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Receptor Biology and Signal Transduction

ORF19-04 - Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Breast Milk and Infant Urine Samples from Birth to 6 Months of Life: Findings from the LIFE-MILCH Project

Saturday, June 13, 2026
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM CT
Location: Room W180
Disclosure(s):
Maria Elisabeth Street, Prof MD,PhD: No financial relationships to disclose


Introduction: The LIFE-MILCH project (www.lifemilch.eu;Programme EASME-GIE Life 2018) investigates exposure to EDCs in mother-infant pairs. By analyzing EDCs in BM and in mothers’ and infant’s urine samples (IU), with occupational and lifestyle exposure data, the study explores associations of exposure with growth, adiposity, pubertal stages, anogenital distances and neurodevelopment. We present data on exposure to EDCs in BM and IU during the first year of life.

Methods: 689 mother-infant pairs were enrolled in Parma, Reggio Emilia and Cagliari, in Italy. Healthy mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies were enrolled at 36-41weeks of gestational age. We present data on 336 BM and IU samples in samples collected at 1 (T1), 3 (T2) and 6 months (T3) after delivery. EDCs were measured by UPLC-MS/MS [4 different bisphenols,11 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),14 phthalates and metabolites (PHTHs),7parabens,3 polar pesticides,2 pyrethroids].

Results: Among bisphenols, BPA had the highest detection rate in BM(51.2% at T1 and 49.8% at T3 while was in 32.9% of IU samples at birth and in 67.6% at T3. BPS was found in 10.7% of BM samples at T1 and in 18.3% at T3;in 22.4% IU samples at T0 and in 41.2% at T3. BPFDGE was almost undetectable in BM but was found in IU(9.2% of samples at T0 and 23.5% at T3). PAHs, but for indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene and dibenz(a,h)anthracene at T1, were scarcely detectable in BM but were stably detectable in IU samples(up to 27.7%). Among parabens,MePB and EtPB were the most prevalent. In BM, MePB was in 51.2% of samples at T1 and in 56.2% at T3 and EtPB was in 42.3% of samples at T1 and in 52.6% at T3. In IU, MePB was in 52.6% samples at T0 and in 82.4% at T3 and EtPB was in 27.6% at T0 and 41.2% at T3. Glufosinate was in 27.4% of BM samples at T1 and in 31.9% at T3;in 44.7% IU samples at T0 and in 38.2% at T3. In all BM and urine samples, high levels of PHTHs were detected. DBP was in 90.2% of BM samples at T1 and in 86.5% at T3;in 30.3% IU samples at T0 and in 79.4% at T3. MBP,DEP,MEP,BBP,MnOP,MEOHP, were similarly detectable at different % over time in both BM and IU samples.DEHP,DnOP were subtly detectable.Overall detectable EDCs were above the LOQ in approximately 50% of samples. EDCs in BM increased the probability of finding the same chemicals in the IUs but other sources contributed over time. Relationships with mothers’ nutrition were investigated yielding interesting findings.

Conclusion: Findings confirm BM as a vehicle of environmental contamination. As infancy represents a critical windows of exposure this calls for better biomonitoring, awareness, prevention campaigns and actions to reduce exposure.

*Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO must not be released to the press or the public until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.*