Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Concentrations of PBDE Congeners in Breast Milk and Predictors of Exposure in Seoul Residents

서울 거주 산모 모유 중 PBDEs 이성질체 농도 및 노출 요인에 관한 연구

  • We, Sung-Ug (Department of Urban Environmental Engineering, Kyungnam University) ;
  • Yoon, Cho-Hee (Department of Urban Environmental Engineering, Kyungnam University) ;
  • Min, Byung-Yoon (Department of Urban Environmental Engineering, Kyungnam University)
  • 위성욱 (경남대학교 도시환경공학과) ;
  • 윤조희 (경남대학교 도시환경공학과) ;
  • 민병윤 (경남대학교 도시환경공학과)
  • Received : 2011.11.16
  • Accepted : 2011.12.22
  • Published : 2011.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. Methods: The congener levels of PBDE in 22 samples of breast milk were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass detector. In accordance with our standard operating procedures, the recoveries of internal standards had to range between 68% and 118%. Since the distribution of PBDE concentrations is close to log-normal, the data were logarithmically transformed before analysis. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 32 (SD = 2.7) in 2006. Results: Seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) were detected and identified in all of the pooled breast milk samples, indicating widespread contamination from PBDEs in the environment in Korea. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged from 0.84-13.1 ng/g lipid with median and geometric mean levels of 2.6 ng/g lipid and 2.74 ng/g lipid, respectively. PBDE congeners 47, 99 and 153 markedly predominated and accounted for about 75% of the amount of the PBDE congeners analyzed. BDE-47 was the dominant congener in most samples, whereas BDE-153 was predominant in a few (n = 7/22). BDE-47 was highly correlated with total PBDEs (r = 0.987, p < 0.01). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed breast milk PBDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only breast milk BDE-47 and BDE-99 levels were significantly associated with fish (p < 0.05) and meat consumption (p < 0.01). However, we did not find significant correlations between PBDE levels and maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, job presence and smoking status. Conclusions: Our findings are mainly limited due to the small sampling size and low doses of PBDEs exposure. Background and human exposure data of PBDEs is lacking, and longitudinal investigations into the environment and biota are encouraged to determine the health impact on future populations in Korea.

