This study was to investigate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), lead (Pb),
and cadmium (Cd) levels in women’s breast milk. One hundred and twenty milk samples were
collected from lactating women who were living around petrochemical factories and a
sugar cane factory. The residues of PAHs in women’s breast milk samples were determined
using gas chromatography and PAH standards after extraction and saponification. Lead
and cadmium levels were determined in the milk samples after digestion using an atomic
absorption spectrophotometer. Results revealed that different levels of acenaphthylene,
fluorine, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene,
benzo(b)fluoranthene, indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene were detected in the
women’s breast milk. The total PAHs were significantly (P