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Published on: March 6, 2018
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in cord blood from women in Poland
Agnieszka Hernik1, Katarzyna Góralczyk, Paweł Struciński
1Department of Toxicology and Risk Assessment, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland. ahernik@pzh.gov.pl
Insights
Prenatal exposure to Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is common in Poland. Analysis of cord blood reveals widespread presence of specific PBDEs and PCBs, indicating early-life exposure.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants.
- Prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants is a growing public health concern.
- Assessing exposure levels in vulnerable populations, such as fetuses, is crucial for understanding health risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate prenatal exposure to specific PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153) and PCBs (CB-77, CB-101, CB-118, CB-126, CB-138, CB-153, CB-170, CB-180).
- To analyze the presence and concentration of these compounds in human cord blood samples.
- To compare findings with existing European data.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 89 cord blood samples from women in Warsaw and surrounding areas.
- Quantification of target PBDE and PCB congeners using advanced analytical techniques.
- Statistical analysis of contaminant concentrations and frequencies.
Main Results:
- Over 90% of samples showed detectable levels of CB-153, CB-138, CB-180, and BDE-47.
- CB-138 and CB-153 were the most abundant PCBs; CB-170 and CB-126 were least abundant.
- BDE-47 and BDE-99 constituted the largest proportion of total PBDEs.
- Detected levels in Poland were comparable to those found in other European populations.
Conclusions:
- Human exposure to selected PBDEs and PCBs occurs during the intrauterine period.
- Cord blood analysis is a valuable tool for assessing prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants.
- The findings suggest a consistent level of exposure across European populations.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess human exposure in the prenatal period to selected PBDEs (BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-153) and PCBs (CB-77, CB-101, CB-118, CB-126, CB-138, CB-153, CB-170, CB-180) basing on the analysis of these compounds in cord blood. The experimental material consisted of 89 cord blood samples taken from women resident in Warsaw and its vicinity. In over 90% of all tested samples the presence of congeners CB-153, CB-138, CB-180 and BDE-47 was identified. The least frequently found were CB-126 and BDE-153, which were present at relatively low concentration levels. Among all analysed PCBs, the highest average concentrations were found in the case of congeners CB-138 (11.8 ng/g of fat) and CB-153 (43.4 ng/g of fat), whereas the lowest was in the case of CB-170 (0.4 ng/g of fat) and CB-126 (0.1 ng/g of fat). In the case of PBDEs the greatest share in the total concentration was that of the congeners BDE-47 and BDE-99, whereas the smallest share was that of the higher brominated congener BDE-153. These results suggest that human exposure to the examined compounds begins already in the period of intrauterine life. The comparison of our own results with the findings of other authors indicates that the PCBs and PBDEs levels in cord blood of women living in Poland do not differ from the respective concentrations in cord blood of other female inhabitants of Europe.
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