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2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in maternal breast milk and newborn head circumference

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 18, pages 246–251 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Dioxins are known to affect infant growth and neurodevelopment in both humans and animals. In this study, we examined the relationship between neonatal head circumference, which is related to fetal brain development, and the concentration of dioxins in breast milk as an indicator of maternal exposure. A total of 42 milk samples were obtained on the fifth to eighth postpartum day from mothers in Japan exposed to dioxins in the environment. The levels of seven dioxins and 10 furan isomers were measured in each milk sample using an HR-GC/MS system. The relationships between the concentration of each dioxin isomer and newborn size, including head circumference, were then investigated after adjustment for confounding factors. The concentration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most toxic dioxin isomer, negatively correlated with newborn head circumference, even after adjustment for gestational age, infant sex, parity and other confounding factors. However, there were no significant relationships between the concentration of other dioxin and furan isomers in maternal breast milk and infant height, weight and chest circumference at birth. These facts suggested that fetal brain development might be influenced by maternal exposure to TCDD in the environment.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the nursing and medical staff at Toyama University Hospital; Makiko Ebie, Mutumi Katsuo, Aki Ohta and Kyoko Tanebe. This work was supported by grant for Project Research from High-Technology Center of Kanazawa Medical University (H2000-4, H2005-9).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan

    Muneko Nishijo, Kenji Tawara & Hideaki Nakagawa

  2. Department of Social and Environmental Health, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada, 920-0293, Ishikawa, Japan

    Ryumon Honda

  3. Department of Health Development Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, 920-0942, Ishikawa, Japan

    Teruhiko Kido

  4. System Emotional Science, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan

    Hisao Nishijo

  5. Department of Obstructive and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan

    Shigeru Saito

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  1. Muneko Nishijo
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  2. Kenji Tawara
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Correspondence to Muneko Nishijo.

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Nishijo, M., Tawara, K., Nakagawa, H. et al. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in maternal breast milk and newborn head circumference. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 18, 246–251 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500589

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Keywords

  • 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
  • dioxins
  • breast milk
  • head circumference
  • newborn

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