Heavy Metals and Trace Elements in Human Breast Milk from Industrial/Mining and Agricultural Zones of Southeastern Spain

Human breast milk is the most complete foodstuff for infants but can also be a potential source of exposure to toxic chemicals. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of metal pollution in the breast milk of women living in agricultural and industrial/mining areas of the Region of Murcia (Sp...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2021-09, Vol.18 (17), p.9289
Main Authors: Motas, Miguel, Jiménez, Sandra, Oliva, José, Cámara, Miguel Ángel, Pérez-Cárceles, María Dolores
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Aluminum
Arsenic
Breast
Breast milk
Breastfeeding & lactation
Chemical elements
Chromium
Contaminants
Food contamination
Food contamination & poisoning
Hazardous materials
Heavy metals
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Inorganic contaminants
Manganese
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectroscopy
Mercury
Mining
Mothers
Nutrition
Pollutants
Pollution
Pollution levels
Trace elements
Ultrasonic imaging
Womens health
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Summary:Human breast milk is the most complete foodstuff for infants but can also be a potential source of exposure to toxic chemicals. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of metal pollution in the breast milk of women living in agricultural and industrial/mining areas of the Region of Murcia (Spain) that are well known for their cases of environmental pollution. Human milk samples were collected from 50 mothers and inorganic contaminants were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean or maximum concentrations of the different inorganic elements analyzed in breast milk, with the exception of manganese, exceeded the maximum limits established by the WHO and could constitute a high risk for pregnant mothers and their children. The breast milk of women living in the industrial/mining zone presented the highest levels of aluminum, zinc, arsenic, lead, mercury and nickel. On the contrary, the highest concentrations of manganese, chromium and iron were determined in the milk of women living in the agricultural zone. These results suggested and confirmed different profiles of environmental contamination of these areas.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18179289