A recent study identified the presence of uranium-238 in the breast milk of mothers in Bihar, which has understandably raised questions about the safety of infants.
But experts stress that breastfeeding should continue unabated: The benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the minimal health risk posed by the levels being detected, they say.
How Uranium May Affect Babies
The toxicity of uranium is considered, above all, chemical. For infants, the non-carcinogenic hazards are identified. Health risks associated with exposure to uranium involve the kidneys and developing brain.
Exposure may result in neurological developmental delays and reduced intelligence quotient amongst infants. The study also mentioned that though some infants had presented a potential risk, overall the levels of uranium were below permissible limits of safety, implying that the actual health effect would be very small.
Uranium in Everyday Items
Uranium is a naturally occurring element in the Earth’s crust. In fact, most people are exposed to very small, natural amounts daily. The most common source comes from natural decay of uranium-containing rocks and soil; this often contaminates groundwater and drinking water and is the major route of exposure for humans.
Another source is food, such as crops grown in uranium-rich soil. As for the air, yes, the air can also contain it, generally in trace amounts found in fine dust particles, but for most people, water and food are by far the greater sources of exposure.
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WHO Safety Limit vs. Stricter Global Standards
To manage this risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) sets a provisional guideline limit of 30 micrograms per liter for uranium in drinking water.
However, some countries have adopted much stricter standards; for example, Globally, high uranium levels are not unique to India and have been observed in numerous countries, including the United States, Canada, China, Korea, Mongolia, and Pakistan.
This shows that the issue is a worldwide environmental and public health concern tied to natural rock formations and groundwater use.
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