Occupationally derived chemicals in breast milk

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700040120· OSTI ID:5927378

Wolff, M S

Exogenously derived chemicals have been widely reported in breast milk. Chemicals typically found in occupational exposures, including trace metals, solvents, and halogenated hydrocarbons, are reviewed, in terms of milk partition factors, potential infant exposures, and possible infant health effects. In addition to ingestion of a chemical from breast milk, an infant incurs a neonatal body burden of a chemical due to transplacental migration from maternal blood. For trace metals, neonatal blood levels are similar to maternal blood levels. Partition of metals to milk is less efficient, but nevertheless can contribute significantly to an infant's body burden. For lipid-soluble pesticide residues and halogenated biphenyls, neonatal body burden is much less than that of the mother, but transfer to milk is efficient, due to the high proportion of milk fat. It is suggested that potential organic mercury toxicity can be estimated from concentration in maternal blood or milk. For other chemicals, available data are not sufficient to evaluate short- or long-term health effects. However, for many halogenated hydrocarbons, concentrations in normal human milk would permit infant exposure above guidelines for allowable daily intake set by the World Health organization.

• Research Organization: Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University of New York
• OSTI ID: 5927378
• Journal Information: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States) Vol. 4:1-2; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE GROUPS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY FLUIDS
CHILDREN
CONTAMINATION
ELEMENTS
FEMALES
FOOD
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFANTS
LEAD
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MERCURY
METALS
MILK
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
SAFETY STANDARDS
SOLVENTS
STANDARDS
TRACE AMOUNTS
VERTEBRATES
WOMEN