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News — Phoenix, Ariz.; March 26, 2014 鈥� Toxicologists are revealing new methods and models for estimating infants鈥� exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) today at the in Phoenix, Ariz.

Infants are exposed to a variety of chemicals throughout their development, but much remains to be learned about chemicals ingested by babies through their mothers鈥� breast milk. While scientists and doctors agree that breastfeeding remains the healthiest option for infants despite the presence of chemicals in their milk, understanding the types of exposures and their levels will increase the health and safety of newborns.

鈥淏eing exposed to POPs either before or after birth is an important consideration in assessing risk. It is important to accurately assess early life exposures to these chemicals, but to do so without diverting attention from the substantial health benefits of breastfeeding,鈥� say David G. Farrer, PhD, Oregon Health Authority, and Geniece M. Lehmann, PhD, US Environmental Protection Agency, session co-chairs for 鈥淯nderstanding the Implications of Breastfed Infant Exposures to POPs: How Can We Do Better.鈥�

Research has shown that POPs鈥攃hemicals such as PCBs, DDT, and dioxin鈥攃an accumulate over time in a woman鈥檚 fatty tissues. These chemicals then find their way into breast milk, but in what quantity and to what effect are less understood.

The information, models, and tests being presented during today鈥檚 session are designed to help provide clarity to these unknowns. Presenters include:

• Judy S. LaKind, PhD, president of LaKind Associates, LLC, who has extensively studied children鈥檚 exposures to environmental chemicals and is discussing what is currently known about infant exposure to POPs through breastfeeding.
• Mike Poulsen, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, who is speaking about his efforts to include the breastfeeding pathway in the human health risk assessment for an Oregon Superfund site.
• Hisham A. El-Masri, PhD, US EPA, who is presenting a model that estimates the rate of PCB excretion in milk and how it can be used to predict PCB exposure for infants.
• Sami Haddad, PhD, Universit茅 de Montr茅al, who is showcasing a model that predicts children鈥檚 internal exposure to POPs and how this model has been used in epidemiological studies to identify crucial windows of sensitivity during childhood development to chemical exposure.

To speak with a topic expert from the 鈥淯nderstanding the Implications of Breastfed Infant Exposures to POPs鈥� session, please contact the Society of Toxicology.

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About SOTFounded in 1961, the Society of Toxicology (SOT) is a professional and scholarly organization of more than 7,700 scientists from academic institutions, government, and industry representing the great variety of individuals who practice toxicology in the US and abroad. SOT is committed to creating a safer and healthier world by advancing the science of toxicology. The Society promotes the acquisition and utilization of knowledge in toxicology, aids in the protection of public health, and has a strong commitment to education in toxicology and to the recruitment of students and new members into the profession. For more information about SOT and toxicology, visit the Society online at , follow us on Twitter , and .