Researchers in their study have detected the photoinitiators in human breast milk. Photoinitiators are compounds used in the ink of many types of food packaging.
For the first time, researchers have detected the photoinitiators (PIs) in human breast milk.
Photoinitiators are compounds used in the ink of many types of food packaging.
A research paper titled “Photoinitiators in Breast Milk from United States Donors: Occurrence and Implications for Exposure in Infants” states that researchers have detected PIs in human breast milk, although they say the levels consumed by breastfeeding infants are unlikely to be a health concern.
Photoinitators are compounds used in the ink of many types of food packaging. The substances have been shown to migrate into food and, when consumed, show up in human blood serum.
As part of the study, researchers used mass spectrometry to analyze breast milk samples collected from about 60 women.
They detected 15 different photoinitators at a wide range of concentrations: from 0.46 ng/mL to 81.7 ng/mL. Benzophenone (BP) –– a potential carcinogen –– comprised 79% of the total photoinitators and was detected in 97% of the breast milk samples.
The scientists in their study noticed that BP is a natural product also present in fruits such as grapes, which could have contributed to the levels in milk.
Based on infants’ average milk consumption at different ages, the research team estimated that infants younger than 1 month have the highest daily intake of photoinitators.
The researchers however claimed that the maximum amount of BP ingested as calculated by the researchers would still be about four times lower than the safe level set by the European Food Safety Authority.
They further said that the future studies should explore potential risks caused by simultaneous exposure to several photoinitators.
