Patna: A study published in Nature has found dangerous levels of uranium (U-238) in the breast milk of 40 lactating women across six districts in Bihar, prompting renewed concerns over the state’s longstanding problem of toxic metals in groundwater. Researchers warn that infants exposed to uranium through breast milk may face serious health risks, including kidney damage, neurological problems, and a heightened cancer risk later in life.
The research was carried out by scientists from several institutions, including Dr Arun Kumar and Prof Ashok Ghosh from the Mahavir Cancer Institute in Patna, and Dr Ashok Sharma from the Department of Biochemistry at AIIMS, New Delhi. According to Dr Sharma, uranium was detected in all 40 samples analysed.
The study says the source of the contamination remains unclear, though experts point to Bihar’s reliance on groundwater for drinking and irrigation, alongside the discharge of untreated industrial waste and prolonged use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. These factors have previously contributed to elevated levels of arsenic, lead and mercury in the region.
Findings follow earlier warnings about lead contamination
The report follows an earlier study that detected lead in breast milk in six districts along the Ganges – Samastipur, Darbhanga, Begusarai, Khagaria, Munger and Nalanda. The Mahavir Cancer Institute’s research division warned at the time that lead exposure posed a significant threat to infants’ neurological development.
Prof Ashok Ghosh, who led the previous study, said researchers first identified high concentrations of arsenic in the region’s water supply before examining breast milk samples. “In addition to arsenic, lead was also found in breast milk, which is potentially harmful to infants,” he said.
The latest findings have intensified calls for urgent action to investigate the source of contamination and strengthen monitoring of drinking water and environmental pollutants in Bihar.
