| 1. |
- Fängström, Britta, et al.
(författare)
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A retrospective study of PBDEs and PCBs in human milk from the Faroe Islands
- 2005
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Ingår i: Environmental Health. - 1476-069X. ; 4:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundPersistent organic pollutants (POPs) in wildlife and humans remain a cause of global concern, both in regard to traditional POPs, such as the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and emerging POPs, such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). To determine the time related concentrations, we analyzed human milk for these substances at three time points between 1987 and 1999. Polychlorobiphenylols (OH-PCBs), the dominating class of PCB metabolites, some of which are known to be strongly retained in human blood, were also included in the assessment.MethodsWe obtained milk from the Faroe Islands, where the population is exposed to POPs from their traditional diet (which may include pilot whale blubber). In addition to three pools, nine individual samples from the last time point were also analyzed. After cleanup, partitioning of neutral and acidic compounds, and separation of chemical classes, the analyses were carried out by gas chromatography and/or gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.ResultsCompared to other European populations, the human milk had high PCB concentrations, with pool concentrations of 2300 ng/g fat 1987, 1600 ng/g fat in 1994, and 1800 ng/g fat in 1999 (based on the sum of eleven major PCB congeners). The nine individual samples showed great variation in PCB concentrations. The OH-PCBs were present in trace amounts only, at levels of approximately 1% of the PCB concentrations. The PBDE concentrations showed a clear increase over time, and their concentrations in human milk from 1999 are among the highest reported so far from Europe, with results of individual samples ranging from 4.7 to 13 ng/g fat.ConclusionAlthough remote from pollution sources, the Faroe Islands show high concentrations of POPs in human milk, particularly PCBs, but also PBDEs. The PBDEs show increasing concentrations over time. The OH-PCB metabolites are poorly transferred to human milk, which likely is related to their acidic character.
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| 2. |
- Fängström, Britta, et al.
(författare)
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Analys av polybromerade difenyletrar (PBDE) och hexabromcyklododekan (HBCDD) i human mjölk från Stockholm : en tidstrends studie
- 2005
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The objective of the present study was to assess the temporal trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), including decaBDE, and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) in mothers milk from the Stockholm area. The pooled samples were covering the time period 1980 to 2004, with emphasis on samples from the last ten years. The temporal trend of PBDEs must be expressed on a congener basis since the development of the individual PBDE congener concentrations differ. BDE-47, -99 and -100 concentrations reached a peak in the mid 1990’s and are now clearly showing decreasing levels. BDE-153 concentrations increased until year 2000 and thereafter the concentrations may level off but it is yet not clear how the concentrations of this PBDE congener will develop over the next few years. It is not possible to quantify decaBDE (BDE-209) in the human milk. This may be due to poor transfer to the milk lipids but most likely it is a result of the short half-life of this compound in human blood. HBCDD concentrations are 2004, approximately four times the concentration in 1980 showing an increasing temporal trend until the early 2000’s. It is too early to judge if the levels are decreasing or leveling off. The HBCDD concentrations are in a range between BDE-47 and BDE-99 and BDE-100.
