Mother’s milk is considered the best and complete diet for any newborn child in the world. It contains all the essential nutrients in the right quantity for the development of the child’s body and mind. But a recent research conducted in some areas of Bihar has shocked everyone and created a lot of concern. Scientists from the famous Mahavir Cancer Institute of Patna and AIIMS of Delhi have jointly conducted a very important study. This study ran from October 2021 to July 2024.
In this, breast milk samples were taken from a total of 40 mothers from six districts of Bihar, Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar and Nalanda, who were breastfeeding their children. When these samples were thoroughly examined in the lab, a very scary thing came to light. A dangerous heavy metal named Uranium (U-238) was found in the milk of every mother. In some samples its quantity was very low (almost zero) while in some it was found up to 5.25 micrograms per liter.
The highest average quantity was found in Khagaria district, while the lowest in Nalanda. But maximum uranium was found in the milk of a mother from Katihar district. Scientists estimate that this uranium can pose a serious health threat to about 70 percent of breastfed infants in these six districts. Till now, no country or major health organization in the world has told what amount of uranium in mother’s milk should be considered ‘safe’. Therefore this situation is even more worrying. Dr. Ashok Sharma of Delhi AIIMS said that it is not yet clear from where this dangerous uranium is coming into the mother’s body and then into the milk. Geological Survey of India (GSI) is investigating to find out its source. Doctors say that if uranium enters our food and drinks, it can cause cancer, brain problems, kidney failure, hindrance in physical and mental development and many serious diseases in children.
In Bihar, toxic elements like arsenic, lead, mercury are already found in large quantities in groundwater and soil. Now finding uranium in mother’s milk proves that pollution has now directly reached newborn babies. According to experts, small children are most at risk because their bodies are still forming, they absorb toxic metals very quickly, their weight is very low, so even a small amount becomes very dangerous for them.
Risk of cancer may increase
This can damage the child’s kidneys, have a negative impact on the brain, delay growth in height and weight and the risk of cancer increases significantly as he grows up. Still, doctors have clearly said that mother’s milk should not be stopped completely, because even today it is the best and necessary nutrition for the child. No other milk or formula can be a complete substitute for it. But at the same time, they have demanded the government and concerned departments to immediately take strict measures, such as: frequent testing of drinking water in the entire region, strict monitoring of sources of pollution, providing safe water to the people and testing of soil and chemicals used in farming.
