06.10.2021
So-called PFAS – man-made industrial chemicals – have found their way into nature for decades. Some of the compounds accumulate in plants, animals and thus also in humans. Finnish-Swedish researchers have now been able to show that PFAS change breast milk.
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The abbreviation PFAS stands for “per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances”. The chemicals are used in countless consumer products such as paper, textiles, non-stick pans and cosmetics. PFAS are grease, water and dirt repellent – but not biodegradable. For around 60 years, over 4,700 different PFAS compounds have accumulated in nature and can be detected in human blood and breast milk. It is known from animal studies that many of the chemicals can damage the liver and impair development, lipid metabolism and the immune system.[1]
How do PFAS affect breast milk and the infant?
Dr. Tuulia Hyötyläinen, Örebro University, and Dr. Matej Orešič, Turku University, investigated whether and how PFAS change human breast milk. To this end, the researchers recruited more than 44 voluntary pregnant women between January 2013 and February 2015. They answered questions about their diet and donated some breast milk on the day of the birth and 3 months later.
Since the expectant mothers also took part in another medical study, the team also received health data from the infants. In this way, the researchers were also able to evaluate the weight, length and stool samples on the birthday as well as in the 3rd, 6th and 12th months of life of the babies.
PFAS change the fat composition of breast milk
In addition to the usual fats, the authors found six different PFAS – also known as PFDA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, Br-PFOS and L-PFOS – in over 70% of the breast milk samples.
Heavily contaminated breast milk contained slightly more saturated fats. But essential, polyunsaturated fats such as the omega-3 fatty acid DHA were significantly reduced.
Altered breast milk has an adverse effect on infants
PFAS enter the embryo from the mother’s blood during pregnancy. When breastfeeding, the offspring will continue to take on PFAS. Despite the small number of participants, the researchers saw a connection between high levels of PFAS exposure in the mother and lower growth in the infants in the 3rd and 6th month of life. This is also in line with previous studies on PFAS exposure and impaired growth in infants.
Furthermore, babies of heavily stressed mothers had a less well-developed intestinal flora, which was evident from the inflammatory substances in the stool samples. The infants affected thus drank breast milk with a reduced nutritional value and were also less able to utilize it than less stressed babies.
At the insistence of Sweden and Germany, the EU bans around 200 PFAS
Due to its widespread use, the uptake of PFAS can hardly be avoided. In addition, the pollutants accumulate in adipose tissue for years. As a result, a number of the most harmful industrial chemicals have already been banned in the EU. At the urging of Sweden and Germany, the use of around 200 additional PFAS will be banned from February 2023.
Breast milk continues to be the best food for infants
Despite the impairment, breast milk is still considered the best food for infants. However, high levels of PFAS reduce the quality of breast milk and appear to have a slight adverse effect on the infant’s growth. The Finnish-Swedish research team wants to expand the study to 380 women in order to obtain a more precise picture of the PFAS load in breast milk and its effects.
Quelle: Santosh Lamichhane et al, Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances associates with an altered lipid composition of breast milk, Environment International (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106855
Additional information:
[1] PFAS in food: BfR confirms critical exposure to industrial chemicals (pdf)
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