A number of recent studies have reported finding measurable levels of persistent organic pollutants in human milk, and many daily activities expose nursing women to toxic chemicals that can end up in their milk. Although many of these chemicals can cause adverse health effects in humans, studies consistently conclude that, overall, the benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the potential toxicity threats posed to nursing children. In this podcast, Lynn R. Goldman discusses why breastfeeding is still the optimal method of infant feeding despite the presence of pollutants in human milk, and describes precautions that mothers can take to protect their milk. Goldman is a principal investigator for the Johns Hopkins University Center for the National Children's Study and a coauthor of "Global screening of human cord blood proteomes for biomarkers of toxic exposure and effect." Visit the podcast webpage to download the full transcript of this podcast.