The WHO Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitute is a public health recommendation to reduce preventable causes of infant morbidity and mortality associated with malnutrition. Irresponsible marketing of infant formula in hospitals is a threat to exclusive breastfeeding. Nurses are mandated to support, encourage and protect breastfeeding and to familiarize themselves with their responsibilities under this Code. The researcher explored Geneva nurses' knowledge of the Code and its impact in practice. Eighty seven point seven percent of the participating nurses had poor level of knowledge of the Code. Poor knowledge of the Code impacts on the quality and consistency of information given to mothers in hospitals. Inadvertent violations of the Code were observed among a minority of the respondents: 7.3% indicated that they received gifts; 2.4% received sponsorships to conferences. Training about the Code and its application in counseling is recommended to complement the babyfriendly initiative at hospitals to improve nutrition outcomes. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Background: Breast milk banks (BMBs) provide human donor breast milk to preterm infants when mothers are not able to provide breast milk themselves (Arslanoglu et al., 2010:20). Breastfeeding is the single most effective intervention to saving the lives of millions of children in developing countries (Bhutta & Labbok, 2011:378-380). BMBs form an integral part of the millennium development goals (MDGs) (Dempsey & Miletin, 2010:2) on reducing infant mortality and morbidity and are being implemented all over the world (Hartmann et al., 2007:667, Arslanoglu et al., 2010:20, Eidelman & Schanler 2012:827). Problem statement: BMBs can be established more effectively with an implementation tool in place. Currently, there is no tool available to guide the implementation of a BMB in South Africa; the only guidelines that could be found are those describing the operation of BMBs in other countries. Some of the BMBs already established in South Africa were implemented with the help of the South African Breast Milk Bank Reserve (SABR), but without a formalised guideline to provide implementation guidance. Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study was to adapt a current Kangaroo mother care (KMC) progress-monitoring tool and to adjust it according to the BMB setting in South Africa in order to provide a final suggested implementation tool for the implementation of BMBs. Method: An explorative, descriptive design with multiple phases was used. Different data sets were audited; including patient files, written reports, working files, research articles and policies. Observations were also made with regards to available equipment and designated BMB space. During phase one, a critical analysis was performed on research articles and websites regarding BMBs. The qualitative data was analysed by using content analysis. This information was adapted and contextualised in phase two. This phase entailed applying the adapted tool to the BMB setting of the selected regional hospital, which then led to phase three, in which the audited data was incorporated into the final suggested implementation tool resulting from this study. Results: The suggested tool, the North West Province BMB implementation tool, shared the six main constructs with the KMC progress-monitoring tool. The constructs are creating awareness, adopting the concept, taking ownership, evidence of practice, evidence of routine and integration and sustainable practice. However, some of the progress markers and instrument items were specifically relevant to the KMC setting and others to the BMB setting. On the other hand, some constructs overlapped, being relevant to both settings: for instance awareness by management, conscious decision to implement, mobilisation of resources (human, space and equipment), information about mothers’ other resources such as budget, patient records, staff orientation, evidence of discharge, policies and other written documents, and 1-2 year audit evidence and staff development. Conclusion: Adapting the KMC progress-monitoring tool led to the development of a suitable tool to guide BMB implementation. The tool is called the North West Province BMB implementation tool. This tool could be used to guide the implementation of a BMB in other hospitals in South Africa. / M (Dietetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Background: Breast milk banks (BMBs) provide human donor breast milk to preterm infants when mothers are not able to provide breast milk themselves (Arslanoglu et al., 2010:20). Breastfeeding is the single most effective intervention to saving the lives of millions of children in developing countries (Bhutta & Labbok, 2011:378-380). BMBs form an integral part of the millennium development goals (MDGs) (Dempsey & Miletin, 2010:2) on reducing infant mortality and morbidity and are being implemented all over the world (Hartmann et al., 2007:667, Arslanoglu et al., 2010:20, Eidelman & Schanler 2012:827). Problem statement: BMBs can be established more effectively with an implementation tool in place. Currently, there is no tool available to guide the implementation of a BMB in South Africa; the only guidelines that could be found are those describing the operation of BMBs in other countries. Some of the BMBs already established in South Africa were implemented with the help of the South African Breast Milk Bank Reserve (SABR), but without a formalised guideline to provide implementation guidance. Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study was to adapt a current Kangaroo mother care (KMC) progress-monitoring tool and to adjust it according to the BMB setting in South Africa in order to provide a final suggested implementation tool for the implementation of BMBs. Method: An explorative, descriptive design with multiple phases was used. Different data sets were audited; including patient files, written reports, working files, research articles and policies. Observations were also made with regards to available equipment and designated BMB space. During phase one, a critical analysis was performed on research articles and websites regarding BMBs. The qualitative data was analysed by using content analysis. This information was adapted and contextualised in phase two. This phase entailed applying the adapted tool to the BMB setting of the selected regional hospital, which then led to phase three, in which the audited data was incorporated into the final suggested implementation tool resulting from this study. Results: The suggested tool, the North West Province BMB implementation tool, shared the six main constructs with the KMC progress-monitoring tool. The constructs are creating awareness, adopting the concept, taking ownership, evidence of practice, evidence of routine and integration and sustainable practice. However, some of the progress markers and instrument items were specifically relevant to the KMC setting and others to the BMB setting. On the other hand, some constructs overlapped, being relevant to both settings: for instance awareness by management, conscious decision to implement, mobilisation of resources (human, space and equipment), information about mothers’ other resources such as budget, patient records, staff orientation, evidence of discharge, policies and other written documents, and 1-2 year audit evidence and staff development. Conclusion: Adapting the KMC progress-monitoring tool led to the development of a suitable tool to guide BMB implementation. The tool is called the North West Province BMB implementation tool. This tool could be used to guide the implementation of a BMB in other hospitals in South Africa. / M (Dietetics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Numerous dietary factors have been shown to influence the fatty acid profiles (FAP) in breast milk from lactating women. However, few studies have evaluated the effect of trace minerals on milk FAP. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of selenium status on the FAP in breast milk. Subjects were lactating women from three different regions in China; Xichang (n=21), an area where selenium intakes are among the lowest in the world, Beijing (n=20), where there are adequate selenium intakes, and Enshi (n=19), where selenium intakes are among the highest in the world. Plasma and milk samples were obtained from women at birth of their baby and within 10 months postpartum and analyzed for selenium content, glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activity and FAP. Plasma and breast milk selenium levels were significantly lower in the Xichang women and significantly higher in the Enshi women when compared to Beijing women. Despite the fact that the highest level of plasma selenium was measured in the samples from Enshi, the Gpx activity was greatest in the samples from Beijing; there was no effect of time of sampling on these samples. In breast milk, on the other hand, all the samples obtained at birth had similar activity of Gpx. The samples taken later, however, followed the same trend as plasma with the samples obtained from the women in Beijing having the highest activity. FAP indicated a significant difference in the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in both the plasma and milk for the Beijing women, when compared to the women from Xichang and Enshi. In particular, there were higher levels of linoleic acid, 18:2(n-6), in the plasma and milk of the women whose selenium intake was adequate. / Graduation date: 1997

