Contamination of human milk in Middle Hesse, Germany - A cross-sectional study on the changing levels of chlorinated pesticides, PCB congeners and recent levels of nitro musks

Human milk samples from women in Middle Hesse, Germany were chemically anal yzed for contamination levels of alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH, HCB, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT as well as the PCB-congeners no. 28, 31, 49, 52, 101, 118, 13 8, 153, 156, 170 and 180. Changes in concentrations of these compounds in h uman milk over an extended time period were studied by comparing samples fr om 1984/85, 1990/91 and 1995. In addition, concentrations of the nitro-arom atic compounds musk xylene and musk ketone were determined in the 1995 samp les. The study showed statistically highly significant (P<0.001) reductions in levels of beta- and gamma-HCH, HCB, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT, in human mil k from 1995 compared to samples from 1984/85. A weakly significant reductio n (p<0.05) of alpha-HCB was also observed. For low-chlorinated PCB congener s, on the other hand, a highly significant increase of PCB no. 28 was detec ted and concentrations of congeners no. 31, 49 and 52 remained unchanged. C oncentrations of the high-chlorinated congeners no. 101, 138, 153 and 180 d ropped (highly significant). A highly significant reduction of PCB no. 118 and 156 occurred between 1990/91 and 1995, but a highly significant increas e was found for no. 170. Lower levels of hydrocarbon contamination of human milk samples from 1995 than were found in samples from 1984/85 and 1990/91 can be seen to result partially from voluntary reductions, but primarily r eflect restrictive environmental legislation in the Federal Republic of Ger many. Mean concentrations of musk xylene and musk ketone in samples from 19 95 were 41 mu g/kg and 10 mu g/kg milk fat, respectively. (C)1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.