title: [Determinants of lead concentration in the umbilical cord blood of 9189 newborns of a birth cohort in the government district of Braunschweig].
abstract: From September 1985 until August 1986 the possibility of lead concentration determination in umbilical cord blood was offered to all neonates in the district of Braunschweig by the Ministry of Social Affairs of Lower Saxony. A geometric mean concentration of 3.76 +/- 1.69 micrograms Pb/dl was found in 9189 neonates, being 64% of the total birth cohort. The median concentration was 3.59 micrograms/dl. 4.7% of the children showed concentrations of above 10 micrograms/dl. Lead concentrations of twins showed a strong linear correlation (r = + 0.94). They were higher than those of singleton births (p = 0.02). Lead concentrations in neonates were significantly associated with the age of the mother and with the birthweight of the newborn. Seasonal differentials were significant with higher values in summer (4.39 +/- 1.8 micrograms Pb/dl) compared to winter (3.25 +/- 1.5 micrograms/dl). Duration of daily participation in road traffic was independent of blood lead concentrations. Potential occupational lead exposure of a member of the household was also no significant risk factor for higher lead concentration in the newborn. Family homes constructed before 1955 and those with lead water pipes were associated with significant increases of lead concentrations in neonates. Neighborhood was also significantly associated, with higher values in those living by main roads. In the southern part of the district lead concentrations were about 10% higher than in the northern part. Concentrations in neonates coming from cities were the same as in those coming from rural areas. Newborns from old lead mining and processing areas in the Harz mountains, in particular those coming from Oker-Harlingerode, had low lead concentrations in umbilical cord blood.
authors.affiliation: Kreiskrankenhaus Wittmund.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Geuenich
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Robra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Windorfer
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005858:Germany; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008423:Maternal Age; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D014427:Twins; D014505:Urban Population; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D007854:Lead