The study concluded that breast milk was a significant source of PFAS exposure for infants; however, the researchers did not discredit or condemn breastfeeding. They see their findings, published today (Aug. 20) in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, as a wake-up call to governments to better regulate PFASs. With that said, after breastfeeding, the concentrations of PFASs decreased.
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Researchers found that children who were exclusively breastfed had PFAS concentrations in the blood increase by roughly 20-30 per cent each month, with lower increases among children who were partially breastfed. Researchers monitored five types of PFASs in their blood at birth and ages 11 months, 18 months, and 5 years and also looked at PFAS levels in mothers of the children at week 32 of pregnancy. They are used in stainproof textiles, waterproof clothing, paints and some food packaging, reports LiveScience.
It turns out that mothers may be feeding their babies toxic chemicals.
Many countries, including the United States, have sharply limited the use of two types of PFASs- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), because of evidence suggesting that these compounds may cause cancer and disrupt hormones.
An alarming signal, said the researchers, was that PFASs, which gather in the circulatory system of both humans and animals, might lead to a weakened immune system, reproductive abnormalities, improper functioning of endocrine glands and even cancer.
PFASs have been known as a contaminant of drinking water in the U.S. near various production facilities.
While there are many positive effects of breastfeeding, this new study has found at least one drawback to breast milk.
Breastfeeding is becoming more and more popular among mothers because of its reported health benefits and economical advantage (less money to be spent on formula milk) but could its popularity be jeopardized by a new study that claims breastfeeding may pass harmful chemicals to babies?
Protein-rich breast milk seems to be a good place for the chemicals to accumulate, say the scientists.
To investigate this issue, the team analyzed the blood samples of 81 children who were born in the Faroe Islands between 1997 and 2000. But then if the child is breast-fed for six months, the child has four times that, so now the child exceeds the mother in the serum concentration of PFAS.
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“We knew that small amounts of PFAs can occur in breast milk, but our serial blood analyses now show a buildup in the infants, the longer they are breastfed”, explained Phillippe Grandjean, environmental health adjunct professor at Harvard T.H Chan School.
