A recent study by government researchers tested 15 different brands of formula and found a chemical — also found in rocket fuel — contaminating every single one. So how big a deal is this for your baby?
Well, the EPA says the levels are within safety limits. Several advocacy groups disagree.
The CDC study found cow’s milk-based formula contained more perchlorate than that made with soy or other ingredients and the two brands with the highest levels, which contained more than double that of the other milk-based products, have more than 87 percent of the market share for infant formula. The report does not specify the brand names of any formula tested.
Perchlorate has been found in the water supplies of 35 states and has been detected in everything from vegetables to milk. In the case of dairy, the rocket fuel in the water flows into grass, which is eaten by cows, and is then passed along into milk.
The perchlorate was found in levels within a range that’s been deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.
CDC researchers write that “this is reasssuring at first glance,” but add that it could be problematic because drinking water in 26 states has high perchlorate levels. So, mixing contaminated powdered milk with contaminated water in those places could result in a dangerous exposure.
“The widespread penetrance of these products, and the potential for utilization of water for reconstitution that has even minimal concentrations of perchlorate,” the researchers write, “suggest that a significant number of infants consuming bovine milk-based [powdered infant formula] with lactose, will have perchlorate doses in excess of the [recommended limit].”
So, what’s the bottom line?
Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, a pediatrician who works on environmental health issues at Seattle Children’s Hospital and at the University of Washington department of pediatrics, said it’s difficult to say whether this sort of exposure is dangerous.
“Considered in isolation, these perchlorate concentrations in formula are not concerning for child health,” Sathyanarayana wrote in an e-mail to ABC News. “The reason that some may be concerned about health effects to children is that there are several sources of perchlorate in our environment … and, therefore, the cumulative dose of perchlorate to an infant may be much higher than that found in the formula.”
“That being said,” she added, “the most well-respected studies (only a handful exist) on perchlorate contamination have not found any link between perchlorate contamination in water and health impacts in children. Therefore, we truly do not know if this kind of contamination may be leading to health problems or not.”
With perchlorate contamination levels coming from several different sources (bovine, water sources) and forumla, as well as the fact that concetration levels greatly vary georgraphically, what do you do? Well, breast feed as long as you possibly can. If you must by formula, buy organic. Even then you are not necessarily guaranteed contamination free forumla, but it’s most likely much better than buying mass produced commercial brands.
{ 0 comments }
