Exposure to poisonous substances while breast-feeding
While breast-feeding, avoid exposure to poisonous substances, which may be in contaminated water, food, or air. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury, some pesticides, and other industrial or household chemicals can sometimes end up in breast milk.
- Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recommend that breast-feeding women limit eating shark, swordfish, and fresh or frozen tuna to no more than 1 meal per month. These and other large, long-lived, predatory ocean fish, such as king mackerel and tilefish, have the highest mercury levels. Breast-feeding women do not need to limit their intake of commercially canned tuna and other fish that are lower in mercury, including shrimp, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Canned tuna is considered safer because these fish are usually smaller when harvested and have not yet absorbed high levels of mercury from the environment. Before eating locally caught fish, check with your provincial or local health department for information about water and fish contamination.
- Make sure your household and work areas are not hazardous. Use common sense to avoid strong chemicals, such as pesticides. If you are unsure or concerned about exposures, contact your local health unit for information about whether special testing is warranted.
Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about your exposure to contaminants.
| Author: | Kathe Gallagher, MSW Carrie Henley | Last Updated: June 28, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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