gms | German Medical Science

Background: A significant poorer male reproductive health has been documented in Danish men compared to Finnish men, including a higher prevalence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias. Exposure to environmental pollutants with endocrine disrupting activities has been suggested as a possible contributing factor. In this study, we investigated whether there was a difference in infant exposure to persistent organohalogen compounds between the two countries.

Methods: Organohalogens were analyzed by high-resolution gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry in human milk samples from Finland (n=65) and Denmark (n=65) and placentas (n=168 Danish, 112 Finnish), selected from a population-based cohort.

Results: p,p’-DDE was the dominant pollutant. beta-HCH, HCB, END-I, dieldrin, OXC, c-HE, and p,p’-DDT were the other main organohalogens detected. Danish samples had significantly higher concentrations of p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDT, beta-HCH, HCB, dieldrin, c-HE, and OXC than Finnish. Levels of organobrominated compounds were very low and most were undetectable in the majority of samples. BB-153 and BB-155 were the most abundant PBB congeners. BB-153 was more abundant in Danish milk samples compared to Finnish where as BB-155 was more abundant in Finnish milk.

For the chiral compounds alpha-HCH and c-HE there was a large variation in the enantiomeric ratios (ERs) among samples with a low concentration but among samples with higher concentrations the ERs approached the ER of the environmental source. The ERs were different between the paired placenta-milk samples and also the ratio BB-155/BB-153 was approximately 60 times higher in placenta than in paired milk.

Conclusions: Danish infants are more exposed to organochlorines through milk and placenta than Finnish. Paired sample analysis suggests the tissue specific distribution and/or biodegradation of certain enantiomers/congeners between milk and placenta.