Increased blood lead and decreased calcium levels during pregnancy: a prospective study of Swedish women living near a smelter.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to monitor blood lead in a northern Swedish cohort of mothers and children during pregnancy and at birth.


METHODS
Blood lead was analyzed during pregnancy and in the umbilical cords of 290 women living near a smelter and in 194 control subjects.


RESULTS
During pregnancy, there were statistically significant overall increases in blood lead concentrations by 20% and 15% in the smelter and reference areas, respectively. Mean maternal blood lead concentrations at delivery were 0.15 mumol/L (3.11 micrograms/dL) in the smelter area and 0.13 mumol/L (2.69 micrograms/dL) in the control area. Umbilical cord blood lead levels were 80% to 87% of the maternal levels. Blood lead levels were influenced by place of residence, employment at the smelter, smoking, and wine consumption. Maternal serum calcium levels decreased during pregnancy and were significantly lower than those of the newborns.


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in blood lead concentrations was found during pregnancy, despite increased blood volume and unchanged or decreasing environmental lead levels. The mobilization of lead from bone during pregnancy may explain the increase.
Lagerkvist
B J
BJ
Department of Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Ekesrydh
S
S
Englyst
V
V
Nordberg
G F
GF
Söderberg
H A
HA
Wiklund
D E
DE
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008669:Metallurgy; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking; D013548:Sweden
D007854:Lead; D002118:Calcium