Brominated flame retardants in breast milk from the United States: First detection of bromophenols in U.S. breast milk

Schreder，Erika1; Zheng，Guomao2; Sathyanarayana，Sheela3,4; Gunaje，Navya4; Hu，Min2; Salamova，Amina5

2023-10-01

10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122028

Environmental Pollution   Impact Factor & Quartile

0269-7491

1873-6424

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are a class of compounds with many persistent, toxic, and bioaccumulative members. BFRs have been widely detected in breast milk, posing health risks for breastfeeding infants. Ten years after the phaseout of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the United States, we analyzed breast milk from 50 U.S. mothers for a suite of BFRs to assess current exposures to BFRs and the impact of changing use patterns on levels of PBDEs and current-use compounds in breast milk. Compounds analyzed included 37 PBDEs, 18 bromophenols, and 11 other BFRs. A total of 25 BFRs were detected, including 9 PBDEs, 8 bromophenols, and 8 other BFRs. PBDEs were found in every sample but at concentrations considerably lower than in previous North American samples, with a median ∑PBDE concentration (sum of 9 detected PBDEs) of 15.0 ng/g lipid (range 1.46–1170 ng/g lipid). Analysis of time trends in PBDE concentrations in North American breast milk indicated a significant decline since 2002, with a halving time for ∑PBDE concentrations of 12.2 years; comparison with previous samples from the northwest U.S region showed a 70% decline in median levels. Bromophenols were detected in 88% of samples with a median ∑bromophenol concentration (sum of 12 detected bromophenols) of 0.996 ng/g lipid and reaching up to 71.1 ng/g lipid. Other BFRs were infrequently detected but concentrations reached up to 278 ng/g lipid. These results represent the first measurement of bromophenols and other replacement flame retardants in breast milk from U.S. mothers. In addition, these results provide data on current PBDE contamination in human milk, as PBDEs were last measured in U.S. breast milk ten years ago. The presence of phased-out PBDEs, bromophenols, and other current-use flame retardants in breast milk reflects ongoing prenatal exposure and increased risk for adverse impacts on infant development.

Breast milk Brominated flame retardants Bromophenols Electronics Human biomonitoring Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)

English

Others

ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY

2-s2.0-85165202793

Scopus

1.Toxic-Free Future,Seattle,98103,United States
2.School of Environmental Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.Department of Pediatrics,University of Washington,Seattle,98195,United States
4.Seattle Children's Research Institute,Seattle,98101,United States
5.Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health,Rollins School of Public Health,Emory University,Atlanta,30322,United States

Schreder，Erika,Zheng，Guomao,Sathyanarayana，Sheela,et al. Brominated flame retardants in breast milk from the United States: First detection of bromophenols in U.S. breast milk[J]. Environmental Pollution,2023,334.

Schreder，Erika,Zheng，Guomao,Sathyanarayana，Sheela,Gunaje，Navya,Hu，Min,&Salamova，Amina.(2023).Brominated flame retardants in breast milk from the United States: First detection of bromophenols in U.S. breast milk.Environmental Pollution,334.

Schreder，Erika,et al."Brominated flame retardants in breast milk from the United States: First detection of bromophenols in U.S. breast milk".Environmental Pollution 334(2023).