Study finds hormone-disrupting plastic chemicals in breast milk

By AI, Created 10:11 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – A new study of 50 Washington state mothers found bisphenols, melamine and triclosan in breast milk, adding to evidence that infants are exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals from plastics and consumer products. The findings come as lawmakers and regulators debate stronger chemical safeguards and industry-backed rollbacks.

Why it matters: - The study adds evidence that infants can be exposed to hormone-disrupting chemicals during breastfeeding, a critical stage of development. - Researchers say the findings point to broader chemical exposure from plastics, food contact materials and personal care products. - The results arrive as Congress considers weakening federal chemical protections, raising the stakes for families and public health.

What happened: - A peer-reviewed study led by Toxic-Free Future, with Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Emory University and other collaborators, detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals in breast milk from 50 mothers in Washington state. - The study was published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. - The samples contained bisphenols, melamine, a related chemical and triclosan.

The details: - Endocrine-disrupting chemicals were found in 62% to 92% of breast milk samples. - Bisphenol A, or BPA, appeared in 74% of samples. - Bisphenol S, a common BPA replacement, was found in 78% of samples. - Triclosan was detected in 62% of samples. - The study says triclosan is used in plastics and some personal care products. - Estimated infant exposures through breastfeeding were generally higher than exposures from skin contact, dust ingestion or inhalation. - The research builds on earlier Toxic-Free Future findings that also detected PFAS, toxic flame retardants, quaternary ammonium compounds and other chemicals in the same samples. - Dr. Ryan Babadi, science director for Toxic-Free Future, said the findings show infants and mothers are being exposed to hormone-disrupting chemicals in everyday products and that stronger safeguards are needed. - Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana, the study’s senior author and a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the University of Washington School of Medicine, said the detections do not change the major health benefits of breast milk, including immune factors that help prevent infections.

Between the lines: - The study highlights a familiar problem in chemical regulation: when BPA use falls, companies often shift to close substitutes that may carry similar risks. - Advocates say the presence of these chemicals in breast milk shows the exposure problem is not limited to one product category. - The findings also underscore how exposure can reach people before birth and during infancy, when the body is especially vulnerable. - The Alliance for Health and Safe Chemicals, a coalition of more than 85 organizations, says weakening the Toxic Substances Control Act would make it easier for harmful chemicals to enter homes, schools and workplaces. - Washington state has already moved further than the federal government on some chemical restrictions, including a ban on all bisphenols in beverage can linings and thermal paper such as receipts, which took effect in January 2026.

What’s next: - Washington state is expected to consider more regulatory action on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and other toxic substances over the coming year. - California is pursuing legislation to ban all bisphenols in receipts and food packaging. - Six states are considering legislation to remove bisphenols and other toxic substances from packaging. - Fourteen states have already banned BPA in children’s products. - Nineteen major retailers have restricted bisphenols in receipts nationwide. - Several retailers have also restricted BPA in private-label canned food and baby products, along with triclosan in cleaning and personal care products. - More information about the study is available in the full report.

The bottom line: - The study suggests that hormone-disrupting chemicals remain widespread in everyday consumer products, and that exposure is reaching infants through a source long considered essential and healthy.