title: Heavy metal concentrations in the breast milk of Saudi women.
abstract: Lead, cadmium, and mercury concentrations were determined in breast milk of Saudi lactating mothers from Riyadh and Al-Ehssa regions in Saudi Arabia who were not occupationally exposed. The mean levels for cadmium, lead, and mercury were 1.732 microg/L, 31.671 microg/L, and 3.100 microg/L, respectively. In contrast to mercury, mothers living in the Al-Ehssa region had significantly higher cadmium and lead concentrations in their breast milk than those in the Riyadh region. The estimated weekly intakes of cadmium, lead, and mercury of breast-fed infants in this study were in some cases higher than the Provisional Tolerance Weekly Intake (PTWI) recommended by FAO/WHO, which pose a threat to their health. This necessitates the urgent need to undertake a comprehensive study to determine the sources of exposure to these heavy metals. Breast-feeding is of great beneficial value for the infant's development; therefore, efforts should be made to prevent its contamination with environmental pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Biological & Medical Research Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Saleh
authors.forename: Neptune
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shinwari
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mashhour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002138:Calibration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry*; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury