In response to Judy Fran's question about artist's materials, the very short answer is yes, volatile chemicals which the woman works with are likely to volatilize to air and be inhaled; detectable amounts may be present in her milk. The longer answer, however, is that the benefits of breastmilk almost always exceed the small risks associated with chemical exposure via milk. Once inhaled, the amount that may be present in her breastmilk depends on a number of factors including % absorbed after inhalation, lipophilicity (how fat soluble), amount present in air, metabolism and other maternal/chemical factors. There are several good references available: Dr. Ruth Lawrence's Review of Medical Benefits and Contraindications to Breastfeeding in the US (Oct '97), Jeff Fisher's article to which you refer in your note (send me your address and I'll send you a copy), and a chapter I wrote entitled Transport of Organic Chemicals to Breast Milk: Tetrachloroethene Case Study, which is published in Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology of Human Development, Taylor and Francis, Publ. (1997). I doubt you will find much on the acrylates,in particular, as they are difficult to analyze in air and other media. However, my assessment of the risks of chemicals in milk compared to the benefits of breastfeeding indicates that it is almost always beneficial to breastfeed the infant. Of course, minimizing the mom and child's exposure to VOCs is also recommended. The artist should take care to have adequate ventilation in her work area to keep airborne levels low, and to work under a fume hood if possible. Dermal contact should also be kept to a minimum. The child should be kept away from the work area, if possible. Direct inhalation of chemicals by the infant provides a much greater exposure (probably 95%) compared to levels that the child would ingest in breastmilk from the mom. Any lactnetters interested in these references should send me their address and I'll send copies of requested info. You can correspond via lactnet or send a personal note to me at [log in to unmask] Judy Schreiber, Ph.D., New York State Dept of Health.