As aflatoxinas são substâncias naturais que apresentam efeitos tóxicos aos humanos e são reconhecidamente carcinogênicas. Estas substâncias podem estar presentes na dieta humana ou, em casos específicos, no ar respirado. Desta maneira, a exposição humana às aflatoxinas é objeto de muita preocupação. Uma das maneiras mais eficazes de avaliar a exposição humana as aflatoxinas é através da mensuração da presença de biomarcadores da exposição a estas substâncias em fluidos biológicos. Dentre as possibilidades de biomarcadores de exposição às aflatoxinas tem-se que aflatoxina M1 (AFM1), presente na urina e leite humano, é considerada um biomarcador válido. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste trabalho de pesquisa foi avaliar a presença de AFM1 em amostras de urina provenientes de indivíduos residentes na região urbana e rural da cidade de Piracicaba-SP, assim como, de leite de gestantes de Piracicaba e cidades da região. Nos indivíduos doadores de amostras de urina foi levantado também o padrão de ingestão de alimentos com alto risco de conter aflatoxinas, através da aplicação de inquéritos de freqüência alimentar e recordatórios 24 horas. A análise de AFM1 em urina e leite foi realizada por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) com detecção por fluorescência. A extração e purificação do extrato foram realizadas com auxílio de colunas de imunoafinidade. No total 69 amostras de urina e 18 de leite foram analisadas. Entre as amostras de urina detectou-se a presença de AFM1 em 54 (78%) das amostras, com concentrações variando de 1,8 até 39,9 pg/mL. Não foi observada diferença estatística entre as concentrações médias detectadas entre urinas de indivíduos da zona urbana e rural, bem como no nível de consumo de produtos de risco. Apesar das concentrações de AFM1 detectadas serem inferiores as concentrações médias reportadas em outros países a freqüência de amostras positivas foi bastante elevada mostrando que as populações estudadas estão sendo expostas às aflatoxinas. Assim, melhores avaliações dos níveis de exposição necessitam ser realizados considerando que a amostragem utilizada foi pontual, pode existir variação de contaminação sazonal com aflatoxinas na dieta e a contaminação é heterogênea dentro no alimento. Não foi observada uma correlação entre o nível do consumo de produtos de risco e as concentrações detectadas em amostras de urina. Apenas uma amostra de leite apresentou contaminação detectada; entretanto, o nível de contaminação estava entre o limite de detecção (LD) e o limite de quantificação (LQ). / Aflatoxins are natural substances that present toxic and carcinogenic effects to humans. These substances may be present in human diet or, in specific cases, in the breathing air. Thus, the human exposition to aflatoxins is object of concern. One of the most effective ways to evaluate human exposition to aflatoxins is to measure the presence of biomarkers in biological fluids. Among the possibilities of aflatoxin presence biomarkers, the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), present in human urine and milk, is considered a valid biomarker. The objective of this work was to evaluate the presence of AFM1 in urine samples from individuals who live in urban and rural areas in the county of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil, and in milk of pregnant women from Piracicaba and neighbor cities. Urine-donor individuals were researched in relation to the ingestion of food with high risk of containing aflatoxins through the application of a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall. The analysis of AFM1 in urine and milk was performed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The extract purification and extraction were performed with the aid of immunoaffinity columns. Overall, 69 urine and 18 human breast milk samples were analyzed. Among urine samples, the presence of AFM1 was detected in 54 (78%), with concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 39.9 pg/mL. No statistical difference was observed between average concentrations detected in the urine of individuals from urban and rural areas, as well as the consumption of aflatoxin risky food. Although the AFM1 concentrations detected are lower than those reported for other countries, the frequency of positive samples was quite high, showing that the populations studied are exposed to aflatoxins. Thus, further evaluations on the exposition levels should be performed, and considering that the sampling used in this work was punctual, there may be seasonal contamination variations in diet and the contamination level is heterogeneous within a food. No correlation between the consumption of risky food and concentrations detected in urine samples was observed. Only one milk sample presented detected contamination; however, the contamination level was between the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ).

Human milk is recognized as the main component for growth, metabolism, and immune development in infants. Furthermore, during lactation, human milk is an important source of microorganisms for the intestinal colonization of newborns. Mother-related factors have been associated with the human milk microbiota composition. Nevertheless, apparently, there has not been any study in which the maternal diet was evaluated as a modulator of the human milk microbiota. