Lead Levels in Maternal and Newborns Blood and Hair and Their Impact on Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine,Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

2 Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

3 Obstetric and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

Lead is a toxicant heavy metal which cross the placenta and accumulate in the fetal
tissues. Prenatal exposure to lead poses a health threat and causes adverse effects on
intrauterine growth and neurodevelopment. The present study aimed to: 1) Determine
maternal as well as fetal blood and hair lead levels. 2) Evaluate the correlation
between maternal and fetal levels of lead. 3) Study the possible effects of maternal
blood lead levels on the anthropometric measurements of their neonates. The study
was carried out on 38 pregnant women and their fetuses. All blood and hair samples
of the mothers and their fetuses were analyzed for estimation of lead concentration
using atomic absorption Spectrophotometer. The results showed significant increase
in maternal and fetal blood as well as hair lead. There was statistically significant
correlation between maternal and fetal blood lead and maternal and fetal hair lead.
The high levels of maternal blood lead affect the anthropometric measurement of the
fetus. The affection of dimension of infant growth at level ≥ 10 μg/dl was more than
low levels. Also, there was significant negative correlation between maternal blood
lead levels and birth weight, fetal length, head circumference, chest circumference
and mid-arm circumference. In conclusion, there was highly statistically significant
relation between maternal and fetal blood lead levels, hair help in the determination
of level of lead exposure as there was significant relation between fetal blood and
hair lead levels. Also, lead levels in maternal blood affect neonatal anthropometric
measurements. Simple preventive measures may play a role in decreasing maternal
blood lead and thereby decreasing trans-placental transfer of lead to the fetus and
protect the fetus from adverse effect of lead.

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