Many moms worry about environmental contaminants in their breastmilk, particularly as the media brings this concern to the forefront periodically. How are moms exposed to these chemicals… from their community drinking water systems. I wonder how Alabama Governor Robert Bentley would advise his daughter about the risks to his grandson?
A widely used class of industrial chemicals linked with cancer and interference with immune function. PFOA is perfluorooctanoic acid, commonly identified with DuPont’s Teflon and PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonate, commonly identified with 3M’s Scotch Guard. PFOA and PFOS are fluorinated organic chemicals that are part of a larger group of chemicals referred to as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).
PFASs build up in infants by 20%–30% for each month they’re breastfed, according to a study co-authored by experts from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. It is the first study to show the extent to which PFASs are transferred to babies through breast milk, and to quantify their levels over time.
