Volume 37, Issue 2, March 2014, Pages 543–552
Polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in human milk samples from two regions in Croatia
Highlights
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- We analyzed 27 organochlorine compounds in human milk samples from Croatia.
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- p,p′-DDE, PCB-153, PCB-138 and PCB-180 were found in the highest concentrations.
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- TEQ values were higher in samples from Zadar in comparison to Zagreb.
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- Organochlorine compounds levels decreased significantly in 10 years period.
Abstract
We
analyzed 20 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and seven organochlorine
pesticides (OCPs) in milk samples collected during 2009–2011 from
primiparae living in two different regions in Croatia. p,p′-DDE is the dominant organochlorine pesticide. α-HCH/γ-HCH and p,p′-DDE/p,p′-DDT
ratios indicate that there is fresh input of γ-HCH in investigated
population on both locations, while this is not applicable to p,p′-DDT. The PCB profile was dominated by higher chlorinated congeners. Non-ortho PCB congeners which have the highest TEF values were not detected in any of individual samples. Toxic equivalents for mono-ortho
substituted PCB congeners indicated higher exposure to toxic PCBs in
Zadar, but estimated daily intakes for both locations indicate that
infants consuming mother's milk are not at risk of adverse effects
caused by PCBs and OCPs. Our study builds on the previous research of
human milk samples collected in Zagreb and reveals that over 10-year
period, levels of investigated organochlorine compounds decreased
significantly.
Keywords
- PCB congeners;
- Organochlorine pesticides;
- Human milk;
- Croatia;
- TEQ
- Corresponding
author at: Biochemistry and Organic Analytical Chemistry Unit,
Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Ksaverska c. 2,
10 001 Zagreb, Croatia. Tel.:
+385 14682 554; fax: +385 14673 303.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
