>From: [log in to unmask]
>Date: Thu, 20 Jun 96 17:19:52 CET
>To: m.e.kennedy
>Cc: eviadams, moyg
>Subject: Environmental pollutants and breast-feeding
>
>          Dear Maureen,
>
>          Evi Adams was kind enough to forward your recent post on the
>          Lactnet (unfortunately, current work volume does not permit
>          me to participate as I would wish). I in turn have discussed
>          the question with my colleague, Dr Gerald Moy, Scientist,
>          in the Food Safety unit. He prepared a message, which I am
>          forwarding for your information. You may, if you wish, post
>          it for other Lactnet participants.
>
>          I would like to add the following concluding remarks on the
>          question, from chapter 3: "Health factors which may
>          interfere with breast-feeding" in "Infant feeding: the
>          physiological basis" (1990), p. 49, which we still consider
>          relevant:
>
>          "In a number of industrialized countries, where it is
>          assumed that breast-feeding after four months is less
>          critical to infant health than in some societies, there has
>          been some discussion of the possibility of counselling
>          mothers against prolonged lactation to avoid an accumulation
>          of fat-soluble contaminants in their infants. On the basis
>          of present scientific knowledge, however, such a measure
>          does not appear justified. In fact, the concentration of
>          fat-soluble contaminants in breast milk decreases as
>          lactation advances, and with increasing parity."
>
>          Best wishes to you and all Lactnetters.
>
>          Jim Akre
>
>
>