Hi everyone,

There have been some discussions lately on dioxins in breastmilk.  I spent a
good deal of time researching this subject when I was working on "MIlk, Money &
Madness."  In the book, we ended up addressing the subject of toxins in four
different subject headings:

        Is Mother's Milk Always Safe?
                 (which deals with environmental toxins, alcohol and drug use,
and HIV)
        Is Cow's Milk Always Safe?
                (which deals with antibiotics, toxins, vitamin dosage
irregularities, and bovine growth hormone),
        Is Formula Always Safe?
                (which deals with problems in formula manufacturing and mixing),
and
        Is Bottled Water Always Safe?
                (which deals with both whether and what kind of water babies
should be fed)

When I first looked into the subject, I started to panic - thinking that since
fat is used to store (fat-soluble) toxinsfrom our bloodstreams and since fat is
used to manufacture breastmilk, we were all going to end up poisoning our
babies.  Further research quelled my fears and led me (with thanks to Marsha
Walker) to realize how many toxins we expose babies to by NOT breastfeeding.

If anyone would like me to email any of these sections, send me email privately
(they are too long to post to the group).

- Dia

Dia L. Michels                          202-547-3598
532 9th Street, SE                              202-546-2356-fax
Washington, DC  20003                   [log in to unmask]