Studies warn of lead and mercury contamination of breast milk in Morocco Studies warn of lead and mercury contamination of breast milk in Morocco

This is the “Contamilk” study, made up of five parts. It is a prospective study carried out by Dr. Abha Cherkani-Hassani and his collaborators on samples of "colostrum", produced by the woman during the first five days after childbirth.

These samples were collected from women residing in Rabat and its regions (Salé, Témara, Skhirat, Tiflet, Bouknadel and Khémisset), admitted to the Souissi Maternity Hospital, Ibn Sina, according to the principal investigator of the study, joined by Media24. Our source informs us that to generalize and confirm the results obtained for the whole of the Kingdom, the realization of multicentric studies proves to be necessary.

The objective of this study is to assess the levels of contamination of the breast milk of nursing mothers in Morocco by certain toxic chemicals, to identify the associated exposure factors and to determine the daily intake of these products to the newborn. born.

Dr. Cherkani-Hassani also points out that this study was preceded by "systematic literature reviews", which consist of the collection, critical evaluation and synthesis of all existing knowledge about the three heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) and two mycotoxins (aflatoxin M1 and ochratoxin A) studied.

Dangerous cosmetics

The benefits of breast milk for the newborn have been scientifically proven on several occasions. However, the results of the said study showed a high contamination of breast milk in Morocco by lead and mercury and the involvement of several maternal factors and habits (food, cosmetics and personal, etc.) in this contamination.

As for mercury, the authors noted high concentration levels (ranging from 1.64 to 124 μg/l), exceeding the tolerated limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO), ranging from 1. 4 to 1.7 μg/l, in 99% of the samples analyzed.

Significant associations were found “between mercury levels and high grain consumption, taking vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy, frequency of lipstick use, previous miscarriages and anemia before the pregnancy ".

Daily mercury intake was also high in 30% of newborns, compared to the tolerable level set by the WHO.

Same observation for lead: high concentration levels (between 1.38 and 515.39 μg/l) were found in 79% of the breast milk samples studied, compared to the limit set by the WHO, which varies between 2 and 5 μg/l, which attests to a high contamination of the breast milk of nursing mothers in Morocco with lead.

The factors associated with this concentration are premature delivery, the use of cosmetic powders and lipsticks.

Note that mercury and lead are toxic heavy metals that can be transferred from body stores and blood into the breast milk of exposed mothers, and can reach the fetus by placental transfer. And the newborn can ingest it after crossing the mammary gland.

Low cadmium concentration in the majority of Moroccan breastfeeding women

As for the concentration of cadmium, which is another toxic heavy metal, the results of the Contamilk study showed low concentrations which were even below the tolerated limit (<1 μg/l) in 70% of the milk samples, with minimum and maximum concentrations of 0.013 μg/l and 95.19 μg/l.

The daily intake of cadmium was also lower than the tolerable one set by the WHO, in 97% of newborns.

Several factors significantly affect the levels of cadmium in breast milk according to said study, such as the area of ​​residence, the frequency of consumption of dairy products, dried fruits, wholemeal bread as well as the frequency of use of cosmetic powders. .

It should be noted that the analysis of the concentration of these three heavy metals within the framework of the Contamilk study was carried out on 70 samples of breast milk, collected from Moroccan breastfeeding women.

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The breast milk of the majority of breastfeeding women who participated in the study contaminated with certain mycotoxins

Still within the framework of the Contamilk study, two other studies were carried out by the same team to analyze the contamination of the milk of Moroccan breastfeeding women by ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), toxins by various species of fungi such as moulds, and which can be found in certain foods.

The results indicated the presence of AFM1 in 52.4% of the samples analyzed, which confirms the exposure of the Moroccan population to aflatoxin B1 (whose metabolism releases AFM1). However, the levels detected were not high as those reported by several studies around the world, and were all below 25 ng/l (limit set for infant formula) with a maximum concentration of 13.33 ng/l .

The presence of OTA was detected in 55% of Moroccan breast milk samples. Concentrations exceeded 0.5 ng/ml (the upper limit in infant foods) in 50.2% of the samples studied, with a maximum concentration of 10.04 ng/ml.

In addition, the estimated daily intake of OTA was high and above the tolerated daily intake in 49% of infants.

These two studies have also made it possible to identify the factors and dietary habits that show significant associations with these two mycotoxins, and which are the consumption of industrialized dairy products, as well as the frequency of consumption of red meats, dried fruits, canned food and soft drinks.

It should be noted that ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxin B1 are mycotoxins frequently found in animal and human food, such as cereals, beans, dried fruits, cocoa, coffee, spices… . Indeed, numerous studies carried out in Morocco, particularly in Rabat, have confirmed the contamination of several foodstuffs by aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and other mycotoxins.

Note that AFM1 is classified by the International Agency for research in cancer in group "1", as being carcinogenic to humans, and exposure to this substance is hepatotoxic, mutagenic, teratogenic and immunotoxic, whereas Ochratoxin A is classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”, and exposure to low doses of OTA is nephrotoxic and mutagenic.

Due to their toxic effects, aflatoxin M1 and OTA are now strictly regulated around the world, particularly in infant foods and milks and infant formula.

Recommendations from researchers

Dr. Cherkani-Hassani and his collaborators consider it necessary to confirm these results by large multicenter studies in order to investigate in more depth the levels of these heavy metals and mycotoxins in the breast milk of the Moroccan population, and to better evaluate the impact of identified parameters, factors and eating habits.

The authors of the Contamilk study also stress that breastfeeding must continue to be encouraged despite a polluted environment, because the risk remains potential while the benefit is scientifically proven, both for the mother and for the newborn; even slightly polluted, breast milk remains the best choice for babies.

The authors also insist on the need to raise awareness among women in childbearing, pregnant and breastfeeding, about their diet and their close environment, as well as about the appropriate preventive measures to limit exposure to these contaminants.

To reduce exposure to heavy metals, researchers recommend:

With regard to reducing exposure to mycotoxins, it is necessary to:

Finally, it should be noted that this problem is not specific to Morocco, since it has been noted in several other countries in the world. States must therefore mobilize for more control, in particular of imported products.

It should be noted that the results of these 5 studies have been published in international scientific journals specializing in medical biology, toxicology and the environment.