Impact of Smoke on Breast Milk

In this post I’m going to talk about a study that compares levels of trace elements in the breast milk of non-smoking women, women who smoke, and women exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy and lactation.

In case you missed my introductory blog post, you can read it here where I explain what I’m pursuing in this blog. A recent study investigated the levels of six micro-elements and six potentially toxic elements in the breast milk of non-smoking women, women who smoke, and women exposed to second-hand smoke. The full article can be read here.

Key Findings

The study was conducted on 100 lactating women in western Iran, categorized into three groups: passive smokers, active smokers, and a control group of non-smokers. Using ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry), the researchers measured concentrations of various trace elements in the breast milk samples.

• Demographic Differences: Significant differences were noted in education, fruit consumption, and cosmetics usage among the groups. These factors may influence the trace element concentrations in breast milk.

• Trace Elements and Smoking: The Kruskal–Wallis test showed significant differences in the levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) among the groups. The post hoc Dunn test confirmed higher levels of these elements in the breast milk of both passive and active smokers compared to non-smokers.

  
  

Detailed Insights

The study highlights the potential risks of exposure to toxic elements through breast milk, especially for infants of smoking mothers. Here are some detailed findings:

• Essential Elements: Zinc (Zn) had the highest concentration among essential elements, while cobalt (Co) had the lowest. There were no significant differences in the concentrations of magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) between the groups.

• Non-Essential Elements: Chromium (Cr) had the highest concentration among non-essential elements, while mercury (Hg) had the lowest. Significant differences were observed in the levels of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb, with higher concentrations in the breast milk of smokers.

• Health Implications: The elevated levels of Cd, Pb, and Hg in the breast milk of smokers pose health risks to infants, such as developmental delays, neurotoxicity, and increased susceptibility to infections.

  
  

Methodology

The researchers collected breast milk samples from lactating women attending health centers in Kermanshah, Iran. The samples were digested and analyzed using ICP-MS to determine the concentrations of various trace elements.

• Sample Collection: Milk samples were manually expressed and stored at -20 °C until analysis.

• Digestion Process: Samples were digested using nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, followed by dilution with deionized water.

• Data Analysis: Statistical analyses included the Kruskal–Wallis test and the Dunn test to compare element concentrations between groups.

Discussion and Conclusion

The study shows the importance of monitoring trace elements in breast milk, particularly for women exposed to tobacco smoke. The findings suggest that smoking and second-hand smoke exposure increase the levels of potentially toxic elements in breast milk, which can adversely affect infant health. There is a need for public health initiatives to inform pregnant and lactating women about the risks of smoking and second-hand smoke exposure.

Stay tuned for more posts.