Breastmilk Causing Autism

Could Breastfeeding Contribute to Autism?

July 30, 2009

The debate over autism continues. A two-year-old study about the link between breastmilk and the developmental disorder is gaining attention again after the university where it was conducted re-published the results on its website. In 2007, UCSF's Dr. Michael Merzenich introduced rats to the same levels of environmental toxins like PCB and PBDE found in breastmilk and saw significant deterioration of the brain.

Dr. Merzenich suggested that women exposed to high levels of environmental toxins should reconsider giving their tots breastmilk due to the toxins' ability to exacerbate brain disorders. No such studies have been conducted in humans at this point, but the research does have people talking. Do such findings make you reconsider nursing?

Source: Getty

9 Comments

3 years

I think that - before they start throwing out every theory they pull from... well, wherever they pull this kinda stuff - they should gather a little key information. If contaminants in breast milk cause/contribute to autism or other disorders, WHICH contaminants are they? It's not breastmilk or breastfeeding that does it, and there are so many other advantages. I definitely believe that formula is a viable and valuable substitute for the real thing, but we shouldn't be scared into thinking that our bodies are too toxic to nurture our own babies.

RoaringSilence 3 years

Aphrosette, I noticed the nice boobs too. lolMaybe it would be a good idea if mothers could get their breast milk tested for toxins before starting to nurse? I am not really sure what "high levels" means. Are you at risk already if you live in the city and inhale exhaust fumes? Or does this only apply to people who work at chemical factories and whatnot?

RoaringSilence 3 years

Aphrosette, I noticed the nice boobs too. lol Maybe it would be a good idea if mothers could get their breast milk tested for toxins before starting to nurse? I am not really sure what "high levels" means. Are you at risk already if you live in the city and inhale exhaust fumes? Or does this only apply to people who work at chemical factories and whatnot?

amynick3 3 years

This makes me very sad. Not only is the title VERY misleading as Anonymous pointed out, but it's a scare tactic as well! Breastfeeding is one of the most helpful things you can do for your child, yet more and more mothers are opting out. This isn't to say that someone who doesn't breastfeed is a bad mother/parent, but breast milk has so many more nutrients in it than most formulas and I truly believe that it should be encouraged!

Aphrosette 3 years

what a great picture.....whose boob looks that perfect when breastfeeding (mine are covered with stretch marks) and no I am not going to stop breastfeeding b/c of some random study

3 years

What a completely misleading title. Breastmilk causing autism? No. CONTAMINANTS in breastmilk may possible maybe could might we don't know cause autism. Way to feed into the scare tactics.

MissSushi 3 years

Here's a thought - why don't we start forcing companies to make more food at affordable prices that arent 99% chemicals, and so forth. We are bombarded constantly with products the companies know are toxic, dog food anyone? and yet they are basically given free reign. Tons of people in the us daily eat chemicals in our food that are banned in a large amount of other countries. So, maybe, instead of conducting research telling us to feed our babies unnatural foods made by those companies, we should start fixing the downfall.

runningesq 3 years

Your cell phone causes cancer.Standing near a microwave causes cancer.Wearing blue shirts causes cancer.Everything causes something.yeesh.<i>No such studies have been conducted in humans</i>.Exactly.Scare tactics -- just because new mothers needed MORE

runningesq 3 years

Your cell phone causes cancer. Standing near a microwave causes cancer. Wearing blue shirts causes cancer. Everything causes something.yeesh. No such studies have been conducted in humans. Exactly. Scare tactics -- just because new mothers needed MORE

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