Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) in human breast milk from several Asian countries

• Main Authors: Kim, Joon Woo, Isobe, Tomohiko, Muto, Mamoru, Tue, Nguyen Minh, Katsura, Kana, Malarvannan, Govindan, Sudaryanto, Agus, Chang, Kwang Hyeon, Prudente, Maricar, Viet, Pham Hung, Takahashi, Shin, Tanabe, Shinsuke
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Breast milk—Composition; Chemistry
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/3894
• Institution: De La Salle University

In this study, the concentrations of 10 organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) were determined in 89 human breast milk samples collected from Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. Among the targeted PFRs, tris(2-chloroexyl) phosphate (TCEP) and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) were the predominant compounds and were detected in more than 60% of samples in all three countries. The concentrations of PFRs in human breast milk were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the Philippines (median 70ngg-1lipidwt.) than those in Japan (median 22ngg-1lipidwt.) and Vietnam (median 10ngg-1lipidwt.). The present results suggest that the usage of products containing PFRs in the Philippines is higher than those of Japan and Vietnam. Comparing with a previous literature survey in Sweden, the levels of PFRs in human breast milk from the Philippines were 1.5-2 times higher, whereas levels in Japan and Vietnam were 4-20 times lower, suggesting that these differences might be due to their variation in the usage of flame-retarded products utilized in each country. When daily intake of PFRs to infants via human breast milk was estimated, some individuals accumulated tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) and TCEP were close to reference dose (RfD). This is the first report to identify PFRs in human breast milk samples from Asian countries. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.