I havenıt seen a reply to this yet, so Iıll take a stab at it. While
researching hazardous materials for my book I needed to clarify lead
exposure levels and breastfeeding for military women and here is what I came
up with:
As you stated the bullets are lead-free but the armory or firing range where
she is at may have a build-up of lead. For the amount of time she would be
requalifying she would likely be OK if she wore a mask to avoid breathing in
lead dust (she should have eye protection anyway), and sheıll definitely
want to shower and launder ALL of her clothes (change her shoes/boots before
leaving work) before heading home and holding her baby. Iıd even go so far
as to say she might want to wash those uniform items in a Laundromat so that
any residual lead dust doesnıt get mixed up with her babyıs clothes/blankets
in the washing machine.
I donıt believe, given the research and the amount of exposure, that she
would need to pump and dump her milk. Now if she WORKED full-time at the
firing range, that might be another story.
Here are some resources I found useful:
Martinez, Lead Poisoning, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 1993
A fact sheet on Lead: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts13.html
Condon, M. (2005). Breast is Best, but it Could Be Better: What is in Breast
Milk That Should Not Be? Pediatric nursing, 31(4), 333.
Disclaimer, my book does have a section on lead exposure that may be
applicable to police officers both in and out of the military.
Hope this helps!
Robyn Roche-Paull
B.S., IBCLC, LLLL
Author & Founder ~ Breastfeeding in Combat Boots
http://www.breastfeedingincombatboots.com
757-286-6052 (cell)
757-963-0872 (fax)
[log in to unmask]
Join the Facebook Fan Page!
http://www.facebook.com/breastfeedingincombatboots
On 8/19/10 12:02 AM, "LACTNET automatic digest system"
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Date: Wed, 18 Aug 2010 11:22:35 -0400
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Police officer and lead exposure
>
> I just received a call from a mother of a 5 month old exclusively breastfed
> baby who is a police officer. She is returning to work and must re-qualify on
> the firing range and is concerned about lead exposure. Her ammunition is lead
> free but other firearms are discharged on this range that use lead ammunition.
> Where can she get information on how to do this safely and avoid lead exposure
> in her milk?
>
>
> Marsha Walker, RN, IBCLC
> Weston, MA
>
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|
