I'm proud to share a press release that LLLI made at a press conference in DC
for earth day, along with Greenpeace.  Hope this is helpful to you.

Barbara Heiser, NABA

Delivered 21 April 1997
National Press Club, Washington DC, USA
By Trisha Noack, Director of Public Relations, LLLI

Today Greenpeace focuses our attention on the role of polyvinyl chloride,
or PVC, in producing harmful contaminants such as dioxin which appear in
human milk. While we acknowledge this message, La Leche League
International reminds everyone that research indicates that even in a
contaminated world, human milk is still best for babies.  La Leche League
International helps mothers worldwide to breastfeed through
mother-to-mother support, information and education. Part of our mission is
to promote  better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element
in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Both human milk and the unique relationship between a breastfeeding baby
and nursing mother offer significant advantages to mothers and babies.
Other feeding methods draw raw materials from the same environment as human
milk and are likely to contain the same contaminants.  The production and
disposal of artificial baby milk products add to our environmental problems
by consuming energy and producing waste. Human milk contains dioxins only
because it is the product of a contaminated world. Fortunately, human milk
also helps children combat the effects of pollution while it has no
negative impact on the environment.  Indeed, the benefits of human milk may
prove to be essential to compensate for and outweigh toxic effects from the
environment.

La Leche League International acknowledges that human milk contains suspect
compounds, reflecting general environmental contaminant levels. We urge
society to examine the role of such substances as PVC in contributing to
this condition.  While science and industry search for a way to resolve
this problem, we urge health care providers and parents to examine the
research which overwhelmingly indicates that  breastfeeding is still the
very best start for our babies.

We call the attention of environmentalists to the message of the World
Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, of which La Leche League is a charter
member. The theme for this year's World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, is
Breastfeeding: Nature's Way.  We ask the help of all environmentalists in
supporting breastfeeding as the optimal form of infant feeding while the
use of damaging substances is brought under control.  Human milk is a
valuable natural resource that should be promoted and protected.
Environmentalists and breastfeeding support groups alike have a common
interest in promoting breastfeeding--the healthiest and most ecologically
sound way to nurture our babies.