Lead Concentrations of Milk, Blood, and Hair in Lactating Women

Overview

Journal Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 1984 Jan 1

PMID 6706417

Citations 4

Authors

S W Rockway

C W WEBER

K Y Lei

S R KEMBERLING

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Lead was measured in the milk of 39 lactating women to determine if the concentration posed a toxicological hazard to nursing infants. Blood and hair of these women were also analyzed for lead to establish possible correlations with milk, and to indicate body burdens. The women were categorized as rural or urban residents so that all mean values of lead could then be correlated with their locations. The mean levels of lead in milk, blood, and hair were 3, 119 ng/ml and 2002 ng/g (ppb), respectively. Lead levels in milk were not considered high enough to pose any threat to the nursing infant. Furthermore, the levels in blood and hair were below values typically cited as average. The three biological parameters did not correlate significantly with each other or with the location of these women. Therefore, it does not appear that the women in this study have high body burdens of lead, or that the nursing infant is at any risk of lead exposure via milk.

Citing Articles

Lead levels in the breast milk of nursing andean mothers living in a lead-contaminated environment.

Counter S, Buchanan L, Ortega F, Chiriboga R, Correa R, Collaguaso M J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2014; 77(17):993-1003.

PMID: 25072821 PMC: 4373535. DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2014.897281.

Relationships of lead in breast milk to lead in blood, urine, and diet of the infant and mother.

Gulson B, Jameson C, Mahaffey K, Mizon K, Patison N, Law A Environ Health Perspect. 1998; 106(10):667-74.

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Concentrations of lead in maternal blood, cord blood, and breast milk.

Ong C, Phoon W, Law H, TYE C, Lim H Arch Dis Child. 1985; 60(8):756-9.

PMID: 4037861 PMC: 1777426. DOI: 10.1136/adc.60.8.756.

Use of hair as an indicator of environmental lead pollution in women of child-bearing age in Karachi, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Jamall I, ALLEN P Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1990; 44(3):350-6.

PMID: 2328340 DOI: 10.1007/BF01701214.

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