Milk Powder and Risk of Respiratory Problems

Study indicates exposure to milk powder may increase risk of respiratory problems.

The BBC (3/25) reports that according to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal, "[p]rolonged exposure to baby milk powder increases the risk of breathing problems, including wheezing and breathlessness." Maritta Jaakkola, of the University of Birmingham, U.K., and colleagues, examined about "170 workers in a Thai baby milk factory," which "had high hygiene standards, and concentrations of milk powder dust were relatively low." Most study subjects (130) "were directly involved in manufacturing and packaging baby milk," while 22 others "were responsible for adding vitamins to the milk, and 15 were quality controllers."

        The researchers found that "of the workers exposed to the milk powder, 24 percent reported wheezing, and 33 percent reported breathlessness, compared with 12 percent and 16 percent of 76 office workers from the same factory who served as controls," MedWire (3/25, Holmes) adds. Moreover, "the exposed workers were twice as likely to have suffered from asthma compared with controls, while workers responsible for adding vitamins complained of eye and skin symptoms twice as frequently as controls." The authors conclude, "It would be important to provide careful monitoring of respiratory symptoms and respiratory function tests for workers in milk powder factories, even where air quality checks are satisfactory."