Lead Levels in Breast Milk of Lactating Mothers in Lead-Contaminated Environment

The ingestion of Lead by an infant can cause the disruption of cytokine production and a weakened immune system. The World Health Organization recommends a 5 μg/L limit of Lead in breast milk. This study aimed to review the levels of lead in breast milk of lactating mothers in lead-contaminated environments. This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The databases of PubMed/MEDLINE and EBSCO essentials were systematically searched. Additional hand searching was done. Out of an identified 1499 records, 10 studies were included in the review. Most (80%) of the included studies found that the concentration of Lead in the breast milk of lactating mothers was above the WHO limit, with a pooled mean of 306.12 (873.74) μg/L which is approximately 61 times the WHO limit. This finding was partly consistent with previously published literature. These findings highlight the need for greater awareness and measures to address the sources of lead contamination in the environment, particularly in areas where breastfeeding is common.