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Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in the Australian population: Levels in Human Milk

Australian governments have been taking action against persistent organic pollutants such as OCPs for some years. Import bans were imposed on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the 1970s; many OCPs were withdrawn from use in the 1980s. In the 1990s Management Plans were developed for PCBs, OCPs and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), to guide Australian governments in the management and destruction of the stockpile of materials that remained in Australia awaiting destruction.

In June 2002, a review of the Polychlorinated Biphenyls Management Plan made a number of recommendations including recommendation 6, that stated:

"As a minimum, that monitoring of breast milk for PCBs should be undertaken as an indicator of exposure of the Australian population to PCBs. It would be advantageous if this could be done in conjunction with the proposed National Dioxins Program (NDP) study. Monitoring of organochlorine pesticide levels could also be undertaken”.

In September 2002, the Environment Protection and Heritage Standing Committee, agreed to proceed with this study and look at the following 15 chemicals:

aldrin (incl. isodrin), chlordane, DDT, DDD, DDE, dieldrin, endosulfanes (including endosulfanesulfate), endrin, heptachlor, HCB, lindane, other HCHs, pentachloronitrotrobenzene, pentachlorophenol and PBDEs.

PBDEs are a class of chemical about which there is growing international concern. PBDEs and other brominated chemicals are used as fire retardants in a wide range of circumstances. As there was little information about levels of PBDEs in the Australian environment, it was decided to add them to this study.

The study found that levels of OCPs are low compared to international studies, which is consistent with the use of most of these chemicals being phased out in Australia since the 1980s. The report of the study can be downloaded below.

The levels of PBDEs are consistent with those reported internationally, however, the levels are higher than those observed in Europe and Japan but lower than those observed in North America and Canada.

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Last Modified: Wednesday, 19/1/05 2:15 PM

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