Toxic Metal Contamination of Banked Blood Designated for Neonatal Transfusion

Abstract

Objective: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants frequently receive blood transfusions. We hypothesize that toxic metals in donor blood may pose a health risk with potential adverse neurologic effects on the developing brain of a vulnerable VLBW infant. Study design:Samples from 100 donor blood units were collected from a large urban hospital. Blood was analyzed for aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead and polonium. The estimated upper limit of acceptable metal concentration in donor blood was calculated assuming a transfusion volume of 20 ml/kg and using either previously published acceptable intravenous doses or oral reference doses with a conservative estimate of 10% gastrointestinal absorption. Ingested mercury was assumed to be 95% absorbed.Results: Eight of the nine metals were detectable. Concentrations of arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, mercury and polonium were not of concern for any single blood transfusion. Concentrations of aluminum, manganese, nickel and lead exceeded the estimated upper limit of acceptable concentration in 5, 11, 4 and 26 units respectively. Of the 100 units, 31 had at least one toxic metal concentration high enough to pose a potential health risk.Conclusions: VLBW infants are exposed to heavy metals that are toxic from blood transfusion. The number of units with concerning levels of toxic metals was higher than expected. Neonatologists should be aware of this potential exposure to toxic metals from donor blood when decision is made to administer blood transfusion. Neurodevelopmental studies of toxic metal exposed infants from blood transfusion are warranted.

The interactive effect of pH variation and cadmium stress on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth, physiological and biochemical parameters

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Estimation of lead in blood donors of Dakshina Kannada population in relation to smoking

“…replacement. Heavy metal concentrations in donor's blood, which was designated for neonatal transfusion, was examined and it was found that some of the heavy metals including lead exceeded the estimated upper limit [7]. In a study of the lead exposure from blood transfusions in premature infants, it was found that blood products, such as packed red blood cells could actually double the lead concentration of the blood unit [8].…”

Lead, Mercury, and Cadmium Concentrations in Blood Products Transfused to Neonates: Elimination Not Just Mitigation

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