Nermo Kristina R, Bakken Kjersti S, Lyche Jan L, Polder Anuschka, Jansen Aina, Kaldenbach Siri, Haddad-Weiser Gabrielle, Strand Tor A, Eggesbø Merete Å
Department of Microbiology, Innlandet Hospital Trust, PO.Box 990, 2629 Lillehammer, Norway; Center for International Health, University of Bergen, N-5020, Bergen, Norway.
Center for International Health, University of Bergen, N-5020, Bergen, Norway; Women's Clinic, Innlandet Hospital Trust, PO.Box 990, 2629 Lillehammer, Norway.
Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2025 Jan;263:114458. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114458. Epub 2024 Sep 19.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are stable compounds characterized by their resistance to degradation. From the 1960-70's organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), such as DDTs and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) raised concerns regarding health and environmental impacts. This has led to the banning of POPs in the USA and Europe including Norway in 1980 and worldwide under the 2004 Stockholm Convention. The exposure of nursing infants to POPs has been a significant focus, prompting extensive research into the presence of these substances in human breast milk. In this study, we explored the temporal trends of POPs concentrations in breast milk sampled between 2002 and 2021 by comparing the concentration across the mother's year of birth.
Two Norwegian cohorts of lactating women were utilized (the HUMIS study and the "Iodine in Early Life"-Study). Concentrations of 15 different POPs, including PCBs, OCPs, and brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) were measured in 513 breast milk samples that had been collected over two decades in a subset of first-time mothers.
Time trend analysis indicated a steady decrease in concentration levels when adjusted for maternal age. The largest reduction was observed in β-HCH, age-adjusted (-17.1%, 95% CI -18.7, -15.4), followed by ∑BDE (-9.1%, 95% CI -10.5, -7.7), ∑PCBs (-7.1%, 95% CI -7.7, -6.5), and ∑DDTs (-7.0%, 95% CI -8.0, -6.0). In contrast, an increasing trend was noted in the median concentrations of β-HCH, ∑DDTs, and ∑BDE in the mothers born in 1990-1994 to 1995-2002.
Our study demonstrates a decline of most POPs in breast milk, likely attributed to international regulatory efforts like the Stockholm Convention. Notably, an increase in the 95th percentile concentrations of β-HCH, ∑DDTs, and ∑BDEs was noted in mothers born in 1990-1994 compared to those born in 1995-2002 suggests demographic shifts that may influence exposure levels. Further research is needed to explore and understand the underlying factors for the rise in median concentrations of ∑BDEs.
持久性有机污染物（POPs）是一类稳定的化合物，其特点是抗降解。从20世纪60 - 70年代起，有机氯农药（OCPs），如滴滴涕（DDTs）和多氯联苯（PCBs）引发了对健康和环境影响的担忧。这导致美国、欧洲包括挪威在1980年禁止使用POPs，以及在2004年《斯德哥尔摩公约》下全球范围内的禁用。哺乳期婴儿接触POPs一直是一个重要关注点，促使人们对母乳中这些物质的存在进行广泛研究。在本研究中，我们通过比较母亲出生年份的母乳中POPs浓度，探讨了2002年至2021年期间母乳中POPs浓度的时间趋势。
使用了两组挪威哺乳期妇女队列（HUMIS研究和“生命早期碘”研究）。在513份母乳样本中测量了15种不同POPs的浓度，这些样本是在二十多年间收集的一部分初产妇的样本，包括PCBs、OCPs和溴化二苯醚（BDEs）。
时间趋势分析表明，在对母亲年龄进行调整后，浓度水平呈稳步下降。观察到下降幅度最大的是β - 六氯环己烷（β - HCH），年龄调整后下降了17.1%（95%置信区间 - 18.7， - 15.4），其次是∑BDE（ - 9.1%，95%置信区间 - 10.5， - 7.7）、∑PCBs（ - 7.1%，95%置信区间 - 7.7， - 6.5）和∑DDTs（ - 7.0%，95%置信区间 - 8.0， - 6.0）。相比之下，1990 - 1994年至1995 - 2002年出生的母亲中，β - HCH、∑DDTs和∑BDE的中位数浓度呈上升趋势。
我们的研究表明母乳中大多数POPs含量下降，这可能归因于《斯德哥尔摩公约》等国际监管措施。值得注意的是，与1995 - 2002年出生的母亲相比，1990 - 1994年出生的母亲中β - HCH（β - 六氯环己烷）、∑DDTs和∑BDEs第95百分位数浓度的增加表明人口结构变化可能影响接触水平。需要进一步研究以探索和理解∑BDEs中位数浓度上升的潜在因素。
