Arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium: Toxicity, levels in breast milk and the risks for breastfed infants

Rebelo, Fernanda; Caldas, Eloísa Dutra

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2016.08.027

Cited by 199 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 129 publications

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“…The induction of heavy metal in food chain is due to increased industrialization or municipal waste water; the elements may also find route in food commodities through processing, packaging and other unit operations in food industry (Ljung et al , 2011; Muchuweti et al , 2006; Saracoglu et al , 2007). Several health disorders including cells, tissues and skeletal damage, failure of lungs and kidneys, cancer of lungs and blood, and osteoporosis and anemia are associated with heavy metals intake (Ashraf and Mian, 2008; Ikem and Egiebor, 2005; Ismail et al , 2014; Rebelo and Coldas, 2016). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Aflatoxin M₁ and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

Akhtar

Shahzad

Yoo

et al. 2017

Korean Journal for Food Science of Animal Resources

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Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) after its bioconversion from aflatoxin B1 in animal liver becomes the part of milk while heavy metals get entry into milk and milk products during handling in the supply chain. Aflatoxin M1 and heavy metals being toxic compounds are needed to be monitored continuously to avoid any ailments among consumers of foods contaminated with such toxicants. Thirteen commercially available infant formula milk (IFM) brands available in Pakistani markets were analyzed for the quantitative determination of AFM1 and heavy metals through ELISA and atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively. AFM1 was found positive in 53.84% samples while 30.76% samples were found exceeding the maximum EU limit i.e. 0.025 μg/kg for AFM1 in IFM. Heavy metals lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were found below the detection limits in any of the sample, whereas the concentrations of iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) ranged between 45.40-97.10, 29.72-113.50 and <0.001-50.90 μg/kg, respectively. The concentration of Fe in all the tested brands was found in normal ranges while the concentrations of Zn and Ni were found exceeding the standard norms. Elevated levels of AFM1, Zn and Ni in some of the tested IFM brands indicated that a diet completely based on these IFM brands might pose sever health implications in the most vulnerable community i.e., infants.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Aflatoxin M₁ and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

Akhtar

Shahzad

Yoo

et al. 2017

Korean Journal for Food Science of Animal Resources

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“…Moreover, the situation is worsened by the fact that the number of studies on arsenic in human breast milk samples is generally much lower than compared with other elements, such as cadmium or mercury, where many more data are available. With respect to Bangladesh, meaningful data on a possible contamination of human breast milk are almost completely missing (Rebelo and Caldas 2016). …”

Section: Groundwater Contamination and Implications For Human Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Arsenic Contamination of Drinking and Groundwaters in Bangladesh: Featuring Biogeochemical Aspects and Implications on Public Health

Raessler

2018

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol

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Arsenic is a widespread contaminant of drinking and groundwaters in the world. Even if these contaminations have a geogenic origin, they often are exacerbated by anthropogenic activities. This is particularly true for the Bengal delta. Millions of people in Bangladesh are consuming drinking water with arsenic concentrations ≥ 50 µg/L. Their drinking water supply is based on groundwaters extracted by pumping wells, which were part of a well-drilling program by the United Nations. The intention was to provide the people with groundwater instead of surface water due to its critical hygienic conditions. Unfortunately, many wells extract the groundwater at depths where arsenic concentrations are highest. Arsenic is being dissolved from the aquifer by biogeochemical processes that are fueled by the presence of high amounts of organics in the Bengal delta sediments. This problem was not encountered at the time due to a lack of chemical analyses of the waters.

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“…All four toxic metals have been reported to be transmitted to babies by breastfeeding, although the degree of excretion of toxic metals in breastmilk seems different for different toxic metals [29]. Formula and its mixing water have also been reported as sources of toxic metal exposure [30,31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Low-Level Toxic Metal Exposure in Healthy Weaning-Age Infants: Association with Growth, Dietary Intake, and Iron Deficiency

Choi

Chang

Hong

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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Even low levels of toxic metal exposure (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) in infancy might be harmful to children’s development. This study investigated toxic metal exposure on healthy weaning-age infants and its relationship with growth, diet, and iron/anemia status. The weight, height, head circumference, whole blood levels of four toxic metals, hemoglobin, and serum ferritin of healthy infants was measured. Among 210 infants with a median age of 11.4 months (interquartile range: 10.5–12.0), the median levels of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb were 1.2 μg/L, 0.05 μg/L, 0.8 μg/L, and 0.83 μg/dL, respectively. In adjusted linear regression models, post-birth weight gain (Pb) and current head circumference (As, Pb) were negatively associated with toxic metal levels. In multiple linear regression or logistic regression analysis, the duration of breastfeeding (all four metals), perceived adequacy of rice-based food intake (As), regular fish intake (As, Hg), and iron deficiency with/without anemia (Cd, Pb) were associated with increased toxic metal levels. Although levels of toxic metals may not usually be high in this population, individual exposure risk may need to be assessed after considering the type of feeding or intake of complementary foods and the iron/anemia status while evaluating growth status during late infancy.

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Arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium: Toxicity, levels in breast milk and the risks for breastfed infants

Cited by 199 publications

References 129 publications

Determination of Aflatoxin M₁ and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

Determination of Aflatoxin M₁ and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

The Arsenic Contamination of Drinking and Groundwaters in Bangladesh: Featuring Biogeochemical Aspects and Implications on Public Health

Low-Level Toxic Metal Exposure in Healthy Weaning-Age Infants: Association with Growth, Dietary Intake, and Iron Deficiency

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Arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium: Toxicity, levels in breast milk and the risks for breastfed infants

Cited by 199 publications

References 129 publications

Determination of Aflatoxin M1 and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

Determination of Aflatoxin M1 and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

The Arsenic Contamination of Drinking and Groundwaters in Bangladesh: Featuring Biogeochemical Aspects and Implications on Public Health

Low-Level Toxic Metal Exposure in Healthy Weaning-Age Infants: Association with Growth, Dietary Intake, and Iron Deficiency

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Product

Resources

About

Determination of Aflatoxin M₁ and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets

Determination of Aflatoxin M₁ and Heavy Metals in Infant Formula Milk Brands Available in Pakistani Markets