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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Animal Metabolism-Agricultural Chemicals Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #226142
Title: Biomonitoring Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Lactating Women

Author
item DUNN, REBECCA - UNIV OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
item Huwe, Janice
item CAREY, GALE - UNIV OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2008
Publication Date: 6/5/2008
Citation: Dunn, R.L., Huwe, J.K., Carey, G.B. 2008. Biomonitoring Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Lactating Women. IN: Proceedings of Brominated Flame Retardant 2008 Workshop, Victoria, BC, Canada, June 5-6, 2008. p. 66.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Breast milk is a valuable biological specimen for biomonitoring lipid-soluble polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The goal of this project was to determine the levels of PBDEs in breast milk of lactating women from the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and to examine potential relationships between breast milk PBDE levels and stage of lactation, maternal characteristics, living environment and dietary intake. Women, ages 22 to 40 that were in the early stages of lactation (less than two weeks) or in their last trimester of pregnancy and planned to breastfeed for at least the first three months postpartum, were eligible for the study. Participants provided up to three breast milk samples (complete expression of one breast) at the end of their first, second and third month of breastfeeding for evaluation of day-to-day and month-to-month variation in PBDE levels. Participants were asked to complete four questionnaires during their three-month commitment in the study, which provided maternal, living environment, and diet information. Dietary information covered a three-month recall at two time points: the last trimester of pregnancy and the first three months postpartum. Forty-six PBDE congeners in 150 breast milk samples were measured by isotope dilution method. Forty women completed the study with an average age of 31 years. Thirty-nine out of 40 participants were Caucasian, and 80% of participants had completed a 4-year college degree or higher. The sum of the PBDE congeners found in breast milk was defined as: BDE-28/33, 47, 85, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183. PBDE levels were reported with non-detects = zero, and BDE-209 subtracted from the sum PBDE. The sum PBDE concentrations in breast milk from participant means over the three month collection period ranged from 7.3 to 139.6 ng/g lipid with a mean of 35.5 ng/g and a median of 29.7 ng/g. Day-to-day variation in sum PBDE was negligible; there were no significant differences in mean PBDE levels month-to-month, nor was there any difference in mean percent lipid values from months one, two, and three. However, as percent lipid values from participant three month means increased, the sum PBDE levels from participant three month means increased, approaching statistical significance (r = 0.30 p = 0.058). BDE-47 was the dominant congener in 80% of the samples at each month, which is similar to previously reported studies. However, BDE-153 was the dominant congener in 20% of the participants from each month. Preliminary statistical analysis has shown no associations between log-transformed sum PBDE levels, maternal characteristics and living environment questionnaire data. The strongest association between log-transformed sum PBDE levels and diet was seen with total fruit consumption in the last trimester. For each serving increase in fruit consumption during the last trimester, the sum PBDE levels (participant three month mean) decreased by 0.9 ng/g lipid weight. The association persisted after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results from our study suggest a predominance of the BDE-47 congener in most of the samples, similar to published findings, but present new evidence of a protective mechanism with fruit consumption during the last trimester.