Arsenic in breast milk during the first 3 months of lactation.

Increased concentrations of arsenic were found in soil and ground water from a military training area in Munster, Lower Saxony, Germany, where chemical weapons were dumped after World War II. In order to assess the possible impact of this contamination for nursing new-borns and infants, samples from breast milk of 36 women were analysed with respect to arsenic content. Study participants came from three different regions: the city of Hamburg, the rural area of Soltau, Lower Saxony, and from Munster, the potentially contaminated area. Breast milk samples were collected immediately before and after nursing on days 2, 5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 post partum. At least 10 ml were required for measurements of arsenic, and 187 samples were of that volume. Samples were analysed with a Perkin-Elmer Type 403 hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometer, equipped with an arsenic EDL-lamp. Arsenic was not detectable, i.e. below 0.3 microgram/l, in 154 of 187 samples. The highest concentration of 2.8 micrograms/l was measured in a sample from the rural area of Soltau. Geometric means of arsenic concentrations were comparable in the three regions. Concentrations did neither differ in samples obtained before and after nursing nor with respect to age of the infant. The calculated daily intake of arsenic was in the range of 0.02 to 0.06 microgram per kg body weight, which is far below the lower limit of daily permissible intake for adults (WHO/JECFA recommendation 1993) of 15 micrograms/kg/wk. In conclusion, we found concentrations of arsenic in breast milk within the reported safety limits. This was also true for samples from women living in a region which has previously been shown to be contaminated with arsenic from chemical weapons.