" The solution, she and her coauthors argue, is not to forgo breast-feeding
but to lower PCB concentrations in the food chain so mothers accumulate less
in their milk. "
I agree entirely. But do we know anything about exactly where the mothers
are getting PCBs? When dioxins were the scare for breastfeeding mothers,
the principal source of maternal contamination turned out to be (in NZ
women anyway) bleached paperboard used to store milk in cartons: the cows
milk fat picked it up. The principal source of aflatoxin contamination in
Vicotira was shown to be second-rate nuts, health shop peanut butter and
livers of chickens fed mouldy peanuts in battery farms. The principal
source of Australian pesticide residues turned out to be nipple creams. The
principal source of lead was water pipes. Cleaning up the environment is
huge and needs to be done. Knowing what to avoid can be done immediately if
anyone cares to test the specifics rather than simply fuss about the whole.
Can we be practical in what we say re reducing risks of PCBs here and now?

Maureen Minchin, IBCLC
5 St, George's Rd., Armadale Vic 3143 Australia
tel/fax after March 1: 61.3.95094929 or 95000648