Matovu, HenrySillanpää, MikaSsebugere, Patrick2022-11-142022-11-142019Matovu, 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.2019.07.335https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.335https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/5241The 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.enPBDEsBreast milkEstimated dietary intakesHazard quotientsUgandaArticle