Improving infant exposure and health risk estimates: using serum data to predict polybrominated diphenyl ether...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology
• Public Health

Background:

• High polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) levels in U.S. women's breast milk raise concerns for infant development.
• Assessing infant chemical exposure sustainably is a priority for public health agencies.
• PBDE data exists for serum but not breast milk, limiting exposure assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply congener-specific linear regression partitioning models to predict polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentrations in U.S. breast milk.
• To utilize U.S. serum data to estimate population-level PBDEs exposure in breastfeeding infants.
• To provide a cost-effective and sustainable method for monitoring PBDEs in breast milk.

Main Methods:

• Developed linear regression partitioning models using existing paired breast milk and serum PBDE data.
• Applied the developed models to 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) serum data from U.S. women.
• Estimated median PBDE concentrations in U.S. breast milk, including specific congeners like BDE-47 and BDE-99.

Main Results:

• Highest estimated median U.S. breast milk concentrations were BDE-47 (30.6 ng/g lipid) and BDE-99 (6.1 ng/g lipid).
• The median concentration of total seven PBDEs (Σ7PBDEs) was estimated at 54.2 ng/g lipid.
• Model predictions for breast milk PBDE concentrations aligned with findings from 11 concurrent U.S. studies.

Conclusions:

• The developed models offer a sustainable approach for estimating population-level PBDEs concentrations in U.S. breast milk.
• These estimations can improve the accuracy of exposure assessments for breastfeeding infants.
• The study provides valuable data for public health initiatives aimed at reducing chemical exposures in infants.