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the maternal diet on the human milk microbiota composition of healthy women, and subsequently, to evaluate the effect of fructooligosaccharides supplementation on the human milk microbiota. This study consisted of two parts; the first was a cross-sectional study, including 94 lactating women recruited at the University Hospital of the University of São Paulo (HU/USP), to investigate the association between the maternal nutrient intake during pregnancy and lactation over the first month and the human milk microbiota. The second part consisted of a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 53 lactating, classified as FOS group (n = 28), which received 4.5 g of fructooligosaccharides + 2 g of maltodextrin or placebo group (n = 25), which received 2 g of maltodextrin, over a period of 20 days. The DNA was isolated and used as template for amplification and sequencing by the Illumina MiSeq® System. Overall, the maternal diet during lactation (\"short-term\" food intake) influenced specific bacterial groups, including positive correlations between polyunsaturated fatty acids/linoleic fatty acids and Bifidobacterium. However, only the maternal diet during pregnancy (\"long-term\" food intake) was statistically significant (p = 0.02) for the clustering analyzes (community structure analyzes), in which higher levels of vitamin C intake during pregnancy was related to cluster 2, driven by the Staphylococcus genus. After the intervention period on the maternal diet, no differences were found for relative abundance of genera between the placebo and the FOS groups. However, the distances of the trajectories covered by the samples from the beginning to the end of the supplementation was higher for the FOS group (p = 0.0007). According to our results, the maternal age affects the response for FOS supplementation (p = 0.02), though no patterns in the differences of relative abundances were found between the groups. Our results suggest that the maternal diet may influence the human milk microbiota, and the diet during pregnancy is a stronger factor over the bacterial community structure. Minor changes were found by the maternal short-term food intake or the maternal intervention with the prebiotic, and the changes seem to be individual-dependent and influenced by the maternal age, particularly in the intervention study. / O leite humano é, reconhecidamente, o principal componente para o crescimento e o desenvolvimento metabólico e imunológico de lactentes. Adicionalmente, durante a lactação, o leite humano consiste em uma importante fonte de micro-organismos para a formação da microbiota intestinal de neonatos. Fatores relacionados à mãe têm sido associados à composição da microbiota do leite humano. Entretanto, poucos estudos avaliaram a dieta materna como componente modulador da microbiota do leite humano. Os objetivos deste estudo foram investigar o impacto da dieta materna sobre a composição da microbiota do leite humano de mães saudáveis e, posteriormente, avaliar a influência da intervenção com fruto-oligossacarídeo na microbiota do leite humano, durante 20 dias de lactação. O estudo foi dividido em duas partes; a primeira parte consistiu de um estudo transversal, com 94 lactantes atendidas no Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo (HU/USP), a fim de investigar a associação entre o consumo materno de nutrientes durante a gestação e durante o primeiro mês de lactação e a microbiota do leite humano. A segunda parte consistiu em um ensaio clínico, aleatorizado, placebo-controlado, com 53 lactantes, classificadas em grupo FOS, que recebeu 4.5 g de fruto-oligossacarídeo + 2 g de maltodextrina (n = 28) ou grupo placebo, que recebeu 2 g de maltodextrina (n = 25), suplementados por 20 dias. O DNA das amostras de leite foi isolado e utilizado como molde para amplificação e sequenciamento em Illumina MiSeq® System. Em geral, a dieta materna durante a lactação (consumo a curto prazo) apresentou influência pontual sobre diversos grupos de micro-organismos, incluindo correlações positivas entre ácidos graxos poli-insaturados/linoleico e o gênero Bifidobacterium. No entanto, somente a dieta materna durante a gestação (consumo a longo prazo) foi estatisticamente significante (p = 0.02) para as análises de agrupamento das amostras (análises de estrutura de comunidade), sendo o maior teor de vitamina C consumido durante a gestação relacionado ao agrupamento 2, direcionado por maiores populações do gênero Staphylococcus. Após o período de intervenção na dieta materna, não foram encontradas diferenças entre a abundância relativa de gêneros entre os grupos placebo e FOS. No entanto, as distâncias do percurso das amostras do início até o final da suplementação foram maiores para o grupo FOS (p = 0.0007). De acordo com os resultados, a idade materna influencia essa resposta à suplementação por FOS (p = 0.02), embora, não tenham sido encontrados padrões nítidos nas diferenças de abundância relativa entre os grupos. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a dieta materna consiste em um fator de modulação da microbiota do leite humano, sendo a dieta durante a gestação um fator mais intenso sobre a estrutura da comunidade bacteriana do leite humano. No entanto, o consumo a curto prazo ou a intervenção alimentar com prebiótico sobre a dieta materna apresentou influência pontual sobre a dinâmica da microbiota do leite, ainda que mudanças observadas sejam indivíduo-dependentes e influenciadas pela idade materna, como no caso do estudo de intervenção.