In utero exposure to cadmium pollution in Cairo and Giza governorates of Egypt.
Serum cadmium levels at delivery were measured in a consecutive sample of 100 mother-infant pairs in Egypt using venous blood from mothers and umbilical cord blood from neonates. The serum cadmium levels of mothers ranged from 0.4 to 2.2 microg/L (mean 0.73 microg/L) and of infants from 0.2 to 1.5 microg/L (mean 0.66 microg/L). Infant cadmium levels were about 70% of maternal levels in most pairs. Serum cadmium was significantly higher in mothers and babies passively exposed to tobacco smoke. Five-minute Apgar scores were negatively correlated with cord blood cadmium levels. The cadmium levels did not differ between subjects from Cairo and Giza or according to urban, suburban or rural areas. Thus, in utero exposure to cadmium was evident and wider-scale studies on its long-term effects are recommended.
Mokhtar
G
G
Department of Paediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Hossny
E
E
el-Awady
M
M
Zekry
M
M
D001034:Apgar Score; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002105:Cadmium Poisoning / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008487:Medical History Taking; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D017584:Reproductive History; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D002104:Cadmium