Human Milk as a Vector and an Indicator of Exposure to PCBs and PBDEs: Temporal Trend of Samples Collected in Rome

• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-011-0262-7
• Publication Date: 2011-04-04T04:22:23Z
• Authors: S. Alivernini; C. L. Battistelli; L. Turrio-Baldass...
• Keywords: Adult; Time Factors; Milk, Human; Rome; Food Contamination; Environmental Exposure; Polychlorinated Biphenyls; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences; 13. Climate action; Surveys and Questionnaires; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; Humans; Environmental Pollutants; Female; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Thirty-seven polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners and seven polybromodiphenylether (PBDE) congeners were measured in human milk samples collected in Rome between 2005 and 2007. The comparison of results with two previous studies performed in Rome in 1984 and in 2000-2001 indicates a 64% decrease of PCB levels, still in progress; profile differences with time were also evident as lighter congeners are less relevant now; data are in good agreement with recent European studies. PBDE contamination profiles were different in individual samples and a similar variability was observed in data from different countries, suggesting different exposure pathways and profiles.