TY - JOUR
T1 - Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) levels in livers of U.S. human fetuses and newborns
AU - Schecter, Arnold
AU - Johnson-Welch, Sarah
AU - Tung, Kuang Chi
AU - Harris, T. Robert
AU - Päpke, Olaf
AU - Rosen, Robin
N1 - Funding Information:
Received 26 October 2005; accepted 21 December 2005. This study was funded in part by a grant from the CS Fund and the Warsh-Mott Legacy. Address correspondence to Arnold Schecter, University of Texas School of Public Health, 5323 Harry Hines, V8 112, Dallas, TX 75390-9128, USA. E-mail: arnold.schecter@utsouthwestern.edu
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) brominated flame retardants have recently been found to contaminate humans in the United States and other countries. U.S. human breast milk and blood levels of PBDEs are presently the highest in the world. U.S. cord blood samples tested positive for PBDEs, but until now there have been no peer-reviewed published data concerning levels of PBDEs in human tissue prior to and immediately after birth. Liver tissues were obtained from 4 stillborn fetuses and 7 liveborn infants, ranging from 20.5 to 39 wk gestational age; only 2 of the liveborn infants lived longer than 4 h and none were formula-fed or nursed, so tissue levels reflect intrauterine PBDE intake only. All samples were contaminated with PBDEs. Levels varied from 4 to 98 ppb, lipid. The mean level was 23.1 and the median 15.2 ppb, lipid. PBDE levels did not increase with gestational age. These data document the transfer of PBDEs from maternal to fetal tissue. PBDE concentrations are somewhat lower than those reported in adult blood or breast milk. The health consequences of prenatal contamination are not clear at present.
AB - Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) brominated flame retardants have recently been found to contaminate humans in the United States and other countries. U.S. human breast milk and blood levels of PBDEs are presently the highest in the world. U.S. cord blood samples tested positive for PBDEs, but until now there have been no peer-reviewed published data concerning levels of PBDEs in human tissue prior to and immediately after birth. Liver tissues were obtained from 4 stillborn fetuses and 7 liveborn infants, ranging from 20.5 to 39 wk gestational age; only 2 of the liveborn infants lived longer than 4 h and none were formula-fed or nursed, so tissue levels reflect intrauterine PBDE intake only. All samples were contaminated with PBDEs. Levels varied from 4 to 98 ppb, lipid. The mean level was 23.1 and the median 15.2 ppb, lipid. PBDE levels did not increase with gestational age. These data document the transfer of PBDEs from maternal to fetal tissue. PBDE concentrations are somewhat lower than those reported in adult blood or breast milk. The health consequences of prenatal contamination are not clear at present.
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U2 - 10.1080/15287390600748369
DO - 10.1080/15287390600748369
M3 - Article
C2 - 17162494
AN - SCOPUS:33845883333
SN - 1528-7394
VL - 70
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A: Current Issues
JF - Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A: Current Issues
IS - 1
ER -