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Human Biomonitoring of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Breast Milk of Colombian Mothers

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Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent in the environment, bioaccumulate and biomagnify throughout the food chain, and may have adverse effects on human health and wildlife. PCB indicator (PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 153, and PCB 180) were monitored in human milk using 68 samples from healthy and primiparous mothers from seven cities in Colombia, and the estimated daily intake (EDI) of infants was calculated. The PCB indicator with the highest concentration was PCB 153 with a value of 7.30 ng g−1 lipids. The maximum EDI was calculated as 0.257 μg kg−1 bw−1 day−1. In general, the PCB levels found in the 68 samples were low and did not represent a risk to breastfed infants. Additionally, these results could strengthen Colombia’s efforts to increase the practice of breastfeeding. Finally, the results establish a general overview of population exposure and can be a scientific tool to improve environmental health policies in the country.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Colombian milk bank from Barranquilla, Pasto, Medellín, Ibagué, Cúcuta, Santa Marta, and Fusagasugá for support in sample collecting and United Nations Environment Programme –Colombia (UNEP-COL) for financially supporting this project (COL/84851-71268).

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  1. Environmental and Laboral Health Group, National Institute of Health, 111321, Bogotá D.C., Colombia

    Boris Santiago Avila, Carolina Ramírez & Eliana Tellez-Ávila

  2. Facultad de Ingeniería, Sede de Investigación Universitaria, Grupo Diagnostico y Control de la Contaminación, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 62 No 52-59, 050010, Medellín, Colombia

    Boris Santiago Avila

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  1. Boris Santiago Avila
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Avila, B.S., Ramírez, C. & Tellez-Ávila, E. Human Biomonitoring of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Breast Milk of Colombian Mothers. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 526–533 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03577-5

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