Co-PXB found in breast milk

TOKYO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Scientists say a toxin similar to polychlorinated biphenyl, or PCB, has been found in the breast milk of Japanese women.

The finding, announced Tuesday at the international conference Dioxin 2007 in Tokyo, said the substance polychlorinated/brominated coplanar biphenyls, or Co-PXBs, may have come from eating fish, Kyodo News Service said.

Scientists detected 0.42-1.41 picograms of Co-PXBs per gram of fat in the breast milk of seven women in Japan ages 21-33. They said the adverse effects of Co-PXBs on infants may be underestimated, and want the chemical added to a list of toxic substances being monitored under a law aimed at controlling dioxin.

Soichi Ota, associate professor of medicine at Setsunan University, said the Co-PXBs may also originate from incinerated garbage or factory wastewater.