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If you choose to follow any links to the abstract and/or complete text of the item listed below, you will be leaving the Strategian Web site. If you wish to return to this page from the Web page you are sent to, please use the Back option of your browser. Jenny Pronczuk, James Akre, Gerald Moy, and Constanza Vallenas Global Perspectives in Breast Milk Contamination: Infectious and Toxic Hazards. (... the authors--all employees of the World Health Organization--state that breast milk is the natural and optimal food for infants. In addition to meeting the nutritional needs of babies, breast milk provides many other benefits to the mother and child--health-related, psychological, economic, etc. The World Health Organization [WHO] ... strongly supports breast-feeding because of its many advantages. However, the authors state, the WHO recognizes the growing concern expressed by scientists, health professionals, environmentalists, and mothers about the potential risks posed by the presence of toxicants and infectious agents in breast milk. In this short article, the authors review the main infectious hazards [tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus] and selected chemical hazards [tobacco and persistent contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs] to breast milk. Past studies coordinated by the WHO have found that measures to limit environmental pollution were the most effective way to limit exposures by mothers and everyone to toxic and hazardous chemicals and other contaminants. The authors conclude that current scientific evidence does not support altering WHO's global public health recommendation of exclusive breast-feeding for 6 months followed by safe and appropriate complementary foods, with continued breast-feeding, up to 2 years of age or beyond. Other keywords and phrases -- AIDS, artificial feeding, baby, breast feeding, children, choice, contamination, dioxins, drugs, HBV, HIV, malnutrition, pollutant, pollutants, smoking, toxicity, virus -- from the text of the abstract and the article) Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 110, Number 6 (June 2002): A349-A351. **The complete text of the abstract is currently available through the Web site of Environmental Health Perspectives** How to find the above journal, magazine, or other publication? See Step 3: Locate of the Information Strategy for details. Questions? Please let me know. |
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