Clinical laboratory manifestations of exposure to background levels of dioxins in the perinatal period

Abstract
Pluim HJ, Koppe JG, Olie K, van der Slikke JW, Slot PC, van Boxtel CJ. Clinical laboratory manifestations of exposure to background levels of dioxins in the perinatal period. Acta Pædiatr 1994;83:583–7. Stockholm. ISSN 0803–5253 The effects of exposure to low levels of dioxins in infants (intrauterine and via breast milk) were studied. In a group of 35 babies, specially selected, laboratory tests were performed in cord blood and in blood sampled at 7 days and 11 weeks of age. The outcome of these laboratory tests was related to dioxin concentrations in milk fat and cumulative dioxin intake. At 11 weeks of age, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in plasma were significantly related to cumulative dioxin intake. A significant negative relation was found between platelet count and cumulative dioxin intake. The results of this study suggest that exposure to background levels of dioxins, both intrauterine and via breast milk, may have effects in newborns.