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. 1994 Dec;102(Suppl 11):89–95. doi: 10.1289/ehp.94102s1189

Chemical contaminants, pharmacokinetics, and the lactating mother.

W J Rogan 1, N B Ragan 1
PMCID: PMC1566754  PMID: 7737048

Abstract

We review the commonly occurring persistent pesticides and industrial chemicals in breast milk. These chemicals are dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane as dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene dieldrin, chlordane as oxychlordane, heptachlor, polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and polychlorinated dibenzodioxins. We present a worked example of the kinds of pharmacokinetic assumptions and calculations necessary for setting regulatory limits of contaminants in the food supply, calculating dose of chemical contaminants to the nursed infant, converting risks from lifetime exposure in laboratory animals to risks for short-term exposure in humans, and estimating the excess cancer risk to the nursed infant.

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Selected References

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