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Toxins
in Cow's Milk and Human Milk
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Milk
may serve as a vector for the transmission of
substances of extrinsic origin which can be
potentially toxic to the consumer. These toxins
may originate in cow's milk from the ingestion of
plants known to contain toxic substances or feeds
contaminated with mycotoxins, or residues of
pesticides or herbicides. Harm to the consumer of
cow's milk may also result from the use of
antibiotics used for the treatment of disease in
cows or for their growth enhancement. In the case
of human breast milk, the routes of exposure can
be quite diverse. These include milk derived from
nursing mothers who have received medication in
the form of drugs or antibiotics. Non-medical
contaminants may originate from the mother's
excessive use of alcohol, coffee, or tobacco.
Other routes of contamination include the
diagnostic use of radioisotopes, the transmission
of allergens such as peanuts, mercury poisoning
from dental fillings or fish, and contamination of
the mother's diet with pesticide residues.
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