Dangerous hormone-disrupting chemicals found in US breast milk samples

Woman Holding Breast Pump Bottle Photograph: Emilija Manevska/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Woman Holding Breast Pump Bottle Photograph: Emilija Manevska/Getty Images Dangerous hormone-disrupting chemicals found in US breast milk samples Study of mothers in Seattle underscores ‘widespread, systemic problem’ of chemical contamination, experts say Breast milk samples from mothers in Seattle contain alarming levels of dangerous hormone-disrupting chemicals, including BPA, BPS, melamine, cyanuric acid, and triclosan, new peer-reviewed research has found. The chemicals present a serious risk to infants because they likely interfere with hormones that are critical to newborns’ proper development, and have been found to be harmful at very low levels of exposure. About 92% of 50 samples were contaminated with at least one of the anti-microbials or plasticizers for which researchers checked. The same milk samples had previously been found to contain potentially dangerous levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” and flame retardants, which are also endocrine disruptors. The cocktail of endocrine-disrupting chemicals is “concerning for a number of reasons”, said Ryan Babadi, a lead author of the peer-reviewed study, and senior scientist with the Toxic Free Future nonprofit. “This pertains to the most vulnerable group when it comes to health effects – infants and children – who are undergoing rapid stages of development that are orchestrated by the endocrine system,” Babadi said. Previous research has shown the individual chemicals in mothers, but the new study is among the first to detect melamine, along with multiple other classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, in breast milk. Babadi emphasized that breastfeeding remains the healthiest choice for infants when possible, because it is the most nutritious and generally the safest option. Many of the same chemicals are also found in formulas. However, Babadi added that the study’s results underscore a “widespread, systemic problem” because chemical companies are so widely using the compounds, and regulators are failing to rein in their use. The endocrine disruptors are regularly added to everyday products across the economy to serve a number of purposes. The anti-microbial triclosan is frequently included in some personal care products. The plasticizers melamine, BPA and BPS are used as resins that prevent products from sticking to packaging, to help give plastic its form, or to provide UV protection, among other purposes. The study found BPA and BPS in 74% and 78% of samples, respectively. The chemicals have been found in epidemiological studies to have a wide range of developmental and reproductive harms, and BPS is linked to lower weight in young children. BPA is associated with impaired neurodevelopment, asthma, and obesity. Researchers also found triclosan in 62% of samples, and melamine in 92%. While there is a dearth of research on the health impacts of exposure to mixtures of endocrine-disrupting