Concentration measurement; PBDEs; Human milk; Flame retardant; Infant; Bromine Organic compounds; Exposure; BDE 209; Infant exposure; Chemical contamination
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.11.009

Fourteen tri-deca polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were investigated in 35 human milk samples from Birmingham, UK. While none of the hepta-nona BDEs (the main components of the octaBDE technical mixture) was above the limit of quantitation (LOQ); BDE-47 (average concentration=3.3ngg(-1) lipid weight (lw)) was quantified in all samples contributing 34-74% to Σtri-hexa BDEs (the principal constituents of the pentaBDE commercial formulation). BDE-209 (the main congener in the decaBDE formulation) was present above the LOQ in 69% of samples (average concentration=0.31ngg(-1) lw). Concentrations of Σtri-hexa BDEs ranged from 0.2 to 26ngg(-1) lw with concentrations of BDE-47>BDE-153>BDE-99. While concentrations of Σtri-hexa BDEs in this study (average=5.95ngg(-1) lw) were at the high end of those reported from other European countries, concentrations of BDE-209 were lower than those reported in human milk from other countries. The average exposure of a UK nursing infant to Σtri-hexa BDEs (35ng (kg bw)(-1)day(-1)) via breast milk exceeded the upper-bound dietary intakes of both UK adults and toddlers. Using a simple one compartment pharmacokinetic model, PBDE intakes of UK adults via inhalation, diet and dust ingestion were converted to predicted body burdens. Predictions compared well with those observed for Σtri-hexa BDEs and BDE-209 in breast milk.