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Cited by 25Heavy Metal Exposure and ToxicityHeavy metals in environmentEffects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals

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A Study of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant Women

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Mahdi, Abbas Ali, Ansari, Jamal Akhtar, Chaurasia, Priyanka, Ahmad, Mohammad Kaleem, Kunwar, Shipra, McClean, Sally, Yogarajah, Pratheepan·2023·Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry
DOI 10.1007/s12291-022-01040-0PMC PMC9852413
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Abstract

Lead is a highly toxic element which can cross the placental barrier and enter the fetus during pregnancy. Parental lead exposure has adverse effect on infant as well as on maternal health. As part of our program to investigate the lead poisoning in human population we investigated the maternal blood lead levels (MBLL) and umbilical cord blood lead (UBLL) levels in 200 pregnant women and collected their socio-demographic details. In the study we found high lead levels in both maternal and umbilical cord blood samples. The results showed 47.5% maternal blood (n = 95) detected with lead while 38.5% umbilical cord blood (n = 77) samples had lead concentration higher than that of reference range of ≤ 5 µg/dL. We also found that the Spearman's correlation coefficient (rs) revealed a strong positive correlation between the MBLL and UBLL (rs = 0.63). The results from socio-demographic questionnaire demonstrated that the recent home painting (p = 0.002) and residing close proximity to traffic congestion (p = 0.05) were significantly associated with MBLL. Education, mother age, fuel and water sources were not significantly associated with MBLL. Iron and calcium deficiency along with tiredness, lethargy, abdominal pain were also reported in women having high lead level > 5 µg/dL. Concludingly, on the basis of results obtained it may be stated that we found elevated BLLs in both pregnant women as well as in umbilical cord blood. The prevalence of elevated lead levels in mothers will expose the fetus to lead through placental barriers mobilization and it can have long term adverse effects on the developing fetus. Therefore, it is recommended that screening of blood lead levels be carried out in high-risk women based on their social, occupational, environmental, and individual factors. In addition, stringent regulations on lead-based products are also required from government agencies/authorities to reduce environmental lead burden and toxicity. Moreover, public awareness programs should be organized on hazardous effect of lead.

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Metadata

Authors
Mahdi, A. A., Ansari, J. A., Chaurasia, P., Ahmad, M. K., Kunwar, S., McClean, S., & Yogarajah, P.
Affiliations
  • King George's Medical University (IN)
  • Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry Campus (GB)
  • Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital (IN)
  • University of Ulster (GB)
Corresponding author
Mahdi, Abbas Ali
ORCID
Venue
Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2022-06-22
Volume
38
Issue
1
Pages
94-101
ISSN
  • 0970-1915 (ISSN-L)
  • 0974-0422
DOI
10.1007/s12291-022-01040-0
PMC
PMC9852413
OpenAlex
W4283400110
Cited by
25
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1
FWCI
1.67
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Ulster University Research Portal (Ulster University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
ulster university (ulster university)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Keywords
blood lead levels, umbilical cord blood lead, maternal lead exposure, pregnancy, lead poisoning, traffic exposure, prenatal screening, environmental lead exposure

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