In response to Lisa Marasco's observation about increased incidence of low milk supply ("I have been amazed at the number of women who have been presenting the past few years with what I assess to be true milk supply problems.....In my corner of the world, it sometimes feels like milk supply problems are becoming epidemic. I do not consider this all to be of entirely "natural origins," but of whatever origins that are also causing the inexplicable rising rates of a host of other diseases and ills as well."): Exposure to toxic chemicals can interfere with lactogenesis and should not be ruled out as a contributing factor in cases of poor milk supply. E.g. in studies conducted in both North Carolina and Mexico, women with the highest levels of DDT in their breast milk had "poorer lactation performance," and weaned their infants sooner than mothers whose pesticide levels were lower. Similar findings come from the Netherlands, where mothers with high levels of PCBs in their breast milk had significantly lower volumes of milk during the first three months of nursing. Further supporting these data are animal experiments showing that PCBS interfere with lactation. The most likely mechanism is endocrine disruption affecting prolactin production, although no one knows for sure at this point. Of course, there may be many other common toxic chemicals with the ability to interfere with lactogenesis at background levels...but toxicology screenings usually do not include lowered milk production as an endpoint (as opposed to ability to cause cancer or birth defects). Another reason for lactation consultants to become environmental activists. Sandra references: B.C. Gladen and W.J. Rogan, "DDE and Shortened Duration of Lactation in a Northern Mexican Town," American Journal of Public Health 85(1995): 504-08; C.I. Lanting, "Environmental Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) is Negatively Related to Human Milk Output and Fat Content," in Lanting, Effects of Perinatal PCB and Dioxin Exposure and Early Feeding Mode on Child Development, pp. 101-14; W.J. Rogan et al., "Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethene (DDE) in Human Milk: Effects on Growth, Morbidity, and Duration of Lactation," American Journal of Public Health 77(1987): 1294-97; W.J. Rogan, "Pollutants in Breast Milk," Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 150(1996): 981-90; Schettler, Generations at Risk, p. 205. -- -- Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. Visiting Assistant Professor Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors 110 Rice Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 [log in to unmask] *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html www.steingraber.com