The human body burden of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) in residents' human milk from Guangdong Province, China. Issue 4 (28th May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Rui; Wang, Ping; Zhang, Jianqing; Chen, Shaowei; Zhu, Pan; Huo, Weilun; Jiang, Yousheng; Chen, Zihui; Peng, Jiewen
• Is Part Of: Toxicology research. Volume 8:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 552
• Page End: 559
• Publication Date: 2019-05-28
• Subjects: Toxicology -- Periodicals; 615.9005
• DOI: 10.1039/c8tx00337h
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-452X

Abstract

Graphical Abstract: Abstract: Human milk samples were collected from 179 mothers in 2017 and 2018 in six counties of Guangdong province, China. Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were determined to evaluate the human body burden of dioxin-like compounds on the general population of South China. Samples were analyzed using high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry in six pools, according to the subjects' resident county. The mean ∑PCDD/Fs and ∑DL-PCBs concentrations in human milk samples were 323.10 pg g −1 lipid and 2166.58 pg g −1 lipid, respectively, and the corresponding WHO toxicity equivalent (TEQ) values calculated with Toxic Equivalent Factors (TEFs) established by the WHO in 2005 (TEFWHO 2005 ) were 6.96 and 2.13 pg g −1 lipid. The concentrations of samples collected in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, were higher than those taken in the other five investigation regions. The levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in human milk and the estimated daily intake doses of breast-fed infants were still high when compared with some non-exposure areas in mainland China. TEQ levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in the present study have been compared to data obtained from a reported national study conducted in 2011. The mean TEQ (calculated with TEFWHO 2005 ) of ∑(DL-PCBs + PCDD/Fs) (8.4–9.0 pg g −1 lipid in 2011 vs. 9.09 pg g −1 lipid in 2018) seemed to be relatively stable during the period 2011–2018. These findings and continuing the surveillance of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in human milk will be helpful in furthering our understanding of human exposure to dioxin-like compounds in the general population.