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Abstract: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have documented effects on thyroid functions and rodent behavior in vivo. Epidemiological studies, however, have revealed only limited information about associations between PBDE exposure and menstruation characteristics. Our goal was to examine whether high breast milk PBDE levels in reproductive-age females lead to interference with menstruation characteristics. We analyzed 15 PBDE congeners in 46 breast milk samples. Fifteen PBDE congeners (BDE-15, 28, 47, 49, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, 196, 197, 203, 207, 208, and 209) were analyzed using a gas chromatograph equipped with a high resolution mass spectrometer. The mean sum of PBDEs (ΣPBDEs) in breast milk was 3.42ng/g lipid. Women''s age at menarche was not correlated with breast milk PBDE levels. Increased BDE-208 and 209 levels were significantly associated with the prolonged length of average and the longest menstrual cycle independent of age, pre-pregnant BMI, and parity. Higher concentrations of ΣPBDEs and the higher brominated PBDEs from BDE-183 to 209, except 197, were significantly linked to women whose menstruation periods were still coming irregularly at the sampling time. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of BDE-153, 183, 207, 208, and ΣPBDEs were significantly higher in women with length of average menstrual cycle >32days, compared to the control. Women whose menstruation periods still came irregularly when they were 18years old had higher age-adjusted ORs of BDE-207, 208, 209, and ΣPBDEs than those whose periods came regularly at the same age. Although ΣPBDEs and certain higher brominated PBDEs appear to have potential to prolong length of average menstrual cycle and delay the age when menstruation periods begin coming regularly, these findings are not conclusive because our sample size is small and more scientific evidence is needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Elementary school classroom dust is an important source of exposure to polybrominated dibenzo- p -dioxins/furans and diphenyl ethers (PBDD/DF/DEs) for school-age children. Our goal is thus to investigate concentrations of PBDD/DF/DEs in elementary school classroom dust to further assess the impact on school-age children via ingestion. The dust from classrooms, including both normal (NR) and computer classrooms (CR), was collected from six urban and four rural schools. Fourteen PBDEs and twelve PBDD/Fs were measured using high-resolution gas-chromatography/high-resolution mass-spectrometry. The mean levels of Σ 14 PBDEs in NR and CR dust from the urban classrooms were 370 and 2510 ng/g and those whose dust from the rural classrooms were 464 and 1780 ng/g. The means of ΣPBDD/Fs were 0.0401 ng-WHO 2005 -TEQ/g (concentration: 4.72 ng/g) in urban NR dust, 0.0636 ng-WHO 2005 -TEQ/g (7.51 ng/g) in urban CR dust, 0.0281 ng-WHO 2005 TEQ/g (3.60 ng/g) in rural NR dust, and 0.0474 ng-WHO 2005 TEQ/g (6.28 ng/g) in rural CR dust. The PBDEs pattern in NR dust was quite different from that in CR dust, but the PBDD/Fs patterns in NR and CR dust were similar. A linearly significant correlation coefficient ( n = 20, r = 0.862, p < 0.001) was found between ΣPBDEs and ΣPBDD/Fs in NR and CR dust, indicating that the PBDEs and PBDD/Fs in the dust may be from the same sources in the elementary school classrooms. This study assessed the risks (daily intake and cancer and non-cancer risks) of PBDEs and PBDD/Fs for the children from the classroom dust, and the calculated risk values did not exceed the related thresholds. With regard to the exposure scenarios for school-age children in an indoor environment, the results suggest that they might ingest more dust PBDD/DF/DEs in their homes than in the schools. In conclusion, the exposure of Taiwanese elementary school children to PBDD/DF/DEs via indoor dust was with a safe range based on our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study is to determine whether levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in breast milk in the general population are associated with demographic parameters, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, and occupational exposure. Forty-six participants are randomly selected from healthy women recruited between April 2007 and April 2008 from local hospitals in southern Taiwan. Thirty PBDE isomers in breast milk are analyzed using a gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass spectrometer. The mean±standard deviation of ∑PBDEs in breast milk is 3.59±1.07ng/g lipid. Our current value of ∑PBDEs in breast milk is 0.7-fold lower compared to the past value in our previous study between 2000 and 2001. Higher levels of ∑PBDEs might be significantly associated with older maternal age and maternal age of the present study is between 22 and 42 years old. Levels of ∑PBDEs and certain PBDEs in breast milk are not correlated with maternal pre-pregnant BMI (Body mass index), parity, and lipid contents of breast milk. The ∑PBDEs level in breast milk is lower in more educated women after controlling for age and pre-pregnancy BMI in our subjects. The main factors associated with ∑PBDEs in breast milk are age and education level among the binary variables of demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle characteristics in this report. The exploratory relationships are found between PBDEs in breast milk and age, education level, or occupational exposure due to small sampling size. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]