Study examines women’s proximity to incinerators and chemical level in breast milk

Researchers found an association where particle pollution from the incinerator chimney touched the ground and the levels of PCBs and dioxins in the milk. Photograph: Whittaker Geo/Alamy

Toxic chemicals in breast milk have been identified in mothers living near waste incinerators in the UK, a study has found.

The study looked at complex chemicals called polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins. These are found in the fumes from burning waste and can persist in the environment for a long time. They can also accumulate in the fat in our bodies, with more than 90% coming from food.