Review article

https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2018-69-3120

Levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in human milk samples in European countries

Nataša Brajenović orcid.org/0000-0002-8236-9930 ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Irena Brčić Karačonji orcid.org/0000-0002-1151-8839 ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
Andreja Jurič orcid.org/0000-0002-9279-5159 ; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent pollutants, harmful to human health, which enter the human body mainly through food and bind to body fat. For these reasons their use in most countries is prohibited. Human milk has an advantage over other types of human samples in measuring human exposure to PCBs, as it is obtained with non-invasive sampling methods. In Europe, including Croatia, PCB levels have been monitored for many years. This review summarises PCB trends in human milk across Europe. The trend is generally downward, with higher levels prevailing in urban areas near industrial plants. The highest PCB levels were reported in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Keywords

breast milk; organochlorine compounds; PCBs; persistent pollutants

Hrčak ID:

202300

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/202300

Publication date:

27.6.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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