Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway

Abstract Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmental contaminants that can accumulate in human tissues and pose potential health risks. Despite global efforts to reduce their prevalence, follow‐up studies are needed to see if the measures are successful. Since most infants in Norway are b...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kristina R. Nermo, Jan L. Lyche, Gabrielle Haddad‐Weiser, Tonje E. Aarsland, Siri Kaldenbach, Beate Solvik, Anuschka Polder, Tor A. Strand, Kjersti S. Bakken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Maternal and Child Nutrition
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13759
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850251612690317312
author Kristina R. Nermo
Jan L. Lyche
Gabrielle Haddad‐Weiser
Tonje E. Aarsland
Siri Kaldenbach
Beate Solvik
Anuschka Polder
Tor A. Strand
Kjersti S. Bakken
author_facet Kristina R. Nermo
Jan L. Lyche
Gabrielle Haddad‐Weiser
Tonje E. Aarsland
Siri Kaldenbach
Beate Solvik
Anuschka Polder
Tor A. Strand
Kjersti S. Bakken
author_sort Kristina R. Nermo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmental contaminants that can accumulate in human tissues and pose potential health risks. Despite global efforts to reduce their prevalence, follow‐up studies are needed to see if the measures are successful. Since most infants in Norway are breastfed for the first 6 months of life, monitoring POP contamination in breastmilk is important for children's health and development. This study aims to evaluate the current levels of various POPs in women's breastmilk in Innlandet County, Norway. A cross‐sectional study was conducted measuring concentrations of 35 different POPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordanes (ChlDs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), Mirex, and brominated flame retardants in 120 breastmilk samples. The study analysed the impact of maternal age, parity, pre‐pregnancy BMI, and infant age on POPs levels and compared the estimated daily intake per body weight of infants to existing health guidelines. The detected percentages for PCBs were 100%, for DDTs 98.3%, and for ChlDs 98.3%. The highest median concentration was found for ΣPCBs (26.9 ng/g lw). Maternal age, parity, and infant age were significant determinants of POP concentrations. Most infants exceeded the health‐based guidance values for ΣPCB, and 6.4% percent did so for ΣHCHs. Despite lower POPs concentrations in breastmilk than in earlier studies, many breastfed infants are still exposed to levels exceeding health‐based guidance values. Although the study's design had limitations, the study provides updated population‐based data on POPs in breastmilk. Continued monitoring and research are necessary to understand and mitigate potential health risks associated with POPs.
format Article
id doaj-art-c2fa3ebf2762422caea226db2175a10f
institution OA Journals
issn 1740-8695
1740-8709
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Maternal and Child Nutrition
spelling doaj-art-c2fa3ebf2762422caea226db2175a10f2025-08-20T01:57:51ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092025-01-01211n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13759Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, NorwayKristina R. Nermo0Jan L. Lyche1Gabrielle Haddad‐Weiser2Tonje E. Aarsland3Siri Kaldenbach4Beate Solvik5Anuschka Polder6Tor A. Strand7Kjersti S. Bakken8Department of Microbiology Innlandet Hospital Trust Lillehammer NorwayFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University Life Sciences (NMB) Ås NorwayFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University Life Sciences (NMB) Ås NorwayCenter for International Health, University of Bergen Bergen NorwayDepartment of Clinical Medicine University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine Oslo NorwayCenter for International Health, University of Bergen Bergen NorwayFaculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University Life Sciences (NMB) Ås NorwayCenter for International Health, University of Bergen Bergen NorwayCenter for International Health, University of Bergen Bergen NorwayAbstract Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are environmental contaminants that can accumulate in human tissues and pose potential health risks. Despite global efforts to reduce their prevalence, follow‐up studies are needed to see if the measures are successful. Since most infants in Norway are breastfed for the first 6 months of life, monitoring POP contamination in breastmilk is important for children's health and development. This study aims to evaluate the current levels of various POPs in women's breastmilk in Innlandet County, Norway. A cross‐sectional study was conducted measuring concentrations of 35 different POPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordanes (ChlDs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), Mirex, and brominated flame retardants in 120 breastmilk samples. The study analysed the impact of maternal age, parity, pre‐pregnancy BMI, and infant age on POPs levels and compared the estimated daily intake per body weight of infants to existing health guidelines. The detected percentages for PCBs were 100%, for DDTs 98.3%, and for ChlDs 98.3%. The highest median concentration was found for ΣPCBs (26.9 ng/g lw). Maternal age, parity, and infant age were significant determinants of POP concentrations. Most infants exceeded the health‐based guidance values for ΣPCB, and 6.4% percent did so for ΣHCHs. Despite lower POPs concentrations in breastmilk than in earlier studies, many breastfed infants are still exposed to levels exceeding health‐based guidance values. Although the study's design had limitations, the study provides updated population‐based data on POPs in breastmilk. Continued monitoring and research are necessary to understand and mitigate potential health risks associated with POPs.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13759breastmilkbrominated flame retardantsinfantsorganochlorine pesticidespolychlorinated biphenyls
spellingShingle Kristina R. Nermo
Jan L. Lyche
Gabrielle Haddad‐Weiser
Tonje E. Aarsland
Siri Kaldenbach
Beate Solvik
Anuschka Polder
Tor A. Strand
Kjersti S. Bakken
Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway
Maternal and Child Nutrition
breastmilk
brominated flame retardants
infants
organochlorine pesticides
polychlorinated biphenyls
title Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway
title_full Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway
title_fullStr Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway
title_full_unstemmed Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway
title_short Quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake, Norway
title_sort quantification of persistent organic pollutants in breastmilk and estimated infant intake norway
topic breastmilk
brominated flame retardants
infants
organochlorine pesticides
polychlorinated biphenyls
url https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13759
work_keys_str_mv AT kristinarnermo quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT janllyche quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT gabriellehaddadweiser quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT tonjeeaarsland quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT sirikaldenbach quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT beatesolvik quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT anuschkapolder quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT torastrand quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway
AT kjerstisbakken quantificationofpersistentorganicpollutantsinbreastmilkandestimatedinfantintakenorway