Lactational transfer of volatile chemicals in breast milk

Fisher, J; Mahle, D; Bankston, L; Greene, R; Gearhart, J

HERO ID

194390

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

1997

Language

English

PMID

9183837

HERO ID 194390
In Press No
Year 1997
Title Lactational transfer of volatile chemicals in breast milk
Authors Fisher, J; Mahle, D; Bankston, L; Greene, R; Gearhart, J
Journal American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Volume 58
Issue 6
Page Numbers 425-431
Abstract Lactational transfer of chemicals to nursing infants is a concern for occupational physicians when women who are breast-feeding return to the workplace. Some work environments, such as paint shops, have atmospheric contamination from volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). Very little is known about the extent of exposure a nursing infant may receive from the mother's occupational exposure. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was developed for a lactating woman to estimate the amount of chemical that a nursing infant ingests for a given nursing schedule and maternal occupational exposure. Human blood/air and milk/air partition coefficients (PCs) were determined for 19 VOCs. Milk/blood PC values were above 3 for carbon tetrachloride, methylchloroform, perchloroethylene, and 1,4-dioxane, while the remaining 16 chemicals had milk/blood PC values of less than 3. Other model parameters, such as solid tissue PC values, metabolic rate constants, blood flow rates, and tissue volumes were taken from the literature and incorporated into the lactation model. In a simulated exposure of a lactating woman to a threshold limit value concentration of an individual chemical, only perchloroethylene, bromochloroethane, and 1,4-dioxane exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency non-cancer drinking water ingestion rates for children. Very little data exists on the pharmacokinetics of lactational transfer of volatile organics. More data are needed before the significance of the nursing exposure pathway can be adequately ascertained. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic models can play an important role in assessing lactational transfer of chemicals.
Doi 10.1080/15428119791012667
Pmid 9183837
Wosid WOS:A1997XC80000011
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword chemical exposure; inhalation; lactational transfer; partition coefficients; PBPK; volatile chemicals