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

Abbas Ali Mahdi; Jamal Akhtar Ansari; Priyanka Chaurasiaa; Mohammad Kaleem Ahmad; Shipra Kunwar; Sally I McClean; Pratheepan Yogarajah

doi:10.1007/s12291-022-01040-0

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

Abbas Ali Mahdi
, Jamal Akhtar Ansari
, Priyanka Chaurasiaa
, Mohammad Kaleem Ahmad
, Shipra Kunwar
, Sally I McClean
, Pratheepan Yogarajah

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

132 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Lead is a highly toxic element which can cross 10 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 20 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 level5 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 toxicity.

Original language	English
Article number	1040
Pages (from-to)	94-101
Number of pages	8
Journal	Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry
Volume	38
Issue number	1
Early online date	22 Jun 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-022-01040-0
Publication status	Published online - 22 Jun 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.

Funding Information:
The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study.

Funding Information:
The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.

Funding

Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India. Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Keywords

Maternal blood lead level,
Umbilical cord blood lead level,
Sociodemographic,
Lead poisoning
Maternal blood lead level
Socio demographic details
Umbilical cord blood lead level

Access to Document

10.1007/s12291-022-01040-0

A Study of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant WomenAuthor Accepted Manuscript, 463 KB

Cite this

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title = "A Study of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Blood Lead Levels in Pregnant Women",

abstract = "Lead is a highly toxic element which can cross 10 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 20 blood (n = 77) samples had lead concentration higher than that of reference range of <=5 µg/dL. We also found that the Spearman{\textquoteright}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 level5 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 toxicity. ",

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note = "Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India. Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.",

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AU - Ansari, Jamal Akhtar

AU - Chaurasiaa, Priyanka

AU - Ahmad, Mohammad Kaleem

AU - Kunwar, Shipra

AU - McClean, Sally I

AU - Yogarajah, Pratheepan

N1 - Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India. Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Funding Information: The research outlined here was supported by Department of Economy, Northern Ireland, UK under the Global Challenge Research Fund grants through Ulster University, UK and InSLAR (Indian Society for Lead Awareness and Research) for their financial support of the present study. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Association of Clinical Biochemists of India.

PY - 2022/6/22

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N2 - Lead is a highly toxic element which can cross 10 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 20 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 level5 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 toxicity.

AB - Lead is a highly toxic element which can cross 10 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 20 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 level5 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 toxicity.

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KW - Socio demographic details

KW - Umbilical cord blood lead level

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JO - Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry

JF - Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry

IS - 1

M1 - 1040

ER -

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

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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