PBDEs: New Study on PBDE Levels in Human Milk in the United States

The results of the largest study of breast milk PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) concentration in the United States were published this month. The research (carried out at the University of North Carolina and funded by the US EPA and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) assessed the changes in the PBDE concentrations in human milk between three and twelve months post-partum. Some of the highlights include: (a) the concentrations were higher than milk concentrations reported by most other similar US studies (and considerably higher than reports from outside the US); (b) BDE-47 was present in highest concentration; (c) BDE-47, 99, 100 and 153 were detected in nearly all samples; (d) BDE-209 (the primary congener of the deca-BDEs) could not be detected; and (e) concentrations among women with samples at both three and 12 months postpartum did not significantly change.