A recent study has detected uranium in breast milk samples from mothers in six districts of Bihar, raising concerns among parents and health workers. However, experts say there’s no need to panic and mothers should continue breastfeeding their babies.
What the Study Found
Researchers from Mahavir Cancer Sansthan in Patna, AIIMS Delhi, and other institutions tested breast milk samples from 40 mothers aged 17 to 35 years in six Bihar districts: Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar, and Nalanda, according to BBC Hindi.
The study, conducted between October 2021 and July 2024, found uranium levels ranging from 0 to 5.25 micrograms per liter in the samples. The Indian Express reports that the highest level was found in Katihar at 5.25 micrograms per liter, while the lowest concentration of 2.35 micrograms per liter was in Nalanda.
The Indian Express notes that about 70% of infants who drank this milk also showed traces of uranium, with the study suggesting possible non-carcinogenic health risks.
Should Parents Be Worried?
The short answer is no. Health experts and scientists have raised serious questions about the study and its conclusions.
Dr. Manisha Singh, Director of Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, emphasized to BBC Hindi that there’s no need to panic and mother’s milk is best for babies, so mothers should continue breastfeeding.
Dr. Arun Gupta from the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India told The Indian Express that such reports could create unnecessary fears and discourage breastfeeding, which is the best nutrition for babies and protects them from infections.
Why Experts Are Questioning the Study
Several problems have been identified with the research:
Uranium occurs naturally everywhere: Uranium is a natural element found in small amounts in soil, water, food, and air around the world. Dr. Dinesh K. Aswal, former group director at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, explained to The Indian Express that uranium is present in trace amounts in everything, and there is some level of uranium in groundwater across the globe. The good news is that uranium is a heavy element that doesn’t bind with body tissues and gets flushed out quickly.
The levels detected are not dangerous: The Indian Express reports that while the WHO sets a limit of 30 micrograms per liter for uranium in drinking water, the levels found in breast milk were much lower. Dr. Aswal noted to The Indian Express that Finland has naturally occurring high levels of uranium and allows up to 100 micrograms per liter, and people there have been drinking the same water for generations without significant health impacts.
No standard exists for breast milk: Dr. Manisha Singh pointed out to BBC Hindi that while there is a permissible limit for uranium in water, no such limit has been set for breast milk.
No connection with groundwater levels: The Indian Express reports that the study also tested 273 groundwater samples. Interestingly, Nalanda had the second-highest uranium level in groundwater at 77 micrograms per liter, but the lowest concentration in breast milk.
Equipment calibration issues: Dr. Aswal pointed out to The Indian Express that the researchers detected uranium at around 5 micrograms per liter, but their equipment was calibrated between 100 and 2,000 micrograms per liter. He compared this to going to a sweet shop and asking them to measure the weight of jewelry.
Sample size too small: With only 40 samples from six districts, the study doesn’t have enough data to draw strong conclusions. The Indian Express quotes Dr. Aswal saying that for groundwater mapping, he had collected 55,000 samples and was still not satisfied.
No health monitoring: The researchers didn’t monitor the children’s health during the study. Dr. Ashok Sharma, coauthor from AIIMS Delhi, admitted to The Indian Express that contamination was discovered only after data analysis, so no child-health monitoring was done.
No evidence of buildup: The Indian Express notes that the study itself found uranium levels didn’t increase with the mother’s age, meaning there was no bioaccumulation of uranium in breast milk.
Unlikely to exist in breast milk: Dr. Aswal stated to The Indian Express that the possibility of finding uranium in breast milk is remote because it doesn’t bind well with lactic acid or other milk components. He also questioned why only breast milk was tested and not urine samples to see how much uranium gets flushed out.
What About Bihar’s Water?
Bihar has faced water contamination issues for years. BBC Hindi reports that different studies have found arsenic, fluoride, manganese, chromium, mercury, and uranium in groundwater, with arsenic being the most widespread problem.
According to the Groundwater Quality Report 2024 cited in Parliament, Bihar has 20 districts affected by arsenic, 15 by nitrate, 6 by fluoride, and only 1 district showing uranium levels above safe limits.
Ashok Kumar Ghosh, Medical Research Head at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, told BBC Hindi that uranium in breast milk likely came from drinking water or food grown in contaminated soil.
The Bottom Line
While any contamination is worth investigating, the current evidence suggests that uranium levels in breast milk in Bihar are not high enough to cause harm. The Indian Express reports that the study itself concluded the reported concentrations are below permissible limits and there could be least significant health threat from uranium exposure.
Mothers should continue breastfeeding their babies as normal. Breast milk remains the best and safest nutrition for infants.
That said, addressing water quality issues in Bihar remains important for overall public health. BBC Hindi reports that Mahavir Cancer Sansthan plans to meet with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey to expand the scope of this investigation, as the current sample size is very small.
If you have specific concerns about your health or your child’s health, consult your doctor rather than relying solely on news reports about studies.
Sources: The Indian Express and BBC Hindi
