Summary
Annual surveys of levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in human milk and blood obtained from residents in Osaka Prefecture were made for six years from 1972 to 1977. The levels of PCB in human milk were within the range reported by others, and the average concentrations were in the range from 0.03 to 0.04 ppm on the whole basis of milk, and were approximately 10 times higher than those found in blood. There were 15 exceptional milk samples whose PCB level on whole basis exceeded 0.1 ppm. The PCB levels in human milk increased from 1972 to 1974, and decreased from 1974 to 1976. However, these changes are not statistically significant, because there has been continuous environmental contamination with PCB for many years so for. There was a proportional relation between the PCB levels in blood and in milk obtained from the same mothers. The PCB levels in milk and blood of mothers who had given first childbirth were higher than those of mothers who had given the second or more childbirth. A gradual decrease in β-BHC level was observed during this period. The levels of p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT and dieldrin were fairly constant from 1972 to 1976. However, remarkable decrease in the levels of the organochlorine pesticides was found in 1977.
Most of the residual PCB components and their chlorobiphenyl contents in the human milk were clarified. It was proven that there were remarkable amounts of tri- and tetrachlorobiphenyls. A specific structure of the residual components was 4,4-substitution pattern.
All mothers and babies did not show any apparent clinical symptoms which were related to the toxic effect of the PCBs over the period of time. However, further studies concerning the toxic effect of PCBs to human infants and understanding of long-term trends of chlorinated hydrocarbon levels in human milk are necessary.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albro, P. W., Haseman, J. K., Clemmer, T. A., Corbett, B. J.: Identification of the individual polychlorinated biphenyls in a mixture by gas-liquid chromatography. J. Chromatogr. 136, 147–153 (1977)
Allen, J. R., Barsotti, D. A.: The effects of transplacental and mammary movement of PCBs on infant rhesus monkeys. Toxicology 6, 331–340 (1976)
Bush, B., Tumasonis, C. F., Baker, F. D.: Toxicity and persistence of PCB homologs and isomers in the avian system. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2, 195–212 (1974)
Bush, B., Baker, F., Dellacqua, R., Houck, C. L., Lo Fa-Chun: Analytical response of polychlorinated biphenyl homologues and isomers in thin-layer and gas chromatography. J. Chromatogr. 109, 287–295 (1975)
Curley, A., Kimbrough, R.: Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides in plasma and milk of pregnant and lactating women. Arch. Environ. Health 18, 156–185 (1969)
Gage, J. C., Holm, S.: The influence of molecular structure on the retention and excretion of PCB by the mouse. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 36, 555–560 (1976)
Holms, D. C., Simmons, J. H., Tatton, J. O'G.: Clorinated hydrocarbons in British wildlife. Nature 216, 227–229 (1967)
Holden, A. V., Marsden, K.: Organochlorine pesticides in seals and porpoises. Nature 216, 1274–1276 (1967)
Isono, N.: Report of environmental pollution by PCBs. Japanese J. Water Waste 14, 1109–1117 (1972) (Japanese)
Jensen, S.: Report of a new chemical hazard. New Scientist 32, 612 (1966)
Jensen, S., Johnels, A. G., Olsson, M., Otterlind, G.: DDT and PCB in marine animals from Swedish waters. Nature 224, 247–250 (1969)
Jensen, S., Sundström, G.: Structures and levels of most chlorobiphenyls in two technical PCB products and in human adipose tissue. AMBIO 3, 70–76 (1974)
Kuratsune, M., Yoshimura, T., Matsuzaka, J., Yamaguchi, A.: Epidemiologic study on Yusho, a poisoning caused by ingestion of rice oil contaminated with a commercial brand of polychlorinated biphenyls. Environ. Health Perspect. 1, 119–128 (1972)
Kobayashi, H.: Report of organochlorine compounds in human milk. PPM 10, 2–9 (1976) (Japanese)
Kuwabara, K., Yakushiji, T., Watanabe, I., Yoshida, S., Koyama, K., Kunita, N., Hara, I.: Relationship between breast feeding and PCB residues in blood of the children whose mothers were occupationally exposed to PCBs. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 41, 189–197 (1978)
