Work

Infant exposure to persistent organochlorine compounds is higher in Denmark than in Finland

Year: 2008

Type: conference-paper

Abstract: Significantly poorer male reproductive health has been documented in Danish 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 milk and placenta concentrations of persistent organohalogen compounds between the two countries.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.p, p'-DDE was the dominant pollutant.β-HCH, HCB, END-I, dieldrin, OXC, c-HE, and p, p'-DDT were the other main organochlorines detected.Danish samples had significantly higher concentrations of p, p'-DDE, p, p'-DDT, β-HCH, HCB, dieldrin, c-HE, and OXC than Finnish.The organochlorine levels were higher in Danish samples, which suggests higher exposure of Danish infants.

Source: WIT transactions on ecology and the environment

DOI: 10.2495/etox080051