Abstract:
    This is a cross-sectional study done in Hilla city, Iraq where major disaster of mercury poisoning had occured in the past. One local study revealed that the fish contained a significant quanitity of mercury and lead. The proposed main causes of increases in lead levels in the milk of lactating mothers were leaded gasoline, drinking water contaminated with lead and mercury coming from military factories liquid and waste from the surface water. The use of lead painting in the home water tank and cooking utensils were also found to be a contributing source leading to lead poisoning.
 
38 Lactating mothers who attended out patient clinic of children hospital in Hilla city were randomly selected. A sample of 5 milliliters of milk was taken from each mother to detect the presence of lead and mercury levels using atomic absorption technique, the results showed that all samples contained lead which varied in the concentration between 0.1-3.3 microgram/liter while the level of mercure varied from 1.1-5 micrograms/liter.
 
The results showed that there were significant differences between the levels of lead in the milk of lactating mothers living in the rural and urban areas (P<0.001). In conclusion the presence of these two heavy metals in the milk of lactating mothers indicated environmental pollution although these levels are not very high.