Umbilical cord-blood lead levels and pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Lead is a toxic metal for which it is hard to avoid exposure, due to its widespread distribution in the environment. Numerous activities involving lead and its products are carried out in Egypt. The present study was designed to investigate the status of prenatal lead exposure and birth outcomes. It included 100 pregnant females in their third trimester of pregnancy that underwent blood sampling for lead concentration in the cord blood at delivery; and these levels were estimated to be lower or higher than 10 μg dL-1. Adverse maternal outcome and Neonatal anthropometric measurements were correlated with cord plasma lead levels. There was significant decrease of hemoglobin, gestational age at delivery, gestational weight, height and head circumference in cases with higher lead in comparison to cases with lower lead. In addition, there was increase of previous abortions, Cesarean Section (CS), Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and preterm delivery, in cases with higher lead in comparison to lower lead. There positive correlation between gravidity and abortion with lead concentration. On the other hand, there was inverse correlation between baby weight and lead concentration. There is an association between cord blood lead concentration and adverse pregnancy outcome. It was associated with increased rate of CS, PPROM and preterm labor and decreased anthropometric measurement of the neonate. © 2013 Academic Journals Inc.