Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in breast milk and associated health risks to nursing infants in Northern Tanzania.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016;
89-90:38-47. [PMID:
26826361 DOI:
10.1016/j.envint.2015.12.032]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The main aim of this study was to assess brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in breast milk in the Northern parts of Tanzania. Ninety-five colostrum samples from healthy, primiparous mothers at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital (MMRRH), Arusha Tanzania, were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE), hexabromobenzene (HBB), (2,3-dibromopropyl) (2,4,6-tribromophenyl) ether (DPTE), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB) and 2,3,4,5,6-pentabromotoluene (PBT). The Ʃ7PBDE (BDE 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183) ranged from below level of detection (<LOD) to 785ng/g lipid weight (lw). BDE 47, 99, 100 and 153 were the dominating congeners, suggesting recent and ongoing exposure to banned, commercial PentaBDE mixture. A multiple linear regression model revealed that mothers eating clay soil/Pemba during pregnancy had significantly higher levels of BDE 47, 99, 100 and 153 in their breast milk than mothers who did not eat clay soil/Pemba. Infant birth weight and birth length were significantly correlated with the levels of BDE 47, 99, 100 and 153. The estimated daily intake (ng/kg body weight/day) of BDE 47 and 99 exceeded the US EPA Reference doses (RfD) in four and eight mothers, respectively, suggesting a potential health risk to the nursing infants.
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