Polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of nursing mothers' milk in Michigan

The problem of environmental contamination by toxic substances and human exposure to these substances has attracted increased attention in recent years. Particular concern has centered on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which have become widespread environmental pollutants as well as contaminants of the human population. This paper reports data from a study of PCB contamination of nursing mothers' breast milk in Michigan. During 1977 and 1978, breast milk samples of 1,057 nursing mothers residing in Michigan were tested for PCB residues. All of the 1,057 samples collected from 68 of the state's 83 counties contained PCB residues ranging from trace amounts to 5.100 parts per million (fat weight basis). The mean level was 1,496 parts per million (ppm), with 49.5 per cent of the samples having PCB levels of 1.2 ppm, 17.4 per cent had 2-3 ppm, and 6.14 per cent had more than 3 ppm. There was no consistent trend in the level of PCB contamination over the 24 months of monitoring. The mean PCB level for the eighth quarter of monitoring was slightly higher than for the first quarter. The public health significance of PCB contamination in human populations and its effects on breast-fed infants are unclear. However, an infant breast-fed for eight months by a woman with the average PCB level in this sample would have an estimated body burden of approximately 0.89 ppm of PCBs. The implications of PCB contamination of human milk with regard to current breast-feeding practices are discussed and several precautionary measures are recommended.