Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) in human milk: effects of maternal factors and previous lactation
The authors measured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) in maternal serum, cord blood, placenta, and serial samples of breast milk from 868 women. Almost all samples of breast milk showed detectable levels of both chemicals. Overall, values for DDE in this study are within the range of those found previously, whereas those for PCBs are somewhat higher. Possible causes of variation in levels were investigated. For DDE, older women, Black women, cigarette smokers, and women who consumed sport fish during pregnancy had higher levels; only age and race showed large effects. For PCBs, older women, women who regularly drink alcohol, and primiparae had higher levels. In addition, both chemicals showed modest variation across occupational groupings. Casual exposure to a PCB spill did not result in chemical levels different from background. In general, women have higher levels in their first lactation and in the earlier samples of a given lactation, and levels decline both with time spend breast-feeding and with number of children nursed. These striking declines are presumably a measured of exposure to the child.
- Research Organization:
- National Institute of Environmental Health Services, Research Triangle Park, NC
- OSTI ID:
- 6940382
- Journal Information:
- Am. J. Public Health; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Public Health; (United States) Vol. 76:2; ISSN AJHEA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
AGE DEPENDENCE
AGE GROUPS
ALCOHOLS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
AROMATICS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLACK AMERICANS
BLOOD
BLOOD SERUM
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CHILDREN
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COLLOIDS
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DISPERSIONS
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FISHES
FOOD
GLANDS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INFANTS
INGESTION
INTAKE
LACTATION
MAMMALS
MAMMARY GLANDS
MAN
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MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
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MILK
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OCCUPATIONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
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PRIMATES
RESIDUES
SMOKES
SOLS
SURVEILLANCE
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOBACCO SMOKES
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN