Features

Summary

Chemical Contaminants in Human Milk contains a comprehensive, up-to-date global review of the contamination of human milk with environmental and occupational chemicals. The book covers many different aspects of this problem, including the extent and benefits of breast-feeding, the transfer of chemicals into breast milk, analytical methodologies used in human milk studies, the levels of chemical contaminants in human milk, and geographical variations and time trends in levels. The many different factors that can influence the levels of contaminants in breast milk are also discussed. Other important topics examined include human milk contamination due to exposure of the mother at the workplace and the risk to her baby, the intake of toxic chemicals by breast-fed infants, calculated intakes and official limit values, the toxicological implications of human milk contamination based on available data from animal experiments and human studies. The book concludes with an overall assessment of the current situation, together with recommendations for future work. Chemical Contaminants in Human Milk is a valuable source of information for pediatricians and other health professionals, policy makers involved with ensuring the health and welfare of infants and nursing mothers, nursing mothers and organizations involved in the promotion of breast feeding, and individuals and organizations involved with the study and control of environmental pollution and occupational hygiene.