Dear Betsy,
       The preponderence of evidence is that breast milk protects babies from
a host of ailments.  Yes, babies who do not get their mothers' milk are at
greater risk of certain cancers, ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory
infection, hospitalization, and even death.  As there are no sources of pure,
unadulterated mother's milk remaining on the planet, we must assume that the
studies all compared formula-fed babies with babies receiving their mothers'
contaminated milk.  I don't think that anyone on lactnet is suggesting that
formula, though less contaminated with dioxins, is preferable to mothers own
milk.
       That said, the fact remains that mothers milk IS contaminated.  So
while breast milk is, hands down, the best food for babies, working together
to decrease environmental toxins to decrease the amount of contaminants in
the milk is a very good idea.
       This is also a social justice issue.  Hospitals are major polluters.
Where does all the "Red Bag" hazardous waste go?  In the US, usually to
incinerators in the poor part of town where PVCs are burned and spewed into
the air.  (Check out Health Care Without Harm.)  Of course, the folk living
near the incinerators usually can't afford organically grown foods, so they
get a double-whammy.  I wonder how the dioxin level in mothers milk differs
by socioeconomic status.
       So as we work hard to promote breastfeeding among our less affluent
sisters, let's also work to improve the purity of their milk (and the milk of
mothers everywhere.)
       Happy that breastfeeding is environmentally friendly,

       Debi Page Ferrarello, RN, MS, IBCLC
       Abington, PA

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