Hello, After reading Sandra's message asking about an article that had the following headline and brief note: Study finds mothers' lifetime lead exposures may put breast-fed newborns at risk. Results from a study conducted jointly by Australian and American scientists indicate that lead which has accumulated in a woman's bones from earlier exposures can be released during pregnancy and transferred to breast milk during lactation. I contacted Monica Campbell at the Environmental Protection Office of Toronto Public Health. There have been several extensive community-wide investigations into lead impacts on health, including mothers and children. The EPO at Toronto Public Health, in conjunction with South Riverdale community and the Bathurst-King neighbourhood, (both areas where massive lead clean-ups took place) have published a number of resources related to lead levels. Given their familiarity with the issues, I asked Monica if she knew of this article or had comments. In response, she notes: Sorry, but I don't have a reference for the article that is mentioned in your e-mail. I do find the suggestion that lead is transferred in breast milk very surprising and biologically implausible. Once the article is tracked down, one would need to "critically appraise" the authors assertions. What has been demonstrated to date is that women, including pregnant women but especially women with osteoporsis, do mobilize stored lead from bone mass and release it into the blood, thereby making it bioavailable to the fetus because it will pass through the placental tissues virtually undiminished. Lead has a high affinity for haemoglobin, which is why lead concentrations are high in red blood cells. However, lead has a low affinity for fat (i.e. it is not lipid soluble) and therefore occurs in very low levels in breast milk relative to levels in blood. Some lead lead will reach the nursing infant via breast milk, however, most studies suggest that the amount is very small compared to the direct transfer from the mother in utero via the placenta. If I had the new study to examine, I would look critically at it to make sure that lead levels in the neonate were not due to some other external sources (air, water, dust, soil). Hope this helps, Monica Campbell [[log in to unmask]] 416-395-7685 Other comments?? Alison Stirling E-mail: [log in to unmask] OR [log in to unmask]