Jonathan Justice Wiston Amstrong, Essumang David K, Bentum John K, Kabotso Daniel Elorm Kwame, Gborgblorvor Innocentia Ruby, Eshun Albert, Hlorlewu Norkplim Dei, Davordzi Elizabeth
University of Cape Coast, School of Physical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Cape Coast, Ghana; University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Basic and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences, Ho, Ghana.
University of Cape Coast, School of Physical Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Chemosphere. 2024 Dec;369:143769. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143769. Epub 2024 Nov 29.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a category of synthetic organic chemical contaminants that have garnered increasing attention due to their potential adverse impacts. Existing research underscores the contamination of human breast milk by PFAS, raising concerns regarding potential deleterious health effects in children. The study aimed to explore the levels of some PFAS in human breast milk in a previously unstudied population to determine the extent of infants' exposure. The research was conducted at Ho Teaching Hospital in Ghana. The study protocol was reviewed and approval by University of Health and Allied Sciences Ethics Research Committee (UHAS-REC). Twenty-nine (29) mothers, aged 18-44 years, were enrolled in the research. Sample collection spanned from December 28, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Ten millilitres (10 mL) of breast milk were collected from each participant into cleaned bottles from day of birth to after two weeks postpartum, following a standardized protocol and stored at -20 °C. Sample preparation and analysis employed solid phase extraction methodology. Subsequently, the processed extracts were subjected to analysis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-MS/MS). The data obtained were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26, Excel 2016, and Xlstat 2022. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the study variables. The mean/mode input method was used to treat missing data. The median and interquartile range (IQR) of PFAS concentrations in the breast milk were: PFHxA, 6.0 ng/L(IQR, 2.2 ng/L), PFHpA, 5.6 ng/L(IQR, 2.1 ng/L), PFOA, 72.0 ng/L(IQR, 16.0 ng/L), and PFOS, 93.0 ng/L(IQR, 8.0 ng/L) ng/L) respectively. PFOS and PFOA were the most dominant PFAS in the breast milk which is consistent with worldwide reports. The levels of PFAS, particularly PFOS and PFOA, in breast milk points to seemingly high levels of PFAS exposure and contamination of mothers and neonates in the region.
全氟烷基和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）是一类合成有机化学污染物，因其潜在的不利影响而受到越来越多的关注。现有研究强调了PFAS对人母乳的污染，引发了对儿童潜在有害健康影响的担忧。该研究旨在探索此前未被研究的人群中母乳中某些PFAS的水平，以确定婴儿的暴露程度。研究在加纳的霍教学医院进行。研究方案经健康与联合科学大学伦理研究委员会（UHAS - REC）审查并批准。29名年龄在18至44岁之间的母亲参与了该研究。样本采集时间跨度为2020年12月28日至2021年6月30日。按照标准化方案，从每位参与者出生当天至产后两周，采集10毫升母乳至清洁的瓶子中，并储存在-20°C下。样本制备和分析采用固相萃取方法。随后，对处理后的提取物进行超高效液相色谱（UPLC - MS/MS）分析。使用IBM SPSS Statistics 26版、Excel 2016和Xlstat 2022对获得的数据进行分析。采用描述性统计来总结研究变量。使用均值/众数输入法处理缺失数据。母乳中PFAS浓度的中位数和四分位数间距（IQR）分别为：全氟己酸（PFHxA），6.0纳克/升（IQR，2.2纳克/升）；全氟庚酸（PFHpA），5.6纳克/升（IQR，2.1纳克/升）；全氟辛酸（PFOA），72.0纳克/升（IQR，16.0纳克/升）；全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS），93.0纳克/升（IQR，8.0纳克/升）。PFOS和PFOA是母乳中最主要的PFAS，这与全球报告一致。母乳中PFAS的水平，特别是PFOS和PFOA，表明该地区母亲和新生儿的PFAS暴露和污染水平似乎很高。
