Study Raises Alarm Over Uranium in Breast Milk
A recent scientific publication has detected uranium in breast milk samples collected from mothers in Bihar, triggering concerns about infant health and breastfeeding safety. The study, published in the Scientific Reports journal, analyzed 40 breast milk samples and found detectable levels of uranium in all specimens.
Researchers from Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre-Patna, Lovely Professional University-Phagwara, and AIIMS-New Delhi concluded that approximately 70% of the infants had been exposed to levels that could potentially cause non-carcinogenic health effects. These effects might include kidney problems or bone damage, according to the research team.
Experts Challenge Study Methodology and Findings
Leading health experts and scientists have raised serious questions about the study's validity and methodology. Dr Arun Gupta, founder of Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI), expressed concern that the research findings are creating unnecessary fear among mothers.
"This is leading to unnecessary fears and may deter people from breastfeeding", Dr Gupta told The Indian Express. He emphasized that breastfeeding remains the best nutrition for infants and provides crucial protection against infections.
Dr Dinesh K Aswal, former group director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, provided crucial context about uranium's natural presence. "Uranium is a natural element, which is invariably present in trace amounts in everything", he explained, noting that some level of uranium exists in groundwater globally.
Critical Flaws Identified in Research Approach
Multiple inconsistencies have been identified in the study methodology. The highest uranium concentration of 5.25 micrograms per litre was found in samples from Katihar, while the lowest concentration of 2.35 micrograms per litre came from Nalanda.
Despite initial claims about "hazardous levels," the researchers themselves concluded that the reported concentrations remain below permissible limits and pose minimal health threats. Dr Ashok Sharma, coauthor of the study and Additional Professor at AIIMS New Delhi, acknowledged that while uranium levels were noticeable, they did not appear to cause major health problems for mothers or babies.
Several critical methodological issues have been highlighted by experts:
- Sample size of only 40 is statistically insignificant for drawing meaningful conclusions about regional contamination patterns
- Instrument calibration was designed for much higher concentration ranges (100µg/L to 2000µg/L), raising questions about accuracy at the detected 5µg/L levels
- No correlation found between uranium content in local groundwater and breast milk concentrations
- No child health monitoring was conducted during the study period
- Bioaccumulation of uranium in breast milk was found to be minimal
Natural Occurrence and Safety Reassurances
Dr Aswal provided important perspective on uranium's biological behavior. "Uranium is a heavy element and does not bind with the tissues of the body", he explained, noting that consumed uranium is typically flushed out quickly from the human system.
The World Health Organisation guidance from 2001 indicates that the human body naturally contains about 90 µg of uranium from normal intakes of water, food and air. The distribution shows 66% in the skeleton, 16% in the liver, 8% in the kidneys and 10% in other tissues.
International comparisons provide additional context. While WHO sets the uranium limit in groundwater at 30 µg/L, Finland maintains a higher threshold of 100 µg/L due to naturally occurring high levels. People in Finland have consumed this water for generations without significant health impacts, demonstrating that context matters in evaluating uranium exposure risks.
The scientific community continues to emphasize that breastfeeding remains safe and essential for infant health, while calling for more rigorous research methodologies when studying trace element exposure through breast milk.
