The concentration and health risk of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the breast milk of mothers: a systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology 2022-09, Vol.73, p.126998-126998, Article 126998
• Main Authors: Ghane, Elaheh Talebi, Khanverdiluo, Shima, Mehri, Fereshteh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Health risk assessment; Meta-analysis; Mother’s milk; PTEs; Systematic review
• ISSN: 0946-672X; 1878-3252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2022.126998

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for a newborn during the first six months of his or her life. However there is a possibility that breast milk may contain pollutants such as metals. The current meta-analytic study assessed the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and nickel (Ni), in mothers’ milk. The literature studies regarding the concentrations of PTEs in the breast milk of mothers were collected from international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Afterward, the Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) by Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) model was used to assess the non-carcinogenic risk. According to 42 of the 836 retrieved articles, the PTE concentrations in mother’s milk were as follows: Cu (1.84 mg/kg) > Zn (1.80 mg/kg) > Fe (1.03 mg/kg) > Ni (0.60 mg/kg) > Pb (0.10 mg/kg) > As (0.15 mg/kg) ≈ Cd (0.15 mg/kg). Based on the containment type, the highest concentrations of As (2.80 mg/kg), Cd (0.07 mg/kg), and Pb (2.68 mg/kg) were related to Western Pacific Region (WPRO), European Region (EURO), and WPRO, respectively. In addition, for trace elements, Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO) was the region with the highest concentrations of Cu (3.56 mg/kg), Fe (2.78 mg/kg), Ni (3.13 mg/kg), and Zn (5.58 mg/kg) were related to Lastly, the non-carcinogenic risk assessment of the PTEs in breast milk indicated different risk patterns in various countries, and the calculated TTHQ level in infants was below 1. Overall, human breast milk was generally safe for infants to consume and poses no risks to their health. •Concentration of PTEs in the breast milk was analyzed based on type metal and continent.•Level of Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni and Se metal were higher than Pb, Cd and As in most breast milk.•Among toxic metals and essential elements Pb and Cu had higher concentration of contamination.•Non-carcinogenic risk of metals indicated risk pattern was different in various countries.•Consumption of mother milk was safe to the health of infant.