Abstract
Thirty-seven polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners and seven polybromodiphenylether (PBDE) congeners were measured in human milk samples collected in Rome between 2005 and 2007. The comparison of results with two previous studies performed in Rome in 1984 and in 2000–2001 indicates a 64% decrease of PCB levels, still in progress; profile differences with time were also evident as lighter congeners are less relevant now; data are in good agreement with recent European studies. PBDE contamination profiles were different in individual samples and a similar variability was observed in data from different countries, suggesting different exposure pathways and profiles.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abballe A, Ballard TJ, Dellatte E, di Domenico A, Ferri F, Fulgenzi AR, Grisanti G, Iacovella N, Ingelido AM, Malisch R, Miniero R, Porpora MG, Risica S, Ziemacki G, De Felip E (2008) Persistent environmental contaminants in human milk: concentration levels and time trends in Italy. Chemosphere 73:S220–S227
Colles A, Koppen G, Hanot V, Nelen V, Dewolf MC, Noël E, Malisch R, Kotz A, Kypke K, Biot P, Vinkx C, Schoeters G (2008) Fourth WHO-coordinated survey of human milk for persistent organic pollutants (POPs): Belgian results. Chemosphere 73(6):907–914
EFSA (2005) Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain on the presence of non dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in feed and food. EFSA J 284:1–137 (plus annexes). http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/s284.pdf
Frederiksena M, Vorkamp A, Thomsenc M, Knudsena LE (2009) Human internal and external exposure to PBDEs–A review of levels and sources. Int J Hyg Environ Health 212:109–134
Fürst P (2006) Dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls and other organo halogen compounds in human milk. Levels, correlations, trends and exposure through breastfeeding. Mol Nutr Food Res 50:922–933
WHO (2007) Fourth WHO-Coordinated Survey of Human Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants in Cooperation with UNEP. WHO Guidelines for Developing a National Protocol., Geneva
Ingelido AM, Ballard T, Dellatte E, di Domenico A, Ferri F, Fulgenzi AR, Herrmann T, Iacovella N, Miniero R, Päpke O, Porpora MG, De Felip E (2007) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in milk from Italian women living in Rome and Venice. Chemosphere 67(9):S301–S306
Kalantzi OI, Martin F, Thomas GO, Alcock RE, Tang HR, Drury SC, Carmichael PL, Nicholson JK, Jones KC (2004) Different Levels of Polibrominated Diphenil Ethers (PBDEs) and Chlorinated Compounds in Breast Milk from two U.K. Regions. Environ Health Perspect 112(10):1085–1091
Larsen BR, Turrio-Baldassarri L, Nilsson T, Iacovella N, di Domenico A, Montagna M, Facchetti S (1994) Toxic PCB congeners and organochlorine pesticides in italian human milk. Ecotoxicol. Environ Safety 28:1–13
Lignell S, Aune M, Darnerud PO, Cnattingius S, Glynn A (2009) Persistent organochlorine and organobromine compounds in mother’s milk from Sweden 1996–2006: compounds-specific temporal trends. Environ Res 109(6):760–767
Polder A, Thomsen C, Lindström G, Løken KB, Skaare JU (2008) Levels and temporal trends of chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and brominated flame retardants in individual human breast milk samples from Northern and Southern Norway. Chemosphere 73:14–23
Raab U, Preiss U, Albrecht M, Shahin N, Parlar H, Fromme H (2008) Concentration of polybrominated diphenil ethers, organochlorine compounds and nitro musk in mother’s milk from Germany. Chemosphere 72:87–94
Turrio-Baldassarri L, Abate V, Battistelli CL, Carasi S, Casella M, Iacovella N, Indelicato A, La Rocca C, Scarcella C, Alivernini S (2008) PCDD/F and PCB in human serum of differently exposed population groups of an Italian city. Chemosphere 73(1):S228–S234
Turrio-Baldassarri L, Alivernini S, Carasi S, Casella M, Fuselli S, Iacovella N, Iamiceli AL, La Rocca C, Scarcella C, Battistelli CL (2009) PCDD and PCDF contamination of food of animal origin as the effect of soil pollution and the cause of human exposure in Brescia Chemosphere. PCB 76(2):278–285
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alivernini, S., Battistelli, C.L. & Turrio-Baldassarri, L. Human Milk as a Vector and an Indicator of Exposure to PCBs and PBDEs: Temporal Trend of Samples Collected in Rome. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 87, 21–25 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0262-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-011-0262-7