Postnatal exposure to organic pollutants in maternal milk in north-western Spain*

Evaluation of postnatal exposure to organic pollutants is especially important for suckling infants during breastfeeding, a crucial perinatal growth period when organs and hormonal systems develop. We determined levels of 60 pollutants, including organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), pyrethroids (PYRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in 81 breast milk samples from breastfeeding mothers from Santiago de Compostela (north-western Spain). For most detected organic pollutants, levels were correlated with the season of milk sampling, maternal age at delivery, and place of residence. Dietary consumption habits (eggs, molluscs, and vegetable oils) were also correlated with OCP, OPP, PCB, PBDE and PYR levels. We also assessed the risk to infant health of exposure to organic pollutants in breast milk. PAHs, OCPs, OPPs, and PYRs accounted for almost 95% of the targeted organic pollutants in the samples analysed.

Automated summary

Evaluation of postnatal exposure to organic pollutants is crucial for breastfeeding infants during the perinatal period. Levels of various organic pollutants in breast milk samples from breastfeeding mothers were determined and correlated with factors such as season, maternal age, place of residence, and dietary consumption habits. The assessment of the risk to infant health revealed that specific organic pollutants accounted for the majority of targeted pollutants in the analyzed samples.