National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2014 Jan;28(1):48-57. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12078. Epub 2013 Aug 19.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent flame retardants found in the environment, in household dust, and in humans. Breast feeding is a prominent route of exposure in infancy. PBDEs adversely affect neurodevelopment in animals. Here, we estimate associations between PBDEs in breast milk and behaviour and cognitive skills in children at 36 months of age.
We prospectively studied 304 mothers and their children. We measured PBDEs in breast milk collected at 3 months postpartum. At 36 months, we measured child behaviour with the parent-rated Behavioral Assessment System for Children 2 (n = 192), and cognitive skills with the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (n = 184). We analysed data with robust regression.
We detected BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, and -153 in >70% of milk samples. For each congener, the highest quartile of breast milk PBDE concentration, vs. the lowest, was associated with more anxious behaviour, after confounder adjustment. Select congeners were associated with increased withdrawal (BDE-28) and improved activity of daily living skills (BDE-153). Cognitive skills tended to be positively associated with PBDEs, especially language and fine motor skills. However, most estimates were imprecise.
Here, lactational PBDE exposure was modestly and imprecisely associated with anxiety and withdrawal, but was also associated with improved adaptive and cognitive skills. Positive factors associated with breast feeding may have mitigated some of the hypothesised adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with PBDEs. Further research is needed to inform our understanding of PBDE neurotoxicity and how sources of exposure might confound neurodevelopmental studies.
多溴二苯醚（PBDEs）是环境、家庭灰尘和人类中发现的持久性阻燃剂。母乳喂养是婴儿期暴露的主要途径。PBDEs 会对动物的神经发育产生不良影响。在这里，我们估计母乳中 PBDEs 与 36 个月大的儿童行为和认知技能之间的关联。
我们前瞻性地研究了 304 名母亲及其子女。我们测量了产后 3 个月收集的母乳中的 PBDEs。在 36 个月时，我们使用父母评定的儿童行为评估系统 2（n=192）测量儿童行为，使用穆伦早期学习量表（n=184）测量认知技能。我们使用稳健回归分析数据。
我们在 >70%的奶样中检测到 BDE-28、-47、-99、-100 和 -153。在调整混杂因素后，与最低四分位数相比，每一种同系物中，母乳 PBDE 浓度最高的四分位数与更焦虑的行为相关。某些同系物与退缩（BDE-28）增加和日常生活技能改善（BDE-153）相关。认知技能往往与 PBDE 呈正相关，尤其是语言和精细运动技能。然而，大多数估计值都不精确。
在这里，哺乳期 PBDE 暴露与焦虑和退缩呈适度且不精确的关联，但也与改善的适应性和认知技能相关。与母乳喂养相关的积极因素可能减轻了一些与 PBDE 相关的假设性神经发育不良后果。需要进一步研究，以帮助我们了解 PBDE 的神经毒性以及暴露源如何混淆神经发育研究。
