Concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human milk from Ireland: temporal trends and implications for nursing infant exposure

Abstract

Aim: The elucidation of temporal trends in human exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) since the previous Irish human milk surveys and to evaluate the impacts of legislative bans and restrictions on human exposure to these compounds. Methods: Concentrations of PCBs and 17 PCDD/Fs were measured in 16 pools of human milk collected from 92 Irish primiparas participating in the Irish EPA-funded ELEVATE project between October 2016 and April 2018, using Gas-Chromatography coupled with Mass spectrometry. Results: The geometric mean upper bound concentration of 16 pooled human milk samples [PCDD/Fs + dioxin-like (dl)-PCB TEQ; 4.5 ng kg-1 lipid weight] are on the lower end of those reported internationally. WHO-TEQ PCDD/Fs + dl-PCB are significantly lower (P