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2 May 2008
Teflon, Scotchgard Found In Breast Milk 
The chemicals used to make non-stick cookware and stain-resistant fabrics are now turning up in samples of human milk from nursing mothers in Massachusetts. The samples were collected as part of University of Massachusetts researcher Kathleen Arcaro's ongoing study examining the link between environmental exposure to chemicals and breast cancer risk. Her findings are scheduled for publication in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. "Perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs, are found in human blood around the world, including the blood of newborns, but this is the first study in the United States to document their occurrence in human milk," says Arcaro. "While nursing does not expose infants to a dose that exceeds recommended limits, breast milk should be considered as an additional source of PFCs when determining a child's total exposure." The milk samples were analyzed for nine different PFCs. Perfluorooctane-sulfonate (PFOS), used to make stain-resistant fabrics, was found in the highest concentration in breast milk, followed by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in nonstick cookware. The amount of PFCs that nursing infants would consume each day did not exceed Total Daily Intake Values set by the U.K. Food Standards Agency Committee on Toxicology, which were based on a review of current toxicology studies.
Arcaro cautions that recommended intakes of PFCs based on Total Daily Intake values should be interpreted with caution, since there is no consensus on these values, which are derived from rodent studies. Mothers should also compare the risks of breast feeding with the benefits, which include better nutrition and immune system development and enhanced defense against infections in children. Food sources of PFCs include grease-resistant packaging such as microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes, as well as fish and other animals that contain these chemicals. Exposure can also come from personal care products including dental floss and shampoo. PFCs can linger in the environment and the human body for years without being broken down. Related:
Breast Problems From Pesticides Cross Generations
Women Exposed To PCBs Less Likely To Conceive Boys
Wood Floors A Source Of PCBs? Source: University of Massachusetts Amherst
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