Development of analytical methods for obtaining the first data on human exposure in Croatia to brominated compounds

Foundation of the Croatian Academy for Sciences and Arts

Duration: 2020 – 2021

Summary

The aim of this project is to optimize the conditions for microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of 7 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners from human milk samples by selecting a suitable solvent mixture, temperature, and the required time for extraction. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of human milk sample pretreatment on the MAE efficiency. This will be the first application of MAE technique for extraction of PBDEs from human milk samples in the world, and the preliminary data on PBDEs mass fractions in human milk from Croatia, which will enable assessment of Croatian population exposure to PBDEs, and based on which it will be possible to assess the potential risk to human health.