PCB pollution of early milk in the Province of Vojvodina.

Seven EPA PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) were determined in samples of early human milk collected from 18 mothers in Novi Sad, using GC-ECD (HP 5890) supplied with a Quadra fused silica column 5% Ph for PCBs. The sum of seven PCB congeners was 3.26±3.90 (X¯±S.D.), median 1.25, range 0.4-14.31 and the range of individual congeners was for: 28: 0.04-0.37; 52: 0.04-0.44, 101: 0.04-1.21; 118: 0.05-0.62; 138: 0.13-4.61; 153: 0.13-4.81; 180: 0.10-3.07, ng/g wet. No correlation was found between maternal age and seven PCB congeners. In two primiparous mothers below 30 years, the sum of seven PCB congeners was three to fourfold, and in one multiparous twofold higher than the average for the group. Unchanged level of assumed total PCBs in early human milk in 2003, compared with measured total PCBs in 1993, suggest the continuous inlet of these chemicals into the environment.

Hyperbilirubinemia and intermittent lower urinary tract dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of hyperbilirubinemia on lower urinary tract function. METHODS: The study was conducted on 29 patients with suspected Gilbert's syndrome (GS), and who were subjected to fasting test for diagnostic purpose. The uroflowmetric test was performed after 24 h of fasting and after 24 h of hypercaloric intake. RESULTS: After a 24 h fasting period, when bilirubin in the serum was at its highest concentration, 31% of patients had abnormal uroflowmetric patterns. Patients with abnormal uroflowmetric patterns had higher conjugated bilirubin after 24 h fasting period than patients with normal pattern (p = 0.012). After a 24 h of hypercaloric intake, all 29 patients had a normal (bell-shaped) uroflowmetric pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The results imply that hyperbilirubinemia might be a predisposing factor for intermittent lower urinary tract dysfunction in children.