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Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 and Heavy Metal Levels in Mothers Breast Milk in Famagusta, Cyprus

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Abstract

Breast milk contributes towards optimal nutrition for infants. However, studies showed that it can also contain different toxins and heavy metals, which reduce its health benefits. The aim of this study is to determine the level of contaminants such as aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), Pb, Cd, As, and Hg in breast milk samples from Famagusta, Cyprus. Correlations between moldy food consumption, smoking habits of the mothers, and contaminant levels in breast milk were also investigated. Breast milk samples from 50 lactating mothers in rural and urban areas of Famagusta District were analyzed for AFM1 by ELISA. Eighty percent of them were found to be contaminated with AFM1 with the mean measurement of 7.84 ± 1.72 ng/l. Socio-demographic status, moldy food consumption habits, and smoking status do not have any effect on the AFM1 levels observed in breast milk. Heavy metal levels in breast milk were examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the mean measurements were1.19 ± 1.53 ppm for Pb, 0.73 ± 0.58 ppm for As, 0 ± 0.20 ppm for Hg, and 0.45 ± 0.23 ppm for Cd. This study indicates that the levels of these contaminants in breast milk samples obtained in Famagusta District are well within the acceptable levels. However, the presence of AFM1 and heavy metals still may pose risks for infant health.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Famagusta, 99628, Turkey

      İmge Kunter, Hayrettin Ozan Gülcan & Gönül Şahin

    2. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus via Mersin 10, Famagusta, 99628, Turkey

      Nazife Hürer

    3. Department of Nutrition and Dietetic, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biruni University, İstanbul, Turkey

      Barış Öztürk

    4. Uzman Expert Quality Education Consultancy and Laboratory Services, İstanbul, Turkey

      İrfan Doğan

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    All procedures performed in our study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the EMU Institutional Research Committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. All volunteers were informed about the study protocol and written informed-consent forms were obtained from those who agreed to participate in the study. This study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus (2015/13-05).

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    İmge Kunter and Nazife Hürer contributed equally to this work.

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    Kunter, İ., Hürer, N., Gülcan, H.O. et al. Assessment of Aflatoxin M1 and Heavy Metal Levels in Mothers Breast Milk in Famagusta, Cyprus. Biol Trace Elem Res 175, 42–49 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0750-z

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