title: Lead levels among pregnant women in Hennepin County.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the blood lead levels (Pb-B) of urban pregnant women with low incomes and/or living in areas with heavily traveled roads, dilapidated housing, and industrial plants. We measured blood lead in 1,055 pregnant Minneapolis-area women at entry to prenatal care and in one-third of the sample during the second half of pregnancy. The mean Pb-B level of the first sample (n = 1,055) was 1.83 +/- 1.83 micrograms/dL; of the second sample (n = 375), 1.99 +/- 1.92 micrograms/dL. Only one woman had a Pb-B level greater than 12.0 micrograms/dL, which was the result of occupational exposure. The low lead levels found in this study indicate that it is not necessary to routinely screen pregnant women for elevated Pb-B levels in our geographic area. Rather, women should be screened via an environmental questionnaire to ascertain the risk of lead exposure.
authors.affiliation: Maternal and Child Health Program, Minneapolis Health Department.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fredeen
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Ehlinger
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cruikshank
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Godes
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Deinard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008910:Minnesota; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D007854:Lead