Masuda, Y.: Report of PCB residues in human milk. Shoku no Kagaku 8, 88–92 (1972) (Japanese)
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan: Official method for PCB analysis. January 1972 (Japanese)
Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Japan, Chemical Industry Bureau: List of the factories where PCBs were used, 1973 (Japanese)
Nakamura, A., Kashimoto, T.: Studies on a calculation method for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) isomers — analysis by Apiezon L column —. J. Food Hyg. Soc. Japan 18, 1–12 (1977) (Japanese)
Risebrough, R. W., Rieche, P., Herman, S. G., Peakall, D. B., Kirven, M. N.: Polychlorinated biphenyls in the global ecosystem. Nature 220, 1099–1102 (1967)
Robinson, J., Richardson, A., Crabtree, A. N., Coulson, J. C., Potts, G. R.: Organochlorine residues in marine organism. Nature 214, 1307–1311 (1967)
Shimada, T., Ugawa, M.: Induction of liver microsomal drug metabolism by polychlorinated biphenyls whose gas chromatographic profile having much in common with that in human milk. Bull. Environ. Contain. Toxicol. 78, 198–205 (1978)
Sissons, D., Welti, D.: Structural identification of polychlorinated biphenyls in commercial mixtures by gas-liquid chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. J. Chromatogr. 60, 15–32 (1971)
Takeshita, R., Suzuki, M., Hayashi, M.: Transference of polychlorinated biphenyls in human adipose tissue to human milk. J. Hyg. Chem. Japan 20, 256–265 (1974) (Japanese)
Tatsukawa, R., Isono, N.: Report of a new environmental pollution by PCBs. Shizen 6, 30–39 (1971) (Japanese)
Ugawa, M., Nakamura, A., Kashimoto, T.: Studies on a calculation method for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) isomers. J. Food Hyg. Soc. Japan 14, 415–424 (1973) (Japanese)
Umeda, G.: PCB poisoning in Japan. AMBIO 1, 132–135 (1972)
Wakimoto, T., Tatsukawa, R.: Report of analytical method for PCBs. Japanese J. Water Waste 14, 1125–1133 (1972) (Japanese)
Watanabe, I., Yakushiji, T., Kuwabara, K., Yoshida, S., Koyama, K., Kunita, N.: Surveillance of the daily PCB intake from diets of Japanese women from 1972 to 1976. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. (1978) (in press)
Webb, R. G., McCall, A. C.: Identities of polychlorinated biphenyl isomers in Aroclors. J. AOAC 55, 746–752 (1972)
Westöö, G., Norén, K.: Levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in Swedish human milk. Vår föda 24, 41–53 (1972) (Swedish)
Westöö, G., Norén, K.: Organochlorine contaminants in human milk, Stockholm 1967–1977. AMBIO 7, 62–64 (1978)
Yakushiji, T., Tanaka, R., Kunita, N.: PCB and organochlorine pesticides in mother's milk, blood and foods. Paediatrician 6, 28–33 (1977a)
Yakushiji, T., Watanabe, I., Kuwabara, K., Yoshida, S., Koyama, K., Kunita, N.: Residues of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in human milk, blood, and diet (V). Proc. Osaka Pref. Inst. Publ. Health 8, 35–44 (1977b) (Japanese)
Yakushiji, T., Watanabe, I., Kuwabara, K., Yoshida, S., Hori, S., Fukushima, S., Kashimoto, T., Koyama, K., Kunita, N.: Levels of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mother's milk collected in Osaka Prefecture from 1969 to 1976. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 7 (1978 a) (in press)
Yakushiji, T., Watanabe, I., Kuwabara, K., Yoshida, S.: Identification of low chlorinated biphenyls in human milk by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J. Chromatogr. 154, 203–210 (1978b)
Yakushiji, T., Watanabe, I., Kuwabara, K., Yoshida, S., Koyama, K., Hara, I., Kunita, N.: Longterm studies of the excretion of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) through the mother's milk of an occupationally exposed worker. Arch. Environ. Contain, Toxicol. (1978c) (in press)
Yoshida, S., Nakamura, A.: Studies on PCB pattern in breast milk of the Swedish. Proc. Osaka Pref. Inst. Publ. Health 8, 67–71 (1977) (Japanese)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yakushiji, T., Watanabe, I., Kuwabara, K. et al. Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides in human milk and blood collected in Osaka Prefecture from 1972 to 1977. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 43, 1–15 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454276
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00454276