International Study Finds Lead Risk in Mother’s Milk

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MEDIA RELEASE - 4^th September 1998

For the sake of breastfed babies – please be responsible
when reporting new research on lead in breastmilk

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New Australian and US research on lead in breastmilk was released today by the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the CSIRO has put out a media release entitled "International Study Finds Lead Risk in Mother’s Milk".

Please note that cows are mothers too! The lead in mother’s milk which the research by Professor Brian Gulson of CSIRO has shown derives in large part from the mother’s bones, also apparently enters cows milk from the cow’s bones. So, artificial baby milks and cow’s milk also contain lead.

"Experts all agree that breastfeeding should continue unless there has been severe lead poisoning diagnosed in the mother during her life" according to Dale Nigro Australian Breastfeeding Association (formerly Nursing Mothers Association of Australia). Elizabeth O’Brien of The LEAD Group applauds the research efforts of Professor Gulson and his team in tracking lead from its sources, into women's blood, then to be stored in the bones, for later release when you become pregnant and breastfeed. "His groundbreaking research will help all women and parents of daughters, to minimise future lead exposure in order to protect the next generation. Further research funds are needed urgently to investigate the protective effect of calcium supplementation in slowing the release of lead from the mother’s bones" says Elizabeth 0'Brien.

A new factsheet (following) is being released jointly today by Nursing Mothers Association of Australia and The LEAD Group, to answer mothers’ questions about lead. Please read it. Please don’t create a panic that stops mothers from breastfeeding before being tested!

The LEAD Group is a community group aiming to eliminate childhood and foetal lead poisoning in Australia by the year 2002.

Contact: Elizabeth O’Brien, The LEAD Group Inc
or Dale Nigro Australian Breastfeeding Association (formerly Nursing Mothers Association of Australia) 02 9716 0014 mobile 018 291 089. ###