Environmental Pollutants in Your Milk? NOT Breastfeeding Poses More Threat!

A report in the 11th Annual Children’s Health Issue of Environmental Health Perspectives shows an overview of studies on environmental pollutants in human milk. It found that not breastfeeding your baby may pose more of a threat than exposure to any chemicals found in human milk. We understand that persistent organic pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants accumulate in human milk, but researchers and parents question whether the baby's exposure to these pollutants could possibly reduce or nullify the health benefits.

One of the authors of the article, M. Nathaniel Mead, concludes that, even in highly polluted areas, breastfed infants have better outcomes. Myriad studies show significantly decreased risk of infection, allergy, asthma, arthritis, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers in both childhood and adulthood among those who were breastfed as babies. Breastfeeding moms should also be aware of the effects of alcohol and drugs, and they should learn how to create a healthier, safer, and cleaner environment for everyone.

EHP editor-in-chief Hugh A. Tilson, PhD states, “The collaborative message from the World Health Organization, the Surgeon General, and the American Academy of Pediatrics is clear: breastfeeding remains the recommended best practice for infants, even in the presence of today’s potential levels of environmental contaminants.”