Mother’s milk is considered the most nutritious food for any child. The first food after the birth of a child is mother’s milk, on which the health of any child depends. Mother’s milk is like nectar for children, as it provides all the nutrients necessary for their physical and mental development. It increases the immunity of the child, protects from infections and helps in brain development.
But just imagine what will happen to the child if the mother’s milk becomes poison. A similar research has come to light regarding Bihar. On the basis of survey conducted in many districts, it has been found that there is quantity of uranium in mother’s milk. This is not a common thing. Due to this, uranium is slowly entering the breastfed children as poison. The result of which is going to be very dangerous.
Study started in 2021
Dr. Ashok Sharma, Addition Professor of Biochemistry Department of AIIMS, told in a special conversation with TV9 Bharatvarsh that this study was started in the year 2021 and will end in the year 2024. This study was conducted in selected districts of Bihar, India such as Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar and Nalanda. In which it was found that dangerous amounts of uranium were found in the mother’s milk. Let us first know what uranium is and how dangerous it is for our body.
uranium in women’s milk
Studies by ICMR, AIIMS New Delhi, Mahveer Cancer Institute Patna and Lovely Professional Institute have found uranium in the milk of lactating women, which is mainly due to environmental pollution. Uranium is a heavy, naturally occurring radioactive element found in the Earth’s crust. It is used primarily for nuclear power and the production of nuclear weapons, in which its most fissile isotope, uranium-235, is enriched in controlled chain reactions.
Other roles of uranium include as counterweight for boats and aircraft and as radiation shielding. Uranium is naturally radioactive. It has many isotopes, of which uranium-238 and uranium-235 are the most common. Uranium-235 is particularly useful for nuclear fission. But uranium can be toxic to the human body, especially if swallowed or inhaled, and its health effects can be similar to those of lead.
The adverse effects of uranium on the human body depend on the method and quantity of its exposure. Its main effects include kidney damage, increased risk of cancer, especially lung cancer, impaired bone marrow function, and reproductive problems (such as miscarriage). Exposure to uranium can also cause neuropsychological effects, including anxiety and memory loss.
40 mothers aged 17 to 35 years participated
This study emphasizes understanding the levels of uranium in the breast milk of lactating mothers and the potential risk to their infants. 40 mothers aged between 17 to 35 years participated in the research. Each participant gave written informed consent before providing their breast milk sample for uranium analysis. Each lactating mother participating in this study voluntarily provided 5 mL of her breast milk for the study. The samples were carefully collected into sterilized Falcon tubes and kept in a cold box at a cold temperature between 2 °C and 6 °C. They were then safely transported to the Mahavir Cancer Institute Research Center (MCSRC) in Patna, India for detailed uranium analysis.
Laboratory Digestion Process of Breast Milk
To measure uranium (U238) levels, 0.5 mL breast milk samples were combined with 5 mL nitric acid (HNO3) in a 30 mL conical glass flask and left to react overnight. The next day, the mixture was gently heated on a hotplate at a temperature between 90 °C and 120 °C until it was reduced to about 3 mL. At that time, a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid (HClO4) in a ratio of 6:1 was added, and heating was continued until the volume was reduced to 2mL. The resulting solution was then washed with 1% nitric acid, and the final volume was adjusted to 10 mL using distilled water. The solution was then filtered using Whatman filter paper no.
Quality control of chemical analysis
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for analysis in this study. To ensure reliable results and maintain safety throughout the process, meticulous quality control measures were followed. To avoid any risk of cross-contamination, all equipment used to prepare samples was thoroughly cleaned. Glass vessels and plastic containers were soaked in a solution of 6 nitric acid (HNO₃) for 24 hours.
What was the result of the study
The results showed that all breast milk samples had significant uranium concentrations between 0 and 6μg/L. If we talk about the quantity of uranium district wise, the highest quantity of uranium was found in Katihar of Bihar at 5.25 mg per liter while in Nalanda it was found at 2.35 mg per liter. The average uranium contamination in Bhojpur district was 2.520 µg/L and the highest contamination was 3.870 µg/L. Similarly, in Khagaria district the average uranium contamination was found to be 4.035 µg/L.
The current study reports that the milk of 100 lactating mothers is highly contaminated with uranium. Similarly, litter was found at 3.307 to 4.760 mg in Samastipur. Whereas in Begusarai, 3.180 to 4.030 mg per liter was found. Currently, there is no limit or benchmark for uranium concentrations in breast milk. In the study, uranium contamination had the potential to cause non-carcinogenic health effects in a population of 70 infants.
Now the question arises that why did such a situation arise? The source of U238 contamination in the studied districts could be drinking water sources or food sources cultivated in the same places.