High arsenic contamination in the breast milk of mothers inhabiting the Gangetic plains of Bihar: a major health risk to infants

Abstract

Groundwater arsenic poisoning has posed serious health hazards in the exposed population. The objective of the study is to evaluate the arsenic ingestion from breastmilk among pediatric population in Bihar. In the present study, the total women selected were n = 513. Out of which n = 378 women after consent provided their breastmilk for the study, n = 58 subjects were non-lactating but had some type of disease in them and n = 77 subjects denied for the breastmilk sample. Hence, they were selected for the women health study. In addition, urine samples from n = 184 infants' urine were collected for human arsenic exposure study. The study reveals that the arsenic content in the exposed women (in 55%) was significantly high in the breast milk against the WHO permissible limit 0.64 µg/L followed by their urine and blood samples as biological marker. Moreover, the child's urine also had arsenic content greater than the permissible limit (< 50 µg/L) in 67% of the studied children from the arsenic exposed regions. Concerningly, the rate at which arsenic is eliminated from an infant's body via urine in real time was only 50%. This arsenic exposure to young infants has caused potential risks and future health implications. Moreover, the arsenic content was also very high in the analyzed staple food samples such as rice, wheat and potato which is the major cause for arsenic contamination in breastmilk. The study advocates for prompt action to address the issue and implement stringent legislative measures in order to mitigate and eradicate this pressing problem that has implications for future generations.

Keywords: Arsenic contamination in breast milk; Cancer risk assessment; Gangetic plains; Groundwater arsenic contamination; Infant risk assessment; Lactating women.

Fig. 1

Showing the graph of age distribution in arsenic exposed districts of Bihar

Fig. 2

A Showing geospatial maps of studied arsenic 11 hotspot districts with groundwater poisoning. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the drinking water samples of exposed districts

Fig. 3

A Showing geospatial maps of studied arsenic 11 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the blood samples. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the blood samples of subjects of exposed districts

Fig. 4

A Showing geospatial maps of studied arsenic 11 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the breastmilk samples of the subjects. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the breastmilk samples of subjects of exposed districts. C Correlation coefficient of Mother’s breast milk with mother’s urine (r² = 0.562) and its comparison with breastmilk and Child’s urine (r² = 0.287)

Fig. 5

A Showing geospatial maps of studied arsenic 11 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the mother’s urine samples of the subjects. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the mother’s urine samples of subjects of exposed districts. C Human health risk assessment (HQ) - non-carcinogenic risk in lactating mothers

Fig. 6

A Showing geospatial maps of studied arsenic 11 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the child’s(infants) urine samples of the subjects. B Illustration related to the cause of arsenic poisoning. C Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the mother’s urine samples of subjects of exposed districts. D Human health risk assessment (HQ)- non-carcinogenic risk in Children (infants)

Fig. 7

A Showing geospatial map of studied arsenic 11 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the rice samples of the households. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the rice samples of households of exposed districts

Fig. 8

A Showing geospatial map of studied arsenic 10 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the wheat samples of the households. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the wheat samples of households of exposed districts

Fig. 9

A Showing geospatial map of studied arsenic 10 hotspot districts with arsenic poisoning in the potato samples of the households. B Showing the graph with the levels of arsenic concentration in the potato samples of households of exposed districts

Fig. 10

Graph of estimated daily dose of arsenic through consumption of arsenic contaminated groundwater and breastmilk for mother’s and children population respectively. A(Mother’s), B(Children)