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| 3. |
- Fängström, Britta, 1969-
(författare)
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Human exposure to organohalogen compounds in the Faroe Islands
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic are part of the sub-Arctic region, a remote region far from industrial activity. In spite of this remoteness, the Islands are not a sanctuary: exposures and effects of environmental pollutants mar its natural beauty and wildlife. In the Arctic regions, fish, sea mammals and seabirds have shown to contain elevated levels of the classical persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as more recent POPs such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Human populations living in the Arctic regions are usually highly dependent on seafood and seabirds as food sources, and diet becomes their major source of exposures to POPs. As reported in the 1980’s, residents of the Faroe Islands were shown to have high concentrations of organohalogen substances (OHS) in their breast milk. Long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) blubber and meat have been shown to be a major source of OHS exposure for some of the Faroe Islanders.The main objective of this thesis is to investigate the sources and concentrations of some POPs and their metabolites for the Faroese population. First, human milk and serum from pregnant women (mothers) and children were analyzed for PBDEs, PCBs, and polychlorinated biphenylols (OH-PCB), the major PCB metabolites. Second, POPs were measured in seabirds, i.e. PCBs in fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) and guillemots (Uria algae), and PBDEs in fulmars to search for other potential sources of POPs exposure.The results reinforce previous findings that part of the Faroe Island population is highly exposed to OHS. Median concentrations (430 ng/g lipid weight (l.w.) of CB-153) in maternal serum (1994-95) are among the highest in the world. Serum concentrations of CB-153 in children (age 7, samples collected in the early 2000’s) were approximately 90% of those in the mothers, sampled 1994-95. Similarly high CB-153 concentrations (380 ng/g l.w.) were measured in samples of mother’s milk, collected in 1999. The OH-PCB concentrations were also high in segments of the population, with 2.9 ng/g fresh weight as the sum of five OH-PCBs. Except for 4-OH-CB107, concentrations of OH-PCBs were generally lower in children than in mothers.The ΣPBDE median concentrations in maternal serum and human milk (1999) are at the higher end of those reported in Europe, with levels of 9.5 and 8.2 ng/g l.w. respectively. ΣPBDE levels increase in human milk samples collected at three different time points (1987-1999), mainly due to increasing BDE-153 concentrations. The range of serum ΣPBDE concentrations in mothers and children are similar, although the congener patterns show differences. BDE-47 is the dominant congener in maternal serum, while BDE-153 is the major congener in children. The differences seen in PBDE congener patterns may arise differences in dates of sampling (7 years) for the two populations, maternal serum sampled in 1994-95 and children serum sampled in 2000-01, rather than from differences in uptake/metabolism or in contemporary exposures.PCB concentrations in fulmars and pilot whales show similar ranges. In contrast, PBDE concentrations are 100 times higher in pilot whales than in fulmars. Consequently, Faroese may be especially exposed to PCBs via consumption of fulmars and fulmar eggs, while the exposure to PBDEs is less pronounced.Results from this thesis highlight the pronounced exposures to PCBs, OH-PCBs, and PBDEs among residents of the Faroe Islands, a remote region in the Northern Atlantic far away from industrial and urban sources of pollution.
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| 4. |
- Fängström, Britta, et al.
(författare)
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Hydroxylated PCB Metabolites in Non-hatched Fulmar Eggs from the Faroe Islands
- 2005
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Allen Press. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 3:34, s. 184-187
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thirty-six polychlorinated biphenylols (OH-PCBs) conge-ners were characterized in Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) eggs collected from the Faroe Islands. The seven most abundant congeners were quantified in 19 samples, and the XOH-PCB concentrations ranged between 0.92 and 4.0 ng g 1 fresh weight (f.w.). These eggs constitute a part of the traditional diet for at least a part of the population on the Faroe Islands and may contribute to the high levels of these contaminants found in the blood of pregnant Faroese women. Because the metabolites are present in the nonhatched fulmar egg, it is concluded that the OH-PCBs are transferred to the egg before laying. High levels, 3300- 18 000 ng g-1 l.w., of 2polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) were determined in the fulmar eggs, which are a consider-able source for human exposure. The high PCB levels are a source for metabolic formation of hydroxylated PCBs.
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| 5. |
- Fängström, Britta, et al.
