We have a situation here in South MS where some individuals have sprayed
methylparathion (an organophosphate, insecticide--normally used to spray on
cotton or soy beans) in people's homes.  The EPA is down here moving people
out of their homes, replacing floors, carpets, walls, etc., that have been
contaminated.  Methylparathion breaks down readily in sunlight outdoors; is
extremely toxic and does not break down easily indoors.  If ingested one
teaspoon concentrate will kill an adult.  Contaminated day care centers,
restaurants, etc., have had to be closed--it's a bad scene.  That's some
background so you'll know why the next question.

We have a breastfed baby 3 months old that was in a home sprayed with
methylparathion.  Family has been moved out of their home while it it cleaned
and decontaminated.  Methylparathion metabolizes quickly--according to our
information it is out of the body within 24 hours.  When the mother asked us
about continuing to breastfeed, we gave her that information and she is
continuing to breastfeed.  Our thinking is (Camille's and mine) that if it is
metabolized and out of the body within 24 hours, it's also out of the milk.
Baby and mother were already exposed to the insecticide in the home; had been
breastfeeding for 3 months already in the home with the insecticide--if it's
out of the mother's system within 24 hours and out of her milk, surely it
wouldn't make sense to expose the infant to the known dangers of artificial
feeding at this time.

Do any of you have other information that may be different?  I'm sure the
baby would metabolize the methylparathion more slowly than an adult, but
would it make sense to expose him to artificial feeding?  Are there other
factors that we should know about breastfeeding infants' exposure to toxins
such as this one and the efficacy of continuing to breastfeed?  Should the
mother pump and dump?  Any info appreciated.  You may email us privately:

[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]

and/or post to the list.  Thank you!  :)