Analysis of heavy metal concentrations in breast milk by neutrosophic method in the locate of Lahore, Pakistan

Breast milk is the essential and primary source of nutrition in the early months of infants. Breastfeeding is the single transmission method through which infants are exposed to hazardous metals. The consumption of mothers' milk has emerged as a concerning source of heavy metal exposure, specifically among mothers residing in heavily polluted regions. Poor dietary habits intensify the accumulation of these heavy metals in breast milk. In this study, a statistically appropriate approach has been applied to the concentration of toxic heavy metals in breastfeeding mothers in the nearby localities of Lahore, Pakistan. For the purpose of analyzing imprecise data more accurately, the study proposes neutrosophic statistics on heavy metal concentrations in breast milk. This statistical method provides sufficient insight when examining data containing uncertainty. The approach is implemented on about 70 samples of breast milk collected at the end of the 3rd lactation month from two age groups and examined under a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (FAAS). The variation in the concentration of heavy metals was examined using the neutrosophic approach. This approach elaborates on elevated levels of Pb and Hg in lactating women from industrial zones in Lahore. The proposed method provides complete information about data variation, beneficial for understanding breast cancer causes and mitigating such risks.

Adeena Fatima, Usama Afzal, Muhammad Aslam, Zainab Rafi, Naveed Ahmad, Mirza Albash Baig