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Vol. 27 No. 12 (2015): Vol 27 Issue 12

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Quantitative Analysis of Lead, Cadmium, Heavy Metals and Other Toxic Elements in Some Human Breast Milk samples

https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2015.19163
N.A. Mansour
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
Nabil M. Hassan
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
S.A. Abd El Aal
Central Laboratory for Elemental and Isotopic Analysis, NRC, Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
M.H. Ebrahem
Physics Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

Corresponding Author(s) : S.A. Abd El Aal

elaal11@yahoo.com

Asian Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 27 No. 12 (2015): Vol 27 Issue 12

Abstract

Human breast milk is the most important food source for infants and can be a pathway of maternal excretion of toxic elements. Breast milk contains both essential and nonessential trace elements. Cadmium and lead are nonessential and potentially toxic heavy metals even at very low concentrations. Cadmium, lead, heavy metal ions and other poisonous trace elements (macro and micro element contents) levels in 32 human breast milk samples were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The samples were collected from 32 healthy lactating women who were living in three different locations of the greater Zagazig region of Egypt (Zagazig, Belbees and Abokabeer). The mean levels for cadmium and lead concentrations were 0.025 ± 0.024 mg/L (range 0.001-0.061 mg/L), 1.185 ± 1.739 mg/L (range 0.011-5.339 mg/L), for Zagazig, 0.009 ± 0.010 mg/L (range 0.002-0.016 mg/L), 0.348 ± 0.154 mg/L (range 0.117-0.496 mg/L) for Belbees and 0.012, 0.122 ± 0.102 mg/L (range 0.030-0.322 mg/L) for Abokabeer, respectively. Cadmium and lead concentrations were significantly higher in Zagazig region than those in Belbees and Abokabeer regions due to industrial pollution and exhaust fumes from leaded petrol. There was also a significant increasing in the concentrations of cadmium and lead in breast milk of women active/passive exposed to smoking (samples Z1 and Z3) compared to non exposed ones even in the same location. The estimated intakes of cadmium, lead and barium of breast-fed infants in this study were in some cases higher than the recommended value by UNEP/FAO/WHO, which pose a threat to their health. This implies that a comprehensive study should be conducted to determine the reasons of the high levels of cadmium, lead, heavy metal ions and other poisonous elements in women’s breast milk.

Keywords

Lead Cadmium Poisonous elements Human breast milk ICP-OES Egypt
Mansour, N., M. Hassan, N., Abd El Aal, S., & Ebrahem, M. (2015). Quantitative Analysis of Lead, Cadmium, Heavy Metals and Other Toxic Elements in Some Human Breast Milk samples. Asian Journal of Chemistry, 27(12), 4443–4448. https://doi.org/10.14233/ajchem.2015.19163
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