Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in mothers' breast milk and associated health risk to nursing infants in Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Science of The Total Environment
Abstract
The aimof this studywas to investigate levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk samples
from healthy primiparous mothers who had lived in Kampala capital city (urban area) and Nakaseke district (a
rural area) for the last five years. Fifty sampleswere collected between March and June 2018 andwere extracted
by dispersive solid-phase extraction (SPE). Clean-up was performed on an SPE column and analysis was done
using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Total (Σ) PBDEs (BDE 28, 47, 49, 66, 77, 99, 100,138,153, 154,
183 and 209) ranged from0.59 to 8.11 ng/g lipidweight (lw). The levels of PBDEs in samples fromKampala capital
citywere significantly higher than those fromNakaseke (p b 0.01,Mann-Whitney U test). Themost dominant
congenerswere BDE-209 and -47 (contributed 37.1% and 20.2%, respectively toΣPBDEs), suggesting recent exposure
of mothers to deca-and penta-BDE formulations. Fish and egg consumption, plastics/e-waste recycling
and paint fumes were associated with higher levels of BDE-47, -153 and -99, respectively, implying that diet
and occupation were possible sources of the pollutants. Estimated dietary intakes (ng kg−1 body weight
day−1) for BDE-47, -99 and -153 were below the US EPA reference doses for neurodevelopmental toxicity, suggestingminimal
health risks to nursing infantswho feed on themilk. Generally, the risk quotients for BDE-47, -99
and -153 were b1 in majority (96%) samples, indicating that the breast milk of mothers in Uganda was fit for
human consumption.
Description
Keywords
PBDEs, Breast milk, Estimated dietary intakes, Hazard quotients, Uganda
Citation
Matovu, H., Sillanpää, M., & Ssebugere, P. (2019). Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in mothers' breast milk and associated health risk to nursing infants in Uganda. Science of The Total Environment , 692 , 1106-1115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.335