Concentration of Aflatoxin M₁ and selected heavy metals in mother milk samples from Pakistan

Mother milk is the primary food source for neonates that if contaminated with certain toxic compounds may result in lifelong complications in the breastfeed infants. Present study was designed to evaluate the concentration of Aflatoxin M₁ (AFM₁) and the four most toxic heavy metals i.e. lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) in mother milk samples. AFM₁ was found in the range of <0.001–0.044 μg/L and 6.4% mother milk samples were found above the EU permissible limit (0.025 μg/L). Pb and Cd concentrations were found above the normal ranges proposed by WHO while Hg was found slightly above the WHO proposed level.