A temporal trend study (1972–2008) of perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorohexanesulfonate, and perfluorooctanoate in pooled human milk samples from Stockholm, Sweden

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 37; no. 1; pp. 178 - 183
• Main Authors: Sundström, Maria, Ehresman, David J., Bignert, Anders, Butenhoff, John L., Olsen, Geary W., Chang, Shu-Ching, Bergman, Åke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Alkanesulfonic Acids - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; blood serum; breast milk; Caprylates - metabolism; chemical analysis; Chemistry; Cities; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental chemistry; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Environmental Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Female; Fluorocarbons - metabolism; Human; Human milk; Humans; Kemi; Longitudinal Studies; Maternal Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Medical sciences; Miljökemi; Milk; Milk, Human - metabolism; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; PFA; PFAs; PFHxS; PFOA; PFOS; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Samples; Serums; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Sulfonic Acids - metabolism; Sweden; Temporal logic; Temporal trend; Toxicology; Trends; Sweden; Europe; Sweden, Stockholm; Human milk; PFHxS; PFOA; PFAs; PFOS; Temporal trend; Organic perhalocompound; Epidemiology; Time variation; Persistent organic pollutant; Pollutant; Health and environment; Perfluorooctanoic acid; Temporal study; Fluorine Organic compounds; Public health; Organic compounds
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.08.014

The widespread presence of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS) in human general populations and their slow elimination profiles have led to renewed interest in understanding the potential human neonatal exposures of perfluoroalkyls (PFAs) from consumption of human milk. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA in pooled human milk samples obtained in Sweden between 1972 and 2008 (a period representing the most significant period of PFA production) and to see whether the time trend of these analytes parallels that indicated in human serum. Chemical analysis of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA was performed on pooled Swedish human milk samples from 1972 to 2008 after methodological refinements. The 20 samples which formed the 2007 pool were also analyzed individually to evaluate sample variations. Analyses were performed by HPLC-MS/MS. Due to the complexities of the human milk matrix and the requirement to accurately quantitate low pg/mL concentrations, meticulous attention must be paid to background contamination if accurate results are to be obtained. PFOS was the predominant analyte present in the pools and all three analytes showed statistically significant increasing trends from 1972 to 2000, with concentrations reaching a plateau in the 1990 s. PFOA and PFOS showed statistically significant decreasing trends during 2001–2008. At the end of the study, in 2008, the measured concentrations of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA in pooled human milk were 75 pg/mL, 14 pg/mL, and 74 pg/mL, respectively. The temporal concentration trends of PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA observed in human milk are parallel to those reported in the general population serum concentrations.