A new study has revealed the presence of uranium in breast milk samples collected from six districts in Bihar, India, raising concerns about potential health risks for infants. The study, conducted between October 2021 and July 2024, analyzed breast milk from 40 mothers aged 17-35 in Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar, and Nalanda.
The research, led by Dr. Arun Kumar and Prof. Ashok Ghosh of Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Patna, in collaboration with Dr. Ashok Sharma from AIIMS, New Delhi, detected uranium (U238) in all the breast milk samples. The concentrations varied from 0 to 5.25 µg/L. While there is no established permissible limit for uranium in breast milk, the findings are significant due to the potential vulnerability of infants to the toxic effects of uranium.
The study, published in a science journal, indicated that nearly 70% of the infants faced exposure levels associated with potential non-carcinogenic health risks. According to the study, the lowest mean value of uranium concentration in breastmilk was observed in Nalanda district as 2.35 µg/L, while the highest mean value was observed in Khagaria district as 4.035 µg/L. However, the highest uranium concentration was observed in Katihar district as 5.25 µg/L, which indicates that the Katihar district samples had hazardous levels of uranium in the breast milk samples.
Dr. Ashok Sharma of AIIMS noted that the source of the contamination is currently unclear. The Geological Survey of India is also involved in investigating the source. Sharma also warned that uranium entering the food chain can cause cancer, neurological disorders, and growth issues in children. The study suggests that the source of uranium contamination in the studied districts could be drinking water or food sources cultivated in the same location.
Bihar's environmental conditions may be contributing to the problem. The state's reliance on groundwater for drinking and irrigation, the discharge of untreated industrial effluents, and the extensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides have already led to contamination by arsenic, lead, and mercury in biological samples. The detection of uranium in breast milk suggests that this contamination has now reached infants, who are a particularly vulnerable population.
Infants are more susceptible to uranium's harmful effects because their organs are still developing, they absorb toxic metals more readily, and their low body weight increases their exposure. Uranium exposure can lead to kidney damage, neurological impairment, cognitive delays, and an increased risk of cancer later in life. The study also stated that uranium contamination in breastmilk could pose health concerns among the exposed infants, and it can lead to low IQ, deteriorated neurological development and many mental health issues.
The study highlights the need for further investigation into the sources and extent of uranium contamination in Bihar. It also underscores the importance of monitoring and mitigating environmental pollution to protect public health, especially that of vulnerable populations like infants. In recent years, groundwater uranium poisoning has posed serious health hazards to the exposed population. In India, an estimated 151 districts and 18 states are reported with groundwater uranium contamination, and about 1.7 per cent of groundwater sources are affected in Bihar.
