title: Evidence that birth weight is decreased by maternal lead levels below 5μg/dl in male newborns.
abstract: To assess the association between birth weight and maternal blood lead (BPb) levels, 386 pregnant women and their newborn offspring were surveyed. Mean±SD (range) maternal BPb concentrations were 0.98±0.55 (0.10-3.99), 0.92±0.63 [<0.09 (limit of quantification)-3.96], and 0.99±0.66 (<0.09-3.96)μg/dl at 12, 25 and 36 weeks' gestation, respectively. Mean±SD (range) gestational age at delivery was 38.9±1.3 (35-41) weeks. In male newborns, a significant correlation between birth weight and logBPb at 12 weeks' gestation was observed (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient=-0.145, p<0.05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that birth weight was significantly inversely associated with logBPb at 12 weeks' gestation, controlling for possible confounding variables. These results suggest that low-level exposure to lead in early gestation could be a risk factor for reduced birth weight in male offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; Department of Midwifery and Women's Health, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 7-10-2, Tomogaoka, Kobe 654-0142, Japan.
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nishioka
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan. Electronic address: kyokoya@juntendo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsukawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 6-21-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki 214-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vigeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miida
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Makino
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takeda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead
keywords: Birth weight; Lead; Pregnancy outcome; Prenatal exposure; Sex differences