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Determination of cadmium and lead in human milk

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Abstract

The objectives of this study were to determine cadmium and lead concentrations in the breast milk of healthy lactating women who were living in Zarrinshahr, an industrial area of Iran and to investigate the effect of mother’s age, parity and smoking habits in families living in the vicinity of areas contaminated with heavy metals. Cadmium and lead concentrations were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry in 44 milk samples from healthy lactating women collected on first to sixth postpartum week. Accuracy of the analysis was checked by various methods including the use of reference material. The mean ± standard deviation of cadmium and lead concentrations in human milk were 2.44 ± 1.47 μg/L (range 0.62–6.32 μg/L) and 10.39 ± 4.72 μg/L (range 3.18–24.67 μg/L), respectively. There was a positive correlation between the concentrations of lead in milk samples and mother’s age and parity (P < 0.05). Also the concentration of cadmium in breast milk significantly increased (P < 0.05) in mothers who were actively and/or passively exposed to smoking. The results of this study showed that lead and cadmium concentrations in milk samples from lactating women in Zarrinshahr were high. This can be a major public health hazard for the inhabitants living in this industrial region of Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Shahr-e Kord, Shahr-e Kord, Iran

    E. Rahimi Ph.D. (Assistant professor)

  2. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Islamic Azad University of Shahr-e Kord, Shahr-e Kord, Iran

    M. Hashemi M.Sc. (Lecture)

  3. Hospital of Shohadae Lenjan, University of Isfahan Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran

    Z. Torki Baghbadorani R.D. (Nutritionist)

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  1. E. Rahimi Ph.D.
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  2. M. Hashemi M.Sc.
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  3. Z. Torki Baghbadorani R.D.
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Correspondence to E. Rahimi Ph.D..

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Rahimi, E., Hashemi, M. & Baghbadorani, Z.T. Determination of cadmium and lead in human milk. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 6, 671–676 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326108

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326108

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