REPORT OF THE WHO WORKING GROUP ON THE ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH RISKS FORHUMAN INFANTS FROM EXPOSURE TO PCDDS, PCDFS AND PCBS

On Nov. 20-22, 1995, a World Health Organization working group consist ing of 12 scientific representatives from 6 different countries met to reassess the health risks to infants associated with perinatal exposu re to polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAHs). Following a revie w of previous WHO/EURO consultations, as part of their comprehensive p rogramme on PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs, current exposure information and re cent experimental and epidemiologic data were discussed. Exposure asse ssments within the past decade have revealed that in the case of breas t milk samples concentrations of PCDDs/DFs and PCBs have shown a conti nual decline, in certain countries by up to 50%. New experimental data has revealed that a variety of structural, functional and behaviouria l alterations can be induced in rodent species following exposure to P HAHs while a Dutch collaborative PCB/dioxin study has illustrated subt le clinical, endocrine and mental/psychomotor development effects can occur in breast fed infants. The provisional conclusions of the workin g group were: 1) current evidence does not warrant altering the previo us WHO recommendation for promotion/support of breast feeding and 2) b ased on new clinical data which supports the biological plausibility o f certain observed experimental observations, continued and enhanced e ffort should be directed towards identifying and controlling sources o f environmental input for these contaminants. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.