Breast milk is an excellent fluid for biomonitoring because it is lipid-rich, can be collected in a non-invasive manner (as opposed to blood), is a measure of the mother's body burden of persistent chemicals, and is also a measure of the chemical dose to the nursing infant.  Semen sampling, while useful in some circumstances, does not have these characteristics.  (Of course, it can be collected in a non-invasive manner, too ;-). 

As always, despite the presence of persistent lipophilic contaminants, breast milk is the preferred infant nutrition because of the many benefits of immunological protection, etc.
See my previous postings on this topic.

Judy Schreiber  

Judith S. Schreiber, Ph.D.
Senior Public Health Scientist
Office of the Attorney General
Bureau of Environmental Protection
The Capitol
Albany NY 12224
518-474-4819 desk
518-474-9267 sec
518-473-2534 fax
email [log in to unmask]  

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