Volume 5, Issue 1 (2026) – 12 articles
Cover Picture: Infants are especially vulnerable to POPs due to their developing physiological systems and higher exposure per unit body weight. This study quantified legacy POPs in breast milk from lactating mothers in Wuhan, China, identifying HCHs and DDT metabolites as predominant contaminants, alongside PCB-52 and BDE-154. Maternal factors, including parity, body mass index, and diet, significantly influenced POP levels. Specific pollutants were associated with neonatal outcomes, with β-HCH positively correlated with birth weight, while heptachlor and PCB-170 showed negative associations with developmental indicators. Despite detectable contamination, estimated infant exposure generally remained below safety thresholds, supporting the benefits of breastfeeding while underscoring the need for continued biomonitoring and exposure reduction strategies.
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