Presence of Radioactive Metal 'Uranium' In Mothers' Milk in Indian State
Uranium has been found in the milk of women in six districts of the Indian state of Bihar.
This came to light during a study conducted on the milk of 40 women aged 17 to 35, which has increased the concern of researchers and doctors.
It should be remembered that uranium is a radioactive metal that is recognized as the chemical symbol for the English letter ‘U’.
According to the World Health Organization standards, the maximum amount of uranium in water should be 30 micrograms per liter.
For this study, one woman was allocated to each group to collect milk samples directly from the women.
The women’s milk samples were tested at NIFER Vaishali. The samples were analyzed on a machine that is considered very effective in detecting liquid metals.
The highest level of uranium was found in women from Katihar district, which was found to be 5.25 micrograms, while the lowest uranium was found in women from Bhojpur.
The average level was found to be 2.35 micrograms in women from Nalanda, while the lowest was 4.035 micrograms in women from Khagaria.
The study also included samples from 35 children who were breastfed.
70% of these children also had uranium in their blood. The study suggested non-cancerous health risks of uranium in these children. It should be remembered that non-cancerous uranium hurts the kidneys, nervous system, and brain health.
Nisha Singh is the director of the Mahavir Cancer Institute.
Speaking to the BBC, she said that first of all, we do not need to panic about this whole issue. “Breast milk is best for the baby, so the mother should continue to breastfeed.”
“As far as uranium is concerned, there are maximum standards for uranium levels in water, but there is no limit set for breast milk. We believe that if uranium is present in breast milk, it is a matter of concern.
The Cancer Institute is now also conducting drinking water tests in these six districts to determine the amount of uranium in the water.
The Mahavir Cancer Institute now plans to conduct this research on a large scale.
“We want to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Mangal Pandey to expand the scope of the research because the samples for the current research were obtained on a small scale. Our experience of running the Cancer Institute is that the earlier a disease is detected, the better,” says the institute’s director, LB Singh.