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23 September 2005
Breast-Feeding Still Best Option 
Despite widespread concerns about the levels of environmental chemicals found in breast milk, doctors say that breast feeding is the best option for providing positive health benefits to infants. "We strongly emphasize that the mere presence of an environmental chemical in human milk does not indicate that a health risk exists for breast-fed infants," said professor of pediatrics and pharmacology at Penn State, Cheston M. Berlin. "All information gathered to date supports the positive health value of breast-feeding for infants." The statements were made at a workshop exploring issues related to the bio-monitoring of human milk that involved experts from academia, industry, non-profit organizations and the federal government. The chemicals found in human milk come from a variety of sources that women may be exposed to, including industrial chemicals, chemicals in personal care and home/yard products, pharmaceuticals, and recreational and illicit drugs. Associate professor of pediatrics Judy S. LaKind said that few, if any, adverse effects have been documented as being associated with consumption of human milk containing background levels of environmental chemicals, and none have been clinically or epidemiologically demonstrated. She added that while consumers frequently become alarmed at media reports, a more balanced view was needed. "One of the points we've tried to make clear is that you cannot present risk-benefit information in a vacuum. That's why we also recommend looking at infant formulas and the chemicals in the water used to make the formulas. An example of this is the potential effects on infants from phytoestrogens - plant compounds with estrogenic activity - in soy-based formulas," she explained. LaKind added that more research was need into the residual effects of cosmetics and other personal care products. "The focus of most human milk bio-monitoring studies has been on persistent, bio-accumulative compounds such as PCBs. Little work has been done on shorter-lived chemicals such as volatile chemicals or on chemicals in personal care products." Overall, however, the workshop gave breast feeding the thumbs-up. "Breast-feeding is widely accepted internationally as the gold standard for infant feeding and has unparalleled advantages for both infants and mothers. Advantages for infants include protection from infectious disease, optimal growth including neurodevelopment, and possible protection from certain diseases later in life," concluded Berlin, who chaired the workshop.
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