DEPENDENCE OF PCDD AND PCDF LEVELS IN HUMAN-MILK ON VARIOUS PARAMETERS IN GERMANY .2.

During the breast-feeding period, I-TEq levels in milk collected in the 6th and 12th week decreased to a 85 and 75 % level, respectively, referred to levels in milk of the first week (100 %). PCDD/PCDF levels in milk were found to be highest for women having their first child (33 pg I-TEq/g milk fat) and distinctly lower for women with the second and third child (26 and 19 pg I-Teq/g milk fat). As to the dependence on the age of the mothers, the increase of the PCDD/PCDF body burden was calculated to be 0.71 pg I-TEq/g milk fat/year or 0.12 pg TCDD/g milk fat/year. Levels in milk for women on a vegetarian diet in comparison to those on a regular diet were only slightly lower. The regional distribution of the levels of the samples indicates that there are no evident differences in the PCDD/PCDF concentrations. No dependence of PCDD/PCDF levels on body mass index, smoking and indoor wood panelling were shown although for the two last parameters PCDDs/PCDFs, especially OCDD, were found in cigarette smoke and in some cases in indoor air.