[Concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg) in maternal blood].
BACKGROUND
It was the aim of these investigations to find out, whether or not pregnancy risks result from the heavy metal concentrations of the mother's blood (Pb, Cd, Hg).


METHODS
The control group is composed of 125 women in child bed. Women with hypertonia during the pregnancy (n = 11), women after premature delivery (n = 25) and after a miscarriage (n = 21) are the risk collective. Blood: The investigations were carried out in EDTA-blood. Questionnaire: Place of residence, profession, nourishment and tooth amalgam surface. From this we received information about risk factors for a heavy metal burden.


METHODS
The Cd- and Pb-concentrations were measured by "Graphitrohr-AAS with Zeemancorrection" and the Hg-concentration by "Cold-Vapour-AAS".


RESULTS
1. Women in child bed in the Jena area have a heavy metal concentration of Pb, Cd and Hg in the lower reference range. 2. At the risk pregnancies (hypertonia during the pregnancy, premature delivery and miscarriage) no increased heavy metal burden was found. 3. There was a significant correlation between the blood mercury level of women in child bed and the number of tooth amalgam fillings.


CONCLUSIONS
In the Jena area women in child bed have a heavy metal concentration in the lower reference range. Environmental heavy metal burden producing frequent miscarriage, premature delivery and hypertonias in the pregnancy could not be shown. The tooth amalgam filling significantly increased the Hg-burden. Environmental stress and eating habits may also play a role.


CONCLUSIONS
At the risk pregnancies (hypertonia during the pregnancy, premature delivery and miscarriage) no increased heavy metal burden was found.
Peiker
G
G
Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Abteilung Geburtshilfe, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena. schack@bach.med.unijena.de
Erler
M
M
Scheibe
C
C
Michels
W
W
Seewald
H J
HJ
D000328:Adult; D002104:Cadmium / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
D002104:Cadmium; D007854:Lead; D008628:Mercury