Dioxins

Breast milk survey

Latest updates

2008

31 Oct: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Eighth quarterly progress report (1 July 2008 - 31 September 2008)

16 Jul: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Seventh quarterly progress report (1 April 2008 - 30 June 2008)

12 May: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Sixth quarterly progress report (1 Janury 2008 - 31 March 2008)

28 Feb: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Fifth quarterly progress report (1 Oct - 30 Dec 2007)

2007

23 Nov: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Fourth quarterly progress report (1 Jul - 30 Sept 2007)

30 Jul: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Third quarterly progress report (1 Apr 2007- 30 Jun 2007)

24 May: Breast Milk Study - Investigation of Breast Milk for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

24 Jan: Breast Milk Survey Update - How does the level of dioxins in the breast milk of New Zealand women compare to other countries?

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Breast milk report 2001

The key conclusions of this report, Investigation of Organochlorine Contaminants in the Milk of New Zealand Women were:

• the levels of each class of persistent organochlorine contaminant, namely PCDD/DFs, PCBs and pesticides, in the milk of New Zealand women had declined by about 70 percent over the 10-year period 1988–1998

• in general, the exposure of New Zealanders to PCDD/DFs, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides is low relative to exposure in most other countries where comparable studies have been carried out
  
• the decreases in concentrations of contaminants in New Zealand breast milk are consistent with declining levels in other countries where similar testing has been carried out
  
• the World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that on current evidence the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh any risks to infants associated with the presence of low levels of contaminants in human milk.

Page last updated: 12 May 2008