Blood/Breast Milk Sampling

The assessment of concentration in blood and breast milk can be useful for contaminants that bioaccumulate (i.e., all POPs). These samples can be used to verify or possibly replace the total predicted exposure calculated from numerous different exposure pathways (Health Canada 2004).

Combined with an exposure survey, chemical analysis of blood/breast milk samples can indicate the dominant exposure pathway(s).

For more details about administering blood or breast milk sampling program, refer to the Field Sampling Procedures section.