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Concentration Profiles of Metals in Breast Milk, Drinking Water, and Soil: Relationship Between Matrices

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Abstract

The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn were determined in breast milk of women living in Conceição das Alagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The potential relationships between metal levels in samples of breast milk, drinking water, and soils collected in the study area were also established. Metal levels in breast milk, except Cr, were lower in comparison to WHO reference concentrations. Zinc was the predominant element in breast milk and drinking water samples, with a median level of 46.2 and 82.2 μg · L−1, respectively. Soils presented a different pattern of metal concentrations with respect to those found in breast milk and drinking water, Chromium showed the highest median levels (148 mg · kg−1), while a certain predominance of Zn and Cu was also observed (47.0 and 43.0 mg · kg−1, respectively). Similar profiles were observed when comparing metal concentrations in drinking water and breast milk (chi-square χ 2 = 14.36; p < 0.05). In contrast, breast milk-soil and drinking water-soil metal concentration profiles showed significant differences (χ 2 = 635.05 and χ 2 = 721.78, respectively; p < 0.05). These results indicate that drinking water is an important exposure pathway for metals to newborns through breast milk. Further studies should be aimed at assessing the body burdens of metals in that population and at evaluating the potential relationships in the concentrations in biological and environmental matrices as well as at estimating the contribution of dietary intake of metals. In addition, the presence of other chemical pollutants in breast milk should be also studied in order to assess the combined newborn exposure to other contaminants.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the CAPES (Coordination for Improvement of Higher Level Personnel-Ministry of Education, Brazil), FAPESP (State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation) and the Santander Group through the granting of a scholarship in the International Exchange Program with the Iberian Countries. The authors wish to thank the participating mothers, Ademir Pedro de Sene, Raquel Vieira de Sene and the nurse Maria Luiza Barbon, for their help during sampling and Rogério C. Calia form the Department of Business Administration, School of Economics, Business and Accounting of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo for the data analysis recommendation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Federal University of the Piauí, Teresina, Brazil, Campus Universitário Ministro Petrônio Portela, SG-8, 64049-550, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

    Osmar O. Cardoso

  2. Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, College of Nursing at Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, 14040-902, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fabiana C. Julião, Renato I. S. Alves, Meire N. Suzuki, Beatriz S. Celere & Susana I. Segura-Muñoz

  3. Department of Crystallography, Mineralogy and Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Seville, C/ Professor García González s/n, 41012, Seville, Spain

    Antonio R. Baena & Isabel G. Díez

  4. Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201, Reus, Catalonia, Spain

    Martí Nadal & José L. Domingo

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  1. Osmar O. Cardoso
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  3. Renato I. S. Alves
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Correspondence to Susana I. Segura-Muñoz.

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Cardoso, O.O., Julião, F.C., Alves, R.I.S. et al. Concentration Profiles of Metals in Breast Milk, Drinking Water, and Soil: Relationship Between Matrices. Biol Trace Elem Res 160, 116–122 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0030-8

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