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. 2017 Aug 17;12(8):e0183367. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183367

Table 4. Trace element concentrations reported in mature human milk.

Trace Element Country Analysis Methoda n Median M b SD Unit Reference
Calcium 
Brazil ICP-AES 31 250 31 mg/L [35]
Gambia Methyl thymol blue 120 208.93c 24 mg/L [29]
Japan ICP-AES 1170 250 71 mg/L [36]
Nigeria Thermo Labsystems Arsenazo III Kit 105 186 41 mg/L [37]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 305 45 mg/L [12]
US AAS 20 279.2 127.90 mg/L [38]
Copper
Brazil AAS 116 0.3 0.1 mg/L [39]
Honduras AAS 105 0.16 0.21 mg/L [40]
Japan ICP-AES 1169 0.35 0.21 mg/L [36]
Kuwait AAS 17 0.608c 0.027 mg/L [41]
Poland GF AAS 320 0.137 0.092 mg/L [42]
Sweden AAS 86 0.12 0.22 mg/L [40]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 0.471 0.075 mg/L [12]
Turkey ICP-OES 75 0.446c 0.197 mg/L [13]
US AAS 30 0.27 0.11 mg/L [38]
Vietnam ICP-AES 59 0.19 0.05 mg/L [43]
Iron
India AAS 16 0.168c 0.406 mg/L [44]
Brazil ICP-AES 31 0.9 0.5 mg/L [35]
Brazil AAS 116 0.3 0.2 mg/L [39]
Honduras AAS 105 0.21 0.25 mg/L [40]
Japan ICP-AES 1155 1.19 2.51 mg/L [36]
Japan AAS 24 0.32 0.16 mg/L [45]
Kuwait AAS 17 0.4c 0.040 mg/L [41]
Sweden AAS 86 0.29 0.21 mg/L [40]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 0.339 0.134 mg/L [12]
Turkey ICP-OES 75 1.072c 0.841 mg/L [13]
US AAS 41 0.36 0.19 mg/L [38]
Vietnam ICP-AES 59 0.43 0.15 mg/L [43]
Manganese
Brazil ICP-MS 58 0.33 ug/L [46]
Japan ICP-AES 1167 11 23 ug/L [36]
Japan AAS 24 9.5 6.3 ug/L [45]
Kuwait AAS 17 4.71c 0.16 ug/L [41]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 3 11.4 ug/L [12]
Turkey ICP-OES 74 124c 156 ug/L [13]
US AAS 116 4.9 3.9 ug/L [33]
Zinc
Brazil ICP-AES 31 1.5 0.6 mg/L [35]
Brazil AAS 116 2.7 1.3 mg/L [39]
Brazil ICP-MS 58 0.0462 mg/L [46]
Honduras AAS 105 0.7 0.18 mg/L [40]
India AAS 50 2.5 mg/L [47]
India AAS 47 1.37 mg/L [47]
India AAS 50 1.17 mg/L [47]
Japan ICP-AES 1165 1.45 1.35 mg/L [36]
Kuwait AAS 17 2.56c 0.136 mg/L [41]
Poland GF AAS 320 1.62 1.76 mg/L [42]
Sweden AAS 86 0.46 0.26 mg/L [40]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 3.471 0.979 mg/L [12]
Turkey ICP-OES 75 3.454 1.970 mg/L [13]
US AAS 30 1.45 1.37 mg/L [38]
Vietnam ICP-AES 59 0.56 mg/L [43]
Arsenic
Croatia ICP-MS 123 0.2 ug/L [48]
Greece ICP-MS 39 0.8 ug/L [48]
Italy ICP-MS 602 0.3 ug/L [48]
Japan ICP-MS 9 1.4 ug/L [49]
Slovenia ICP-MS 287 0.4 ug/L [48]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 0.33 0.041 ug/L [12]
Taiwan AAS 90 0.215c 0.81 ug/L [50]
Lead
Brazil ICP-MS 58 0.26 ug/L [45]
Iran AAS 37 7.11 3.96 ug/L [51]
Iraq AAS 32 31.65 22.19 ug/L [14]
Iraq AAS 36 19.59 13.66 ug/L [14]
Japan ICP-MS 9 0.29 ug/L [49]
Palestine GF AAS 89 4 ug/L [11]
Poland GF AAS 320 6.33 4.61 ug/L [42]
Sweden ICP-MS 60 1.5 0.9 ug/L [12]
Taiwan AAS 90 17.17c 2.18 ug/L [50]
Turkey ICP-OES 56 261c 171 ug/L [13]

a Abbreviations: AAS = Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, GF AAS = Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, ICP-AES = Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy, ICP-MS = Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, ICP-OES = Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

b Means have been standardized to a common unit for each element.

c Weighted population mean calculated with data reported for sub-groups.