Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorine pesticides in human milk as markers of environmental exposure to these compounds

This study aimed at the generation of preliminary results allowing for the assessment of breastfed infants exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which constitute important contaminants in places of human habitation. The second goal was to compare the concentrations of these compounds with other contaminants which people are exposed to via food chain. 28 breast milk samples from women living in Warsaw and neighbourhood were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153), polychlorinated biphenyls (CB-77, CB-101, CB-118, CB-126, CB- 138, CB-153, CB170, CB-180) and organochlorine pesticides (HCB, β-HCH, γ-HCH, p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT). The ΣDDT levels noted in our studies were higher than in other European countries. The concentrations of the examined polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated diphenyl ethers did not diverge from the levels presented by other authors and are comparable to the levels noted in other countries in Europe.