The presence of heavy metals in milk is a public health problem that negatively effects human health, especially infant health. This study evaluated the concentration levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in blood and its transfer to the milk of 20 cows in production in a rural community near the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex in Peru, which has emitted fine particulate matter for more than 90 years. Validated protocols were used for sample collection. The samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results of the analysis indicated that the levels, in mg/kg, of Pb in blood and milk were 0.38 AE 0.041 and 0.58 AE 0.018, respectively; Pb in milk was 54% higher than that in blood (P < 0.01). Cd levels, in mg/kg, in blood and milk were 0.016 AE 0.002 and 0.02 AE 0.007, respectively; milk had 28% more Cd than did blood (P < 0.05). The results for Pb in milk were compared with the Codex Alimentarius standard (0.002 mg/kg); the mean concentration of Pb in milk was 29 times higher than the acceptable limit, and the mean concentration of Cd was 2 times higher than the acceptable limit of the Romanian standard (0.01 mg/kg). The result could be attributed to the impact of environmental pollution by mining waste. In Peru, there are no norms for maximum Pb and Cd values, and the establishment of maximum value norms for these metals in milk is suggested.

Lead concentration on surface soil (0-20 cm), root and aerial part of natural and cultivated pastures were evaluated, in the rainy season (March 2018), collected in 20 sites of a rural community located 20 km from the La Oroya metallurgical complex , which has been emitting to the environment particulate material with heavy metals since 1922. Lead concentration was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The data was statistically processed in SPSS 23. Lead levels in the soil, root and aerial part of the cultivated pastures were 224.75 ± 39.41, 169.13 + 58.79 and 20.73 ± 2.52 mg / kg (p <0.01). In natural pastures values were 210.87a ± 40.37, 184.36b + 52.66 and 19.47c ± 3.12 mg / kg (p <0.01). There are no differences between cultivated and natural pastures. Lead transfer factor from soil to root of cultivated and natural pastures was 0.75 and 0.87. Lead transfer factor value from soil to aerial part of cultivated and natural pastures was 0.092 in both. High lead content in soil and aerial part of the pastures used as food for high Andean cattle is a public health problem; livestock products produced in these soils would not be fit for human consumption.

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RESUMENObjetivos. Determinar los niveles de plomo (Pb) en gestantes y neonatos en la ciudad de La Oroya, Perú. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal. La población estuvo conformada por gestantes residentes durante al menos dos años en la ciudad de La Oroya, cuando operaban normalmente las fundiciones de Pb, cobre y zinc. Se obtuvo muestras de sangre de la gestante antes del parto y luego del parto se tomaron muestras de placenta y sangre del cordón umbilical. El nivel de Pb de dichas muestras fue evaluado por espectrometría de absorción atómica con horno de grafito. Se determinaron regresiones cuadráticas y correlaciones de Pearson. Resultados. Se evaluó cuarenta partos normales. Los niveles promedio de Pb en la sangre materna, cordon umbilical y placenta fueron 27,4 ± 15,6 ug/dL; 19,0 ± 12,6 ug/dL y 319,0 ± 215,9 ug/100 g, respectivamente. El 67,5% de los neonatos tuvieron más de 10 ug/dL de Pb. El nivel de Pb de la sangre del cordón umbilical representó el 69,4% del nivel de Pb en sangre materna. Los coeficientes de correlación entre el Pb de la sangre materna y cordón umbilical, sangre materna y placenta, placenta y sangre del cordón umbilical fueron 0,36; 0,48 y 0,33, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Cuando funcionaba la fundición, las gestantes y recién nacidos tenían concentraciones elevadas de Pb en sangre. Las concentraciones de Pb en la placenta y cordón umbilical tuvieron una correlación moderada con el Pb de la sangre materna. El Pb de la sangre materna y cordón umbilical fue 1,5 veces más alto que los de zonas más alejadas. Palabras clave: Plomo; Mujeres embarazadas; Recién nacido; Cordón umbilical; Metalurgia (fuente: DeCS BIREME). LEAD LEVELS IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEWBORNS IN LA OROYA CITY, PERU ABSTRACTObjectives. To determine blood-lead (Pb) levels in pregnant women and neonates in a metallurgical city of Peru. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out, the population of which consisted of pregnant women who had lived for at least two years in the city of La Oroya, at the time when the lead, copper and zinc foundries operated normally. A blood sample was obtained from the pregnant women before delivery and, after delivery, from the neonate's umbilical cord and placenta. Lead levels in those samples were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Pearson's squared regressions and correlations were determined. Results. Forty normal deliveries were studied. The average blood lead levels in the mother, umbilical cord and placenta were 27.4 ± 15.6 ug/dL; 19.0 ± 12.6 ug/dL and 319.0 ± 215.9 ug/100 g, respectively. 67.5% of the neonates registered levels higher than 10 ug/dL. Pb levels in the umbilical cord accounted for 69.4% of Pb level in maternal blood. The correlation coefficients between Pb levels in maternal blood and umbilical cord, maternal blood and placenta, and placenta and umbilical cord were 0.36; 0.48 and 0.33, respectively. Conclusions. At the time the foundry operated, pregnant women and newborns had high blood lead concentrati...