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-19T18:16:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PIERRE ADRIANO MORENO NEVES.pdf: 592413 bytes, checksum: 3c2dccf54426593732289ba9c664f039 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-04-28 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Given that breastfeeding after 1 year old has been reported by some studies as a risk factor for early childhood caries (ECC), and it is unknown whether breast milk is metabolized in a structured oral biofilm in children with ECC leading to pH drops, the objective of this study was to evaluate the milk acidogenic potential in oral biofilm of non-exclusive infants with and without caries, using sucrose as a control. Biofilm pH measurement were performed in vivo in 16 children (average 35.2 months) divided into two groups: caries-free (n = 9) and early childhood caries (ECC) (n = 7). In both groups, samples of saliva and plaque were collected for microbiological evaluation. The acidogenicity if oral biofilm was evaluated in a cross shape after breastfeeding or exposure to 10% sucrose solution in both groups of children through measurements of pH (resting pH, pH30min, pH5min, pH variation in 5 minutes and AUC6.5) using a touch microelectrode. Higher counts of mutans streptococci was found in biofilm of children with ECC (p<0.05). Comparing children with or without caries, milk treatment showed no difference for the variables of pH, but sucrose caused a greater &#56256;&#56405;pH5min in biofilm of children with ECC (p=0.0317). Within a group, sucrose caused a greater pH drop in the biofilm of caries-free patients than human milk (p=0.0423). For individuals ECC, the sucrose solution also showed a greater acidogenic potential than milk for the variables pH5min (p=0.0308), &#56256;&#56405;pH5min (p=0.018) and AUC6.5 (p=0.0104). Human milk had no acidogenic potential in oral biofilm of breastfed children, regardless of caries activity. Together, these data support the hypothesis that human milk is not cariogenic, and that the consumption of other carbohydrates should be considered in breastfed infants with early childhood caries. / Tendo em vista que amamentação após 1 ano de idade tem sido apontada por alguns estudos como fator de risco à cárie de estabelecimento precoce (CEP), e que é desconhecido se o leite materno é metabolizado em um biofilme oral maduro em crianças com cárie precoce, levando a quedas de pH, o objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o potencial acidogênico do leite no biofilme oral de lactentes não exclusivos com ou sem experiência de cárie, tendo como controle positivo a sacarose. Medidas de pH do biofilme foram realizadas in vivo em 16 crianças (média de 35,2 meses de idade) divididas em dois grupos: livre de cáries (n=9) e com cárie de estabelecimento precoce (CEP) (n=7). Nos dois grupos foram coletadas amostras de saliva e biofilme para avaliação microbiológica. A acidogênicidade no biofilme oral foi avaliada de forma cruzada após amamentação ou gotejamento de solução de sacarose 10% nos dois grupos de crianças através de medições de pH (pH Descanso, pH30min, pH5min, variação de pH em 5 minutos e AUC6.5) usando-se um microeletrodo de contato. Uma maior contagem de Streptococcus mutans foi encontrado no biofilme das crianças com CEP (p<0,05). Na comparação entre crianças com ou sem cárie, o tratamento leite não apresentou nenhuma diferença para nenhuma das variáveis de pH, porém a sacarose provocou um maior &#56256;&#56405;pH5min no biofilme dos pacientes com CEP (p=0,0317). Dentro de um mesmo grupo, a sacarose provocou uma maior queda de pH que o leite humano no biofilme de pacientes livre de cáries (p=0,0423). Para os indivíduos CEP, a solução de sacarose também apresentou um potencial acidogênico maior que o leite para as variáveis pH5min (p=0,0308), &#56256;&#56405;pH5min (p=0,018) e AUC6.5 (p=0,0104). O leite humano não teve potencial acidogênico no biofilme oral de crianças amamentadas, independente da atividade da doença cárie. Em conjunto, esses dados dão suporte a hipótese de que o leite humano não seja cariogênico, e que o consumo de outros carboidratos deve ser avaliado em crianças amamentadas com cárie precoce.

Mother's milk provides multiple benefits to the offspring. However, xenobiotics transferred into breast milk may pose a risk to the nursing infant. The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) actively transports xenobiotics into breast milk. BCRP also transports nutrients, like riboflavin, and together with recently identified riboflavin transporters (RFT), may provide a mechanism for riboflavin secretion into breast milk. Expression of RFT in the mammary gland remained unknown. Our objective was to characterize Bcrp and Rft mRNA expression in the mammary gland of FVB/N mice, and investigate a strategy to decrease excretion of BCRP-transported xenobiotics into the milk using riboflavin intervention. Rft and Bcrp mRNA were upregulated in the mammary gland of lactating mice. An intravenous riboflavin administration significantly reduced the levels of BCRP-transported cimetidine in milk. This study demonstrates the use of riboflavin to exploit the function of mammary BCRP in order to reduce xenobiotic secretion into breast milk.

