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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Biological Trace Element Research

Potentially Toxic Metal Levels in Breast Milk and Their Determinants Among Lactating Mothers of the DSAN-12 M Birth Cohort in the Reconcavo Baiano, Brazil

  • Erival Amorim Gomes-Junior1,2
  • Victor Otero Martinez3
  • Homègnon Antonin Ferréol Bah4
  • Nathália Ribeiro dos Santos3
  • Daisy Oliveira Costa3
  • João Vitor Araújo Santana2
  • Vinicius Silva Pitanga de Jesus2
  • Sarah Adriana Rocha Soares5
  • José Antonio Menezes-Filho1,3,2
5 affiliations
  1. 1Graduate Program in Food Science, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
  2. 2Laboratory of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
  3. 3Graduate Program in Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
  4. 4Graduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia Brazil
  5. 5Laboratory of Excellence in Geochemistry: Oil, Energy and Environment, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
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Abstract

Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) can be transferred from mothers to infants through breast milk (BM), representing an important route of early-life exposure. Although PTM concentrations in breast milk have been extensively investigated, relatively few studies have evaluated the environmental determinants associated with these concentrations, particularly in prospective birth cohorts from socially vulnerable populations. This study aimed to determine PTM concentrations in BM and identify environmental, sociodemographic, and dietary determinants associated with these concentrations among lactating women from the prospective Socioenvironmental Determinants of Child Neurodevelopment at 12 Months (DSAN-12 M) birth cohort in northeastern Brazil. BM samples were collected from 48 exclusively breastfeeding women and analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). Independent determinants of BM metal concentrations were investigated using multivariable linear regression models. Median concentrations (µg/L) were 1.22 for As, 0.42 for Cd, 3.58 for Hg, 5.56 for Mn, and 14.34 for Pb. Over 65% exceeded internationally proposed reference values for As, Hg, Mn, and Pb, whereas 25% exceeded the reference value for Cd. Household water supply was independently associated with Pb and Mn concentrations, household waste burning with Mn concentrations, and municipality of residence with Hg concentrations after multivariable adjustment. These findings indicate widespread co-exposure to multiple PTMs among lactating women in this socially vulnerable population and suggest that structural environmental conditions are important determinants of maternal exposure. Strengthening environmental infrastructure, human biomonitoring, and environmental health policies may reduce maternal and infant exposure to PTMs.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{gomesjunior2026potentially,
  title = {{Potentially Toxic Metal Levels in Breast Milk and Their Determinants Among Lactating Mothers of the DSAN-12 M Birth Cohort in the Reconcavo Baiano, Brazil}},
  author = {Erival Amorim Gomes-Junior and Victor Otero Martinez and Homègnon Antonin Ferréol Bah and Nathália Ribeiro dos Santos and Daisy Oliveira Costa and João Vitor Araújo Santana and Vinicius Silva Pitanga de Jesus and Sarah Adriana Rocha Soares and José Antonio Menezes-Filho},
  journal = {Biological Trace Element Research},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1007/s12011-026-05316-x},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05316-x},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Potentially Toxic Metal Levels in Breast Milk and Their Determinants Among Lactating Mothers of the DSAN-12 M Birth Cohort in the Reconcavo Baiano, Brazil
AU  - Erival Amorim Gomes-Junior
AU  - Victor Otero Martinez
AU  - Homègnon Antonin Ferréol Bah
AU  - Nathália Ribeiro dos Santos
AU  - Daisy Oliveira Costa
AU  - João Vitor Araújo Santana
AU  - Vinicius Silva Pitanga de Jesus
AU  - Sarah Adriana Rocha Soares
AU  - José Antonio Menezes-Filho
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/27
JO  - Biological Trace Element Research
DO  - 10.1007/s12011-026-05316-x
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-026-05316-x
AB  - Potentially toxic metals (PTMs) can be transferred from mothers to infants through breast milk (BM), representing an important route of early-life exposure. Although PTM concentrations in breast milk have been extensively investigated, relatively few studies have evaluated the environmental determinants associated with these concentrations, particularly in prospective birth cohorts from socially vulnerable populations. This study aimed to determine PTM concentrations in BM and identify environmental, sociodemographic, and dietary determinants associated with these concentrations among lactating women from the prospective Socioenvironmental Determinants of Child Neurodevelopment at 12 Months (DSAN-12 M) birth cohort in northeastern Brazil. BM samples were collected from 48 exclusively breastfeeding women and analyzed for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) using inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS). Independent determinants of BM metal concentrations were investigated using multivariable linear regression models. Median concentrations (µg/L) were 1.22 for As, 0.42 for Cd, 3.58 for Hg, 5.56 for Mn, and 14.34 for Pb. Over 65% exceeded internationally proposed reference values for As, Hg, Mn, and Pb, whereas 25% exceeded the reference value for Cd. Household water supply was independently associated with Pb and Mn concentrations, household waste burning with Mn concentrations, and municipality of residence with Hg concentrations after multivariable adjustment. These findings indicate widespread co-exposure to multiple PTMs among lactating women in this socially vulnerable population and suggest that structural environmental conditions are important determinants of maternal exposure. Strengthening environmental infrastructure, human biomonitoring, and environmental health policies may reduce maternal and infant exposure to PTMs.
SN  - 0163-4984
SN  - 1559-0720
ER  -