Correlation between lead levels in drinking water and mothers’ breast milk: Dakahlia, Egypt

Abstract

This study was performed on fifty-two drinking tap water samples (surface and groundwater) collected from different districts of Dakahlia Governorate and fifty-two breast milk samples from lactating mothers hosted in Dakahlia Governorate hospitals. All these samples were subjected to lead analysis. Lead level in drinking groundwater showed higher levels than in drinking surface water. Also, an elevation of lead levels in breast milk of mothers drinking groundwater was noticed when compared with that of mothers drinking surface water. The comparison between mean lead levels in drinking water and mothers' breast milk samples showed positive relationship. Lead concentrations in breast milk of the studied samples were elevated by exposure to smoking. We conclude that prolonged contact with lead plumbing can increase the lead content in tap water with subsequent increase in lead burden in infant fed formula and infant blood. Also, we recommend that chemical analyses must be carried out periodically for the surface and groundwater to ensure the water suitability for drinking purposes. Passive exposure to smoking during lactation should be avoided. Capsule: Prolonged contact with lead plumbing can increase the lead content in tap water with subsequent increase in lead burden in infant fed formula and infant blood.

Breast milk contamination with lead and cadmium and its related factors in Kerman, Iran

“…In Turkish mothers, smoking during pregnancy and up to 2 months after delivery had no influence on Pb levels in breast milk either [14]. However, in Egypt, women passively exposed to smoking had more Pb in their breast milk [27]. In the present study, none of the mothers that participated were smokers and those who were exposed to passive smoking were not more contaminated with cadmium or lead.…”

“…This might have prevented some of the variables from becoming significant. However, there were several studies with even less participants in the literature [2, 13, 15, 25–27, 29] and it was difficult to find more interested mothers in Kerman to donate samples. Another limitation was that we were not able to follow-up these children and evaluate the future effects of lead and cadmium contamination on them.…”

The Lancet Commission on pollution and health

“…169,180 Infants in the womb can be exposed to lead via transplacental transfer, and nursing infants can be exposed to lead in breastmilk. 181 Children are at risk of exposure to lead-based paint in older housing 182,183 and to lead that leaches into drinking water from lead pipes and solder. 184 Informal (so-called "backyard") recycling of used lead-acid batteries is a widespread source of lead exposure for both workers and communities.…”

Scale Formation Under Blended Phosphate Treatment for a Utility With Lead Pipes

“…Consumption of Pb‐contaminated tap water can increase the percentage of young children with EBL (Hanna‐Attisha et al 2016, Triantafyllidou & Edwards 2012, Edwards et al 2009) as well as simply increase the blood lead level itself (Ngueta et al 2016, 2015, 2014; Levallois et al 2014; Triantafyllidou & Edwards 2012). Even low Pb levels in blood may irreversibly affect neurological, endocrine, cardiovascular, and immunological systems (Levallois et al 2014, Mandour et al 2013, Bierkens et al 2012, NTP 2012, Rhoads et al 2012, Lanphear et al 2005, Bryce‐Smith et al 1978).…”