Breast milk danger

March 6, 1998

DANGEROUS levels of chemicals found in breast milk may trigger cancer, scientists have found.

The chemical pollutants DDT (dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane) and PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) have recently been discovered in breast milk at 20 times the level known to cause harm although both are banned in this country.

Philippa Darbre, lecturer in cell and molecular biology at the University of Reading, has found that they can accumulate in body fat thoughout a woman's lifetime. She says when released from fat, they can cause harm at lower levels than now thought to be dangerous and are a potential cause of cancer. *See research papers

Research papers relating to this page can be found on The THES Internet site: http:///www.thesis.co.uk

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