Impact of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Breast Milk on Postpartum Depression in Korean Mothers

Ju-Hee Kim, Hye-Sook Shin and Woo-Hyoung Lee
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Ju-Hee Kim: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
Hye-Sook Shin: Department of Nursing, College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
Woo-Hyoung Lee: Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: Previous human and animal studies have reported an association between endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and anxiety/depression. This study aimed to determine how the concentrations of phthalate metabolites, bisphenol A, triclosan, and parabens in breast milk are associated with the risk of developing postpartum depression (PPD) in Korean mothers. We recruited 221 mothers who were receiving lactation coaching at breastfeeding clinics between July and September 2018. The breast milk samples were collected along with responses to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The multivariable logistic regression results revealed that the phthalate, bisphenol A, parabens, and triclosan levels in the breast milk were not significantly associated with the risk of PPD. This study was the first attempt to analyze the association between the levels of EDCs in breast milk and the risk of PPD. Considering that PPD is a condition that affects not only the women diagnosed with it, but also their children and families, the results of this study may have great relevance to populations in environmentally sensitive periods.

Keywords: postpartum depression; endocrine-disrupting chemicals; breast milk; mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate; ethyl-paraben (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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