Keywords

References

  1. WHO. Environmental Health Criteria 162. Brominated diphenyl ethers. International Programme on Chemical Safety. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. 1994.
  2. She JHA, Sharp M, Tanner M, Williams-Derry C, Hooper K. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in breast milk from the Pacific Northwest. Chemosphere. 2007; 37: 307-317.
  3. KEI. Environmental risk assessment and regulation on flame retardants. Korea Environment Institute, Seoul, Korea (in Korean). 2001.
  4. Bromine Science and Environmental Forum (BSEF). Bromine Science and Environmental Forum, available at . 2007.
  5. Main KM, Kiviranta H, Virtanen HE, Sundqvist E, Tuomisto JT, Tuomisto J, et al. Flame retardants in placenta and breast milk and cryptochidism in newborn boys. Environ Health Perspect. 2007; 115(10): 1519-1526.
  6. Tseng LH, Lee CW, Pan MH, Tsai SS, Li MH, Chen JR, Lay JJ, Hsu PC. Postnatal exposure of the male mouse to 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decabrominated diphenyl ether: decreased epididymal sperm functions without alterations in DNA content and histology in testis. Toxicology. 2006; 224: 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2006.04.003
  7. Zhou T, Taylor MM, DeVito MJ, Crofton KM. Developmental exposure to brominated diphenylethers results in thyroid hormone disruption. Toxicol Sci. 2002; 66: 105-116. https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/66.1.105
  8. Meeker J, Johnson P, Camann D, Hauser R. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations in house dust are related to hormone levels in men. Sci Total Environ. 2009; 407: 3425-3429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.01.030
  9. Jones-Otazo HA, Clarke JP, Diamond ML, Archbold JA, Ferguson G, Harner T. Is house dust the missing exposure pathway for PBDEs? An analysis of the urban fate and human exposure to PBDEs. Environ Sci Technol. 2005; 39: 5121-5230. https://doi.org/10.1021/es048267b
  10. Ohta S, Ishizuka D, Nishimura H, Nakao T, Aozasa O, Shimidzu Y, et al. Comparison of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in fish, vegetables, and meats and levels in human milk of nursing women in Japan. Chemosphere. 2002; 46: 689-696. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(01)00233-8
  11. Darnerud PO, Atuma S, Aune M, Bjerselius R, Glynn A, Grawe KP, et al. Dietary intake estimations of organohalogen contaminants (dioxins, PCB, PBDE and chlorinated pesticides, e.g. DDT) based on Swedish market basket data. Food chem Toxicol. 2006; 44: 1597-1606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2006.03.011
  12. Schecter A, Papke O, Harris R, Tung KC, Musumba A, Olson J, et al. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in an expanded market basket survey of us food and estimated PBDE dietary intake by age and sex. Environ Health Perspect. 2006; 114: 1515-1520. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9121
  13. We SU, Kim KH, Baek JH, Han SY, Min BY. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers Contamination of Korea Food. Proceedings of Environmental Health in Asia-Pacific Region May 29-30. Jeju, Korea, 2008.
  14. Zhu L, Ma B, Li J, Wu Y, Gong J. Distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk from North China: Implication of exposure pathways. Chemosphere. 2009; 74: 1429-1434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2008.12.030
  15. Wu N, Herrmann T, Paepke O, Tickner J, Hale R, Harvey E, et al. Human exposure to PBDEs: associations of PBDE body burdens with food consumption and house dust concentrations. Environ Sci Technol. 2007; 41: 1584-1589. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0620282
  16. We SU, Yoon CH, Min BY. Spatial Distribution and Residual Consistency Assessment of PBDEs in the Surface Sediment of the Masan Bay. J KSEE. 2010; 32(5): 427-436.
  17. Min BY. A Study on Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Organochlorine Compounds Residues Persistent in Korean Coastal Bivalves. J Environ- Health Sci. 2010; 36(2): 118-127. https://doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2010.36.2.118
  18. WHO. Levels of PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs in Human Milk Protocol for Third Round of Exposure Studies. World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health. 2000.
  19. La Guardia MJ, Hale RC, Harvey E. Detailed polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congener composition of the widely used penta-, octa-, and deca- PBDE technical flame-retardant mixtures. Environ Sci Technol. 2006; 40: 6247-6254. https://doi.org/10.1021/es060630m
  20. Chao HR, Wang SL, Lee WJ, Wang YF, Papke O. Levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk from central Taiwan and their relation to infant birth outcome and maternal menstruation effects. Environ Int. 2007; 33: 239-245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2006.09.013
  21. Jang MG, Cha SJ, Kang YS, Park JS. Monitoring of residue PBDEs level in human milk and fish & shellfish samples collected from Korea. Analy Sci Technol. 2006; 19(3): 244-254.
  22. We SU, Baek IC, Park SA, Hoon KS, Cho YJ, Cho BH, et al. Congener Specific Profiles and Exposure Pathways of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Breast Milk of Chuncheon Area. J Life Sci. 2010; 20(3): 356-364. https://doi.org/10.5352/JLS.2010.20.3.356
  23. Kunisue T, Takayanagi N, Isobe T, Takahashi S, Nose M, Yamada T, et al. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and persistent organochlorines in Japanese human adipose tissues. Environ Int. 2007; 33: 1048- 1056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2007.06.006
  24. Thomas GO. Analysis of man-made chemicals in human blood samples from 17 European countries. Appendix 3 in Contamination. The Results of WWF's Biomonitoring Survey. 51-91. World Wildlife Fund- United Kingdom, Surrey, England, http://www.panda. org/downloads/europe/checkuptechannexe.pdf. 2004.
  25. Meironyte D, Noren K, Bergman A. Analysis of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Sewdish human milk: a time-related trend study, 1972-1997. Toxicol Environ Health. 1999; 58: 329-341. https://doi.org/10.1080/009841099157197
  26. Meironyte D, Aronsson A, Ekman-Ordeberg G, Bergman A, Noren K. Human prenatal and postnatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorobiphenylols, and pentachlorophenol. Environ Health Perspect. 2003; 111: 1235-1241. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.5946
  27. SGS Korea homepage, http://www.kr.sgs.com.
  28. European Union (EU). Risk Assessment Report. Octabromo diphenylether, derivate, Final Draft. 1999.
  29. Darnerud PO, Eriksen GS, Johannesson T, Larsen PB, Vilekula M. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers: occurrence, dietary exposure, and toxicology. Environ Health Perspect. 2001; 109: 49-68. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.01109s149
  30. Schecter A, Pavuk M, Papke O, Ryan JJ, Birnbaum L, Rosen R. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in U.S. mothers' milk. Environ Health Perspect. 2003; 111: 1723-1729. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.6466
  31. Morland KB, Landrigan PJ, Sjodin A, Gobeille AK, Jones RS, McGahee EE, et al. Body burdens of polybrominated diphenyl ethers among urban anglers. Environ Health Perspect. 2005; 113: 1689-1692. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.8138
  32. KHIDI. Report on 2005 national health and nutrition survey-Nutrition survey. Korea Health Industry Development Institute (in Korean). 2006.
  33. USEPA. Dioxin reassessment. Draft 2004. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2004.