The dairy basin of the Mantaro River located in the centre of Peru faces serious anthropogenic disturbances as it receives emissions and discharges from the metallurgical mining activity located in the headwaters of the basin and milk contaminated with lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) endangers the environmental and human health, especially children. To measure the concentrations of Pb and Cd in milk and the dangers of their consumption in the Peruvian population, 40 milk samples were collected and quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean concentration of Pb in milk was 15 ± 2.6 µg/kg, which represented 75% of the Maximum Limit (ML), and that of Cd was 505 ± 123 µg/kg, which exceeded the ML by more than 194 times. The estimated weekly intake of Pb for people aged 2–85 years was below the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) references, determining risk coefficients (CRD) < 1. Weekly Cd intake was much higher than the PTWIs and CRDs were between 14 and 34, indicating that consumers would experience carcinogenic health effects, with children being at higher risk than adults, therefore, milk from the area is not safe for consumption. Cd would be transferred mainly through the soil (water)-grass-milk pathway, due to its presence in irrigation water and in fertilizers that contain Cd. The main pathway for Pb entry would be air-soil (water)-milk grass, from the fine particles emitted into the air by the mining-metallurgical activity, developed approximately 90 km from the study area.

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Lead (Pb) is highly toxic heavy metal that is detrimental to the food system. There are large mining and metallurgical companies in the central highlands of Peru that have been active for almost a century and contribute to air, water, and soil pollution, affecting food quality and causing damage to the environment and human health. Our study, conducted in 2018, assessed the content and transfer of lead in the soil-root-plant system in the high Andean grasslands in a geographical area near the metallurgical complex of La Oroya. Lead levels were measured in 120 samples of top soil (0–20 cm), roots, and grass shoots by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. No significant differences were found between the soil pH, organic matter content, and lead among the samples evaluated (P > 0.05). Mean Pb concentrations decreased in the order of soil > root > shoot (P < 0.01) (212.36 ±  38.40, 154.65 ±  52.85 and 19.71 ±  2.81 mg/kg, respectively). The soil-to-root Pb bioconcentration factor, root-to-shoot translocation factor, and soil-to-shoot bioaccumulation factor values were 0.74 ±  0.26, 0.14 ±  0.06 and 0.10 ±  0.03, respectively. Lead in the soil was 3.03 times higher than the maximum limit for agricultural soil, and was 1.97 times higher than the value limit for fodder. Our findings are important and show that soils and pasture in this geographical area have high Pb levels due to metallurgical emissions that have been occurring since 1922. Such pollution negatively impacts health and the socio-economic status of the exposed populations.