Toxins and Breastmilk

Breastmilk: Protection for Your Baby

You may have heard about PBDEs and other harmful chemicals found in humans. This is sad but true. The good news is that breastfeeding protects the health of mothers and babies and may reduce the harm from some chemicals. WithinReach has developed a new brochure about toxins in breastmilk, Breastmilk: Protection for Your Baby (pdf). Also available in Spanish, La Leche Materna: Proteteccion para Su Bebe (pdf).

Precautionary Principle states: If the consequences of an action are unknown, but are judged to have some potential for major or irreversible negative consequences, then it is better to avoid that action. More information.

Helpful Links:

Washington Toxics Coalition protects public health and the environment by eliminating toxic pollution. WTC promotes alternatives, advocates policies, empowers communities, and educates people to create a healthy environment. Visit www.watoxics.org to receive updates about toxins in the environment and to learn about legislative efforts.

Toxic Free Legacy Coalition is a broad-based alliance of organizations across Washington State whose vision is to leave children a legacy of fresh air, clean water, thriving wildlife, and healthy bodies—a toxic-free legacy.

Washington State Department of Health; Environmental Health

Kellymom.com. Evidenced-based information about contaminants in breastmilk including PBDE’s, perchlorate (rocket fuel), mercury and others.

Sightline Institute: New analysis; Toxic flame retardants overtaking past chemical threats in Northwest mothers. Includes: press release, regional data, Q&A’s, talking points, one minute film on the PBDE story and more.

Preventing Toxic Threats to Child Development: Why Breastfeeding is Still Best

Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. is a mother, author, ecologist and cancer survivor. She is the author of several books including Having Faith, an exploration of the intimate ecology of motherhood and the environmental hazards that threaten pregnant and breastfeeding women.

To Breastfeed or Not to Breastfeed is Not the Question: Why Risk-Benefit Analysis is the Wrong Way to Look at the Problem of Breast Milk Contamination, Sandra Steingraber, PhD (p. 4-5 of PDF file), from The Ribbon Volume 8, Number 2, Summer 2003.

Don’t Trash Our Bodies! by Christine Gross-Loh, Mothering Magazine, Issue 122, January/February 2004

Breastfeeding, Breast Milk, and Environmental Contaminants. Position paper from the International Lactation Consultant Association

Toxins and Infant Feeding, Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC, January 2005

Breastfeeding and Exposure to Environmental Toxins, US Centers for Disease Control

Flame Retardants - A Serious Concern for Mothers, Breastmilk, and Infants (.pdf)