Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Mercury? Is Mercury safe for nursing mother and child? Does Mercury extracts into breast milk? Does Mercury has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Mercury influence milk supply or can Mercury decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Mercury lactation summary

Mercury usage has low risk in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Mercury is 3 out of 8 which is considered Low Risk as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 3 indicates that usage of Mercury may cause some minor side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Mercury may cause moderate to no side effects in lactating mother.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Mercury low risk in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher dosage.
  • While using Mercury We suggest monitoring child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to dosage.
  • Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.

Answer by Dr. Ru: About Mercury usage in lactation

Environmental pollutant that is used for manufacturation of batteries, fungicidal products, dental amalgam, and contaminated fish. Most of mercury present in breast milk does it as an inorganic substance which is almost non-absorbable. Breastfeeding should be discontinued whenever a mother is contaminated or intoxicated. It may be a source of neurological troubles. Benefits of breastfeeding are largely more important than risk related to the presence of mild level environment pollutants in human milk, in many instances, they are at lower content than those found in cow’s milk or other foods. (Codex alimentarius FAO-WHO).

Alternate Drugs for Contaminant, Environmental Pollutant

Hydroquinone(Low Risk)
Aflatoxin(Low Risk)
Aniline(Unsafe)
Bromum(Low Risk)
Cadmium(Low Risk)
Cobalt(Safe)
DDT(Low Risk)
Dieldrin(Low Risk)
Formaldehyde(Unsafe)
White-Spirit(Unsafe)
Nitrate(Low Risk)
Lead(Unsafe)
Aminobenzene(Unsafe)
Phenylamine(Unsafe)
Hydroquinol(Low Risk)
Methanal(Unsafe)
1,4-Benzenediol(Low Risk)
Quinol(Low Risk)
Formalin(Unsafe)
Formol(Unsafe)
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.