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Rahati S, Hashemi M, Orooji A, Afshari A, Sany SBT. Health risk assessments of heavy metals and trace elements exposure in the breast milk of lactating mothers in the Northeastern Iran. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:25892-25906. [PMID: 38488912 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32795-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Mother's breast milk is a natural and complete food for infants but can be a main source of exposure to toxic pollutants. These pollutants can negatively affect the health of the infant. Therefore, conducting biomonitoring surveys is essential to evaluate such health effects in toxicological research. This study aimed to estimate the probable health risks for infants exposed to essential and non-essential trace elements through breast milk ingestion. This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was performed on 90 breastfeeding mothers referred to the health centers in Mashhad, Iran in January 2021. The health risk assessments (carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk) were estimated using chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and lifetime carcinogenic risk (CR), which were recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The results of the HQ values of trace elements through ingestion exposure for arsenic (90%), copper (90%), zinc (40%), and iron (10%) exceeded the threshold of HQ, and arsenic (66.59%), copper (16.91%), and zinc (9.68%) and iron (4.57%) had the highest contribution to increasing the HI index. The average value of CR was 5. 08 × 10-3. Chromium and iron showed significant relationships (P<0.05) with education level and disease background in this study, and the concentration of chromium, iron, and zinc in the breast milk samples significantly changed during lactation stages (P<0.05). Overall, the risk of carcinogenicity through exposure to breast milk for infants was higher than the safety level of US EPA risk. Therefore, there could be a potential health risk of trace elements, particularly arsenic, copper, and zinc for infants in Mashhad, Iran through the consumption of mothers' breast milk. More efforts are required to control and reduce routes of receiving trace elements in breastfeeding mothers by the competent authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Rahati
- Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hashemi
- Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Arezoo Orooji
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 13131-99137, Iran
| | - Asma Afshari
- Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Seyedeh Belin Tavakoly Sany
- Department of Health, Safety, Environment Managment, School of Health Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, 13131-99137, Iran.
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Zhang C, Luo Y, Sun S, Tian T, Zhu M, Ahmad Z, Yang J, Jin J, Zhang H, Chen J, Geng N. Accumulation characteristics of metals in human breast milk and association with dietary intake in northeastern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 912:168515. [PMID: 37977390 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The trace elements present in breast milk play a vital role in the growth and development of infants. Nevertheless, numerous studies have reported the presence of toxic metal contamination in breast milk from various countries and regions, which poses potential risks to breastfed infants. This article aimed to investigate the characteristics of trace elements in breast milk and explore the relationship between breast milk and diet in Dalian, a coastal city in northeastern China. Breast milk samples and representative local food samples were collected from Dalian for research. The results revealed that 57 % of breast milk samples significantly exceeded the WHO safety limit (0.6 μg/L) for arsenic, with a measured mean value of 0.96 μg/L. Moreover, the levels of chromium (mean value: 2.63 μg/L) in 34 % of breast milk samples exceed the WHO recommended safety level (chromium: 1.5 μg/L). Aquatic foods accounted for 60 % to 90 % of the total intake of arsenic, cadmium, vanadium, mercury, and lead. The Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated strong positive correlations among breast milk metal elements, including copper-zinc (r = 0.68) and nickel‑chromium (r = 0.89). Furthermore, the food-to-milk accumulation factors (FMAF) of strontium, nickel, arsenic, vanadium, cadmium, and mercury were relatively low (median values <0.005). While the FMAF values for chromium and lead were higher, with median values of 0.038 and 0.07, respectively. The results indicated potential risks of the toxic metal arsenic in breast milk from Dalian, China for breastfed infants. Therefore, continuous monitoring of breast milk for toxic metals and foodborne contamination is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbin Zhang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
| | - Yun Luo
- College of Medicine, Linyi University, Linyi 276005, China
| | - Shuai Sun
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing 210042, China
| | - Tian Tian
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
| | - Meiwen Zhu
- Chongqing Academy of Metrology and Quality Inspection, Chongqing 401123, China
| | - Zia Ahmad
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jiajia Yang
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China.
| | - Jing Jin
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Haijun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Jiping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Ningbo Geng
- Key Laboratory of Separation Sciences for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China.
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Martín-Carrasco I, Carbonero-Aguilar P, Dahiri B, Moreno IM, Hinojosa M. Comparison between pollutants found in breast milk and infant formula in the last decade: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162461. [PMID: 36868281 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Since ancient times, breastfeeding has been the fundamental way of nurturing the newborn. The benefits of breast milk are widely known, as it is a source of essential nutrients and provides immunological protection, as well as developmental benefits, among others. However, when breastfeeding is not possible, infant formula is the most appropriate alternative. Its composition meets the nutritional requirements of the infant, and its quality is subject to strict control by the authorities. Nonetheless, the presence of different pollutants has been detected in both matrices. Thus, the aim of the present review is to make a comparison between the findings in both breast milk and infant formula in terms of contaminants in the last decade, in order to choose the most convenient option depending on the environmental conditions. For that, the emerging pollutants including metals, chemical compounds derived from heat treatment, pharmaceutical drugs, mycotoxins, pesticides, packaging materials, and other contaminants were described. While in breast milk the most concerning contaminants found were metals and pesticides, in infant formula pollutants such as metals, mycotoxins, and packaging materials were the most outstanding. In conclusion, the convenience of using a feeding diet based on breast milk or either infant formula depends on the maternal environmental circumstances. However, it is important to take into account the immunological benefits of the breast milk compared to the infant formula, and the possibility of using breast milk in combination with infant formula when the nutritional requirements are not fulfilled only with the intake of breast milk. Therefore, more attention should be paid in terms of analyzing these conditions in each case to be able to make a proper decision, as it will vary depending on the maternal and newborn environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Martín-Carrasco
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - P Carbonero-Aguilar
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - B Dahiri
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - I M Moreno
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain.