(författare)
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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and traditional organochlorine pollutants in fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) from the Faroe Islands
- 2005
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier Ltd. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 60:7, s. 836-843
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The observed high-level burdens of organohalogens among the residents of the Faroe Islands, needs to be explained. Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) blubber and meat are known sources of environmental exposure. The present study focus on the organohalogen contamination of the fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis). The compounds quantified in fulmar muscle, fat, and egg are PCBs, DDTs, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The dominating pollutants are the 4,4′-DDT metabolite 4,4′-DDE and the two PCB congeners, CB-153 and CB-180, which are present in geometric mean concentrations of 7100, 4700 and 2500 ng/g lipid weight (l.w.), respectively, in adult fulmar muscle. 4,4′-DDT and HCB concentrations are approximately 250 ng/g l.w., each. Concentrations in the eggs are about 50% of the fulmar muscle levels, due to differences in lipid amounts, 4% in muscle and 10% in the eggs, the exposure contribution on a fresh weight basis is almost the same. As a result, both the egg and the adult fulmar muscle may lead to a significant exposure risk, if consumed by humans. BDE-153, the most abundant PBDE congener in fulmar muscle, with a geometric mean concentration of 6.5 ng/g l.w., is much lower than the individual PCB congeners and 4,4′-DDE concentrations. In the adult fulmar muscle, the relative PBDE congener pattern is different from that previously observed in biota, with BDE-153 and BDE-154 as the dominating congeners, rather than BDE-47. In contrast, BDE-47 is the most abundant congener in juvenile muscle and subcutaneous fat. The ∑PBDE concentrations are almost the same in egg, muscle (adult and juvenile) and subcutaneous fat (juvenile). For the polybrominated biphenyl (BB-153) the concentrations are considerably higher in the adult bird and egg than in the juvenile bird; this is also seen for the PCB and 4,4′-DDE concentrations. PCB concentrations found in fulmar egg and muscle are in the same range as seen in the pilot whale, i.e. 590–5700 ng/g l.w. for CB-153. Hence humans are also exposed to PCBs at a reasonable degree via intake of fulmar and/or fulmar egg and not only via pilot whale blubber.
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| 6. |
- Fängström, Britta, et al.
(författare)
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Rapport till Naturvårdsverket för projektet "Analys av polybromerade difenyletrar (PBDE) och hexabromcyklododekan (HBCDD) i human mjölk från Stockholm – en tidstrends studie [Dnr 721-2653-05Mm]
- 2005
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The objective of the present study was to assess the temporal trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), including decaBDE, and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) in mothers milk from the Stockholm area. The pooled samples were covering the time period 1980 to 2004, with emphasis on samples from the last ten years. The temporal trend of PBDEs must be expressed on a congener basis since the development of the individual PBDE congener concentrations differ. BDE-47, -99 and -100 concentrations reached a peak in the mid 1990’s and are now clearly showing decreasing levels. BDE-153 concentrations increased until year 2000 and thereafter the concentrations may level off but it is yet not clear how the concentrations of this PBDE congener will develop over the next few years. It is not possible to quantify decaBDE (BDE-209) in the human milk. This may be due to poor transfer to the milk lipids but most likely it is a result of the short half-life of this compound in human blood. HBCDD concentrations are 2004, approximately four times the concentration in 1980 showing an increasing temporal trend until the early 2000’s. It is too early to judge if the levels are decreasing or leveling off. The HBCDD concentrations are in a range between BDE-47 and BDE-99 and BDE-100.
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| 7. |
- Fängström, Britta, et al.
(författare)
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Temporal trends of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane in milk from Stockholm mothers, 1980-2004.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Molecular Nutrition & Food Research. - : Wiley. - 1613-4125 .- 1613-4133. ; 52, s. 187-193
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental and human exposures to brominated flame retardants (BFR) have been of emerging concern since some BFR are persistent and bioaccumulative compounds. Among those, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) have frequently been reported in low to high ng/g concentrations in human blood around the world while hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) only occasionally has been reported and then in the low ppb concentrations in human blood. The present study concerns PBDE congener and HBCDD concentrations in human milk from Stockholm from 1980 to 2004. HBCDD concentrations has increased four to five times since 1980 until 2002 but seems to have stabilized at this concentration in the last years (2003/04). Similarly, BDE-153 has continued to increase at least to 2001, after which it has stabilized in the mother's milk. Other PBDE congeners with four to five bromine substituents peaked 5 years earlier (1995) and are all decreasing. DecaBDE (BDE-209) is not a suitable biomarker for time trend studies according to the present results, showing no changes over time. This is likely due to its short apparent half-life in humans and poor transfer from blood to milk.
