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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in human breast milk from Colombia: Spatial occurrence, sources and
Carolina Torres-Moreno1, Laura Puente-DelaCruz1, Garry Codling2
1Environmental Chemistry Research Group, School of Exact and Natural Sciences, University Campus of San Pablo, University of Cartagena, Zaragocilla, Carrera 50 No. 24-99, Cartagena, 130015, Colombia.
Insights
Mothers
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Human Health Risk Assessment
Background:
- Diet is a primary pathway for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure.
- Breast milk analysis offers insight into maternal exposure and infant transfer.
- PAHs are environmental contaminants with potential health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- Quantify PAH concentrations in Colombian breast milk samples.
- Identify exposure routes and assess human health risks for infants.
- Evaluate the contribution of dietary sources, particularly fish, to PAH exposure.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 23 PAHs in 60 breast milk samples from three Colombian cities.
- Utilized Monte Carlo simulations to estimate Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR).
- Conducted dietary source assessment, comparing PAH levels based on fish consumption frequency and type.
Main Results:
- Average ∑PAHs concentration was 186.6 ng g⁻¹ lipid mass (LM), with variations across cities.
- Infant dietary exposure to PAHs indicated ILCRs exceeding safe reference values, though HQs remained below thresholds.
- Mothers consuming fish weekly showed ~2.5 times higher PAH concentrations; marine fish consumption linked to higher levels than freshwater fish.
Conclusions:
- Infant exposure to PAHs via diet poses a potential cancer risk.
- Fish consumption, especially marine varieties, is a significant dietary source of PAHs.
- Geographical factors may influence PAH exposure levels and dietary source contributions.
Abstract:
The diet is the main route that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) enter the body and measuring breast milk is one of the best ways to understand the maternal body burden and can be passed on to infants. In this study, it was determinate the concentrations of 23 PAHs in 60 milk samples taken from 3 cities in Colombia and to determine the potential routes of exposure and risk to human health. On average, concentration for the ∑PAHs across all locations was 186.6 ng g-1, lipid mass (LM), with city means of 260.1, 175.7, and 123.9 ng g-1 LM for Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations were used to estimate the hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for infant dietary exposure to PAHs. HQs were below the safe thresholds (HQ = 1) while ILCRs were greater than the reference value equal to 10-6 (mg kg-1day-1). Dietary source assessment indicated that fish is a significant source of PAHs, with mothers that consumed fish at least once per week having ∼2.5 times greater PAH milk concentrations than other groups. While a disparity was also observed among consumers of exclusively marine (∑PAHs 198.5 ng g-1 LM) or freshwater fish (∑PAHs 85.7 ng g-1 LM). However, geographical considerations can be significant in this finding.
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