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Dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in human breast milk collected in the area of Taranto (Southern Italy): first case study

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Abstract

We report on the content of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in 15 breast milk samples of nursing women living in the city of Taranto (Southern, Italy) or nearby. Breast milk samples were collected over the 2008–2009 period and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) upon accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) using acetone/n-hexane mixture 1:1 (v/v). The method was validated demonstrating good performing features. Profiles of PCDD/PCDF congeners in breast milk samples exhibited a prevalence of PCDFs compared to PCDDs. Toxic equivalents (TEQs in picogram per gram fat) of four breast milk were far above the legal limit for human consumption of 3.0 pg/g; their estimated daily and weekly dietary intake were almost 5–20 and 10–40 times higher, respectively, than the tolerable intake values established by the World Health Organization.

Occurrence of the toxic micropollutants in breast milk samples of mothers living in or nearby Taranto

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Giuseppe Novario is acknowledged for his valuable assistance. This work was performed by using the instrumental facilities of CIGAS Center founded by EU (Project no. 2915/12), Regione Basilicata, and Università degli Studi della Basilicata.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100, Potenza, Italy

    Giuliana Bianco

  2. Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Attrezzature Scientifiche (C.I.G.A.S.), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100, Potenza, Italy

    Giuliana Bianco

  3. Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Campus Universitario, Via E. Orabona 4, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Rosalia Zianni & Tommaso R. I. Cataldi

  4. Metapontum Agrobios, S.S. Jonica 106, Km 448.2, 75010, Metaponto, Matera, Italy

    Giuseppe Anzillotta & Achille Palma

  5. Struttura Complessa Neonatologia—UTIN—Ospedale S.S. Annunziata, via F. Bruni 1, 74100, Taranto, Italy

    Vincenzo Vitacco

  6. Dipartimento delle Culture Europee e del Mediterraneo: Arch., Ambiente, Patrimoni Culturali, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Via San Rocco n. 3, 75100, Matera, Italy

    Laura Scrano

Authors
  1. Giuliana Bianco
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  2. Rosalia Zianni
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  3. Giuseppe Anzillotta
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  4. Achille Palma
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  5. Vincenzo Vitacco
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  6. Laura Scrano
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  7. Tommaso R. I. Cataldi
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Correspondence to Tommaso R. I. Cataldi.

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Bianco, G., Zianni, R., Anzillotta, G. et al. Dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in human breast milk collected in the area of Taranto (Southern Italy): first case study. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 2405–2410 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6706-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-6706-7

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