Food is the primary way in which people are exposed to many toxic pollutants, including dioxins, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and mercury. Some industrial pollutants enter the food chain via deposition from the atmosphere; others, like pesticides, are intentionally applied to food crops. Still other foodborne contaminants come from food packaging and preparation. Regardless of the source, fetuses and young children have greater vulnerability to harm from these pollutants. By choosing foods wisely, parents can lower exposures for themselves and their children. Our consumer guides and fact sheets make smart choices easier.

• Fish – Farmed and Wild
• Meat and Dairy
• Produce
• Breastfeeding
• Food Packaging
• Buying Health and Sustainability

Fish: Farmed and Wild
Fish are a valuable food source, but many fish and seafood species—including tuna fish—are contaminated with toxic pollutants, like mercury, flame retardants or PCBs. Mercury and PCBs are especially toxic to the young, developing brain. PCBs were an industrial compound used in electrical equipment and phased out of production in 1979 due to their toxicity. PCBs persist in fatty tissue like breast milk and the fat of more oily fish species, including those that are also higher in "healthy" omega-3 fats. Though declining, PCB levels in fish are still high enough to trigger local advisories against eating fish from many contaminated lakes, rivers and streams. Mercury pollution is widespread, as is mercury contamination of locally-caught and commercial fish.

Most human exposure to mercury and PCBs comes through eating fish. Yet advice from the federal government regarding fish consumption can be incomplete at best, and is often confusing. Federal agencies fail, for example, to monitor and issue warnings for PCB levels in seafood and other commercial fish. Our Smart Fish Guide offers advice for buying and eating fish that takes into account both mercury and PCB contamination, in addition to information about the sustainability of various fisheries due to overfishing and other practices. Our Smart Fish Calculator will help you estimate safe fish portions based on body weight.

Meat and Dairy
Like fish, meat and dairy products -- especially those higher in fat -- are important sources of human exposure to dioxins, PCBs and brominated flame retardants. Food accounts for around 90 percent of human dioxin exposure. Though dropping, dioxin levels in food are high enough to have effects across a broad swath of the population. Dutch researchers found that women's higher dioxin exposure while pregnant was associated with more feminized play behavior observed later in both their boys and girls. Likewise, women's higher prenatal exposures to PCBs were associated with girls displaying more "masculine" behaviors and boys displaying more "feminine" behaviors.

An expert panel of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently advised reducing dioxin exposures by eating lower fat meat and dairy products. Our Smart Meat and Dairy Guide (in both short and long versions) incorporates IOM recommendations for reducing children's exposures to dioxin and PCBs, as well as brominated flame retardants.

Produce
Fruits and vegetables provide essential nutrients. On the other hand, produce often contains residues of pesticides, chemicals specifically designed to kill weeds and insects. Pesticide residue levels vary depending on the type of produce and how it's grown. Our Smart Produce Guide (in both short and long versions) offers tips for reducing your child's exposure to pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables.

Breastfeeding
Many toxic pollutants, like dioxins, PCBs and brominated flame retardants, concentrate fatty tissues including breast milk. Despite contaminants, breast milk remains the best food for babies. Mothers should breast feed, if possible.

Food Packaging
Some plastics widely used in food packaging and for microwave cooking carry inherent health risks due to possible leaching of chemicals into foods. Plastic cling wrap, for example, is generally made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and often contains DEHP, a chemical known to disrupt hormone function in the human body. Baby bottles and plastic liners in canned foods cane be made of polycarbonate plastic which contains bisphenol A, another hormone-disrupting chemical. Microwaving foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap, or sterilizing plastic baby bottles can release these chemicals into foods. Bio-industrial plastics made from corn are examples of more sustainable alternatives to more toxic, petroleum-based plastics.

Buying Health and Sustainability
Making smart choices about food means more than just avoiding pollutants. It can include choosing foods grown locally or more sustainably as well. Locally grown food often is fresher, tastes better and requires fewer fossil fuels to transport it. Food raised sustainably—certified organic, for example—means fewer antibiotics or chemicals, which can reduce toxic contaminations. Increasingly, science suggests organic produce or meat raised on grass instead of grains may be healthier because it is more nutritious.

The Eat Well Guide is a free, online directory of sources of meat, poultry, dairy and eggs raised sustainably and without routine antibiotics in your area.