Placental Transport of Dioxins from Mother to Fetus

Abstract

Placental transport of dioxins and furans from mother to fetus takes place. It is probably related to the fatty acid transport. Between 10 and 20% of fatty acids in a full-term baby are of maternal origin. In adipose tissue of children that died in the early neonatal period concentrations of ± 25% were found of three dioxin and furan congeners 12378 P5CDD, 123678 H6CDD, and 23478 P5CDF in relation to a mean concentration of these congeners in the fat of 14 breastmilk samples. Data of concentrations are given as measured in liver and adipose tissue. In the placenta of a Dutch woman an accumulation of dioxins and furans is found in relation to blood. Animal studies support the hypothesis that polychlorobifenyls play a role in the cause of the late hemorrhagic disease in the newborn, in particular the 2, 4, 5, 2, 4, 5-hexachlorobifenyl that is present in relatively high concentrations in breastmilk.

The effects of PCBs and dioxins on child health

“…The levels of various PCBs in foetal tissues have been analysed and the distribution suggests equilibration with the blood of the mother early during pregnancy with no increasing trend through pregnancy [4]. Thus, there is an equilibration of the levels of these substances between mother and child although there may also be placental accumulation of some congeners [5].…”