| | - M Hinojosa
- Area of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Institutionen för biokemi och biofysik, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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Sharafi K, Nakhaee S, Azadi NA, Mansouri B, Miri Kermanshahi S, Paknahad M, Habibi Y. Human health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the breast milk consumed by infants in Western Iran. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6656. [PMID: 37095309 PMCID: PMC10126154 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33919-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the human health risk of some toxic metals/metalloids [lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and arsenic (As)] on infants via consumption of the breast milk of women living in urban areas of Kermanshah city, west of Iran. After collecting milk samples, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk assessment as well as uncertainty analysis of toxic metal levels were carried out. The order of concentration of heavy metals/metalloids in the breast milk samples was Cr (41.07 ± 23.19) > Ni (19.25 ± 11.81) > Pb (11.5 ± 4.48) > As (1.96 ± 2.04) > Cd (.72 ± 0.42) > Hg (0.31 ± 0.26). The results revealed that the levels of Cr and Pb in the breast milk samples were exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) tolerable daily intake. In the breast milk samples a high levels of one of the trace elements As, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni were observed (over 73%) and in 40% of them the levels of Cr, Pb, Cd, As, and Ni were all above WHO tolerable daily intake. Moreover, the As-related point assessment of target risk factor (THQ) was higher than the allowable limit only for 1-month-old male neonates and 2-month-old female neonates (THQ > 1). In addition, Cr-related THQ scores were higher at all age and gender groups (THQ > 1). In conclusion, our findings suggest a potential risk of some metals for infants via the consumption of mothers' breast milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiomars Sharafi
- Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Samaneh Nakhaee
- Medical Toxicology and Drug Abuse Research Center (MTDRC), Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Nammam Ali Azadi
- Biostatistics Department, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Borhan Mansouri
- Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran.
| | - Saba Miri Kermanshahi
- Student Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Maedeh Paknahad
- Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Yazdan Habibi
- Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Research Institute for Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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Hang JG, Dong JJ, Feng H, Huang JZ, Wang Z, Shen B, Nakayama SF, Kido T, Jung CR, Ma C, Sun XL. Evaluating postnatal exposure to six heavy metals in a Chinese e-waste recycling area. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136444. [PMID: 36116633 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study is the first to assess postnatal exposure to heavy metals using breast milk in an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling area. From January to April 2021, 102 and 97 breastfeeding women were recruited from an e-waste recycling area and a control area, respectively. Four weeks after delivery, medical staff collected 20 mL of breast milk from each participant. The breast milk was tested for six heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium, arsenic, copper, and manganese) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of infants during breastfeeding was calculated to assess the impact of postnatal exposure to heavy metals on infant health. The concentrations of chromium and lead in the breast milk were significantly higher in the e-waste recycling area than in the control area. Chromium concentrations in breast milk was 34.3%, exceeding the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO), in the e-waste recycling area, which is 16 times higher than that in the control areas. The EDIs of lead and chromium in the e-waste area were twice as those in the control area. This strongly indicates that the potential impact of postnatal exposure to lead and chromium on infant and child health in e-waste recycling areas cannot be ignored. Infants and children in e-waste recycling areas are at risk of long-term exposure to heavy metals. Therefore, ongoing health monitoring is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Guo Hang
- School of Medicine, and the First Affiliated Hospital, Huzhou University, 759 2nd Ring East Road, Huzhou, 313000, China; Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, 318050, China
| | - Jing Jian Dong
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, 118 Jiahang Road, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Hao Feng
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, 118 Jiahang Road, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Jian Zhong Huang
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, 118 Jiahang Road, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, 118 Jiahang Road, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Bin Shen
- School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, 118 Jiahang Road, Jiaxing, 314001, China
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, 3058506, Japan
| | - Teruhiko Kido
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, And Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, 9200942, Japan
| | - Chau-Ren Jung
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040, Taiwan
| | - Chaochen Ma
- Cancer Control Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, 5418567, Japan
| | - Xian Liang Sun
- School of Medicine, and the First Affiliated Hospital, Huzhou University, 759 2nd Ring East Road, Huzhou, 313000, China; School of Medicine, Jiaxing University, 118 Jiahang Road, Jiaxing, 314001, China; Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical, And Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, 5-11-80 Kodatsuno, Kanazawa, 9200942, Japan.
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