Exposure to specific polychlorinated biphenyls and some chlorinated pesticides via breast milk in Poland

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that resist biochemical degradation, moving long distances across the atmosphere before deposition occurs. Our goal was to provide up-to-date data on the levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in breast milk from Chilean women and to estimate the exposure of infants due to breast milk consumption. In Chile, we conducted a cross-sectional study based on methodologies proposed by the WHO, with a sample of 30 women recruited from three defined areas: 10 from the Arica Region (urban; Arica and Parinacota Region), 10 from Coltauco (rural; O’Higgins Region), and 10 from Molina (40% rural; Maule Region). High-resolution gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRGC/HRMS) was performed on pooled samples from each area. We calculated equivalent toxic concentrations (WHO-TEQ) based on the current WHO Toxic Equivalency Factors (TEF). The minimum and maximum values of ∑ PCDDs/Fs + DL-PCBs-TEQ were 4.317 pg TEQ/g fat in Coltauco and 6.31 pg TEQ/g fat in Arica. Molina had a total TEQ of 5.50 pg TEQ/g fat. The contribution of PCDD/Fs was approximately five-fold higher than that of DL-PCBs. The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of ∑ PCDDs/Fs + DL-PCBs based on the three pooled samples ranged between 6.71 and 26.28 pg TEQ/kg body weight (bw)/day, with a mean intake of 16.11 (±6.71) pg TEQ/kg bw/day in breastfed children from 0 to 24 months old. These levels were lower than those reported in international studies. Despite the fact that the observed levels were low compared to those in most industrialized countries, the detection of a variety of POPs in breast milk from Chilean women indicates the need for follow-up studies to determine whether such exposures during childhood could represent a health risk in adulthood.

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Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Chlorinated Pesticides in Mussels Collected from the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ◽

10.1007/s00128-003-0163-5 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 71 (2) ◽

pp. 290-297 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

A. El Nemr ◽

T. O. Said ◽

A. Khaled ◽

A. El Sikaily ◽

A. M. A. Abd-Allah

Keyword(s):

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Mediterranean Coast ◽

Chlorinated Pesticides

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and chlorinated pesticides in background air in central Europe – investigating parameters affecting wet scavenging of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics ◽

10.5194/acp-15-1795-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 1795-1805 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

P. Shahpoury ◽

G. Lammel ◽

A. Holubová Šmejkalová ◽

J. Klánová ◽

P. Přibylová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Polychlorinated Biphenyls ◽

Central Europe ◽

Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽

Ionic Species ◽

Chlorinated Pesticides ◽

Limit Of Quantification ◽

Polycyclic Aromatic ◽

Wet Scavenging

Abstract. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlorinated pesticides (CPs) were measured in air and precipitation at a background site in central Europe. ∑ PAH concentrations in air and rainwater ranged from 0.7 to 327.9 ng m−3 and below limit of quantification (< LOQ) to 2.1 × 103 ng L−1. The concentrations of PCBs and CPs in rainwater were < LOQ. ∑ PCB and ∑ CP concentrations in air ranged from < LOQ to 44.6 and < LOQ to 351.7 pg m−3, respectively. The potential relationships between PAH wet scavenging and particulate matter and rainwater properties were investigated. The concentrations of ionic species in particulate matter and rainwater were significantly correlated, highlighting the importance of particle scavenging process. Overall, higher scavenging efficiencies were found for relatively less volatile PAHs, underlining the effect of analyte gas-particle partitioning on scavenging process. The particulate matter removal by rain, and consequently PAH wet scavenging, was more effective when the concentrations of ionic species were high. In addition, the elemental and organic carbon contents of the particulate matter were found to influence the PAH scavenging.

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