Assessment of human breast milk contamination with lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic and associated health risks in northeastern Algeria.

Lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) pose global food safety concerns, with infants being particularly vulnerable due to exposure from maternal body burden. This study assessed health risks associated with exposure to Cd, Pb, Hg and As through breast milk consumption among women residing in Guelma, northeastern Algeria. Eighty-four breast milk samples were collected and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry, following microwave-assisted acid digestion. The mean concentrations of toxic metals in breast milk were as follows: Pb (15.77 ± 9.54 μg/L) > Hg (3.26 ± 2.50 μg/L) > Cd (2.75 ± 2.39 μg/L) > As (0.35 ± 0.73 μg/L). The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) for Hg exceeded the safety threshold of 1 across all age groups, with 83 %, 82 %, and 49 % of samples surpassing this limit for 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month-old infants, respectively. Similarly, the Hazard Index (HI) exceeded 1 in all age groups, indicating significant non-carcinogenic risks. Furthermore, the Total Carcinogenic Risk (TCR) for all metals surpassed the acceptable limit (TCR = 1 × 10-4), with Cd posing a particularly high risk, as 82 % of samples exceeded the carcinogenic threshold. These findings highlight both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from infant exposure to toxic metals via breast milk, underscoring the urgent need for nationwide monitoring programs, stricter industrial emission controls, and further research into maternal dietary exposure.