Mother's milk provides multiple benefits to the offspring. However, xenobiotics transferred into breast milk may pose a risk to the nursing infant. The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) actively transports xenobiotics into breast milk. BCRP also transports nutrients, like riboflavin, and together with recently identified riboflavin transporters (RFT), may provide a mechanism for riboflavin secretion into breast milk. Expression of RFT in the mammary gland remained unknown. Our objective was to characterize Bcrp and Rft mRNA expression in the mammary gland of FVB/N mice, and investigate a strategy to decrease excretion of BCRP-transported xenobiotics into the milk using riboflavin intervention. Rft and Bcrp mRNA were upregulated in the mammary gland of lactating mice. An intravenous riboflavin administration significantly reduced the levels of BCRP-transported cimetidine in milk. This study demonstrates the use of riboflavin to exploit the function of mammary BCRP in order to reduce xenobiotic secretion into breast milk.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Stockholm Convention was the first global attitude trying to preserve human health and the environment of the indiscriminate use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), especially pesticides, which are characterized by being lipophilic and can bioaccumulate in fatty tissues including breast milk. However, POPs represent only a part of the chemicals with the potential for environmental pollution and human as new substances are constantly being developed and released into the environment. In this work, the sample preparation step was optimized based on the results of the factorial design 32 varying solvents and sorbents. The method was validated for 54 compound using a mixture of hexane:acetone for extraction, clean-up by dispersible solid phase extraction (d-SPE) using activated Florisil® and determination by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry using negative chemical ionization (GC-NCI-MS). The matrix effect was compensated by the use of extracted analytical curve. The validation of the method showed satisfactory results for linearity, accuracy (recovery between 71.9 and 119.8%) and precision (RSD <29%). An evaporation step of the extract concentrated the analytes enabling low detection (3 to 26 ng g-1 of fat) and quantitation (9 to 86 ng g-1 of fat) limits. The method was applied to 20 samples of breast milk collected in different regions of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, all of which contained at least one of the studied compounds. With principal component analysis of the results, it was possible to relate the pesticides detected in relation to the city of origin of the samples and the number of nursing mother's pregnancies. Considering that breast milk is a complex matrix, the analytical method was effective for the determination of trace levels of POPs and pesticides in breast milk and can be applied in monitoring analysis of human exposure to these contaminants. / A Convenção de Estocolmo foi a primeira atitude mundial a tentar preservar a saúde humana e o ambiente do uso indiscriminado de agrotóxicos, especialmente os poluentes orgânicos persistentes (POPs), que se caracterizam por serem lipofílicos podendo bioacumular nos tecidos adiposos e também no leite materno. Porém, os POPs constituem apenas uma parte dos produtos químicos com potencial de contaminação ambiental e humana uma vez que novas substâncias estão constantemente sendo desenvolvidas e liberadas no ambiente. Neste trabalho a etapa de preparo de amostra foi otimizada com base nos resultados do planejamento fatorial 32 variando solventes e sorventes. O método foi validado para 54 compostos utilizando uma mistura de hexano:acetona para a extração, limpeza do extrato por extração em fase sólida dispersiva (d-SPE) empregando Florisil® ativado e determinação por cromatografia a gás acoplada à espectrometria de massas com ionização química negativa (GC-NCI-MS). O efeito matriz foi compensado pela utilização de curva analítica extraída. A validação do método apresentou resultados satisfatórios para linearidade, exatidão (recuperação entre 719-119,8%) e precisão (RSD <29%). Uma etapa de evaporação do extrato concentrou os analitos possibilitando analisar baixos limites de detecção (3 a 26 ng g-1 de gordura) e de quantificação (9 a 86 ng g-1 de gordura). O método foi aplicado em 20 amostras de leite materno coletadas em diferentes regiões do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, das quais todas apresentaram pelo menos um dos compostos estudados. Com análise por componentes principais dos resultados foi possível relacionar os agrotóxicos detectados com relação a cidade de origem das amostras e número de gestações da nutriz. Considerando que o leite materno é uma matriz complexa, o método analítico foi eficaz para a determinação em nível de traço de POPs e agrotóxicos em leite materno, podendo ser aplicado em análise de monitoramento da exposição humana a esses contaminantes.