Toxic evaluation of PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in breast-fed babies of Yusho and healthy mothers

Abstract

Levels of PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs were measured in human breast milk obtained from two Yusho patients and nine healthy subjects. The concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in breast milk of respective Yusho patients were 18.8 and 29.6, 168.2 and 417.3, and 23.8 and 55.1 pg Toxic Equivalents (TEQs)/g fat, respectively, and their mean concentrations in normal controls were 8.1, 4.8 and 21.8 pg TEQs/g fat, respectively. The results also indicated that there was a significant difference between Yusho patients and normal subjects in breast milk concentrations of certain isomers of PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs. Daily intakes of TEQ values were estimated to be 519 and 2216 pg TEQs/kg/day for breast-feeding babies of Yusho patients, and to be from 93 to 197 pg TEQs/kg/day for healthy subjects. These TEQs values were much more greater than the ADI of 1 pg/kg/day. therefor, we should give due attention to the possible health effects due to PCDDs, PCDFs and coplanar PCBs in the breast milk of healthy mothers, as well as Yusho mothers.