H.J. Pluim

Clinical laboratory manifestations of exposure to background levels of dioxins in the perinatal period

Pluim HJ, Koppe JG, Olie K, van der Slikke JW, Slot PC, van Boxtel CJ. Clinical laboratory manifestations of exposure to background levels of dioxins in the perinatal period. Acta Pædiatr 1994;83:583–7. Stockholm. ISSN 0803–5253

Intake and faecal excretion of chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans in breast-fed infants at different ages

In three completely breast-fed infants the amount of PCDDs and PCDFs consumed via breast-milk and excreted by the stools was measured at the ages of 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Intake of PCDDs and PCDFs was very high, especially at the age of 4 weeks (mean 257 pg/kg bodyweight). A strong decline was observed in the second month. This was mainly due to a reduction of PCDD and PCDF concentrations in whole breast-milk as result of a reduced fat content of the milk. With exception of OCDD, faecal excretion of the congeners was below five per cent of their intake, indicating a bioavailability of more than 95 per cent from breast-milk. No obvious influence of age on faecal excretion of PCDDs and PCDFs during the first three months of life was observed.

Missing effects of background dioxin exposure on development of breast-fed infants during the first half year of life

Fetal exposure to higher levels of PCBs can result in low birth weight and neurological disorders of the newborn. In this study the effects of exposure to the highly toxic dioxins and dibenzofurans, structurally related to PCBs, was investigated in a population of 38 healthy infants. The infants were divided into two groups, according to concentrations of dioxins and dibenzofurans in their mothers milk fat. Neonatal body weight, length, Quetelet index and liver size were determined at different time points during the first half year of life. Additionally neurological development was determined. Comparing these items between the high and low exposure groups did not show any statistically significant differences. The results of this study do not reveal any effect of exposure to background levels of dioxins and dibenzofurans, but in utero exposure to these toxic agents may result in symptoms later in life. Therefore follow-up study of this well defined group will be performed.

Levels of PCDDs and PCDFs in human milk: Dependence on several parameters and dietary habits

Abstract The influence of several parameters on PCDD and PCDF levels in milk fat were studied in 41 women. A significant relation was found between age and total dioxin concentrations, confirming the accumulation of these xenobiotics in humans. In contrast to smoking habits and quetelet-index (body weight/length 2 ), the total duration of breast-feeding of previous infants was significantly related with total dioxin concentrations in milk fat, when corrected for age. A strong relation between dioxin concentrations in milk fat and the consumption of animal, but not with vegetable, fats and proteins was found. These results indicate that consumption of animal fats plays an important role in human exposure to dioxins.

Effects of dioxins and furans on thyroid hormone regulation in the human newborn

Abstract Concentrations of dioxins and furans measured in the breast milk were related to parameters of thyroid hormone metabolism in 38 “healthy” mother-baby pairs. A significant increase in thyroxin (T4) and in the ratio thyroxin (T4)/thyroxin binding globulin (TBG) was present at 7 days and 11 weeks of age in the high-exposed babies. In these babies thyrotropin was also significantly increased at eleven weeks of age. T3 levels and iodide excretion were not different. It is concluded that dioxins and furans in background levels in the Netherlands influence the thyroid hormone regulation in human babies.

Diurnal variations in concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in human milk

Abstract To examine diurnal variations in concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs in breast-milk, milk samples of eight well-nourished totally breast-feeding women were sampled during the morning and evening. Individual samples were analyzed on PCDDs and PCDFs. For every individual subject the concentrations in both milk samples were compared. The concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs measured on fat basis were significantly higher in the evening than in the morning (p=0.033).

Dioxins and vitamin K status of the newborn.

Abstract The effect of exposure to chlorinated dioxins and dibenzofurans on the vitamin K status of the human newborn was investigated in 32 mother‐infant pairs. Pre‐ and postnatal exposure to these xenobiotics was estimated by the concentrations of these compounds in the fat of the breast‐milk three weeks after delivery. Vitamin K1 and PIVKA‐II levels were measured in cord blood and in the infants at eleven weeks. Vitamin K1 concentrations in cord blood were below the detection limit (40 pg/mL) in all samples measured. PIVKA‐II could be detected in nine of the 28 available cord blood samples, but no correlation was found with total dioxin concentrations (expressed in toxic equivalents) in the breast‐milk. Neither was there a significant correlation with the separate congeners. From the eleven‐week‐old infants nine blood samples were available. No significant correlation could be found between total dioxin concentrations and vitamin K1 or PIVKA‐II levels. However, there was a significant inverse correlati...