Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls in human breast adipose samples from Brazil

Twenty five human breast adipose tissue samples were collected in Porto Alegre, Brazil during 2004–2005 and analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). ΣPBDE concentrations (sum of tri- to hepta-BDEs) ranged from 0.19 to 132 ng/g lipid with a median of 1.51 ng/g lipid. These concentrations are 3- to 100-times lower than those reported from other countries, with the exception of Japan, probably reflecting lower usage of PBDE-containing products or lower exposures to these chemicals. The predominant congener was BDE-47, followed by BDEs 99, 183, 153 and 100. One individual in the dataset had about 70-times higher PBDE concentrations than the rest of the participants. ΣPCB (sum of PCBs 118, 138, 153, 180) ranged from 30 to 339 ng/g lipid, with a median of 51 ng/g lipid. No age dependency was found for PBDEs (r = − 0.800–0.374, p > 0.05) or PCB 180 (r = 0.278, p > 0.05). On the other hand, PCBs 118, 138 and 153 did show age dependency (r = 0.410–0.458, p < 0.05). This is the first study to report levels of PBDEs in human breast adipose from Brazil.