Persistent organic pollutants (POP) concentrations in human breast milk: Evolution of concentrations over time in Senegal

Introduction - Senegal's ratification of the Stockholm Convention in October 2003 aims to eliminate emissions of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the environment. Objective. - The objective of this study was to compare POPs concentrations in human breast milk in 2008 and 2018. Methodology. - One hundred samples of human breast milk were collected in 2008 (50 samples) and 2018 (50 samples) in areas of Senegal. The POPs assay was carried out by Gas Chromatography with Electron capture detector (GC-ECD) on two pooled samples obtained by mixing 25 mL of the samples from each campaign. The Mann-Whitney test by Epi-info made it possible to compare the groups with a significant difference for p < 0.05. Results. - A decrease in POPs pesticide concentrations (in ng/g of lipid) between 2008 and 2018 was observed especially for chlordane, DDT and lindane; the contents were respectively 11.70; 464.50; 16.00 in 2008 and 4.11; 156.26 and 1.80 in 2018 with P < 0.05. An increase in PCB contents (in ng/g of lipid) was noted with certain congeners between 2008 and 2018 with 16.43 to 22.10 for PCB 138; 29.80 to 40.40 for PCB 153 and 17.93 to 26.90 for PCB 180 (< 0.05). The concentrations of dioxins and furans did not register any significant difference between 2008 and 2018. Conclusion. - The important concentration of POPs in human breast milk may be the consequence of a still marked presence of POPs in the environment of Senegal despite a public health policy already showing encouraging results; hence the need to strengthen the achievements of the biomonitoring of these products in our regions. (C) 2020 Societe Francaise de Toxicologie Analytique. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.