Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Human Milk and Serum from the U.S. EPA MAMA Study: Modeled Predictions of Infant Exposure and Considerations for Risk Assessment

Abstract

Background:Serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in U.S. women are believed to be among the world’s highest; however, little information exists on the partitioning of PBDEs between serum and breast milk and how this may affect infant exposure.Objectives:Paired milk and serum samples were measured for PBDE concentrations in 34 women who participated in the U.S. EPA MAMA Study. Computational models for predicting milk PBDE concentrations from serum were evaluated.Methods:Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography isotope-dilution high-resolution mass spectrometry. Observed milk PBDE concentrations were compared with model predictions, and models were applied to NHANES serum data to predict milk PBDE concentrations and infant intakes for the U.S. population.Results:Serum and milk samples had detectable concentrations of most PBDEs. BDE-47 was found in the highest concentrations (median serum: 18.6; milk: 31.5 ng/g lipid) and BDE-28 had the highest milk:serum partitioning ratio (2.1 ± 0.2). No evidence of depuration was found. Models demonstrated high reliability and, as of 2007–2008, predicted U.S. milk concentrations of BDE-47, BDE-99, and BDE-100 appear to be declining but BDE-153 may be rising. Predicted infant intakes (ng/kg/day) were below threshold reference doses (RfDs) for BDE-99 and BDE-153 but above the suggested RfD for BDE-47.Conclusions:Concentrations and partitioning ratios of PBDEs in milk and serum from women in the U.S. EPA MAMA Study are presented for the first time; modeled predictions of milk PBDE concentrations using serum concentrations appear to be a valid method for estimating PBDE exposure in U.S. infants.Citation:Marchitti SA, Fenton SE, Mendola P, Kenneke JF, Hines EP. 2017. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in human milk and serum from the U.S. EPA MAMA Study: modeled predictions of infant exposure and considerations for risk assessment. Environ Health Perspect 125:706–713; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP332

Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Gut Microbiome Modulate Metabolic Syndrome–Related Aqueous Metabolites in Mice

“…Despite the fact that commercial formulations are no longer produced in, or imported into, the United States, PBDEs are ubiquitous in human serum and breast milk samples. Recent data from the Methods Advancement for Milk Analysis (MAMA) Study showed that the median serum concentration of BDE-47 was 18.6 ng/g lipid and 3.9 ng/g lipid for BDE-99 (Marchitti et al, 2017). Median breast milk concentrations for BDE-47 were observed in the same study to be 31.5 ng/g lipid, and 6 ng/g lipid for BDE-99.…”

“…80%-90% of total PBDEs in these mixtures (Sanders et al, 2005;LaA Guardia et al, 2006). are also two of the most prevalent PBDE congeners found in human samples (Sjödin et al, 2001;Schecter et al, 2003;Imm et al, 2009;Marchitti et al, 2017).…”

Troxerutin Reduces Kidney Damage against BDE‐47‐Induced Apoptosis via Inhibiting NOX2 Activity and Increasing Nrf2 Activity

“…PBDEs are widely present in the household and environment and have attracted people's attention because of their toxic action on animals including neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and endocrine toxicity. PBDEs have been detected in the blood, lipid tissue, and breast milk of human [ 30 – 32 ], which makes up a potential health risk. The investigations show that PBDEs significantly affect infant birth weight and birth length, thyroid function in young children, and neurodevelopment [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Chemical Contaminants in Raw and Pasteurized Human Milk

“…The majority of current research is dedicated to identifying chemical contaminants in traditional matrices like blood or urine, with much less focus on human milk, although it is known that chemicals in a mother’s body can be transferred to her milk from recent chemical exposures or from chemicals that were stored in her fat and then remobilized during pregnancy and lactation (LaKind, Berlin, & Naiman, 2001; Landrigan, Sonawane, Mattison, McCally, & Garg, 2002). Prior human milk studies have focused on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as DDT, PCBs (Schlumpf et al, 2010; Weldon et al, 2011), and PBDEs that are sequestered in adipose stores in the body (Guo et al, 2016; Hoffman et al, 2016; Kalantzi et al, 2004; Marchitti, Fenton, Mendola, Kenneke, & Hines, 2017; Schecter et al, 2003; Schlumpf et al, 2010). Other classes of contaminants have been detected but are less frequently studied, including current-use pesticides (Schlumpf et al, 2010; Weldon et al, 2011), BPA (Mendonca, Hauser, Calafat, Arbuckle, & Duty, 2014), and chemicals related to personal care product exposure such as parabens (Schlumpf et al, 2010), phthalates (Fromme, Gruber et al, 2011; Hines, Calafat, Silva, Mendola, & Fenton, 2009; Kim et al, 2015; Main et al, 2006; Schlumpf et al, 2010; Zhu, Phillips, Feng, & Yang, 2006; Zimmermann, Gruber, Schlummer, Smolic, & Fromme, 2012), and triclosan (Dayan, 2007).…”