Breastfeeding may expose infants to toxic chemicals

Breastfeeding may expose infants to toxic chemicals

                   A recent research report conducted by Harvard has shown that a particular type of Chemical which is used to make pipes and other material resistant to the water is transferred to the young babies through breast milk. The study appeared online on August 20, 2015 in Environmental Science & Technology. The chemical name is PFAS. So on thinking what the effect of this is chemical on the Human body? It is well documented that PFAS is associated with reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption and immune system dysfunction.

                   On seeing the type of research being conducted by which this is proved, it is by assessing the cause- effect relation. That is as the duration by which the mother breast fed increases, the level of the PFAS in the infant increases. As soon as the mother stopped breast fed, the level decreased. In partially breastfed patients, the level of the PFAS increased proportionately and not to the extent of fully breast fed infants.

                  But the authors are not  saying to stop breast feeding. The thing to note is that there is no legislation regulating the level of these chemicals in the water.