[The blood lead level and pregnant outcome in pregnant women with non-occupational lead exposure].

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to find out the relations between maternal blood lead and pregnancy complications, neonatal physical and neurobehavioral development respectively.

METHODS

1,151 samples of maternal venous blood and 434 samples of umbilical cord blood were collected. Graphite stove atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to detect the lead concentration. Neonatal physical indexes were measured within 24 hours of age, including weight, length, head circumference, chest circumference and abdomen circumference. The neurobehavioral developments were scored at 42 days of age. Meanwhile, the pregnancy complications were obtained from the medical records.

RESULTS

(1) the mean lead concentration of maternal blood is 43.4 microg/L while 44.5 microg/L of first trimester, 37.4 microg/L of second trimester and 45.1 microg/L of third trimester. The mean lead concentration of cord blood is 26.4 microg/L. (2) In this study, the blood lead level is not correlated with pregnancy complications and neonatal physical and neurobehavioral development, but it is positively correlated with maternal haemoglobin concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the situation of maternal blood lead level is acceptable. At such level, the lead concentration of pregnant women blood can't influence the incidence of pregnancy complications, neonatal physical and neurobehavioral development.