Testing Infant Milk Formulae for Lead and Cadmium

The concentration of heavy metals, lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd), were estimated in formula (powdered milk). Eight samples of infant milk formulae which represent most kinds of milk formulae used for feeding infants from birth up to 2 years were taken from pharmacies. All samples were analyzed using atomic absorption. The mean level of Pb and Cd was 0.1692±0.0324 ug/ml and 0.000725±0.000448 ug/ml, respectively in infant formulae. The Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) for Pb In infant formulae varied between 8.77-24.08 g/kg BW/week for newborn, 7.08-18.146 g/kg BW/week for six months old and 6.54-22.32 g/kg BW /week for one year old. This intake was also lower than PTWI for all different ages, but the highest intake on body weight basis' which is likely to be near to PTWI, was found in infant formulae 2-a and 8-c. Human milk is the best natural source of nutrition for feeding infants; it contains the optimal balance of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins for developing babies. (1) Breast milk contains powerful immune factors that help infants fight infections. (2) Unfortunately, contamination of human milk is widespread. DDT, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and heavy metals are among the toxic chemicals most found in breast milk. (3) The level of risk to breastfeeding infants and children of mother's food consumption patterns, the nature and levels of chemical residues in her milk, and the toxicological potency of those chemicals. For example, calcium deficiency can increase the mobilization of lead from mother's bone to enter breast milk. (4) Fortunately, sufficient calcium intake during pregnancy and lactation significantly reduces the extraction of lead from the mother's bones. Thus women can reduce their fetus' exposure to lead by getting adequate calcium during pregnancy and lactation significantly reduces the extraction of lead from the mother's bones. Thus women can reduce their fetus' exposure to by getting adequate calcium during pregnancy and lactation, or by taking calcium supplement. (5) Infant formulas have a difficult gap to fill. They must mimic breast milk as closely as possible. But it is difficult to produce a formula equal in all respects to breast milk. (6,7) Studies show that formula feeding is consistenly associated with the development of immune system disordes, diabetes, food allergies, obesity, and coronary heart disease in later life. On the other hand, breastfeeding reduces the risk for a wide range of diseases such, pneumonia, diarrhea, ear infections, bacteremia, obesity, and diabetes. (8- 10) Infant formula has been found to be contaminated with toxic metals, bacteria, and other environmental toxicants. It may contain excessive levels including aluminum, manganese cadmium and lead. An infant's exposure to cadmium from soy infant formula is about 20 times higher than the levels generally found in breast milk. (9, 11) Several studies found higher blood lead levels in formula-fed infants than in breast- fed ones. This may be a result of contaminated formula cans or formula prepared using tap water with high lead levels. (12, 13) This study aimed to estimate the level of lead and cadmium in infant milk formulae. (14)