Lactational exposure of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and its association with infant developmental measurements

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the effect of lactational polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) exposure on early physical development of both healthy and fetal growth restriction (FGR) infants. Z scores of head circumference-for-age (ZHC), length-for-age (ZLEN), weight-for-age (ZWEI) and weight-for-length (ZWFL) were calculated according to the WHO Child Growth Standards. FGR infants had a higher PBDE exposure level and faster growth speed from 42 days to 6 months compared with healthy infants. Exposure of lower brominated BDEs (BDE28∼154) and the sum of 18 BDE congeners (BDE28∼209) negatively associated with ZHC [mean difference estimate (95 % CI): -0.71 (-1.22, -0.22) and -0.81 (-1.31, -0.33)] in FGR boys. Both BDE153 and BDE196 exposure had a significant correlation with ZLEN of boys in FGR group [mean difference estimate (95 % CI): -0.28 (-0.48, -0.07) and -0.52 (-0.91, -0.14)]. Each 10 ng/g lipid increase in the concentrations of BDE154 were respectively associated with 0.16 increase in ZWEI among boys in healthy group. No significant association was found in girls. Lactational PBDE exposure had effects on the early growth of both FGR and healthy infants. The encouragement of breastfeeding should therefore be considered in conjunction with PBDE contamination levels.