1 L-CERP (Domain IV: Pharmacology and Toxicology)
1 Nursing Contact Hour
This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by the Virginia Nurse’s Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This enduring material is approved from October 7, 2025 to October 6, 2027.
US$ 22
Deaths due to environmental pollution are an increasingly dire issue, with nearly 25% of all global deaths linked to the environment as estimated by the World Health Organisation[1]. Environmental toxicants play a large role in this increasingly dangerous issue and can be found in the air, water, and soil. An individual’s exposure in their environment can be linked with various adverse health outcomes. Exposure to these hazardous pollutants related to air pollution can impact the health of pregnant individuals and their babies, from pre-conception to pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond[2]. As the research grows, it is important to examine how these toxicants play a role in breastfeeding and how lactation professionals can play a role in environmental toxicant exposure education, prevention, and mitigation.
The purpose of this webinar is to introduce lactation professionals to the basics of environmental toxicants and the dangers they pose to overall human health, as well as the breastfeeding dyad.
As a global profession, lactation professionals will encounter families affected by environmental pollution. This educational module introduces the relevance of environmental toxicants and their effects for the lactation professional, so they may be equipped with the tools to educate and empower their breastfeeding families to reduce risk and promote health.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Define the term environmental toxicant and identify the main sources of environmental toxicants.
- Recognise the adverse health effects of environmental toxicants and the effects of environmental toxicants on breastfeeding, breast milk feeding, and breast milk substitute feeding.
- Explain how the social-ecological model can be used to decrease the effects of environmental toxicants on the breastfeeding dyad.
[1] https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/public-health-and-environment
[2] Reducing Prenatal Exposure to Toxic Environmental Agents: ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 832. Obstetrics & Gynaecology 138(1):p e40-e54, July 2021.
Available on demand. Registration required.
Our Panellist
Regina Piper is a Registered Nurse and IBCLC. She currently works with the inpatient postpartum population and began her nursing career working with adult patients. Regina obtained her BSN from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois and is currently pursuing her Advanced Public Health Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at Rush University, where her evidence-based practice project focuses on implementing perinatal environmental toxicant education. Regina became an IBCLC in 2020, following her experience breastfeeding her two children. She has served as a member of the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners since 2024.
Pursuant to the IBCLC certification programme’s third-party accreditor’s standards and credentialing best practices, the presenter for the webinar does not have access to IBCLC examination content nor participate in IBCLC examination development. The IBCLC certification programme is governed and administered by the IBCLC Commission.