Plasma Concentrations of Selected Organobromine Compounds and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Postmenopausal Women of Québec, Canada

Abstract

BackgroundBrominated flame retardants, especially polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), have been widely used in North America, but little is known about the level of exposure of human populations to these compounds.ObjectivesWe set out to assess the internal exposure of postmenopausal Canadian women to selected organobromine compounds and to investigate factors associated with this exposure.MethodsWe measured concentrations of four PBDEs, one polybrominated biphenyl, and for comparative purposes, 41 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in plasma samples from 110 healthy postmenopausal women who were recruited at a mammography clinic in 2003–2004.ResultsPBDE-47 was the major PBDE congener, with a mean (geometric) concentration of 8.1 ng/g lipids and extreme values reaching 1,780 ng/g. By comparison, the mean concentration of the major PCB congener (PCB-153) was 41.7 ng/g and the highest value was 177 ng/g. PBDEs 47, 99, and 100 were strongly intercorrelated, but weaker correlations were noted with PBDE-153. As the sum of PBDEs (∑PBDEs) increased, the relative contribution of PBDE-47 to the ∑PBDEs increased, whereas that of PBDE-153 decreased. PBDE-153 was the only brominated compound correlated to PCB-153. PBDE levels were not linked to any sociodemographic, anthropometric, reproductive, or lifestyle variables documented in the present study. Age and body mass index gain since the age of 18 years were significant predictors of PCB-153 plasma levels.ConclusionOur results suggest that exposure to PBDE-47 likely occurs through direct contact with the penta-PBDE formulation, whereas exposure to PBDE-153 may originate in part from the food chain.

Prenatal exposure to DDT in malaria endemic region following indoor residual spraying and in non-malaria coastal regions of South Africa

“…Waters Corp., Milford, MA, USA) according to the method by Sandanger et al, (Sandanger et al, 2007). In short, internal standards (C-13 labelled p,p´-DDE and p,p´-DDT), formic acid (2 ml) and water (2 ml) were added to the plasma samples (2 ml), vortexed and left overnight in a refrigerator.…”

Levels of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood from delivering women in seven selected areas of São Paulo State, Brazil

“…In urban areas, domestic use of insecticides was assumed to be a mode of exposure, whereas in rural area agricultural sites, spraying was thought to be the predominant source of exposure. The questionnaire was based on prior studies of women and newborns, translated and adapted for the Brazilian population (Sandanger et al, 2007).…”

“…In short, an internal standard mixture (containing fifteen 13°C labelled PCBs and eleven of the chlorinated pesticides) was added to 2 ml of blood before mixing with 2 ml of ethanol and 2 ml of deionised water saturated with ammonium sulphate, and extracted twice with 10 ml of n-hexane in a small glass tube. The volume of the extract was reduced to 0.5 ml using the Rapidvap (Labconco Corp., Kansas City, MO), before clean up and fractionation on a florisil column as described previously (Sandanger et al, 2007).…”

Adiposity, body composition, and weight change in relation to organochlorine pollutant plasma concentrations

“…Higher blood concentrations have been measured in obese vs lean individuals, even after the typical ''correction'' of the organochlorine concentration for blood lipids; 1--4 however, inverse associations between organochlorines and body mass index (BMI) have also been observed. 4,5 It is likely that the association between body composition and organochlorine concentration differs by the compound, due to differing chemical properties and excretion rates as well as patterns of historical use and current exposure, 6 but there are few such published data on specific organochlorines. Circulating organochlorine concentrations are also affected by weight change in that weight loss results in reduction of the adipose tissue compartment and thus leads to increased organochlorine concentrations in both adipose tissue and blood ---at least in the short term 7--9 ---however, it is not well described how weight change throughout the adult life or historical weight loss episodes affect in vivo organochlorine concentrations at older ages.…”