In a reassuring clarification aimed at preventing public anxiety, a senior nuclear scientist and member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has said that the trace amounts of uranium detected in breastmilk samples from Bihar are well within safe limits and pose no public health concern. The statement comes days after a scientific study reported the presence of uranium in all analysed breastmilk samples collected from lactating mothers across several districts in Bihar.
Dr Dinesh K Aswal, noted nuclear scientist, former group director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, and current NDMA member, told NDTV that the findings had been misinterpreted, leading to unnecessary alarm. “The levels detected are well within safe limits. In fact, the World Health Organization’s permissible threshold in drinking water is nearly six times higher than what has been observed,” he said.
The WHO’s safe limit for uranium in drinking water is 30 parts per billion (ppb). The samples analysed in the Bihar study recorded a maximum of 5 ppb, far below the international safety standard.
Study Findings
The study—conducted by scientists from Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre, Patna; Lovely Professional University; and AIIMS, New Delhi—reported uranium (U-238) in all 40 collected breastmilk samples. Published in the journal Scientific Reports, it said that up to 5 ppb of uranium was detected.
A co-author of the study, Dr Ashok Sharma of AIIMS Delhi, said that although the analysis indicated a potential non-carcinogenic health risk for infants based on hazard models, the actual uranium levels remained significantly below permissible limits. He emphasised that the real-world health impact was expected to be minimal, urging mothers to continue breastfeeding without hesitation.
“Seventy per cent of infants showed potential non-carcinogenic health risk based on theoretical models, but the actual uranium content was low, and long-term impact is likely minimal,” Dr Sharma told ANI.
The study reiterated a broader environmental concern: groundwater uranium contamination in parts of India. It noted that 151 districts across 18 states have reported some level of uranium presence in groundwater, largely due to natural geological sources.
Experts Urge Against Panic
Dr Aswal stressed that the study’s findings should not prompt fear-driven decisions. “There is absolutely no reason for alarm. Mothers can and should continue to breastfeed their children without hesitation,” he said.
He added that uranium is naturally present in soil worldwide, and most uranium ingested by adults is excreted through urine. Only a very small fraction reaches breastmilk, making the detected levels scientifically insignificant.
Health experts worldwide agree that breastfeeding remains the safest and most beneficial option for infants. Stopping or reducing breastfeeding due to misinterpreted scientific findings, they warn, could have far more serious consequences for child health.
Why This Matters
Public anxiety tends to rise quickly when scientific findings—especially involving contaminants—are presented without context. Health experts worry that miscommunication could lead to reduced breastfeeding rates, which carry significant long-term health costs for both infants and mothers.
Breastfed infants have proven lower risk of infections, obesity, malnutrition, and chronic illnesses later in life. For mothers, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and several metabolic disorders.
“Breastfeeding is not just a feeding choice; it is a public health imperative,” Dr Aswal said. “Science must guide public decisions, not fear.”
Global Context
International research shows that trace elements—including uranium—are commonly detected in human milk at levels reflecting local environmental conditions. The Bihar findings fall well within the global background range and do not indicate acute contamination.
Given the low concentrations, experts say the situation does not warrant alarm but does emphasise the need for continued environmental monitoring in regions reporting groundwater contamination.
Conclusion
While the Bihar study highlights the importance of tracking environmental uranium exposure, scientists affirm that the detected levels pose no immediate health risk to mothers or infants. The overwhelming scientific consensus remains clear: breastfeeding is safe and must continue.