Toxins In Breast Milk

Written By Jessica Amy Robinson - Director Of World Health Store

As a mother of two – both of whom were breastfed and are being raised in Beijing – I find the whole debate on toxins in breast milk very disturbing.  On the one hand, mothers are under so much pressure to do the best for their newborns … pressure from family, friends, medical practitioners, any one who offers an opinion (and there are many!).  For many mothers, this means breastfeeding is a no-brainer.  On the other hand, we are inundated with conflicting information about what truly is best for our babes … and sometimes it is difficult to know which way to turn.

Back to the issue of toxins in breast milk … I came across a recent study (published in the Journal of Medicinal Food) that analyzed dioxin levels in breast milk from 35 pregnant women in Japan.  The landmark study showed that dangerous dioxins are passed directly from mother to baby via breast milk.  The good news is that these dioxins can be significantly reduced by taking Chlorella Pyrenoidosa … but this does not get away from the worrying fact that ‘breast may not actually be best’.
Apparently, dioxins may be linked to development problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other learning disabilities in school-aged children.  Let’s face it - we all know the benefits of nursing our babies – including decreased risks for allergies, diabetes, cancer, infections and arthritis.  But I am alarmed to hear that some researchers are beginning to question whether the risks of exposure to pollutants in breast milk outweigh these benefits.

As a mother, it is always hard to know what to do – finding the balance between wanting to protect your baby in any way that you can, against not over-reacting to what you read on the internet or in the media.  For mothers living in China, this is even more of a challenge.  

I am temporarily put at ease to hear that the World Health Organization, the Academy of Pediatrics, and the US Surgeon General remain overwhelmingly in favor of breastfeeding, even with the evidence of contaminants in mother’s milk, believing the benefits to outweigh the risks to infants.  But let’s be honest, this debate is still far from over.  And for those of us having babies in China, the recent milk crisis has made it all the more complex.

La Leche League gives these tips to reduce the levels of chemicals in the mother’s body – most of them are stating the obvious, but it helps to have some practical advice in a world of so many uncertainties … In addition to these tips, I have also decided to clean up my act at home … I am now only using natural, non-toxic, environmentally-friendly cleaners and detergent. 

Here go the other tips …
    * Avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol
    * Be aware when purchasing homes and buildings that have been treated with pesticides for termites or older homes that might have lead-based paints.
    * Eat a variety of foods low in animal fats, and remove skin and excess fat from meats and poultry. Avoiding high-fat dairy products may reduce the potential burden of fat-soluble contaminants.
    * Increase consumption of grains, fruits and vegetables. Wash and peel fruits and vegetables to help eliminate the hazard of pesticide residues on the skin. Eat food grown without fertilizer or pesticide application.
    * Avoid fish such as swordfish and shark or freshwater fish from waters reported as contaminated by local health agencies.
    * Limit exposure to chemicals such as solvents found in paints, non-water based glues, furniture strippers, nail polish, and gasoline fumes.
    * Remove the plastic cover of dry cleaned clothing, and air out the garments in a room with open windows for 12-24 hours.
    * Try to avoid contact with incinerator discharge, preserved wood, or produce grown near incinerators.
    * Attempt to avoid occupational exposure to chemical contaminant.
    * Encourage other family members to be sensitive to contaminant residue they may inadvertently bring into the home.