Exclusive Long-term Breastfeeding may lead to build-up of PFASs in Infants

Results have shown that each month of breastfeeding causes a 20-30% increase of PFASs chemicals in toddlers’ blood.

Previous studies have revealed that these industrial chemicals can cause different types of cancer, they can lead to immune system impairment and various abnormalities of the reproductive system. However, a study by Harvard University researchers suggests that the accumulation of potentially toxic chemicals in human breast milk might actually prove risky to babies. These chemicals which are widely used in consumer goods to make them resistant to water, grease and stains and extend their durability, may even decrease the impact of childhood immunizations given to our babies for the prevention of diseases.

The researchers identified one PFAS – perfluorohexanesulfonate – whose concentrations did not increase with breastfeeding duration. The experiment was conducted on 81 infants from Faroe Islands, who were born in the period between 1997 and 2000. In some states, such as Ohio and West Virginia, the PFAS levels are high at times, and this water shouldn’t be used in mixing baby formula from powder, Grandjean said.

The team found that at time of breastfeeding cessation, the PFAS concentrations of many infants exceeded those of their mothers, though concentrations of all five PFASs started to reduce shortly after.

“A child, of course, at that age is much more vulnerable than the mother is because the child is developing its immune system and all sorts of other organ functions”, he added.

Contrary to World Health Organization’s recommendations, exclusively breastfed children are not healthier, medical experts say, based on their new findings.

“My own conclusion is exclusive breast-feeding for three or four months”.

“Over a decade ago, members started working with U.S. EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and other regulators to globally phase out all long-chain PFAS chemistries by the end of 2015”, said Jessica Bowman, executive director of the FluoroCouncil.

“We knew that small amounts of PFAS can occur in breast milk, but our serial blood analyses now show a buildup in the infants, the longer they are breastfed”, said Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor of environmental health at Harvard Chan School. “On the whole, the benefits of breast-feeding outweigh any risks that could be associated, and I don’t think this study will change that”. The scientific study was published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

So there is evidence to demonstrate that many people have PFASs in their blood.