2.1. Recruitment of study participants
A total of 92 women were recruited for the study from May
2011 to July 2012 as a convenience sample from three medical centers
in the central region of Israel. Visits were made to the hospitals
in coordination with the lactation consultants who offer lectures
on breastfeeding several times a week. The potential donors were
phoned a month later to determine if there was still interest in participating
in the survey. Each recruit was provided with a kit which
included the collection bottle, specific instructions on breast milk
expression and storage, two booklets on breastfeeding support
and a small gift for the infant with the logo promoting breastfeeding.
The parameters for inclusion in the study were (1) primiparae;
(2) under 35 years of age; (3) singleton birth; (4) apparently
healthy (both mother and child), including normal pregnancy
and delivery; (5) residing in Israel for at least the previous
10 years; (6) not residing in areas where emissions of POPs are
known or suspected to result in elevated levels of POPs in the local
population; (7) available for sample collection up to 2 months after
birth.
The