Determination of polychlorinated biphenyls in human colostrum and infant formulas

Abstract

Monitoring of PCBs in human colostrum in South Bačka started in 1982. The objective of this study was to determine concentrations of eight EPA PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180 and 209) as typical representatives of persistent pollutants, in early human milk and commercial infant formulas, as a measure of exposure of breast fed newborn babies. Samples of 3rd day colostrum were collected in 2006 from mothers living in the region of Novi Sad, who had no known occupational or dietary exposure to chemicals, and analyzed on GC-ECD (HP 5890 supplied with a Quadrex fused silica column 5% Ph for PCBs). The age of mothers, donors of colostrum, was 28.73 ± 2.45 (25-32) years - nine were primiparous and thirteen multiparous. The weight of mothers before pregnancy was 61.5 ± 10.2 kg (median 62, range 51-87) and before delivery 77.9 ± 10.9 kg (median 80, range 67-102). The sum of 8 PCB congeners was 1.06 + 1.41 μg/kg wet weight (range 0.15-5.60). The highest values were of PCB 101. PCB congeners 28 and 118 were not detected in any of the samples analyzed. No correlation was found between PCBs concentrations and age of mothers. Birth weights also did not influence PCBs concentrations. Concentrations of PCBs in infant formulas were below average values in human colostrum. Formula manufactured in Serbia did not contain any of PCB congeners. In other four imported formulas, PCB congeners 153, 138 and 180 were detected in a concentration ranging from 0.05 to 0.07 ng/g wet weights. Although breast fed babies were more exposed to PCBs than formula fed babies, breastfeeding should be encouraged, since human milk is undoubtedly the best food for development and growth of infants.