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Heterogeneity of Multimedia Exposures to Neurotoxic Elements (Al, As, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Hg) in Breastfed Infants from Porto Velho, Brazil

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Abstract

Infant exposure to neurotoxic elements is a public health issue that needs monitoring with regard to breast milk composition. We studied six neurotoxic elements in breast milk samples at different stages of lactation in mothers from Porto Velho, Brazil. We used a flow-injection mercury system (FIMS) to determine total Hg concentrations and an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) to determine the concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Pb, and Mn in 106 donors of a human milk bank. Association rules analyses were applied to determine the pattern of binary and ternary mixtures of the measured exposants. The metal concentration was mostly below the limit of detection (LOD) for Cd (99%), Pb (84%), and Hg (72%), and it was above the LOD for As (53%), Mn (60%), and Al (82%), respectively. Median concentrations (dry weight) of Al, As, Hg, Mn, and Pb were 1.81 μg/g, 13.8 ng/g, 7.1 ng/g, 51.1 ng/g, and 0.43 μg/g, respectively. Al is singly the most frequent element to which infants are exposed. Occurring binary combination (> LOD) was 56% for Al-Mn, 41% for Al-As, 22% for Al-Hg, and 13% for Al-Pb. In 100% of neonates, exposure to Al-ethylmercury (EtHg) occurred through immunization with thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCV). Association rules analysis revealed that Al was present in all of the multilevel combinations and hierarchical levels and that it showed a strong link with other neurotoxic elements (especially with Mn, As, and Hg). (a) Nursing infants are exposed to combinations of neurotoxicants by different routes, dosages, and at different stages of development; (b) In breastfed infants, the binary exposures to Al and total Hg can occur through breast milk and additionally through TCV (EtHg and Al); (c) The measured neurotoxic elements were found at low frequencies in breast milk and at concentrations that pose no public health concerns for milk banking.

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Acknowledgements

We thank CT-Universal and INCT-INPeTAm/CNPq/MCT for the support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory WCP, Federal University of Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil

    Wanderley R. Bastos, Solange M. Vieira, Ângelo G. Manzatto, Victor Francisco P. de Souza, Walkimar A. da Costa Junior & Maria T. Souza Bastos

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasília, C.P. 04322, Brasília, DF, 70919-970, Brazil

    José G. Dórea

  3. Luteran Institute of High Learning/ULBRA, Porto Velho, RO. Rua João Goulart, 666 - Mato Grosso, Porto Velho, RO, 76804-414, Brazil

    Marcelo C. Rubira

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  1. Wanderley R. Bastos
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Correspondence to José G. Dórea.

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Bastos, W.R., Vieira, S.M., Manzatto, Â.G. et al. Heterogeneity of Multimedia Exposures to Neurotoxic Elements (Al, As, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Hg) in Breastfed Infants from Porto Velho, Brazil. Biol Trace Elem Res 184, 7–15 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-017-1165-1

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