Human milk as a bioindicator for body burden of PCDDs, PCDFs, organochlorine pesticides, and PCBs

Fürst, Peter; Fürst, C; Wilmers, K

doi:10.1289/ehp.94102s1187

Cited by 81 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…To resolve this issue, time-trends should best be followed on country-by-country basis. This has already been done for, e.g., Germany, Norway, The Netherlands, Japan and the USA, and confirms a downward trend (Furst et al 1994; LaKind et al 2001; Liem et al 2000; Papke 1998). This suggests that the possible downward trend in the WHO surveys may indeed be real and no coincidence due to the pooled samples.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

WHO/UNEP global surveys of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and DDTs in human milk and benefit–risk evaluation of breastfeeding

et al. 2016

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Since 1987, the World Health Organization (WHO) carried out global surveys on polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human milk. This study presents a review of the three most recent surveys from 2000 to 2010, including DDT. The objective was to identify global quantitative differences and provide baseline information for 52 countries or provide time-trends for countries with previous data. Individual human milk samples were collected following a WHO-designed procedure and combined to form a national pooled sample. Here, we report global levels for PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and the sum of o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDE, o,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDD (ΣDDTs). A concise risk–benefit evaluation related to human milk contamination with these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was also done. Large global and regional differences were observed. Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs were highest in India and some European and African countries. PCB levels were highest in East and West Europe. The highest levels of ΣDDTs were found in less industrialized countries. A temporal downward trend for PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs is indicated. A risk–benefit assessment indicates that human milk levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs are still significantly above those considered toxicologically safe, while ΣDDTs are below or around those considered safe. With respect to potential adverse health effects, a more dominant role of in utero exposure versus lactational exposure is indicated. If potential adverse effects are balanced against positive health aspects for (breastfed) infants, the advantages of breastfeeding far outweigh the possible disadvantages. Our observations provide a strong argument to plea for further global source-directed measures to reduce human exposure further to dioxin-like compounds.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

WHO/UNEP global surveys of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and DDTs in human milk and benefit–risk evaluation of breastfeeding

et al. 2016

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“…These manmade compounds are highly stable and have been used in numerous industrial products, such as diluents, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, dielectric fluids for capacitors and transformers and many more. Their lipophilic nature and resistance to degradation contribute to their ubiquitous environmental distribution and accumulation in the food chain (Bates et al , 1994); (Fürst et al , 1994). The general population thus is extensively exposed to PCBs through the consumption of contaminated foods, inhalation or skin absorption in work environments (Kogevinas et al , 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

PCB153 reduces telomerase activity and telomere length in immortalized human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) but not in human foreskin keratinocytes (NFK)

Senthilkumar

Robertson

Ludewig

2012

Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

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Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), ubiquitous environmental pollutants, are characterized by long term-persistence in the environment, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification in the food chain. Exposure to PCBs may cause various diseases, affecting many cellular processes. Deregulation of the telomerase and the telomere complex leads to several biological disorders. We investigated the hypothesis that PCB153 modulates telomerase activity, telomeres and reactive oxygen species resulting in the deregulation of cell growth. Exponentially growing immortal human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) and normal human foreskin keratinocytes (NFK) were incubated with PCB153 for 48 and 24 days, respectively, and telomerase activity, telomere length, superoxide level, cell growth, and cell cycle distribution were determined. In HaCaT cells exposure to PCB153 significantly reduced telomerase activity, telomere length, cell growth and increased intracellular superoxide levels from day 6 to day 48, suggesting that superoxide may be one of the factors regulating telomerase activity, telomere length and cell growth compared to untreated control cells. Results with NFK cells showed no shortening of telomere length but reduced cell growth and increased superoxide levels in PCB153-treated cells compared to untreated controls. As expected, basal levels of telomerase activity were almost undetectable, which made a quantitative comparison of treated and control groups impossible. The significant down regulation of telomerase activity and reduction of telomere length by PCB153 in HaCaT cells suggest that any cell type with significant telomerase activity, like stem cells, may be at risk of premature telomere shortening with potential adverse health effects for the affected organism.

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“…The average levels of DDT in BM have varied considerably among nations. After the restriction and the ban of DDT in some nations (in mid-1970s), average BM levels decreased substantially in many (Noren and Meironyte, 2000; Jensen and Slorach, 1991; Fürst et al 1994; Wickstrom et al 1983; Schade and Heinzow, 1998; Chao et al 2006; Shen et al 2007; Jaraczewska et al 2006) but not in all (Kunisue et al 2006; Subramanian et al 2007). Furthermore, several Asian studies (Sudaryanto et al 2006; Kunisue et al 2004a; Kunisue et al 2004b; Minh et al 2004; Sudaryanto et al 2005b; Yu et al 2003) reported accumulated DDT/DDE in BM close to or even higher than the tolerable daily intake guidelines proposed by Health Canada (Van Oostdam et al 1999).…”

Section: Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanementioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Biomarkers of Human Breast Milk Pollution

et al. 2008

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Human milk is, without question, the best source of nutrition for infants containing the optimal balance of fats, carbohydrates and proteins for developing babies. Breastfeeding provides a range of benefi ts for growth, immunity and development building a powerful bond between mother and her child. Recognition of the manifold benefi ts of breast milk has led to the adoption of breast-feeding policies by numerous health and professional organizations such as the World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics. In industrially developed as well as in developing nations, human milk contamination by toxic chemicals such as heavy metals, dioxins and organohalogen compounds, however, is widespread and is the consequence of decades of inadequately controlled pollution. Through breastfeeding, the mother may transfer to the suckling infant potentially toxic chemicals to which the mother has previously been exposed. In the present review, environmental exposure, acquisition and current levels of old and emerging classes of breast milk pollutants are systematically presented. Although scientifi c evidences indicated that the advantages of breast-feeding outweigh any risks from contaminants, it is important to identify contaminant trends, to locate disproportionately exposed populations, and to take public health measures to improve chemical BM pollution as possible.

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Human milk as a bioindicator for body burden of PCDDs, PCDFs, organochlorine pesticides, and PCBs

Cited by 81 publications

References 4 publications

WHO/UNEP global surveys of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and DDTs in human milk and benefit–risk evaluation of breastfeeding

WHO/UNEP global surveys of PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs and DDTs in human milk and benefit–risk evaluation of breastfeeding

PCB153 reduces telomerase activity and telomere length in immortalized human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) but not in human foreskin keratinocytes (NFK)

Chemical Biomarkers of Human Breast Milk Pollution

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