Hygiena 2011, 56(4):116-126

Effects of Dioxins and PCBs on the Human Organism and Their Influence on Developing Teeth of Children via Mother's Milk

Ján Kováč, Daniel Kováč

Klinika stomatológie a maxilofaciálnej chirurgie LF UK a OÚSA, Bratislava

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of stable toxic chemicals that affect human health and the environment. These halogen derivates of aromatic hydrocarbons arise from combustion and as by-products of various industrial processes. In the case of releasing these organic pollutants into the environment, they will persist for decades in soils, water and the atmosphere and hence continue to be of concern for a very long time after the release has ceased. Dioxins cause impairment of the immune system, the nervous system, the endocrine system and the reproductive functions and are also suspected of causing cancer. Their major source for humans is food. PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs are lipophilic compounds, resistant to metabolic degradation and have a tendency to increasingly accumulate at higher levels of the food chain and to distribute to fatty tissue. Pregnant and nursing women may pass these pollutants to their babies both trans-placentally and lactationally, because breast milk is rich in fat. Consumption of breast milk constitutes the main route of dioxin exposure for breast-fed infants. Concentrations of PCDDs, PCDFs and PCBs in human milk are therefore indicators of their human exposure and reflect their concentrations in adipose tissue as well. The most toxic within this group of chemicals is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Breast feeding is widely recognized as offering the developing infant the benefits of balanced nutrition and passive immunization against microbial infections. However, the detection of persistent environmental pollutants in breast milk samples has led to concerns that these chemicals may have detrimental effects on the health and/or development of breast-fed children. Clinical findings suggest that depending on the level, children's developing teeth can be sensitive to environmental dioxins and PCBs via mother's milk. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to these compounds may cause oral soft tissue abnormalities and mineralization defects of teeth. It has been found that the prevalence of developmental enamel defects and congenitally missing teeth in subjects accidentally exposed to their high amounts has increased.

Keywords: dioxins, effects of dioxins, toxicokinetics of dioxins, breast milk, breast milk contamination, developmental dental defects, PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs

Received: April 2011; Accepted: October 3, 2011; Published: December 1, 2011  Show citation