Dear Lactnetters,
       I'm adding the following information to the discussion on welding and
breastfeeding.
      My husband is a Safety Inspector who does a great deal of work with the
construction industry. I shared the recent Lactnet posts with him regarding
concerns about the safety of welding while breastfeeding.
      He concurs that the process is extremely hazardous. Many toxins are
emitted in the welding process. Inhalation is the primary route of absorption
of contaminants, but he said they can also be absorbed through the skin and
gastrointestinal system if she were to touch food and eat without washing her
hands first. He felt carbon monoxide was the most worrisome toxin involved.
He also said it would depend on what materials were being welded, for example
galvanized materials are more toxic than non-galvanized materials. The
welding environment makes a difference as well when considering a closed-in
room with little ventilation versus open air. Welders on bridges and high
areas frequently work around pigeon poop which emits harmful bacteria that is
inhaled and causes serious disease.
      He feel respirators and ventilators do not thoroughly remove toxins
from routes of entry. I suggested that she could have her blood levels tested
and/or milk tested for toxins at intervals following work (pumping and
dumping during the time of testing) if she absolutely had to pursue this job.
              Judy Gutowski, BA, IBCLC

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