LEAD CONCENTRATION IN BREAST MILE OF NURSING MOTHERS LIVING IN RIYADH

Lead poisoning has proven to be one of the most difficult environmenta l health problems. Part of this difficulty is based on the lack of dis tinctive manifestations at an early phase in the process. Breast milk feeding with high lead concentration is one of the first sources of le ad exposure in neonates. This study reported that lead in breast milk samples from 81% of nursing mothers varied from a low concentration of 0.318 mu g/dL to a high of 2.5 mu g/dL with an average of 0.768 +/- 0 .42 mu g/dL. The high lead concentration of 2.5 mu g/dL recorded in th is study is similar to the average lead concentration reported by othe rs. Lead concentration was found to be low in young mothers and higher in mothers age 36 years or more with an average of 0.515 +/- 0.14 and 1.344 +/- 0.65 mu g/dL respectively. There were no significant differ ences between lead concentration in samples obtained from right or lef t breasts and similarly, there were no significant differences in lead concentrations in milk samples in relation to the length of period of lactation (P greater than or equal to 0.1). Breast milk samples obtai ned from mothers residing near industrial areas or highways, using cop per casserole coated with white (rich in lead) inner coat and eating f ood material preserved for long periods in metal containers showed hig her lead concentration than from those living in remote areas with red uced exposure. The diagnosis of lead poisoning required a constant awa reness of its prevalence.