A pilot study of pesticides and PCBs in the breast milk of women residing in urban and agricultural communities of California

Abstract

Currently, there is no nationally representative human milk biomonitoring program in the United States (U.S.) and no studies have reported non-persistent pesticides in the milk of U.S. women. In this pilot study we developed a multiresidue laboratory method to measure non-persistent and persistent pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in human milk samples from women residing in the agricultural region of Salinas, CA (n = 13) and the urban San Francisco Bay Area, CA (n = 21). Samples were collected from 2002-2007. Median concentrations in pg g(-1) milk among urban and agricultural women, respectively were reported for: chlorpyrifos (24.5 and 28.0), cis-permethrin (81.9 and 103), trans-permethrin (93.1 and 176), hexachlorobenzene (191 and 223), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (220 and 443), o,p'-DDT (36.6 and 62.4), p,p'-DDT,(107 and 102), o,p'-DDE (5.65 and 5.17), p,p'-DDE (3170 and 3490), dacthal (2.79 and 3.43), PCB 118 (92.8 and 17.0), PCB 138 (183 and 38.2), PCB 153 (242 and 43.6) and PCB 180 (239 and 683). Among urban women, median concentrations were 4.02 and 4.32 pg g(-1) milk for chlorpyrifos-methyl and propoxur, respectively. These results suggest that neonates and young children may be exposed to persistent and non-persistent pesticides and PCBs via breast milk.

Lactational Exposure to Pesticides: A Review

“…Chlorpyrifos India 24.5-28.0 pg/g milk lipid in urban women, Weldon et al [25] 1.91 ng/g milk, Bedi et al [27], 4.003 ng/g milk lipid, Srivastava et al [34] Chlorpyrifos-methyl USA 4.02 pg/g milk lipid in urban women, Weldon et al [25] Ethion India 48.000 ng/g milk lipid, Srivastava et al [34] Dimethoate India 85.888 ng/g milk lipid, Srivastava et al [34] Sri Lanka >50 µg/l milk, Samarawickrema et al [36] Profenophos India 2.66 ng/g milk, Bedi et al [27] Monocrotophos India 1.63 ng/g milk, Bedi et al [27] Phosalone India 0.29 ng/g milk, Bedi et al [27] …”

“…However, the median level of chlorpyrifos in agricultural women was 28 pg/g milk lipid. Japan 341 µg/g milk lipid, Nagayama et al [16] β-HCH USA 220-443 pg/g milk lipid, Weldon et al [25] UK 0.050 µg/g milk lipid, Harris et al [14] Germany 0.0116 µg/g milk lipid, Zietz et al [21] India 97.9 ng/g milk lipid, Bedi et al [27] γ -HCH India 101.7 ng/g milk lipid, Bedi et al [27] UK 0.025 µg/g milk lipid, Harris et al [14] Australia 80 ng/g lipid, Mueller et al [22] Chlordane Japan 69 µg/g milk lipid, Nagayama et al [16] Transnonachlor Australia 11 ng/g lipid, Mueller et al [22] On the other hand, many investigators have been studied the lactational transfer of organophosphorus compounds in animal as a model. Bakry et al [37] studied the milk transfer of phosfolan and mephosfolan in mice.…”

“…The median concentration of dimetoate in milk was >50 µg/l. In USA, human milk samples from women residing in the agricultural region of Salinas and the urban San Francisco Bay Area in California were collected from 2002-2007 for pesticide residue analysis Weldon et al [25]. The median concentrations of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl were 24.5 and 4.02 pg/g milk lipid, respectively among urban women.…”

“…Some other types of carbamates, thiocarbamates and dithiocarbamates, are used as herbicides and fungicides. Human milk samples from women residing in the urban region of San Francisco Bay Area in California were collected from 2002-2007 for pesticide residue analysis Weldon et al [25]. The median concentration of the carbamate insecticide propoxur was found to be 4.32 pg/g milk lipid.…”

“…Pan et al [24] indicated that the growth of infants exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and environmental endocrine disruptors such as p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE through breast feeding may be influenced. Human milk samples from women residing in the agricultural region of Salinas and the urban San Francisco Bay Area in California were collected from 2002-2007 for pesticide residue analysis Weldon et al [25]. The median concentrations of OCPs among urban and agricultural women were 0.191 and 0.223 ng/g milk lipid for HCB, 0.220 and 0.443 ng/g milk lipid for β-HCH, 0.0366 and 0.0624 ng/g milk lipid for o,p'-DDT, 0.107 and 0.102 ng/g milk lipid for p,p'-DDT, 0.0057 and 0.0052 ng/g milk lipid for o,p'-DDE and 3.170 and 3.490 ng/g milk lipid for p,p'-DDE, respectively.…”