engleski

Cadmium and lead exposure and essential elements in breast feeding women from coastal Croatia

Breast milk is a useful, non-invasive sample for evaluating mother-child interactions. We assessed exposure to Cd and Pb in healthy lactating women (aged 19-44 yrs) who gave birth in the County Hospital in Zadar. Data on diet and smoking gathered by self-ascertainment were recorded using a questionnaire. Samples of maternal blood (N=102) and breast milk (in total N=147) were taken on one of the days of each of the three lactation stages: colostrum (up to day 4), transitory milk (day 5-14) and mature milk (day 20-30 postpartum). Elements (Cd, Pb, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se) were analysed by ICP-MS. We found a correlation of smoking index with concentrations of Cd in blood and mature milk and Pb in transitory milk. Only the Se concentration in serum was lower (by 10%) in smokers who continued to smoke during pregnancy. In conclusion, exposure to Cd and Pb in the study cohort did not disrupt essential element homeostasis either in breast feeding mothers or in their infants.

cadmium; lead; selenium; cigarette smoking; maternal blood; breast milk

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