Attenuated growth of breast-fed children exposed to increased concentrations of methylmercury and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Philippe Grandjean*, Esben Budtz-Jørgensen, Ulrike Steuerwald, Birger Heinzow, Larry L. Needham, Poul J. Jørgensen, Pál Weihe

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

59 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Breast-feeding has been linked to slowed postnatal growth. Although the basis for this "weanling's dilemma" is unclear, environmental contaminants in human milk may be of relevance. We studied a Faroese birth cohort of 182 singleton children, born at term in 1994-95. Concentrations of mercury in cord blood and of polychlorinated biphenyls in maternal milk were measured, and duration of breast-feeding was recorded. At 18 months, children who had been exclusively breast-fed for at least 6 months weighed 0.59 kg less [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 1.16 kg] and were 1.50 cm [95% CI = 0.52, 2.47 cm] shorter than those not breast-fed. However, calculated transfer of contaminants from human milk fully explained the attenuated growth. Irrespective of duration of breast-feeding, a doubling of the mercury concentration in cord blood was associated with a decrease in weight at 18 months by 0.19 kg (95% CI = 0.03, 0.35 kg) and in height by 0.26 cm (95% CI = -0.02, 0.55 cm). Weight and height at 42 months showed the same tendencies, but the main effect occurred before 18 months of age. Thus, in communities with increased contaminant exposures, risks associated with lactational transfer of toxicants to the infant must be considered when judging the benefits of prolonged breast-feeding.

Original languageEnglish
JournalThe FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Volume17
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)699-701
Number of pages3
ISSN0892-6638
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2003

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