The Relationship Between Prenatal Exposure to Lead and Congenital Anomalies

Needleman, Herbert L.

doi:10.1001/jama.1984.03340460034021

Cited by 117 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…It is suggested that lead might induce abortions, prematurity, and moreover some minor anomalies, for examples, hemangiomas, minor skin anomalies, hydrocele and undescended testicles (13). Therefore, maternal lead burden is a serious health problem for fetuses and neonates.…”

Section: The Effects Of Maternal Lead Burden On Fetuses and Neonatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead and Growth

Kaji¹,

Nishi

2006

Clin Pediatr Endocrinol

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Lead is highly toxic to the human body and children are much more vulnerable to lead toxicity than adults. Many studies have revealed that relatively low levels of blood lead can adversely affect human health, especially childhood growth and development. Blood lead levels (BLL) of children and adults have been decreasing recently almost all over the world, but a safety level for blood lead does not exist, and lead exposure is still a serious health problem especially for fetuses and children. Maternal lead burden causes fetal lead exposure and increases the risk of abortions, prematurity, low birth weight, and some minor anomalies. Infant BLL are inversely associated with weight gain. A negative relationship between somatic growth and BLL in children has been revealed. It has been suggested that lead exposure causes decrease of gonadotropin secretion of adolescents and delay of pubertal development. Several studies have revealed that children who are exposed to cigarette smoke have higher BLL than children who are not. Children should be protected from cigarette smoke for the purpose of avoiding the risk of increased BLL which might adversely affect their intellectual development and physical growth.

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Section: The Effects Of Maternal Lead Burden On Fetuses and Neonatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead and Growth

Kaji¹,

Nishi

2006

Clin Pediatr Endocrinol

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“…Lead and methylmercury easily cross the placenta and the fetal blood-brain barrier, and can irreversibly affect cognitive development [1-5]. Lead exposure can also cause spontaneous abortions [6], congenital malformations [7], reduced birth weight [8] and length [9], gestational hypertension [10] or impaired neurodevelopment [11]. Occupational exposure to mercury has been associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension [5], low birth weight [12] and birth defects [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead, mercury and cadmium in umbilical cord blood and its association with parental epidemiological variables and birth factors

et al. 2013

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BackgroundIn Spain, few studies have evaluated prenatal exposure to heavy metals. The objective of this study was to describe lead, mercury and cadmium concentrations in blood from a sample of newborn–mother-father trios, as well as to investigate the association between metals in cord blood and parental variables. We also explored the relationship between cord blood metal concentrations and child characteristics at birth.MethodsMetal correlations among family members were assessed using Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient. Linear regression was used to explore the association between parental variables and log-transformed cord blood lead and cord blood mercury concentrations. In the case of cadmium, tobit regression was used due to the existence of samples below the detection limit. The association between cord blood metal concentrations and child characteristics at birth was evaluated using linear regression.ResultsGeometric means for lead, mercury and cadmium were 14.09 μg/L, 6.72 μg/L and 0.27 μg/L in newborns; 19.80 μg/L, 3.90 μg/L and 0.53 μg/L in pregnant women; and 33.00 μg/L, 5.38 μg/L and 0.49 μg/L in men. Positive correlations were found between metal concentrations among members of the trio. Lead and cadmium concentrations were 15% and 22% higher in newborns from mothers who smoked during pregnancy, while mercury concentrations were 25% higher in newborns from mothers with greater fish intake. Cord-blood lead levels showed seasonal periodicity, with lower concentrations observed in winter. Cord blood cadmium concentrations over 0.29 μg/L were associated with lower 1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores.ConclusionsThese results reinforce the need to establish biomonitoring programs in Spain, and provide support for tobacco smoke and fish consumption as important preventable sources of heavy metal exposure in newborns. Additionally, our findings support the hypothesis that cadmium exposure might be deleterious to fetal development.

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“…In a 1984 study analyzing umbilical cord blood obtained from more than 5,000 births, Needleman and colleagues reviewed cord blood lead levels and found an associated dose-dependent increase in the incidence of minor birth defects when maternal lead levels were elevated. 50 However, no one type of defect or syndrome was identified, and the authors concluded that lead may interact with other environmental teratogens to increase the likelihood of fetal anomalies.…”

Section: Signs and Symptoms Of Toxicity Associated With Ongoing Lead mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lead Hazards for Pregnant Women and Children: Part 1

Cleveland¹,

Minter²,

Cobb

et al. 2008

AJN, American Journal of Nursing

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Poor, urban, and immigrant populations are at far greater risk for lead exposure than are other groups in the United States. Children with even slightly elevated blood lead levels are at increased risk for significant neurobehavioral problems that can extend through adolescence. Research has shown that elevated blood lead levels in pregnant women, even those well below 10 micrograms per deciliter-the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "level of concern"-can cause miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and subsequent developmental delays in their children. Despite these well-established dangers, routine prenatal lead screening and lead education is not a standard of care. Part 1 of this two-part article presents a short case example of a pregnant mother with lead poisoning and describes the epidemiology of lead exposure in the United States, the main sources of lead exposure, and the effects of lead on the pregnant mother and the developing fetus and child. Prevention is crucial. Treatment options such as chelation must be used selectively and will not reverse damage once it's occurred. Part 2 will describe recommendations for screening, education, nutrition, reducing environmental exposures, and treatment.

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The Relationship Between Prenatal Exposure to Lead and Congenital Anomalies

Cited by 117 publications

References 20 publications

Lead and Growth

Lead and Growth

Lead, mercury and cadmium in umbilical cord blood and its association with parental epidemiological variables and birth factors

Lead Hazards for Pregnant Women and Children: Part 1

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