Study Links Breast Milk Contamination to Stunted Baby Growth

New Delhi: High levels of toxic metals such as lead and arsenic found in breast milk may negatively impact infant growth and development, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Arizona.

While breast milk is widely recognized as the best source of nutrition for babies under six months, it can also serve as a pathway for harmful contaminants to enter an infant's system. These toxic substances can potentially affect a child's neurological development and weaken their immune system.

The research focused on Mayan women living in Guatemala's Lake Atitlán watershed region. The scientists discovered that breast milk samples from many of the mothers contained levels of arsenic and lead that exceeded the safety limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“Detecting toxic metals in breast milk is deeply concerning and highlights the potential role of environmental pollution in undermining child development,” said Sandra Rodríguez Quintana, a postdoctoral research associate and lead author of the study. “Our work calls for urgent interventions to protect maternal and child health and to better understand how environmental exposure to these metals may be contributing to growth issues.”

Guatemala has the highest rate of stunted growth in children in the Western Hemisphere. Stunting, or impaired physical development in children, is usually linked to poor nutrition and repeated infections. However, this study is one of the first in the Americas to connect stunting to toxic metal exposure through breast milk.

The researchers studied 80 mother-infant pairs across four communities near Lake Atitlán. They collected and analyzed breast milk samples and measured the infants’ lengths. Their findings revealed that higher concentrations of metals such as arsenic, barium, beryllium, and lead in breast milk were associated with reduced infant growth.

The team also found that the local drinking water in these communities contained elevated levels of arsenic and barium. This water was identified as the primary source of contamination in the mothers’ breast milk.

“Drinking water contaminated with toxic metals and microbes poses a significant risk to public health, particularly for infants and young children,” the researchers emphasized.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, underscores the urgent need for clean water initiatives and environmental health interventions to safeguard both maternal and child well-being.