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Judy Ritchie

http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/abstract/110/5/873


PEDIATRICS Vol. 110 No. 5 November 2002, pp. 873-878
 
Lead and Mercury in Breast Milk 
Claudia Gundacker, PhD*, Beate Pietschnig, MD, Karl J. Wittmann, PhD*,
Andreas Lischka, MD, Hans Salzer, MD, Leonhard Hohenauer, MD|| and Ernst
Schuster, PhD¶ 
 
* Institut für Medizinische Biologie der Universität Wien, Labor
Ökophysiologie und Ökotoxikologie, Vienna, Austria
Wilhelminenspital der Stadt Wien, Kinderklinik Glanzing, Abteilung für
Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde mit Neonatologie, Vienna, Austria
Landeskrankenhaus Tulln, Kinderabteilung, Tulln, Austria
|| Landeskinderklinik Linz, Säuglings- und Neugeborenenabteilung, Linz,
Austria
¶ Institut für Medizinische Computerwissenschaften der Universität Wien,
Vienna, Austria 
Objective. Heavy metals are potentially toxic substances, especially for
the susceptible infant. Exposure to mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) may
result in neurotoxic and nephrotoxic impairment and in anemia. Previous
data on breast milk Pb and Hg contents are sparse or missing for the
Austrian population. No evaluations of the influence of mothers’
lifestyles on Pb and Hg levels in breast milk are available. 
Methods. Five- to 10-mL individual samples of breast milk were provided
from healthy mothers in Vienna (urban; n = 59), Linz (industrial; n =
47), and Tulln (rural; n = 59). A questionnaire about area of residence,
maternal nutrition, smoking habits, and dental fillings was filled out
by the lactating mothers. Milk samples and infant formulas were
lyophilized, wet-ashed with nitric acid (65%), and analyzed with atomic
absorption spectrophotometry. Spiked skim milk powder was used as
reference material. Statistical analysis included the Kruskal-Wallis
test and multiple robust regression analysis. 
Results. Breast milk showed low Hg and Pb concentrations (Hg: 1.59 ±
1.21 1g/l, n = 116; Pb: 1.63 ± 1.66 6g/l, n = 138). Eight percent of the
breast milk samples marginally exceeded the screening level of 3.5 µg/L
for Hg. Austrian Pb values declined strongly during the last 20 years.
Bivariate comparison revealed that the factors significantly related to
metal levels in breast milk were area of residence (Hg, Pb), prematurity
(Hg), consumption of fish (Pb) and cereals (Hg), vitamin supplementation
(Hg), and smoking (Pb). The Hg and Pb contents of cow milk and infant
formulas were far below respective guideline values. 
Conclusions. Neither Hg nor Pb concentrations exceeded critical levels.
There are no reports on infants harmed by the intake of milk from
unexposed mothers. We conclude that even theoretical risks from current
Hg or Pb levels for the breastfed infant of a healthy mother can be
ruled out. 
 

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