Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: While seafood is a natural part of a healthy and balanced diet, it may also contain some undesirable environmental contaminants such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can have detrimental effects on human health. The risk-benefit discussion regarding seafood is under debate, especially for fatty fish. Recently the Norwegian Health Authority advised pregnant women to avoid eating more than two meals of fatty fish per week to reduce foetal exposure to contaminants that could interfere with development. The National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research (NIFES) on the other hand stated in a press release that young and pregnant women may eat more than two meals of oily fish per week. Hypothesis: A high maternal fish intake correlates with an elevated level of contaminants in serum of mother and child". This hypothesis were followed by specific aims; (1) to assess the mother's seafood intake according to the national recommendations; (2) to assess the study population's contaminant levels; (3) to see if breastfed children show higher serum contaminant levels compared to those who are not breastfed, and (4) to explore if there are other sources of seafood besides fish that contributes to an elevated serum contaminant level? Method: This study is part of the prospective longitudinal population-based study Nutrition, Mental Health and Infant Development" that took place in a municipality in Western-Norway. Eating habits were assessed by a short semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), a 24-hour recall interview and an interviewer administrated FFQ. Blood were collected from mothers in their 28th gestation week and from both mother and child at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. By using a method recently established at NIFES 100 µl serum were analysed by High Resolution Gas Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry for levels of 2,2',4,4',5,5'-Hexa-chlorobiphenyl (PCB-153) and p.p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloro-ethylen (p.p'-DDE). Results and conclusions: Median seafood consumption was estimated to 224 g/week, where oily fish constituted of ~65 g/week. This is a low intake compared to the weekly recommendations. The study population's serum concentration of PCB-153 and p.p'-DDE was low compared to other countries. Mothers' PCB-153 and p.p'-DDE levels were affected by country of origin and fish liver consumption, while the child's serum concentrations were correlated with breastfeeding prevalence. A high fish intake in mother does not correlate with elevated serum contaminant levels in mother and child.
Author: Kaja Sørli
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: World Health Organization
OpenAlex ID: W2291336178