Scientists have long known that human breast milk is high in dioxins, environmental contaminants that enter our diets when we ingest agricultural pesticides and pollution from plastics.
Researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine exposed pregnant mice to a dioxin known as TCDD. TCDD is one of a family of isomers known chemically as dibenzo-p-dioxins. The results showed that TCDD “caused severe defects in mammary gland development and function.”
The defects were noted during the earliest days of the pregnancy, according to the study. And it is during pregnancy, that mammary glands of mammals grow and develop to prepare for nourishing the new baby. What does this mean for us humans?
In the same way that we are seeing negative effects of environmental contaminants on the human reproductive system, the new study suggests an effect of dioxin on the mechanism of lactation. Scientists now suspect that exposure to a type of dioxin can affect development of mammary glands early in pregnancy, which may lead to low milk supply after birth.
High levels of dioxins in a pregnant woman’s system have the potential to cause birth defects in babies. In theory, dioxins in breastmilk can also harm babies, although studies have shown that even among populations exposed to high levels of dioxins, breastfed babies have better health and developmental outcomes than formula-fed babies.
Breastmilk contains more dioxins than cow’s milk because dioxins accumulate in animal fat and are only excreted to the fetus during pregnancy, and to the baby during lactation.
Humans are highest on the food chain, so they accumulate the dioxins from the fat of the animals they consume. Plastics and manmade pollution from fertilisers and pesticides are the source. This is a reason to eat organic foods, or at least to cut back on fat from meat, dairy and fish.
However, the antibodies and nutrients in breastmilk, along with the psychological benefits, far outweigh any negative effect of dioxins. Also, the baby’s exposure to dioxins is much greater in utero than while breastfeeding.
It is essential to eliminate environmental contaminants in order to keep breastmilk as pure and plentiful as it is meant to be.
Author: Hannah Katsman
Hannah learned environmentalism from her mother, a conservationist before it was in style. Once a burglar tried to enter their home in Cincinnati after noticing the darkened windows (covered with blankets for insulation) and the snow-covered car in the driveway. Mom always set the thermostat for 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius) — 3 degrees lower than recommended by President Nixon — because “the thermostat is in the dining room, but the stove’s pilot light keeps the kitchen warmer.” Her mother would still have preferred today’s gas-saving pilotless stoves. Hannah studied English in college and education in graduate school, and arrived in Petach Tikva in 1990 with her husband and oldest child. Her mother died suddenly six weeks after Hannah arrived and six weeks before the first Gulf War, and Hannah stayed anyway. She has taught English but her passion is parental education and support, especially breastfeeding. She recently began a new blog about energy- and time-efficient meal preparation called CookingManager.Com. You can find her thoughts on parenting, breastfeeding, Israeli living and women in Judaism at A Mother in Israel. Hannah can be reached at hannahk (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
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