A new study shows that the breast milk of breastfeeding women exposed to cigarette smoke contains toxins even if they are not smokers.
- Breast milk protects against a wide range of diseases and complications, such as respiratory diseases, allergies, autoimmune diseases and infant mortality.
- It contains all the elements necessary for the good health of babies. However, the mother’s environment can have an impact on its composition.
- The study shows that smoking, even passive smoking, leads to the presence of several worrying elements for the development of infants such as mercury and cadmium.
Nutrients, trace elements, fatty acids, maternal antibodies… THE Breast milk meets all the needs of infants during the first months of life. However, its composition depends on the environment and the health of the mother. So in addition to alcohol or medications, we should also be wary of passive smoking, according to a study published in Scientific Reports on November 25, 2023. It reveals that certain potentially toxic elements can be found in the breast milk of mothers exposed to cigarette smoke.
Smoking passive : 4 toxins present in breast milk
The study was carried out among 100 breastfeeding women living in the region of Kermanshahin western Iran. The participants were divided into three groups based on their exposure to tobacco smoke: non-smokers, smokers and passive smokers. Samples of their breast milk were collected and analyzed from September to December 2021. Researchers measured concentrations of manganese, magnesium, cobalt, iron, zinc, copper, arsenic, chromium, cadmium, nickel, mercury and lead.
The results revealed that the concentrations of mercurycadmium, lead and arsenic were significantly higher in breast milk samples from women actively or passively exposed to tobacco smoke than from non-smokers.
Smoking and breastfeeding: we must be aware of the risks
“One of the biggest concerns is cadmium (classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the IARC)which is a toxic metal that disrupts the metabolism of certain micronutrients such as iron, copper, zinc and magnesium. Maintaining appropriate levels of these microelements is essential for normal infant development. Cadmium is a metallic element naturally present in the environment and as a pollutant.write the authors in their article.
The dangers of tobacco on the development of the fetus during pregnancy are well known to the general public. For the scientists, their results show that we must also highlight the risks of tobacco among breastfeeding women. They should be cautioned about the need to limit passive or active exposure to cigarette smoke while breastfeeding due to its negative effects on breast milk and additional risks to babies.
The team adds that further research is needed to assess the potential toxic mechanisms of toxic metals.
