Human milk is usually the only source of food for infants during the first 4 to 5 months of their life. Maternal environmental
mercury exposure is directly related to fish consumption or amalgam filling. In this research, 38 human milk samples were
collected from mothers of Lenjan area who were not occupationally exposed with mercury. Mercury concentration in human milk
was determined by AMA254 Mercury Analyzer. A level of mercury was examined in relation to somatometric, demographic and dental
amalgam parameters. Obtained results showed that only dental amalgam significantly increased the mercury level in human milk
(p < 0.001). The mean mercury concentrations in milk of mothers without teeth fillings (n = 13), with one to three teeth fillings (n = 10), and four to eight teeth fillings (n = 15) were 2.87, 5.47, and 13.33 μg/l, respectively. The result of this study also showed a positive correlation of mercury
milk levels with the number of teeth fillings of the mother (p < 0.05, r = 0.755). The estimated weekly intake of mercury of a breastfed infant in this study was, in some cases, higher than provisional
tolerance weekly intake recommended by FAO/WHO, which pose a threat to their health.
Keywords Mercury – Breast milk – Dental amalgam – Lenjan Isfahan