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| 8. |
- Hertz-Picciotto, I., et al.
(författare)
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Polybrominated dipheny ehters in relation to autism and developmental delay : A case-control study
- 2011
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Ingår i: Environmental Health. - 1476-069X. ; 10, s. 1-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants used widely and in increasing amounts in the U.S. over the last few decades. PBDEs and their metabolites cross the placenta and studies in rodents demonstrate neurodevelopmental toxicity from prenatal exposures. PBDE exposures occur both via breastfeeding and hand-to-mouth activities in small children. Methods: Participants were 100 children from the CHARGE (CHildhood Autism Risk from Genetics and the Environment) Study, a case-control epidemiologic investigation of children with autism/autism spectrum disorder, with developmental delay and from the general population. Diagnoses of autism were confirmed by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Autism Diagnostic Inventory-Revised, and of developmental delay using the Mullen's Scales of Early Learning and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales. Typically developing controls were those with no evidence of delay, autism, or autism spectrum disorder. Eleven PBDE congeners were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry from serum specimens collected after children were assessed. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between plasma PBDEs and autism. Results: Children with autism/autism spectrum disorder and developmental delay were similar to typically developing controls for all PBDE congeners, but levels were high for all three groups. Conclusions: Plasma samples collected post-diagnosis in this study may not represent early life exposures due to changes in diet and introduction of new household products containing PBDEs. Studies with direct measurements of prenatal or infant exposures are needed to assess the possible causal role for these compounds in autism spectrum disorders.
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| 9. |
- Hovander, Lotta, et al.
(författare)
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Levels of PCBs and their metabolites in the serum of residents of a highly contaminated area in eastern Slovakia
- 2006
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 40:12, s. 3696-3703
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The over-riding aim of the present investigation was to obtain information concerning exposure that can be used as a basis for studies on the health of individuals residing in the Michalovce area of eastern Slovakia which is heavily contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Accordingly, this work focused on determination of serum concentrations of hydroxylated (OH-PCBs) and methylsulfonyl-substituted (MeSO2-PCBs) metabolites of PCBs. One hundred and twenty-two men and women, 20-59 years of age, living in the contaminated area and 175 from the control Stropkov/Svidnik district were selected randomly from 2047 sampled individuals. Following a specially designed cleanup, the levels of various congeners of OH-PCBs and MeSO2-PCBs in their serum were quantitated by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, with comparison to authentic reference standards. The median concentrations of PCB congeners and their OH-PCB and MeSO2-PCB metabolites were 2-3-fold higher in residents of Michalovce than in the control region. The levels of certain OH-PCB metabolites were in the same high range as those of individual PCB congeners, whereas the MeSO2-PCB levels were significantly lower. The PCB and their metabolites were present at slightly higher concentrations in men than in women, and the serum levels of PCBs and MeSO2-PCBs increased with increasing age. Thus, the environmental contamination resulting from previous industrial production of PCBs has led to elevated concentrations of PCBs and their metabolites in the serum of individuals living in the Michalovce area.
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| 10. |
- Rose, Melissa, et al.
(författare)
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PBDEs in 2-5 Year-Old Children from California and Associations with Diet and Indoor Environment
- 2010
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 44:7, s. 2648-2653
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study determined the body burden of PBDEs in 100 California children, and evaluated associations with sociodemographic, household, and dietary factors. In national and international comparisons, California dust, breast milk, and human serum samples contain higher concentrations of PBDEs. Higher levels in children suggest exposure pathways depend upon age. Plasma samples were analyzed for PBDEs using GC/MS. Circulating levels of PBDEs were 10-to 1000-fold higher than similar aged populations in Mexico and Europe, 5-times higher than similar aged children across the U.S., and 2- to 10-fold higher than U.S. adults. Increased levels of higher-brominated congeners were associated with the recent purchase of new upholstered furniture or mattresses and consumption of pork. Concentrations of lower-brominated congeners increased with frequency of poultry consumption. Lower maternal education was independently and significantly associated with higher levels of most congeners in the children.
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