Pregnancy, Lactation and Child Health - Links to Scientific Studies
Effects Heavy Metal and Organic Contaminants During Pregnancy and Lactation on Child Health
James R. Palmieri; Susan Meacham, et al. Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia USA. Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Trials, J Clin Case Rep Trials 2019, Volume 2: 2
Introduction
This study aimed to review the scientific evidence on the influence of heavy metals and organic contaminants in foods consumed by pregnant and lactating women on child health. Heavy metal toxicity in humans is the accumulation of inorganic and organic forms of heavy metals, in toxic amounts, in cell, tissues, organs, and bodily fluids. Symptoms and physiological outcomes are directly associated the different heavy metals, the location of the accumulation, the amount of accumulation and chronicity of the accumulation. The poisoning caused by each heavy metal will vary depending on its inorganic or organic variant form. The most common essential heavy metals in the human body includes but are not limited to zinc, copper, chromium, iron and manganese; most of these are vital to body function in very small amounts but may become toxic if they accumulate and concentrations sufficiently. The heavy metals most commonly associated with toxicity and poisoning in humans include arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Most heavy metal toxicity is associated with and the result of industrial exposure, air or water contamination, food adulteration, medicines, improperly coated food containers, tooth amalgam or the ingestion of chips or flakes of leadbased paints. Since breastmilk is universally considered the best natural source of essential nutrients for all infants, any exposure of breastmilk containing toxic heavy metals could potential be harmful to the developing infant ..................
https://innovationinfo.org/articles/JCCRT/JCCRT-2-128.pdf
Prenatal Exposure to Heavy Metals: Effect on Childhood Cognitive Skills and Health Status
Michael Lewis; John Worobey; et al, Pediatrics (1992) 89 (6): 1010–1015
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to seven heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, mercury, nickel, and silver) was determined for amniotic fluid taken from 92 pregnant women undergoing amniocentesis at approximately 16 to 18 weeks' gestation. Follow-up assessment of their children's cognitive skills and health status was conducted when the children were approximately 3 years of age. The presence of these metals co-occurred in amniotic fluid. A prenatal toxic risk score was derived which was a weighted score reflecting the presence of the various metals in amniotic fluid. The toxic risk score was negatively related to performance on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and positively related to the number of child illnesses reported. These results suggest the need for further prospective research on the adverse effects of prenatal exposure to various metals in combination.
Effects of Heavy Metal Poisoning during Pregnancy
Kapoor Neeti and Tiwari Prakash, Assistant Professors, Institute of Forensic Science, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur, Maharashtra, INDIA. Dr. Hari Singh Gour, Department of Criminology and Forensic Science, University, Sagar, MP, INDIA. International Research Journal of Environment Sciences, ISSN 2319–1414. Vol. 2(1), 88-92, January (2013)
Abstract
Heavy metal and their salts are considered as very important group of environmental pollutant which in small quantities may be essential nutrients that protect your health, yet in larger quantity it become toxic and dangerous to human being. When you're pregnant you want to provide the best for your developing baby, starting with what you eat. Your diet, however, may include toxic metals that pose health risks to both you and your child. Heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, lead and copper, cadmium are produced adverse effect during pregnancy which discuss below. This review paper provides an overview of the current knowledge of toxic effect of metal during pregnancy and to newly born baby. It will be helpful in causing awareness among the masses about the harmful effects of heavy metals and their detection.
Conclusion
Above described are some of the heavy metals which are poisonous in nature specifically harmful for the women who are pregnant and the baby whom they are carrying in their womb. Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, copper and mercury effect reproductive system ......./3 Page 3 and are especially toxic to growing fetus .because they are not filtered by placenta from mother to child and are directly deposit in growing fetal tissue. Each and every mother wants her baby to grow well without and abnormalities. To achieve this goal she has to take care of her diet. These metals can get inside the body either by ingestion or inhalation. Therefore the food which a pregnant lady eats must be nutritious rather than metallicious. This paper concentrates on the symptoms caused due to the consumption of these metals and tests from which the presence of such heavy metals can be proved. There are some instrumental methods as well for the detection of heavy metals. Consumption of arsenic, lead, copper, mercury etc by pregnant women is genuinely a serious problem. Therefore care must be taken by the individual to avoid consuming such substances which may lead to further complications in their pregnancy and abnormalities in newly born infants.
Analysis of heavy metal concentrations in breast milk by neutrosophic method in the locate of Lahore, Pakistan
Adeena Fatimah, Department of Physics, University of Management & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan, et al. Women's Health volume 2, Article number: 21, 2024
Introduction
Environmental contamination of heavy metals has grown into a serious issue and causes adverse effects all over the world. The release of undesirable and hazardous chemicals into the environment results from ignorance of excessive human activities and environmental protection rules. These undesirable chemicals are eventually exposed to potentially dangerous elements called heavy metals which consist of arsenic, copper, lead, mercury, etc. Some of the severe problems associated with long-term experience with these metals like lead (Pb) poisoning, fatal disorders in divers from Cadmium (Cd) or Arsenic (As) toxic exposure and numerous other issues1. There is a prime need to focus on the rate of harmful metals as well, instead of an emphasis on environmentally sustained industrial chemicals in human milk. Every metal breaks down among the milk fractions in a unique way. The toxic effects and extensive use of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) make them of immense significance. The main organ affected by cadmium is the kidney through inhalation.
Similarly, the Nervous system is the main victim of Lead amongst all other organs. The neurological system of the newborn and infants become so vulnerable due to lead which leads to a faster increase in growth during this phase. Milk and Milk Products are the essential ingredients in the human diet. During the initial three to five months of life, newborns typically, consume human milk as their primary source of nutrition3. The breast milk of a feeding mother can contain a variety of substances that have been delivered from her blood and body reserves. There is a growing concern about the ingestion of heavy metals from milk intake that could be harmful to infants. When babies consume a milk-based diet, their intake of heavy metals is typically increased. This is likely because heavy metals attach easily to milk proteins.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44294-024-00024-0