Bassil Maya, Daou Farah, Hassan Hussein, Yamani Osama, Kharma Joelle Abi, Attieh Zouheir, Elaridi Jomana
Department of Natural Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, 1102-2801, Lebanon.
Department of Laboratory Science and Technology, American University of Science and Technology, Achrafieh, 16-6452, Lebanon.
Chemosphere. 2018 Jan;191:911-921. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.10.111. Epub 2017 Oct 27.
Exposure of newborns to toxic metals is of special interest due to their reported contamination in breast milk and potential harm. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence and factors associated with lead, cadmium and arsenic contamination in breast milk collected from lactating mothers in Lebanon.
A total of 74 breast milk samples were collected from primaparas according to guidelines set by the World Health Organization. A survey was administered to determine the demographic and anthropometric characteristics of participating lactating mothers. Dietary habits were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The milk samples were analyzed for the presence of arsenic, cadmium and lead using microwave-assisted digestion and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Arsenic contamination was found in 63.51% of breast milk samples (mean 2.36 ± 1.95 μg/L) whereas cadmium and lead were detected in 40.54% and 67.61% of samples respectively (means 0.87 ± 1.18 μg/L and 18.18 ± 13.31 μg/L). Regression analysis indicated that arsenic contamination was associated with cereal and fish intake (p = 0.013 and p = 0.042 respectively). Residence near cultivation activities (p = 0.008), smoking status before pregnancy (p = 0.046), potato consumption (p = 0.046) and education level (p = 0.041) were associated with lead contamination. Cadmium contamination was significantly associated with random smoke exposure (p = 0.002).
Our study is the first in Lebanon to report toxic metal contamination in breast milk. Although estimated weekly infant intake of these metals from breast milk was found to be lower than the limit set by international guidelines, our results highlight the need for developing strategies to protect infants from exposure to these hazardous substances.
由于母乳中存在有毒金属污染及其潜在危害，新生儿接触有毒金属备受关注。本研究旨在评估从黎巴嫩哺乳期母亲采集的母乳中铅、镉和砷污染的发生情况及相关因素。
根据世界卫生组织制定的指南，从初产妇中总共采集了74份母乳样本。进行了一项调查，以确定参与的哺乳期母亲的人口统计学和人体测量学特征。使用半定量食物频率问卷评估饮食习惯。采用微波辅助消解和原子吸收分光光度法分析母乳样本中砷、镉和铅的含量。
63.51%的母乳样本中发现砷污染（平均2.36±1.95μg/L），而分别有40.54%和67.61%的样本检测到镉和铅（平均分别为0.87±1.18μg/L和18.18±13.31μg/L）。回归分析表明，砷污染与谷物和鱼类摄入量有关（分别为p = 0.013和p = 0.042）。居住在种植活动附近（p = 0.008）、孕前吸烟状况（p = 0.046）、土豆消费量（p = 0.046）和教育水平（p = 0.041）与铅污染有关。镉污染与随机接触烟雾显著相关（p = 0.002）。
我们的研究是黎巴嫩首个报告母乳中有毒金属污染的研究。尽管发现婴儿每周从母乳中摄入这些金属的量低于国际指南设定的限值，但我们的结果凸显了制定策略以保护婴儿免受这些有害物质暴露的必要性。
