Canadian scientists identified household chemicals in breast milk 0 9

A team of scientists, including specialists from McGill University (Canada), discovered several unexpected chemical contaminants in breast milk samples from Canada and South Africa. Among them are traces of pesticides, antimicrobial substances, and additives used in plastic products and personal care items.

According to the researchers, this data could contribute to improving chemical safety regulations and protecting the health of infants and parents, as it expands the list of substances being tested. Furthermore, the information obtained could stimulate further research that helps to better understand how certain chemical compounds are processed in the human body.

The scientists employed non-targeted analysis to conduct a broad search for any unusual chemical residues, unlike previous studies that typically focused on individual substances and their health effects. As a result, several previously unrecorded compounds were found in the breast milk samples. Among them were the antimicrobial preservatives 2-ethylhexyl-4-hydroxybenzoate and phenylparaben, which are often added to soaps, disinfectants, and personal care products, as well as antioxidant additives for plastics – Irganox 1010 and BHT-COOH, used to stabilize plastic products and packaging.

Compounds related to pesticides or possessing antimicrobial properties were also identified: the agricultural herbicide propanil and chloroxylenol, used in disinfectants and household chemicals. These substances had not previously been detected in human breast milk. In samples from South Africa, the researchers also found 8-hydroxyefavirenz – a breakdown product of the drug efavirenz, used for treating HIV.

The scientists analyzed 594 breast milk samples collected in Canada (Montreal) and South Africa (Vhembe and Pretoria) in 2018-2019. To identify unexpected or previously unknown contaminants in the body, they applied different data processing approaches combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry – a method that allows for the precise identification of molecules in complex biological samples. The researchers also found that the levels of certain chemicals in breast milk, such as bisphenol A and bisphenol AF, are associated with changes in the growth of South African infants. This highlights the potential negative consequences of exposure to contaminants through breastfeeding.