Hi.  My name is Kara Bunkers.  I am a junior nursing student at the
University of North Dakota.  A while ago there was some discussion about
contaminants in breast milk.  This was very interesting to me because I had
heard of drugs/medications entering breast milk but had never thought about
other things that could be there too.  Ruth A. Lawrence (1994, p.352)
states that lipophilic, biologically stable, un-ionized at a physiologic
pH, and low-molecular weight chemicals are the most easily transferred into
human milk.  The Department of Health and Human Services (2000, p.32) says
that some of these chemicals are DDT, DDE, dioxins, hexachlorobenzene, and
volatile organic compounds.
There are several factors that influence the amount of these chemicals that
are transferred, so mothers will have different levels of contaminants
based on these factors.  The chemicals from the environment can build up in
the woman’s body for 15 to 45 years before she becomes pregnant.  There may
even be chemicals in her body that she got from her own mother’s milk.  The
mother’s fat stores are depleted each time she breastfeeds an infant.
Because of this, the mother’s first child will receive the most of the
contaminants built up in her body.  Schreiber (2001, p.1119) and Heinrich-
Hirsch, Przyrembel, and Vieth (2000, p.321-323) both state that the levels
of contaminants in breast milk have been going down over the last several
decades.  There is also information in Schreiber’s article that these
contaminants can interfere with milk production, such as decreasing it, or
alter the composition of the breast milk.
All of these sources state that breastfeeding is still the best for the
baby.  The levels of these chemicals in human milk are usually low and
should not be enough to harm the baby.  Women who are nursing should try to
protect themselves form exposure to these chemicals.
What do you, as practicing lactation consultants, recommend for mothers who
are worried about chemical contaminants in their breast milk?


References

Heinrich-Hirsch, B., Przyrembel, H., & Vieth, B.  (2000).  Exposition to
and health effects of residues in human milk.  In Hernell, O., Koletzko, B,
& Michaelsen, K. F. (Eds.) Short and long term effects of breast feeding on
child health (p.307-325).  Boston:  Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
Lawrence, R. A.  (1994).  Breastfeeding.  A guide for the medical
profession.  (4th ed., p.351-352).  St. Louis: Mosby.
Schreiber, J. S.  (October 2001).  Parents worried about breast milk
contamination.  Pediatric Clinics of North America 48(5), p.1113-1127.
Department of Health & Human Services.  (2000).  Health & Human Services
Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding.  Washington, D.C.  p.32.

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