Seattle examine finds poisonous chemical compounds in moms’ breast milk

PFAS chemicals can build up in the body, and a study of women in the Seattle area found that PFAS was present in 100% of the samples.

SEATTLE – New research raises concerns about toxic chemicals in breast milk.

A paper published in Environmental Science and Technology earlier this month tracked 50 women in the Seattle area looking for PFAS (pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their breast milk.

“We found PFAS in 100% of the breast milk samples,” said Erika Schreder, scientific director of the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future in Seattle and co-author of the paper. “And that includes the PFAS that is currently in use.”

PFAS are a class of chemicals that are evaluated for their water and grease repellent properties. They are found in many everyday products, from dirt-repellent coatings on carpets and sofas to non-stick coatings for cookware. The chemicals are also found in food packaging.

The concern is that some PFAS chemicals have been linked to adverse health effects such as cancer, compromised immune systems, and effects on the thyroid gland. They are also known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment and can bioaccumulate in the human body.

Some PFAS have been taken out of production in the United States, others have been developed and are still in use.

The researchers found values ​​ranging from 52 parts per trillion (ppt) to over 500 ppt. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a health recommendation for drinking water of 70 ppt in 2016.

The results alarmed the researchers, even though Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a pediatrician at the University of Washington and co-author of the study, warned against discontinuing breastfeeding.

“While we know that PFAS chemicals can be harmful, it’s important to remember that breast milk offers significant benefits for the health of newborns and children,” Sathyanarayana said in a statement. “Breast milk is still best for newborns.”

“Babies who are breastfed have fewer infections and fewer chronic health problems like obesity and diabetes,” said Schreder. “So it is important that we take steps to make sure that breast milk is clean, because you know there is no other way to clean it.”

To this end, she calls for greater regulation of the entire PFAS class of chemicals by the federal government.

Washington has made some progress on this issue. As early as 2019, legislators passed the “Safer Products for Washington” law, which gives the State Department of Ecology the ability to regulate and even restrict hazardous chemicals.

For the first round of consideration, several use cases were identified, including PFAS in carpets, aftermarket stain and water resistance treatments, and leather and textile furniture. The full list can be found here. All possible rules will be set for 2023.

“Ecology has to make a really important decision here,” said Schreder. “You can take steps to remove these chemicals from these products and reverse this trend of increasing contamination of our breast milk with these PFAS used in products.”

She hopes a state ban or restriction could open the door to more regulation, much like California’s Prop 65 regulations for carcinogens led companies to add warnings about products sold nationwide.

Researchers believe this is the first study of these toxins in US breast milk in 15 years, and expressed concern about rising numbers.

“We also found that over time we are seeing increasing discoveries of these currently used PFASs around the world,” said Schreder. “So we’re seeing an upward trend, but more and more women are exposed to these chemicals and are passing them on to their babies.”

Notable levels of PFAS were noted in several Washington communities as of 2018, according to the state Department of Health:

• City of Issaquah.
• Lewis-McChord Joint Base.
• Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and remote field near Coupeville.
• Fairchild Air Force Base and City of Airway Heights.

All were tied to the historical use of fire-fighting foam, which is now restricted by state law.