Temporal trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane in milk from Stockholm mothers, 1980–2004

Abstract

Environmental and human exposures to brominated flame retardants (BFR) have been of emerging concern since some BFR are persistent and bioaccumulative compounds. Among those, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) have frequently been reported in low to high ng/g concentrations in human blood around the world while hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) only occasionally has been reported and then in the low ppb concentrations in human blood. The present study concerns PBDE congener and HBCDD concentrations in human milk from Stockholm from 1980 to 2004. HBCDD concentrations has increased four to five times since 1980 until 2002 but seems to have stabilized at this concentration in the last years (2003/04). Similarly, BDE-153 has continued to increase at least to 2001, after which it has stabilized in the mother's milk. Other PBDE congeners with four to five bromine substituents peaked 5 years earlier (1995) and are all decreasing. DecaBDE (BDE-209) is not a suitable biomarker for time trend studies according to the present results, showing no changes over time. This is likely due to its short apparent half-life in humans and poor transfer from blood to milk.

Time trends of polybrominated diphenylether (PBDE) congeners in serum of Swedish mothers and comparisons to breast milk data

“…In fact, also levels of BDE-153 in breast milk seem to have started to decrease from about year 2004 , and a biphasic curve could be seen for BDE-153 in milk when the whole period 1996-2010 is studied. A study of PBDEs in mother's milk from women in Stockholm (1980Stockholm ( -2004 (Fangstrom et al, 2008) showed decreasing levels of BDE-47 from about 1995, while the levels of BDE-153 and HBCD seemed to have stabilized but not decreased after year 2000. The observed similarity between trends for BDE congeners in serum and breast milk is indeed expected from the results of our present study showing strong correlations between the levels in these two matrices upon analysis of paired serumbreast milk samples in first-time mothers.…”

Stoffmonographie für 1,2,5,6,9,10-Hexabromcyclododecan (HBCDD) - HBM-Werte für HBCDD im Fettanteil der Muttermilch oder des Blutplasmas

“…Hier zeigt sich von 1980 (< 0,1 ng/g Fett) bis 2004 (0,4 ng/g Fett) ein Anstieg der Konzentrationen in Muttermilchproben aus Stockholm [42]. Im Zeitraum von 1996-2006 lagen > 60 % der Proben (n = 335) aus Uppsala unterhalb der Bestimmungsgrenze (LOQ) von 0,2 ng/g Fett [43].…”

Lessons Learned From Flame Retardant Use And Regulation Could Enhance Future Control Of Potentially Hazardous Chemicals

“…For example, biomonitoring research showed that PBDE levels declined in Sweden after these chemicals were banned. 69 Such public health interventions and policies have the potential to improve health by decreasing exposure to toxic chemicals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a biomonitoring program that continues to raise public awareness and provides data for state and federal regulations and opportunities for public health actions.…”