Comparative Study of Heavy Metals in Breast Milk of Breast Feeding Mothers in Urban and Sub-Urban Subjects in Rivers State
Diorgu Faith *
Department of Nursing, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Kalaotaji Glory Biambo
Department of Nursing, Rivers State University, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Jonathan Nyebuchi
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Chikadibia Fyneface Amadi
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Felix Eedee Konne
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Breast milk is one fluid that could contain heavy metals and this can be dangerous to the health of breastfeeding baby. The increase in urbanization and industrialization often comes with the increased level of heavy metals in the environment especially in developing countries where environmental protection is poorly managed. The study aimed to compare the heavy metal composition in breast milk in postpartum women in urban and sub-urban areas in Rivers State. The study was conducted among 59 postpartum subjects between 0 and 10days of child delivery in each group. Sampling was done through a simple randomized system. Human breast milk was collected using a manual breast pump. Heavy metals; Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg) and Mercury (Hg) were assayed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer with their corresponding cathode lambs. Results revealed that the mean differences of the heavy metals assayed between both groups were not significant (p>0.05). This work has shown that heavy metal composition in the breast milk of postpartum women may not vary based on urban and sub-urban settlements.
Keywords: Breast milk, lead, cadmium, mercury, urban, sub-urban.