Levels and profiles of pentabromodiphenyl ether contaminants in human breast milk from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

To investigate levels of pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDEs) in breast milk samples from healthy mothers who had lived in Riyadh for the last 5 years.

In this cross sectional study, 75 samples were collected and were extracted, cleaned by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and PBDEs analysis was done using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Total PBDEs (∑PBDEs) ranged from 0.2 to 3.6 ng/g lipid weight (lw). BDE-47, -153, -99, and -209 were the dominant congeners. The mothers in this study consumed more meat (69%), followed by the egg (50%), and milk (36%). The majority of donors consumed fish (44%) and egg (33%) 2 times per week. The majority of the participating mothers had completed higher education (68%). All PBDE congeners were detected in the human breast milk samples with high detection frequency (98%). The dominant congener was BDE 47, accounting more than 39% of all BDE congeners, followed by BDE-99 and BDEs 153 which accounted for18% and 12% of the total BDE congeners respectively.

Higher rates of meat and poultry consumption were positively associated with higher breast milk levels of ∑PBDEs. The significant levels of PBDEs that occur in the meat and poultry reared in Saudi Arabia need further investigation especially as Saudis among largest consumers of poultry meat.