LLLI Center for Breastfeeding Information

Journal Abstract of the Month for April 2002

"Polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene in full-term neonates" Gerd M. Lackmann, Biology of the Neonate 2002;81:82-85

In a study of 200 full term neonates, this study documents a further decline in the prenatal uptake of PCBs and HCB since 1994-1995. During the past 15 years, a 75% reduction in the prenatal burden with PCBs and a 90% reduction in the burden with HCB could be demonstrated. This study was done in Germany, where a significant decline in the neonatal burden with these compounds was reported in 1996. This decline has been attributed primarily to the prohibition of these substances in Germany in 1989.

Furthermore, this finding implicates that a high intake of PCBs with mothers' milk during infancy does not have any relevance on, at least, the life-long accumulation of these substances in humans. We suggest one theory : first, the body burden with PCBs will initially increase during the time period of breastfeeding, and then decrease again shortly after breastfeeding before increasing again due to the normal intake with diet. PCB concentrations in mothers' milk today are much lower (about 60%) than 10 years ago.

This paper is being categorized in the CBI Database under: Contaminants, PCBs, Organochlorines, Pregnancy