Purgeable organic compounds in mother's milk

Risk of premenopausal breast cancer in association with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene

“…Experimental investigations using human breast tissue have demonstrated the specificity of BaP for mammary TDLU (22). Both BaP and benzene have been detected in human breast milk (23,24). The results of our analyses stratified by ER status were consistent with the findings of experimental studies by Telang et a1 (8,9), who found that both BaP and DMBA altered the metabolism of estradiol and led to an increased formation of the estradiol metabolite 16 a-hydroxyestrone, which bonds strongly to the estrogen receptor and has been shown to promote cancer (9).…”

Environmental contaminants in human milk

“…However, little has been done to identify the most common infant exposures to solvents and investigate any related health effects. Some data have documented levels of solvents in milk of US women (Pellizzari et al, 1982 ), and the potential for infant exposure has been described quantitatively ( Fisher et al, 1997 ). Given the carcinogenicity and toxicity of common air and water contaminants such as the chlorinated ethylenes, further attention to this topic is warranted.…”

Biomonitoring of industrial pollutants: health and policy implications of the chemical body burden

“…27,28 Another EPA analysis identified several dozen synthetic chemicals in mother's milk from 42 women in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana. 29 In 1991, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences called for a national program to monitor blood samples from the general population for the presence of a list of target substances, based on a standardized protocol.…”