Breast feeding still best
NZPA London A two-year British Government survey asserts that breast-fed babies consume 100 times the new British safety level of dioxins. However, the survey also found that the chemicals are not as dangerous to humans as had been thought. The chief Government medical officer, Sir Donald Acheson, said he and the World Health Organisation still recommended breast feeding as the safest and best method of feeding babies.
The safe level, with a large safety margin, decided on by the working group responsible for the report, is one picogram (pg) a kilogram of body weight a day. A picogram is a trillionth of a gram. The average adult dose of dioxins was I.3pg a kilogram of body weight, slightly more than the recommended level.
Government scientists said dioxin levels were set to fall over the next 10 years.
Dioxins are by-products of burning. Chemical and waste incineration, power stations and leaded fuel are especially to blame.
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Press, 27 June 1989, Page 17
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159Breast feeding still best Press, 27 June 1989, Page 17
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