Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in human breast adipose samples from Brazil

Twenty five human breast adipose tissue samples were collected in Porto Alegre, Brazil during 2004-2005 and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). SigmaPBDE concentrations (sum of tri- to hepta-BDEs) ranged from 0.19 to 132 ng/g lipid with a median of 1.51 ng/g lipid. These concentrations are 3- to 100-times lower than those reported from other countries, with the exception of Japan, probably reflecting lower usage of PBDE-containing products or lower exposures to these chemicals. The predominant congener was BDE-47, followed by BDEs 99, 183, 153 and 100. One individual in the dataset had about 70-times higher PBDE concentrations than the rest of the participants. SigmaPCB (sum of PCBs 118, 138, 153, 180) ranged from 30 to 339 ng/g lipid, with a median of 51 ng/g lipid. No age dependency was found for PBDEs (r=-0.800-0.374, p>0.05) or PCB 180 (r=0.278, p>0.05). On the other hand, PCBs 118, 138 and 153 did show age dependency (r=0.410-0.458, p<0.05). This is the first study to report levels of PBDEs in human breast adipose from Brazil.