Alteration of Microbiome in Colostrum and Infant Health Risks from Exposure to HCHs in Mother-Infant Pairs

摘要

Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) are a kind of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are persistent, bioaccumulated and endocrine-disrupting. Infants are sensitive population for POPs and easily to be affected by dietary intake of POPs and the microbes in colostrum. This study was conducted to measure the exposure levels of HCHs in colostrum of mothers living on the island facing interchange of the Yangtze River mouth and Qiantang River mouth where were highly polluted in China, evaluate the HCHs exposure risks of newborns from dietary intake of colostrum, analyze the microbial diversity in 30 selected colostrum samples, and assess the potential effects from exposure to HCH on microbial diversity in colostrum. The concentration of y-HCH was the highest of three HCH components in colostrum. When compared the total daily intake (TDI) of HCHs from colostrum with reference dose (RfD) standards, 56.7% newborns excessed y-HCH standard. Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Acinetobacter and Stenotrophomonas were predominant bacterial genus in colostrum samples. Compared with the group with low y-HCH concentration, relative abundance of pseudomonas in the high exposure group is significantly higher. Our findings suggested that exposure to HCHs due to environmental contamination might contribute to changes of microbial diversity in colostrum and dietary intake of HCHs in colostrum has potential health risks on newborns living in this area.