The impact of the 2019/2020 Australian landscape fires on infant feeding and contaminants in breast milk in women with asthma

International Breastfeeding Journal

Research

Vanessa M. McDonald¹  Graeme R. Zosky²  Jay C. Horvat³  Elizabeth G. Holliday⁴  Tesfalidet Beyene⁵  Megan E. Jensen⁵  Vanessa E. Murphy⁵  Peter G. Gibson⁶  Anne E. Vertigan⁷  Joe Van Buskirk⁸  Edward Jegasothy⁸  Geoffrey G. Morgan⁸  Ivan Hanigan⁸ 

[1] Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia;Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia;School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Asthma and Breathing Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Department of Speech Pathology, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia;Sydney School of Public Health, and University Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia;

关键词: Breast milk;    Infant feeding;    Environmental contaminants;    Landscape fire;    Bushfire;    Smoke;    Australia;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13006-023-00550-8

 received in 2022-08-19, accepted in 2023-02-11,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe 2019/2020 Australian landscape fires (bushfires) resulted in prolonged extreme air pollution; little is known about the effects on breastfeeding women and their infants. This study aimed to examine the impact of prolonged landscape fires on infant feeding methods and assess the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and elements in breast milk samples.MethodsFrom May – December 2020, women with asthma, who were feeding their infants during the fires, were recruited from an existing cohort. Data on infant feeding and maternal concern during the fires were retrospectively collected. Breast milk samples were collected from a sample of women during the fire period and compared with samples collected outside of the fire period for levels of 16 PAHs (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry), and 20 elements (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry).ResultsOne-hundred-and-two women who were feeding infants completed the survey, and 77 provided 92 breast milk samples. Two women reported concern about the impact of fire events on their infant feeding method, while four reported the events influenced their decision. PAHs were detected in 34% of samples collected during, versus no samples collected outside, the fire period (cross-sectional analysis); specifically, fluoranthene (median concentration 0.015 mg/kg) and pyrene (median concentration 0.008 mg/kg) were detected. Women whose samples contained fluoranthene and pyrene were exposed to higher levels of fire-related fine particulate matter and more fire days, versus women whose samples had no detectable fluoranthene and pyrene. Calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, sulphur, and copper were detected in all samples. No samples contained chromium, lead, nickel, barium, or aluminium. No statistically significant difference was observed in the concentration of elements between samples collected during the fire period versus outside the fire period.ConclusionsFew women had concerns about the impact of fire events on infant feeding. Detection of fluoranthene and pyrene in breast milk samples was more likely during the 2019/2020 Australian fire period; however, levels detected were much lower than levels expected to be related to adverse health outcomes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Crown 2023

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